Ariola Records: Back On The Road

In 1972, Joe Egan and his school chum Gerry Rafferty formed Stealers Wheel and had one major hit – “Stuck in the Middle with You.” The single peaked in the US at #6; however, only one other single, “Star,” made it to the Top 40 and charted at #29. When Stealers Wheel disbanded in 1975, both Egan and Rafferty were contractually forbidden to release any recordings for three years.

In 1979, Egan’s first solo album, “Out of Nowhere” was released by Ariola America Records. The first single, “Back on the Road,” failed to chart in the US. Although it not receive the airplay it deserved, “Back on the Road” was a nice tune and should have at least charted in the adult contemporary world; however, it didn’t.

Egan recorded his second album, “Map,” in 1981; unfortunately, it was less successful than his first.