Player

Player are a soft rock and pop rock group from Los Angeles, United States, active from 1977 to the present. The band is known for “Baby Come Back”, an international number one single, and its early 1970s AOR, pop rock and soft rock sound.

Formation and early line-up

The group begins with a chance meeting between Peter Beckett and J.C. Crowley in Hollywood in 1977. Both are singer-songwriters, and after deciding to write and jam together they start working in Crowley’s garage. The first line-up adds Ronn Moss on bass and John Friesen on drums. Moss has previously played in Fable Airship, Punk Rock and Count Zeppelin, while Friesen has toured with the Ice Follies as drummer, percussionist and musical director and has also been in a high school band with Moss. Keyboard player Wayne Cook later joins; he has formerly been a member of Steppenwolf in 1976.

Sound and recording deals

Player develop a mainstream soft pop/rock style built around mellow keyboards and layered harmonies, shaped by the breezy Los Angeles scene of the time. After playing bars and other gigs, the band is taken to producer offices and eventually plays for Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, who run Haven Records. Although Haven Records folds, Lambert and Potter later work with Robert Stigwood of RSO Records to secure the band a deal. The band name comes from seeing film credits list the cast as “players”, after which the final “s” is dropped.

Breakthrough singles and albums

“Baby Come Back” becomes the group’s breakthrough hit, reaching number one in early 1978 after first breaking on radio in October 1977. Peter Beckett writes it with J.C. Crowley after a personal relationship ends. The follow-up single, “This Time I’m In It For Love”, also reaches the top ten. Both songs appear on the self-titled debut album Player. The band also receives Billboard magazine’s honour roll recognition as Best New Single Artist for 1978.

In 1978 the band releases Danger Zone on RSO. That album produces the top 40 singles “Prisoner of Your Love” and “Silverlining”. Compared with the debut’s sunny California pop sound, Danger Zone presents a heavier, more progressive pop/rock approach with guitars pushed forward.

Later releases and line-up changes

Player tour larger arenas with Eric Clapton, Heart and Kenny Loggins, while also headlining smaller venues. RSO encourages a harder image and places the band on tours with hard rock acts. J.C. Crowley later leaves to pursue country music, and Ronn Moss also departs when his focus turns to acting and film work in Italy. After leaving RSO, the band signs to Casablanca Records and releases Room with a View in 1980, co-produced by Peter Beckett and Tony Peluso. That album includes the top 40 single “It’s For You” and mixes soft romantic material such as “Bad News Travels Fast” with harder songs such as “Tip of the Iceberg”.

By 1982, Peter Beckett and Dennis Lambert work together on Spies of Life for RCA Records. The single “If Looks Could Kill” comes from that album. By then, Beckett and John Friesen are the only original members left, joined by Miles Joseph on guitar and vocals and Rusty Buchanan on bass. After that period the members go separate ways, and Beckett turns to writing full time.

Later activity

The band later signs to Coallier Entertainment in 2009 and is reported to be releasing new material. The listed members associated with the group include Peter Beckett, Rusty Buchanan, J.C. Crowley, John Friesen, Miles Joseph, Jawn Star, Jack White and Ronn Moss.