The diminished line up of Alan, John, Mick and Tony took the opportunity for a change of image and direction and distinctive it was with the single releases that followed in ‘You’re the Reason Why’ and ‘Under One Roof’ each bearing no resemblance to the earlier ‘Hit’s’ and although they received some acclaim from the music industry as a whole they did not impress the record buying public with both making only minor impact on the UK pop charts. Both songs however proved successful in Europe where their continued popularity didn't falter.

The ‘Rubettes’ themselves remained undaunted and continued  upon their new path interspersingly releasing Continental pop ‘Hit’s in the form of ‘Oh La La’ and ‘Julia’, which fortunately prevented them from disappearing completely from the radar screen. Then at the start of 1977 their persistance paid off and they emerged even stronger with the Country Rock influenced ‘Baby I Know’ returning them to a respectable UK chart position after almost a year and a new recording Contract with Polydor records but it was short lived and by the end of 1977 after a few more releases the Hit’s’ began to elude them once more. Then in 1978 whilst recording tracks for the album ‘Still Unwinding’ and some that would eventually feature on their last 70’s album ‘Shangri ‘La’ Tony with ill health decided his course had finally run and left the band.

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