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Loose Boots
In the mid-1970s Tucson, Arizona was a hotbed of original country rock music, rivaled only by Austin, Texas. Unfortunately, for the lion's share of the bands, there was very little national exposure even though some were more than deserving.
Loose Boots could've been one of those bands.
With the demise of Midnight Oil, Brent Owens and Scott Sechman were looking for a new outlet. Enlisting bassist/vocalist Mark Fraze and pedal steel man Steve English, they knew they had the basis on which to build. Straight Shot, (one of Tucson's finest and most popular groups), had also broken up and Owens & Sechman approached Straight Shot's singer/songwriter Billy Odom and his drumming cousin Bobby about teaming up. When they agreed the lineup was set and rehearsals began at the Temple of Music and Art which was shut down and in serious disrepair.
Renting the space for two weeks, the band worked frantically for 8 to 12 hours a day on their catalog of original songs written by Billy Odom & Scott Sechman in preparation for their debut performance at the Embers nightclub. That successful engagement kicked off a 9 month whirlwind of activity that saw the band become one of Tucson's hottest, albeit short-lived acts.
In June of 1977 they left their desert environs to record their album at Mark Fraze's recording studio in Dayton, Ohio. With Steve Common & Mark in the producer's chair, the band was able to withstand the rigors of being in an unfamiliar town for an extended period on a strict budget.
Recording using only 8 tracks, (the industry standard at the time was 16 tracks), Steve and Mark were able to capture the essence of the group, especially the vocal harmonies. The blend of Billy & Scott's lead vocals with Mark's pristine, soaring high harmony parts were the band's trademark. Several of the album's tracks were recorded "live" in the studio with a minimum of overdubs, a by-product of a relentless live performance schedule that had the band doing nearly 60 shows without a night off.
Upon their return, tapes in hand, they received a glowing review from the Tucson Daily Citizen's entertainment editor, Chuck Graham and the future looked bright.
Sadly, due to internal strife over song selection for the pressing of the album, the band imploded before it's release.
When the LP was released in 1978, every copy of it's limited pressing was sold. Quite the accomplishment for a band that no longer existed. Several of the songs were played on the legendary radio station KWFM, (at the time regarded by Rolling Stone magazine as one the best stations in the United States).
Since the breakup of the band in late 1977 it's members continued pursue their individual careers in various locations across the country. Scott Sechman can currently be found performing in Southern California, while Billy Odom is a mainstay on the St. Augustine, Florida music scene. Mark Fraze, Steve English and Brent Owens still reside in Tucson, while Bobby Odom is in Florida, not far from Billy.
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