The rhythm section was back in form and the band had begun moving in more of an R&B direction. In '81, old friend Steve Bassett joined forces with the GHB and the combination immediately became one of hottest soul bands on the eastern seaboard. Steve had brought along his saxophonist Buzz Montsinger, guitarist Glen Pavone, and a particularly attractive background vocalist named Tina Fortunata for whom everyone had the hots. Leonard, after coming to the realization that she was probably never going to give it up for anybody in the band and certainly not him, dubbed her "Tina Unfortunately Nada." With Steve fronting the band and coaxing sighs and grunts out of his Hammond B3, it was a sight to behold and a joy to hear. The problem with this version of the band was the expense of all the players and crew, and the rising cost of transporting a production of this size (piano, organ, P.A., lights, etc.). After finances forced the GHB and Bassett to go their separate ways, the band's music returned to more of a guitar-based rock 'n’ roll, adding sidekick Mike Lucas on guitar and vocals.

"I was riding back to Richmond in the Wine Wagon [their equipment truck] after my first gig,” says Lucas. “The rest of the band passed us at about 70 mph. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing, it was my first introduction to 'Trunk Surfing.' I hope my kids never ask me about it, I'll have to lie. I played in that band for a year and a half and they would still pull out songs every night that I'd never even heard before. I think they knew at least a thousand songs."

Shortly after Mike's introduction to the fold, they almost immediately entered into what may have been their most creative period. The band went into the studio and recorded a very solid album of original material—five of those songs are finally released on their new disc. Also included on it are various studio and live recordings from the '70s and '80s. Though some of these live shows were recorded only on a portable cassette recorder, the performances were just too good to not be included on the album.

Jumping forward to March 2000, Eggleston and Lucas converged upon Nashville, meeting up with McAdam, Morgan, Leonard, Bouton, and Wetzel, with plans to record a few new tunes at McAdam and Irwin's Silvertone Studios. Sure they showed up with six packs and cigarette loads just like the old days, but when they sat down to make a record it was obvious that what had been a group of young, promising musicians so many years before was now an accomplished group of seasoned professionals (but still with six packs and cigarette loads). When the weekend was over, they had recorded six new originals, all of which are featured on this disc.

What could have been another sad story about a great band that never got the elusive record deal, sweated it out in the roadhouses for years, and faded into obscurity doesn’t apply here. Sure, outside of Virginia, D.C., and North Carolina you'll rarely find anyone who would remember the band, but that's not where their legacy lives. Check out the list of artists who have enlisted the talents of a former "Humorhoid" to play on their record, or play in their band. It's rather staggering that one local band could have had so many of its members go on to have an impact on so many major recording artists, and the list is still growing.

Though the Good Humor Band still gets together in Richmond once every year to play a reunion gig, they never really split up in the first place. As Joe McGlohon puts it, "Instead of playing 250 dates a year, we turn down the first 249. Did I get my math right?"

Yea Joe, you got it right , but the remaining question is whatever became of that U-Haul truck you guys rented in Charlottesville for a one day local rental in 1981? I heard it was last seen with Tennessee plates. Hmm. The Good Humor Band performed their last show as a full time band on January 7, 1983, but that was just a rare formality, we all know better than that. The Good Humor Band never really broke up, no matter how hard they tried.

Bruce Gill, Live Bait Monthly Magazine, March, 2001