Share the post "Album review: BONNIE TYLER – Rocks And Honey"
Celtic Swan Recordings [Release date 6.05.13]
Bonnie Tyler was asked back in the 1980s to represent the UK at Eurovision but politely declined. With success since those heady days coming primarily in Europe and relying heavily on past glories, she wasn’t about to miss the opportunity to get a Europe wide TV audience of 120 million to essentially promote her new album.
Produced in Nashville by David Huff, with songwriting credits including Desmond Child and Beth Hart, and a duet with country giant Vince Gill, Rocks And Honey was never conceived with Eurovision in mind. That came by chance when someone connected with the event at the BBC, and who’d heard ‘Believe In Me’, approached her.
The result was definite ‘yes’ and the UK release of the album was put back to coincide with the 58th Eurovision. I guess the first thing to say is that, now in her sixties (the new forties?) Bonnie’s vocals sound just as distinct and powerful as they ever did. The years have certainly taken no audible toll.
The second is that with a team of quality AOR songwriters on board, the material is consistently strong. But, and there’s always a ‘but’, the likes of Desmond Child have also remained somewhat time locked in the eighties. So while the album may have been produced in Nashville – the current centre of the music universe - it’s essentially eighties big hair and shoulder pad soft pop/rock given a makeover.
And, actually, it’s an enjoyable power pop ride. Big guitars, big choruses, big vocal performance. No matter how the single fared at Eurovision it’s nice to see one of Britain’s most successful back and sitting comfortably in the saddle. Pop – pensioner orientated power pop – just got a shot of adrenaline. ***1/2
Review by Pete Whalley
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.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
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 7 April 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 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
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
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: BONNIE TYLER – Rocks And Honey"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
