Phoenix Rising Records [Release date 01.06.18]
Former Big Country bassist Tony Butler Big Country started working on this album when he left Big Country in 2012. He is managed by former Big Country manager Ian Grant and the band’s drummer Mark Brezezicki guests on four songs, so there are plenty of links with his musical past and indeed in the sound of many of the songs on here.
Mind you Tony Butler is not just a ‘one band man’ having worked with amongst others Ray Davies, Nils Lofgren and Roger Daltrey. Tony Butler plays all the instruments bar the drums and Hammond organ on ‘I’m Getting Old’, played by Josh Phillips who has played keys for Big Country on tour.
The album opens with ‘Heaven Saved A Place For You’, a radio hit if ever there was one. The song is a homage to his biggest influence in his life, his mother and it has a divine chorus. Butler has a melodic vocal, nothing too harsh and perfect for songs with a rock riff and a big pop heart.
Unsurprisingly the distinctive chiming guitar sound of Big Country can be heard in a few songs, most notably ‘Boy From The Bush’, ’Scared To The Bone’ and ‘Strange Old Town’. Lyrically the songs are often deeply personal dealing with his life in Cornwall on ‘Strange Old Town’ and ones of self-reflection, ‘Save My Dignity’.
The album’s ‘prog’ moment comes on ‘Long Shadows’ which allows Butler to show his prowess on the guitar (he said he should have really been a guitarist however he said the bass was just too sexy!). ‘I’m Getting Old’ may be about aging yet it is the most rocking song on the album driven along by the insistent bass and drums, with classy Hammond playing courtesy of Josh Phillips throughout.
The oldest song on here is the bonus song ‘A Lovely Day’, a demo from 1998 and it is an uplifting piece of music.
Hopefully Tony Butler will get out and tour these songs as they deserve to be heard and enjoyed. Big Country was a big part of his past, yet on this album Butler has made a musical statement about his music in the here and now. An intoxicating mix of pop and rock in just the right measures. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
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
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.
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 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)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
