The first part of a two-part radio feature was first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 3 April.  The second part is also available via Mixcloud

It must be an age thing, but increasingly I am being drawn to songs rather than showmanship.  And if there’s one artist who conveys great songs with depth, soul and meaningfulness it is Colin Blunstone.  He may joke that he is the UK’s “least prolific songwriter”  – if he writes one song in a year he is a happy man – but in a 50-year plus career Colin has always purveyed quality either in his own right or for other people.  Tonight’s show was a history lesson and a fantastic showcase for a sometimes under-rated performer.

Support tonight Balsamo Deighton were promoting their album ‘Unfolding’.  Rosalie Deighton sang with country-rockers The Storys, a band whom Steve Balsamo fronted, and in spite of a fair amount of national radio exposure were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Together, a talented duo with some good songs but they need to improve their presentation.  We would all like to believe there was something going on between the two, it might seem that way from both their music and their social media, but laboured denials and even reference to an earlier spat doesn’t exactly endear the audience.  Sometimes less is more.

The guy behind me summed it up “I liked these two before, but I’m disappointed.”  It’s a shame because Steve Balsamo is an intriguing character who very successfully played Jesus Christ Superstar in the West End and had a record deal with Sony.  There is a lot that’s positive and plenty to talk about without shattering illusions.

Colin Blunstone, on the other hand, endeared  himself from the off.  His voice is still in fine fettle, his band are superb, and the songs enduring.  The set was a great mix of the more recent (with several songs from the excellent ‘On The Air Tonight’ although sadly not the superb title track) along with the less obvious.  In the first half this included ‘Levi Stubbs Tears’ (from Echo Bridge, 1995) and ‘Wonderful’ (from Journey, 1974).

Along the way there were tear jerkers (‘Though You Are Far Away’ (One Year, 1971), ‘Beginning/Keep The Curtains Closed Today’ from Journey, 1974) toe tappers (‘Turn Your Love Around’, ‘Wild Places’) and timeless classics (‘I Don’t Believe In Miracles’, ‘She’s Not There’, ‘Time Of The Season’), But perhaps the biggest highlight – in a  show of highlights – was the song he sang for The Alan Parsons Project, ‘Old And Wise’.  This piece in particular is a wonderful vehicle for Blunstone’s typically soulful and melancholic delivery and this time underlined by Manolo Panodoli’s searing guitar solo.

Colin Blunstone comes across as a real gentleman and confided that he and his wife had earlier had a really intense conversation, about whether to water the plants in the garden or wait until the next day.  I can fully relate to this, as I am sure did most of the packed audience.  It may well be a sign of advancing years – like that yearning for a decent song well sung – but it heightens the experience when witnessing one of our greatest ever pop rock vocalists.

Review and Photos by David Randall

David Randall presents ‘Assume The Position’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT.

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Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

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Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)

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