 Tillotson, Kenny Davis, JB |
 John playing banjo |
John Beland and Johnny Tillotson at "Bob Woods Music" in Del City Oklahoma 1971. (Photos courtesy of Kenny Davis, now a steel guitar virtuoso.)
Tillotson, Kenny Davis, JB |
John playing banjo |
 Arlo & John |
After John Beland left Swampwater - John had high hopes for commercial success for the band and it was now becoming clear that it wasn't to be - he met country/pop singer JOHNNY TILLOTSON and toured England with him as lead guitarist and music director. Tillotson and Beland toured Europe solid for two years working military clubs throughout Germany and England. While in England, Tillotson gave a copy of Beland's demo tape to "Apple Records" head Tony King. King liked the tape and passed it on to Beatle Ringo Starr, who also liked what he heard and instructed King to sign John up to Apple Records in 1973. John became an Apple artist and went on to produce a solo album titled "JOHN EDWARD BELAND". However, a few month later Apple froze up in litigation and John finished the album for Scepter Records:
 | John Beland album |
|---|---|
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- JOHN BELAND: John Edward Beland (Scepter SPS 5113) with: John Beland, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, John Ware, John Selk, Paul Parrish Thad Maxwell, Alex DelZoppo, Joe Lamano, John Livigni, Johnny Tillotson. |
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Track list:
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One single was released:
 |
John Beland single |  |
|---|---|---|
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- JOHN BELAND: Banjo man/A place to rest my head (Scepter 12381) Note: B side of the "Banjo man" single "A place to rest my head" is a non-album track. - JOHN BELAND: A song for Hank Williams/??? (Scepter 12389) |
John was still working with Tillotson, who took him to Nashville where he played on Johnny's Columbia sessions, produced by BILLY SHERRILL. There, John shared the session chair with such greats as Pete Drake, Hargus "Pig" Robbins, Buddy Harmon, Ray Eddington and Jimmy Capps. Sherrill was so impressed by John's playing that he offered him a position in his "A"-Team session band. Beland, however didn't want to move from Hollywood and declined.
 John & Kris Kristofferson |
| - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON: Spooky lady sideshow (1974) |
John also played on a second Kristofferson album recorded in Nashville which was never released. Those unreleased Kristofferson sessions featured John Beland on guitar, Roger McGuinn on 12 string and Larry Gattlin on acoustic guitar.
 Johnny Tillotson & John |
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- BILLY WALKER: Going home (1974) - DIGBY RICHARDS: Digby Richards (1974) - BOB NEUWIRTH: Bob Neuwirth (1974)
Note: The Bobby Neuwirth album was produced by Thomas Jefferson Kaye. |
After that he worked again with Johnny Tillotson. 1975 John played guitar on the Johnny Tillotson sessions produced by Billy Sherrill recorded at the CBS studios in Nashville:
 John & The Bellamy Brothers |
In 1975 he had an offer to go with the BELLAMY BROTHERS. Howard and David had recently released their debut Warner/Curb single "Let your love flow" and had found themselves "overnight" pop stars. John not only toured with the Bellamy's, he also took an active role in their follow up LP:
| - THE BELLAMY BROTHERS: Plain & fancy (1977) |
Note: Bonnie Tyler once stated that the guitar played by Beland featured on "Crossfire", a smash hit in Europe, was used as inspiration for her own smash hit "It's a heartache".
1975 Johnny Tillotson released a single on Columbia Records (5-010125) which was produced by Joe Guercio. "Big Ole Jean" written by John Beland & Johnny Tillotson and "Mississippi Lady" written by John Beland.
 John & Kim Carnes |
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- KIM CARNES: Sailin' (1976) - KIM CARNES: St. Vincent's court (1979) - KIM CARNES: Romance dance (1980) |
In 1976 John was part of an album containing songs, poetry and prose all written by Woody Guthrie. Other artists appearing included Arlo Guthrie, Hoyt Axton, Doug Dillard, John Hartford, Peter Yarrow, Seals & Crofts, Ramblin Jack Elliott:
| - VARIOUS ARTISTS: Woody Guthrie - We ain't down yet (Creem 1002) |
Also 1976 he played electric guitar on:
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- BACK POCKET: Buzzard Bait (Joyce Records JJ 7601) with Pat Robinson, Pat Maroshek, John Beland, Gib Guilbeau, Thad Maxwell, Larry McNeely ... |
In 1976 John Beland was asked to replace departing guitarist James Burton for Elvis Presley.
John was asked by conductor JOE GUERCIO. James was leaving Elvis for Emmylou
Harris and Joe called him for the gig. John learned the show and met Presley. However, James decided to stay with Elvis at the last minute , which forced Emmylou to hire Albert Lee. John went back to work with Johnny Tillotson.
John had worked with all of the Presley band and Joe for numerous sessions in Las Vegas " L.A.
In fact they played on two John Beland unreleased solo cuts that Guercio produced on John Beland at RCA/Hollywood.
Those songs were:
Produced by Joe Guercio
Musicians: John Beland (guitars), Ronnie Tutt (drums), Jerry Scheff (bass)
Glen D. Hardin (piano), The Sweet Inspirations (vocals).
1976 John was involved in recording an album which is unreleased.
Although a single by the group called "Cruisin" was a hit in Australia on
Image Records. It was a silly little "Beach Boys" type song Larry Murray and John Beland wrote. It didn't make the album.
 |
Hollywood Hornets single |
|---|---|
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- HOLLYWOOD HORNETS: Cruisin'/Bound to explode (Image IS-193) Produced by "Hornets" - that's John Beland, Larry Murray & Brian Cadd. Both songs written by John Beland and Larry Murray! "Cruisin'": Lead vocals by John Beland. "Bound to explode" Lead vocals by Larry Murray. Harmony vocals on " Bound to explode" John Beland & Brian Cadd. Musicians: Jim Keltner - drums, Emory Gordy, Jr. - bass Alan Lingrin - keys, John Beland & Richard Bennett - guitars. |
The album is forever in the can:
| Unreleased Hollywood Hornets album |  |
|---|---|
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- HOLLYWOOD HORNETS: Hollywood Hornets (Warner/Tattoo) Produced by John Arrias and "The Hornets" - that's John Beland, Larry Murray & Brian Cadd. All songs written by John Beland, Larry Murray & Brian Cadd! Tracks: Celebration / Tell me it ain't so / Angie (look at the shape I'm in) / Better break away / Hymn for Rosie / Another side of me / Midnite on the avenue / Notify someone / Bound to explode / It shall remain Musicians: John Beland, Larry Murray, Brian Cadd, Jim Keltner, Ron Tutt, Larry Brown, Emory Gordy Jr., Richard Bennett, John Hug, Jefferson Kewley, Alan Lindgren, Bill Cuomo, Doug Lavery, Rodney Dillard, Linda Dillard, Gib Guilbeau, Thad Maxwell, Larry Kewley, Velton Ray Bunch, Rosey Nix, Sydney Fox |
 Dolly Parton & John |
 John & Mac Davis |
When Mac's tour ended, Dolly asked John to join her in her new band. Anxious to leave the Mac Davis job, Beland went on tour with Dolly, who had now become a major superstar with the release of her number one pop hit "Here you come again".
During this time John resumed a heavy session schedule in Los Angeles working for famed producer JIMMY BOWEN. There, John shared the session chores with such notable players as Jim Keltner, Jim Gordon, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, Dean Parks and Larry Carlton. One of those sessions was:
 Dolly Parton & John |
Musicians: John Beland (acoustic guitar), Jim Keltner (drums), Lee Sklar (bass), David Paich (keyboard), Larry Carlton (electric guitar).
Bowen also recorded some of John's songs with country singer Thom Bresh. These two songs "Sad country love song" and "Hey Daisy, where have all the good times gone?" became country hits for Bresh and led Bowen to offer John a solo deal on Big Tree/Atlantic records.
This album was produced by superstar producer Jimmy Bowen but the label folded before the LP came out:
 | John Beland album - unreleased |
|---|---|
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- JOHN BELAND: John Beland (Nashville Sessions 1978) (Big Tree BT 76010) with John Beland, Don Everly, Kim Carnes, the Crickets, Larry Londin, Joe Osborne Jimmy Capps, David Briggs, Janie Frickie, Sonny Curtis, the Original Memphis Horns. |
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Note: Cover picture for this unreleased Beland album was taken by Norman Seeff who later would shoot the SUNSET/SUNDOWN Burrito Brothers cover.
A few singles were released:
| John Beland singles |  |
|---|---|
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- JOHN BELAND: Just close your eyes (and it's Daniel)/True love never runs dry (BT 16112) Background vocals on "True love never ... " were Sonny Curtis, Jerry Allison, Joe B. Mauldin and Don Everly. - JOHN BELAND: Emmy/same (promotion copy - BT 16120) |
John wrote the national ad campaign for "Hilton Hotels" in 1976 with former Elvis conductor Joe Guercio. He also sang the National Hilton Hotel commercial.
John plays guitar on following Tom Bresh albums:
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- TOM BRESH: Homemade love (John on guitar) - TOM BRESH: Kicked back (John on guitar and songwriter) |
 John & Rick Nelson |
John & Rick Nelson |
It would also yield Rick's last chart record, a Beland arrangement of an old Bobby Darin song "Dream Lover". For two years solid, John toured with Rick appearing on such top shows as "Dick Clark's Live" and "Saturday Night Live". |
During this time John also did sessions for:
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- KIM VASSY: Do I Ever Cross Your Mind - MICKEY JONES: She loves my troubles away (also with Thad Maxwell & Al Perkins) - JESSE PEARSON: We Ain't Down Yet - LARRY GROCE: Crescentville - BOONDOGGLE & BALDERDASH: Boondoggle & Balderdash - BRIAN CADD: Yesterdaydreams (1979) |
In 1979 John Beland, Gib Guilbeau and Thad Maxwell with Mickey McGee on drums did a SWAMPWATER reunion and an album was recorded at Criterion studio in L.A. which remained unreleased until 1987 when it was put out by the Italian label Appaloosa:
| Swampwater reunion album |
|---|
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- SWAMPWATER: Reunion (Appaloosa AP046 & AK 281) with: Gib Guilbeau, John Beland, Thad Maxwell, Mickey McGee guests: Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Charlie Harwood |
Songs from those sessions not on the Reunion album:
Birmingham/Somewhere tonight/Tell me it ain't so/True love never runs dry/Cheatin' kind of love/You
 Brubaker soundtrack |
Note: 2004 Akarma Records released the "Reunion" album with two bonus tracks on CD. The bonus tracks are "You" (but that's the same song as "There'll never be no getting over you" which is already on the "Reunion" album - same version) and the second bonus track is "Cheatin' kind of love" which is released on the "Hollywood nights" CD.
John Beland played guitar on the movie soundtrack "Brubaker" with actor Robert Redford. The soundtrack with Gib Guilbeau (singing lead vocals on the song "All for the love of sunshine" - written by Schifrin/Curb/Hatcher), Sneaky Pete Kleinow on steel guitar, James Burton on guitar, Herb Pedersen on banjo, Byron Berline on mandolin etc ... was released on CD 2003 by the Intrada label! (Intrada is a label producing quality movie and television soundtracks on CD since 1985.)
Its a great film with a great bunch of L.A. super pickers playing on the soundtrack:
| Brubaker soundtrack |
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- Soundtrack: Brubaker (Intrada Special Collection Volume 10) with: Gib Guilbeau, John Beland, Sneaky Pete Kleinow Herb Pedersen, Byron Berline, James Burton ... |