Any Trouble emerged as a neglected gem within Stiff Records' crowded stable of gifted acts. Clive Gregson's appearance, gritty romantic compositions, and singing manner prompted Elvis Costello comparisons, yet the quartet of albums displayed a distinctive songwriting voice supported by a proficient ensemble rather than any derivative imitation.
Manchester-born Gregson assembled the initial lineup in 1975 during teacher training in Crewe and borrowed the band name from a misquoted line in Mel Brooks's Blazing Saddles. Following a short spell as a folk-leaning trio, the group shifted in 1976 to a four-piece rock configuration—Gregson on vocals and guitar, Chris Parks on guitar, Phil Barnes on bass, and Mel Harley on drums—in order to accelerate their material amid the punk surge. Steady pub-circuit gigs culminated in an independent single that reached Radio 1's John Peel, whose airplay triggered a modest bidding contest among labels and led to a Stiff Records contract in 1980.
Stiff recruited producer John Wood, already known for work with Nick Drake, John Martyn, and Richard Thompson and recently at the helm for Squeeze, to oversee the debut. Where Are All the Nice Girls? arrived with every ingredient of a new-wave classic and earned enthusiastic notices, yet sales remained modest against expectations. After the commercial shortfall, Stiff urged Gregson to abandon the band and rebrand as a solo act in the Elvis Costello mold under the name "Buddy Gregson." He refused and instead replaced drummer Harley with Martin Hughes before immediately beginning the follow-up.
Wheels in Motion appeared in 1981, technically stronger yet missing the debut's vitality, and failed to register in the U.K. A brief American promotional tour followed; midway through, word reached the members that Stiff had dropped them, stranding the group stateside. They eventually returned home, but the ordeal prompted an eighteen-month hiatus.
A 1982 EMI America agreement revived activity. Hughes departed in favor of Andy Ebsworth while Steve Gurl joined on keyboards; Chris Parks exited soon afterward. The reconstituted four-piece cut Any Trouble in 1983, again earning strong reviews without commercial traction. Anticipating the end, Gregson secured EMI's approval for a double album. Wrong End of the Race, issued as a sprawling farewell, showcased breadth across twenty-five tracks of new originals, reworked earlier material, and selected covers. In the United States it was condensed to a single disc; "Baby Now That I Found You" received MTV exposure, but the band's cult standing persisted unchanged. The final gig occurred in 1984. Gregson subsequently pursued a respected though still underrecognized path both solo and in tandem with Christine Collister.
Three decades later he reassembled Any Trouble for fresh recordings and concerts in England and Spain. Present Tense, the reunion album, surfaced in November 2015.
