Bernie Marsden passed away on 24 August 2023, aged 72. Too soon in so many ways, but not least because earlier that month he had approved the artwork, sequence and audio masters for this fine, fine album.
Conquest Music respectfully considered delaying its release but as Fran Marsden, Bernie’s wife of over 40 years, explains: “Bernie was really excited about his new album and proud of the tracks featured on it. After the last three albums of covers he was keen for his fans to hear some new, original songs.”
On CD or vinyl, there are 12 of those – plus 10 other new recordings (half of them covers) on a bonus disc. Having reinforced his A-star blues credentials with those Kings, Chess and Trios albums, sees him closer to the style that defined Whitesnake when David Coverdale first took them around UK clubs in 1978. The rocking opener could have worked on any of their first five albums. Likewise the balladic and – even if here delivered with a subtlety his former band might have eschewed. Then there’s the two-minute 12-string instrumental echoing Bernie’s intro to Whitesnake’s
