Racing Cars

The Welsh group Racing Cars first assembled during 1975 in South Wales’ Rhondda Valley, its lineup consisting of Graham Headley Williams on guitar, Gareth ‘Monty’ Mortimer handling vocals and guitar, Ray ‘Alice’ Ennis also on guitar, David Land on bass and Robert Wilding behind the drums. Issued on Chrysalis Records, the band’s releases drew on additional contributions from session pianist Geraint Watkins, American saxophonist Jerry Jumonville and vocal harmonies supplied by the Bowles Brothers Band. Their 1977 debut album Downtown Tonight reached number 39 on the UK album chart and yielded an unforeseen Top 20 single in the memorable ballad ‘They Shoot Horses Don’t They?’, whose title echoed the film. Although no further hits followed, sustained college-circuit popularity allowed the band to record two more albums.

Mortimer had already gained experience as a session singer when he re-formed Racing Cars in the late 80s. The reactivated ensemble spent several years touring Europe before delivering the album Bolt From The Blue in 2000.