Renowned guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick is arguably best known for his work with British hard rock band FM, although he’s also been sharing a stage with former Whitesnake legend Bernie Marsden since 2006. Now flying solo for the first time on Ballad Of A Prodigal Son, Jim has recruited Scott Ralph (drums), Chris Cliff (bass) and Jem Davis (keys) for a hard rocking blues album that includes help and support from a cast of friends including John ‘Rhino’ Edwards, John Gunstone, Steve Overland, Bernie Marsden, Sarah Miller, Jem Davis, Neil Murray and many more. It makes for a thrilling blues rock outing (with the emphasis firmly on the latter) that will delight Jim’s fans and earn him many more in the process.
Opening with the rip-snorting title track, Jim and his band hit the ground running, with Jim’s skeletal riff nailed to a backbeat that threatens to hammer the listener into the floor. It’s a lean, mean opener for sure, and it nicely sets the pace for the album. Next up, No Such Thing As A Sure Thing (a co-write with Steve Overland), has a dusty, western vibe (for which Jim is heavily indebted to Paul Westwell’s Harmonica), that conjures images of spit ‘n’ sawdust bars and cheap whiskey. The harmonica hangs around on Ain’t Going Down Alone (co-written with Scott Ralph), a mid-paced rocker with a Whitesnake vibe that builds to a cracking solo. It gives way to the unexpected instrumental, Blue Heron Boulevard, which offers a nice change of pace, recalling the Cajun vibe of Sonny Landreth with its liquid slide, loose harmonica and airy percussion. The atmosphere of calm, however, is soon shattered with the blistering Be Hard With It, Jim’s vocal recalling Freddy Mercury at his hard rock best as he lets loose over a crackling riff. It leaves Skin And Bone Pt. 2 to round out the first half on a more sedate note, Jim adopting a subtle Gary Moore vibe, although there’s still a tough riff to get your teeth into once the hazy intro disperses.
Co-written with Scott Raplh, Thea Gilmore and Bernie Marsden, Always On The Road is an album highlight, opening up the second half in a blaze of horn-soaked glory. The sound of an entire room spontaneously breaking into dance, it’s a brilliant song and over far too soon. The dirty slide of 61 & 49 (with backing vocals from Sarah Miller) is another highlight, with its gritty vibe, lyrical references to blues standards and addictive chorus. The slow blues of Talk To Me keeps things moving along nicely, although it pales in comparison when a cover of Status Quo’s much loved Gravy Train (originally penned by John ‘Rhino’ Edwards, who guests on the track, and Rick Parfitt) kicks into gear. With the Quo’s rockin’ riffs still echoing around the studio, Jim takes things right down with the Floyd-esque Brave New World. Musically drawing from breathe, Jim’s lyrics take the listener on a road trip as he edges the listener towards the fiery chorus. As befits a track with a Floyd vibe, Jim’s solo is exquisite – the best on the album – and you’ll be hard pressed not to unleash some serious air guitar at the track’s conclusion. The album finishes with the sweetly laid back All You Need (Is All You Have), a countrified blues with a warm heart that brings the curtain down gently on an otherwise explosive album.
Despite lasting nearly fifty minutes, Ballad Of A Prodigal Son flies by. Drawing from across the rich history of the blues, Jim Kirkpatrick and his band lay down fiery riffs and contemplative moments, heroic solos and horn-soaked soul in equal measure and the end result is a hugely enjoyable album that you’ll want to start all over the moment it finishes. A genuine pleasure, and a record that sounds like it was a hell of a lot of fun to lay down, this debut solo effort is something pretty special indeed. 8.5/10
