(A BALLAD OF) A PEACEFUL MAN

GRAVY TRAIN was an above average rock band that had enough talent to make a successful foray into the territory of progressive rock.

On their 1970 release "(A Ballad of) A Peaceful Man", the use of flute (J.D. Hughes) was similar to how JETHRO TULL utilized the instrument in a rock setting. Their sound was decidedly progressive, leaning more towards a harder rock sound (for the time) with some sharp guitar playing (Norman Barrett), although the vocal side of the house was a little weak in comparison to their overall musical adeptness. If those two factors could have been equal, perhaps this band would have enjoyed more success. Like everything else, timing and marketing will make you or break you; in this case, they were a very good band but their gravy train never came in.