McGuffey Lane is an American country rock band from Athens, Ohio, and/or Columbus, Ohio, United States. The group was formed in 1972 by Terry Efaw and Steve Reis, who played together under the name Scotch & Soda. After adding songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist Bobby E. McNelley, they branded themselves McGuffey Lane, the location of Reis's Athens, Ohio, home.
The band eventually expanded to a sextet and became well-known locally, releasing their first album on their own Paradise Island record label. The LP sold more than 40,000 copies, and eventually resulted in their signing with Atco Records. They reissued the debut in 1980 and toured with the Charlie Daniels Band, The Judds, and the Allman Brothers Band. The follow-up, Aqua Dream, featured the single "Start It All Over", which spent three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 97 in February 1982.
The group scored several minor hits on the country charts, but their label wanted to market them more as a pop-country act in the vein of Alabama. They moved to Atlantic Records to focus more on country chart success, but as they prepared 1984's Day By Day, keyboardist Tebes Douglass was killed in a car crash. Soon after, Bobby Gene McNelley left the group to pursue a solo career as a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1985, McGuffey Lane was dropped from Atlantic. In 1986, they released a Christmas album in support of the Central Ohio Lung Association; toward the end of that year, they inked a sponsorship with Miller Beer, but a planned comeback fizzled.
The group played into the late 1980s but had dissolved by 1990. In 1995, they reunited after releasing a greatest hits album, and continued performing locally in Ohio into the 2000s. Two full-length releases followed the reunion, in 1998 and 2002. On August 18, 2009, they opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd at The LC in Columbus, Ohio. In March 2010, Lick Records signed a distribution deal with E1 Entertainment, which allows the new McGuffey Lane album to be sold in Wal-Mart and Best Buy.
Zachariah's Red Eye Reunion Every January, McGuffey Lane holds an annual reunion concert featuring many acts who also played at Zachariah's Red Eye Saloon. The first two reunions were held at Villa Milano Banquet and Conference Center, located on Schrock Road on the northeast side of Columbus, Ohio. After the initial two events, John Schwab (who is the organizer of the event) started looking for a larger venue to host the reunion concert, as it had outgrown Villa Milano. He settled on Lifestyles Communities Pavilion (now KEMBA Live!). The 2013 Reunion currently holds the indoor attendance record at the LC. The fourteenth anniversary took place on January 25, 2014.
Some acts who have taken part in the event are: Rob McNelly (son of original lead singer Bobby Gene McNelly and current guitarist for Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band), John David Call (steel guitarist for Pure Prairie League), Steve Smith, Gary Ballen, Delyn Christian, Tom Ingham, the Dan Orr Project, Cliff Cody, Grassanine, and Erica Blinn.
Members Terry Efaw – Steel guitar, gutstring guitar, electric guitar Steve Reis – Bass, vocals Molly Pauken- Mandolin, acoustic guitar, vocals Randy Huff – Drums, vocals Kevin Reed- Harmonica, vocals John Schwab – Lead guitar, lead vocals Mike Nugen – Lead guitar, vocals(select dates)
Former members Bobby Gene McNelly – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar Stephen "Tebes" Douglass – Keyboards, harmonica, vocals Dick Smith – Drums, guitar, vocals Dave Rangeler – Drums, vocals Tom Ingham – Acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals Delyn Christian – Harmonica, vocals Casey McKeown – Keyboards Craig Goodwin – Acoustic guitar, vocals John Campigotto – Drums, vocals Dave Robins – Saxophone Joe Pate – Drums, also batman Tammy Walkup- Backing vocals
Discography
Albums Year Title Chart positions Label US Country US1980McGuffey LaneAtcoThe First AlbumAqua Dream1931983Let the Hard Times Roll611984Day by Day56Atlantic1986McGuffey Lane ChristmasHCH1995Greatest Hits Live and More1998Call Me LuckyLick2002Wood2010102017Legend Of The Red Eye
Singles Year Title Chart positions Album US Country US1981"Long Time Lovin' You"85Single only1982"Start It All Over"97Aqua Dream"Making a Living's Been Killing Me"44Let the Hard Times Roll1983"Doing It Right"621984"Day by Day"44Day by Day"The First Time"632011"Bartender"10
Album listings McGuffey Lane People Like You Long Time Lovin' You Ain't No One (To Love You Like I Do) Let Me Take You To The Rodeo Green Country Mountains Stagecoach Music Man Breakaway Lady Autumn Stay In Love With You
Aqua Dream New Beginning It Comes From The Heart Dream About You Tennessee Don't You Think About Me (When I'm Gone) Start It All Over Fair Weather Friends Fallin' Timber Bag Of Rags: Black Mountain Rag /Tiger Rag /12th Street Rag(featuring a guest appearance by Charlie Daniels) Outlaw Rider
Let The Hard Times Roll Let the Hard Times Toll Raining Inside and Out If I Didn't Love You Too Many Days Making a Living's Been Killing Me Doing It Right Sunshine You Wouldn't Give Up on Me If You Were Mine Never Say Forever
Day By Day Day by Day Keep Me Hangin' On First Time You've Got a Right Lorianne What'll You Do About Me Wasted Love Jamaica in My Mind Hold on to the Night The Legend
Greatest Hits, Live, and More Ain't Life Funny People Like You Ain't No One (To Love You Like I Do) Do You Think (We'll Ever Fall In Love) Diana Might Outlaw Rider Let's Hold on to the Night Long Time Lovin' You Be a Friend of Mine Green Country Mountains The Legend Rock 'n' Roll (Will Keep You Young) A New Beginning(Demo) Leavin' It All Behind(Demo) Black Mountain Rag(Demo)
Call Me Lucky Kid with the Arrow The Good in Goodbye There's Only One of Us Now When I Sing of You What You've Got Trains Make Me Lonesome Call Me Lucky Baby Don't Call Me Baby (Anymore) Into the Mystic The Good Times Tonight
Wood Old Taylor Steady As She Goes Don't You Think About Me Railroad Song First Time It Takes Time Let's Go On the Line Runnin' Wild & Free Lady Autumn Nobody But a Fool Cumberland Gap 'Til the End The Omen
10 I Am Who I Am Bartender It's A Good Day You're The One Lucky Guy Done With The Devil I Ain't Giving In To Getting Old Nobody But A Fool Song For The Road Runnin' Blind
Zachariah's Red Eye Reunion DVD The Railroad Song Don't you think about me (when I'm gone) The Boys a Dancer Wild and Free Breakaway Tennessee* Stagecoach* Stay (in love with you* Rasputin Outlaw Rider On the Line Rodeo* People Like You* Ain't no one* Green Country Mountain* Long Time Loving You* "Backstage Pass"(video interviews backstage) "Rock Of Ages" (Music video from 1990) "Bert" music video from 1994)and 'The First Time" (music video from 1983)
Featuring Rob McNelly, son of former lead singer Bobby Gene McNelly
References