Bernie Marsden Big Boy Blues and Green CD Box Set - Review | Now Spinning Magazine
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- Bernie MARSDEN Big Boy Blues And Green (4CD, box) Cherry Red
The renowned guitarist, highly acclaimed in both blues and rock circles, found fame as one of two lead guitarists in Whitesnake (alongside Micky Moody), but by then he’d already had a solid CV, including Babe Ruth, Cozy Powell, Wild Turkey, UFO, Chick Churchill and Paice, Ashton & Lord.
During and post Whitesnake, as well as a plethora of collaborations and session work, there’s been a solid and notable solo career too. His recent works as a three piece, including Chess and Trios, have received wide praise.
This set brings together tree excellent and out-of-print solo albums, and a wonderful listen they are too. Didn’t get these albums first time round? Now’s your chance, there’s no excuse. You want blues, with tone, feeling, heart, here you are.
First up is 1994’s Green And Blues, much touted as a tribute to Peter Green, but there is an equal nod to John Mayall and Mick Taylor here too; you can see where his influences were coming from.
Hideaway is an excellent opener, some fine guitar bolstered with some rich keyboards, and there’s an element in the riff very similar to what Foghat used in their take on Sweet Home Chicago. From mid tempo blues to slow yet searing, and there’s some uptempo work in there too. Some of the work nods to a slowed down Savoy Brown, so there’s a lot of very fine work here. The use of horns gives a very fat sound, it makes the blues very very palatable. Don’t Want No Woman and If You Be My Baby are excellent, and Shake Your Money Maker has a more uptempo rock’n’roll feel.
Next up is 2003’s Big Boy Blue, originally released a 2CD (the second disc adding outtakes, alternate mixes and demos). A mix of self penned work and covers, there is a fine mix of bar room blues bolstered by a boogie rhythm and harmonica. Across the blues genre, Bernie mixes in quite a lot. From a lead slide to playing a rhythm behind the harmonica, his versatility within the remit is as strong as his guitar playing. Vocalist Marsha Raven appears on a few tracks (Downhome Blues a standout), a strong voice not too dissimilar to Baby Jean or Ruby Starr. It’s worth checking out for her tracks alone. Her sensitivity and feeling match the power.
2005 saw Big Boy Blue Live, a fine live album recorded at the Granary, complete with vocalists, horns, a solid and fat sound, an appreciative if intimate crowd. Downhome Blues opens and a good way to start any show. 3 O’Clock Blues is extended to over 11 minutes and features a couple of excellent guitar solos, and a fine saxophone solo too. The album closes with Whitesnake’s Here I Go Again - Bernie’s biggest hit. Some lovely arrangements, and guitar work too, this is an album to play beginning to end and chill out to, with a single malt or three.
Such was (still is) Bernie’s output that, at times, it was easy to miss. And sadly the live album here I did miss, so it’s great to be able to get it. Three albums that go together, as a genre, chronologically and stylistically too. The usual excellent Cherry Red packaging, clamshell, and booklet that includes notes from Bernie.
No extras, but a fine fine collection and a great opportunity to plug a gap or two. Love it. (Joe Geesin)
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
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I'm currently reading that Bernie Marsden book. Love the Bernie era of Whitesnake the most.
Hi Phil, another great review ;)
One of my fave Bernie Marsden albums is The Snakes - Once Bitten... The album he did with Mick Moody and Jorn Lande. I think they were sued by David Coverdale? If you are going to interview him, it would be cool to learn more about that project🎸🎸
After lead guitarist Rod Price left Foghat in 1999, he put out 2 solo CD's. First was "Open" with mostly great old Blues standards with Graham Vickery (Shakey Vick) on vocals/harp. Then his second CD called "West Four" was mostly his writing with some fantastic material. His playing on standard and slide guitar, as well as a dobro where absolutely "priceless". You might want to check those out also.
Be fun if Marsden & Coverdale got back into the studio to record an EP or a few new songs for the fans.
Coverdale never do such things. He's trying to play his 1987-version still. Acting like he is 35 or something. It's very sad, cos there was a lot of opportunities in past decades to make fun together touring with past linups like Tony Iommy did with his Heaven and Hell project etc. Most likely Coverdale wouldn't have fun out of it. He is the kind of guy who afraid of his age rather than having fun with funs and mates. Knowing how he treated Ian Paice and Micky Moody when they departed from Whitesnake - no wonder.
Looks like a great box set. Awesome guitar player. "Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues" is probably my favorite Whitesnake song.
Hi Ken, thank you for watching - my fave song as well - Phil
Hi Phil love all your reviews each week, would love you to do a review on either Frank marino or Robin trower, just to hear your thoughts on two great artists of my vinyl and cd collecting years ..
Hi, thank you for the great feedback. I am going to do a video on Robin Trower's Bridge of Sighs album - Phil
Top bloke, top guitarist.
❤️❤️❤️!!! Fab!
I’m sold! I’ll be ordering as soon as I’ve posted this. I don’t currently have anything solo by Bernie, but I was a huge early Whitesnake fan and I got to meet Bernie a couple of times. Such a genuine person and always had time for fans. Your review of this box set is, as usual, full of passion and descriptive of what stands out for you. Since I already know we have extremely similar tastes, I know I’ll love it. I’m also a big Peter Green, Gary Moore and Blues generally fan, so all points in its favour. Thanks for a great review. When you get to interviewing Bernie, please do ask him about his time in UFO and for any interesting anecdotes from that experience.
Cheers!
AJ.
Thank you for watching - great blues player - Phil :)