Grace Pool
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
An early version of Grace Pool (obscurely named after a minor character in Charlotte Brontës Jane Eyre) formed in 1983, but Riley temporarily put the project on hold when he joined Hobokens Rage to Live. When Riley left that band after their first album, he and Brown hooked back up and re-formed Grace Pool in New York City. Drummer Frank Vilardi, guitarist Terry Radigan, and keyboardist Cliff Carter joined the duo, who signed to the newly re-activated Reprise label and released a self-titled debut in 1988. Although it garnered respectful reviews, the album did not sell particularly well. Radigan and Carter were replaced by guitarist Beki Brindle and keyboardist Andy Burton; Brindles vaguely Chicago-style playing and Burtons fondness for the vintage organ sound of a Hammond B-3 made 1990s Where We Live a somewhat earthier listen that better supported Browns increasingly bluesy vocal style. Sadly, this record followed on the debuts path to obscurity, and Reprise dropped the group in 1991. Grace Pool broke up the following year.


