BRIAN TURNER

Gig Album

Tracks: Better Man; Some Beach; Sanantone; This Summer; Here In The Real World; Past The Point Of Rescue; Speak To The Sky; Lonely Outlaw; Live It Up Let It Out; Karaoke Cowboy.

Singer/songwriter Brian Turner is based in Barrow-in-Furness in the far reaches of Lancashire, England, and he fronts a five-piece country music band. In his leisure time he enjoys sea fishing in one of his two boats and claims that it gives him time to relax and put thought into his songs and live show.

This self-titled 10-track album is his first and he has recruited British guitar legend Albert Lee to play on all of the 10 tracks which include four of Brian’s self-penned songs. In fact this is not a bad way to make an album using six well known covers that will please both the general listeners and the line dance crowd and act as a type of showcase for his easy on the ear  talent.

The only problem that I have with this type of gig album is the lack of songwriter credits. Not only will it restrict airplay but it will also affect the recognition of his own songwriting skills. This is not uncommon on Brit gig albums and perhaps another reason why our own talent stays unnoticed by the media in general.

The album opens with “Better Man”, written by Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas, and a hit for Clint. Brian’s version is a very good cover and shows that the guy can sing. The Blake Shelton hit “Some Beach”, written by Rory Lee Feek and Paul Overstreet, is extremely popular in the clubs and dance venues making it a worthy inclusion. The first of Brian’s self penned “Sanantone” is splendid—it captures the spirit and Mexican feel of this Texas City perfectly. I can see the partner dancers enjoying this one too!

Garth Brooks had a chart topper with “That Summer” written by Pat Alger, Garth and his ex wife Sandy Mahl. Brian’s take captures the essence very well. So does the chart topping Alan Jackson hit “Here In The Real World”, written by Alan and Mark Irwin. Hal Ketchum found a chart winner with the Mick Hanly song “Past The Point Of Rescue”—I seem to remember hearing this song first by an Irish songstress Mary Black before Hal took it on. The over played festival and club hit here in Britain “Speak To The Sky”, written by Rick Springfield, gets a pleasant reading from Brian Turner before he breaks into a three-song segment of self-penned song to close his album.

“Lonely Outlaw” is a very danceable gunfighter’s song that is well written and performed—it certainly takes me back to those old cowboy towns of say Arizona or Texas or even perhaps New Mexico. “Live It Up Let It Out” helps country to meet ‘60 pop, which could be a good direction for Brit country to take for future success. “Karaoke Cowboy” is a fun song with a tongue in cheek poke at the way that Brit country has been forced to go.

With this very good album and a new band called Branded behind him Brian Turner is making his breakthrough. Come on you club and festival organisers. Now is your chance to show your colours by booking Brian and his band for your shows.  They can show the talent projected on this album and you are on a winner. Trust me.

By BRIAN AHERN