Reviewed by Taf Rock for MPM
Bernie Marsden – The very mention of his name invokes a smile and memories of time spent in his company watching him up there on stage or chatting to him offstage as he was more than willing to do so with as many of his army of fans as possible.
An extremely humble, accessible and humorous man both on and off stage his many talents in the musical field shone like beacons attracting widespread praise across the whole musical spectrum.
Witnessing a Bernie Marsden show be it as part of a band, acoustic solo or as part of rock legends Whitesnake was always time well spent that left the listener beaming like Marsden himself always did throughout his life.
Recording sessions for WORKING MAN were completed back in June and Bernie was fully involved in mixing and planning the release of this album, signing off the artwork, sequence and audio masters just prior to his sad passing in August. Full of excitement and eager anticipation awaiting the impending release of this all original twelve tracker (following on from his recent release of three individual cover albums KINGS, CHESS and TRIOS) Bernie was rightly proud of the recordings I find before me today and was eager for the public to hear this excellent set of songs.
Sadly fate played a cruel hand but in accordance with Bernie’s wishes Conquest Records in conjunction with Bernie’s wife Fran decided the album release should go ahead as originally planned on November 24th.
This album therefore serves as a tribute to the great man. And what a tribute Bernie’s first widely available album of all original material since 2014’s Shine proves to be. A plethora of musicians accompany the sole guitar of Bernie on this album. Bob Fridzema, Josh Phillips and Mark Maybury providing keyboards. Dino Stephenson, Mark Brzezicki and Micky Barker appear on drum duties. Bass is represented by Mark Maybury, John Gordon, Steve Brzezicki and Dave Harding. Assisting Bernie on backing vocals are Caroline Hawkins, Alex McIlquham-Jones and Michael Bullard.
We start with BEING FAMOUS. The first single to be released from this album the track sees Bernie pouring scorn on the manner in which today’s rock stars are held in such high esteem and decadence. A wonderful boogie style to this track as Bernie laments ‘the luxury is obscene … good enough for the Queen’. The lone guitar of Marsden in conjunction with stellar boogie style keyboards courtesy of esteemed Dutchman Bob Fridzema (King King, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Sari Schorr, Glenn Hughes). This track sets a rocking pace for the whole album, Bernie’s guitar and vocal have never sounded better.
MIDTOWN is a more relaxed laid back affair as we ‘ride with the wind … into the heartland … searching for a way’. Based around a faultless Marsden vocal performance Bernie advises ‘If you want good things from your life, you better work hard my friend’ before rocking things up and treating us to one of his superb and distinctive lead breaks.
LONGTIME – Opening with the sweetest of guitar we reminisce with ‘an old friend … on a broken down train on the northern line’. A stunningly beautiful song – we ‘leave the circus … join a band … playing broken down places in foreign lands’. Bernie was always a master at story telling, as audiences listened intently to his unique tales interjected with humour. This song is no exception backed up by Bernie’s exquisite enchanting almost mystical guitar.
A rocky power ballad now as we are INVISIBLE. Bernie hands microphone duties to the ‘goddess of rock and blues’ Jaime Kyle. Bernie previously played alongside Jaime on ‘Not About Love’ a track from her 2022 release WILD ONE and so Jaime returns the favour here. Jaime’s vocals a kind of morph of Pat Benatar/Ann Wilson this is a scorching track. ‘Play truth or dare … Open your eyes’. Stadium power rock at its best.
Bernie ‘picks up the microphone’ once again and plays ‘the same guitar … but now the colour’s changed’ as we ‘break all the rules’ and accompany Bernie on his journey through ‘life on the stage’ before coming back home to ‘spend some time alone and meet the SON I’VE NEVER KNOWN’.
In tribute to an event close to Bernie’s heart a short Celtic style instrumental ensues. STEELHOUSE MOUNTAIN honours the annual South Wales musical extravaganza that takes place on the edge of the Brecon Beacons national park in the surrounds of Hafod-y-Dafal Farm high above the former steeltown of Ebbw Vale. In turn the festival are honouring the memory of Bernie at the 2024 event with a Bernie Fest forming the opening day of Steelhouse Festival 2024. Bernie himself appearing at Steelhouse on many occasions both as a main artist and as a guest with several other artists over the years.
Leaving the beauty of the South Wales countryside behind and ‘walking down the rocky road’ WORKING MAN wonders ‘what he will tell his wife and family’. A sorry factual tale many will identify with (not least of all residents of the former industrial mining communities that make up the area Steelhouse Festival is held in). ‘Just a man trying to pay his bills he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders’. Straight to the point Bernie tells us these are ‘hard times … he ain’t got a job … don’t think he will get one again’. Bernie approaching a real life issue in his own unique heartfelt style, his guitar helping to lift us above the ‘hard times’ facing the subject of this track as he ‘moves the family a hundred miles to make a beginning’.
VALENTINE’S DAY – Quite a Whitesnake feel to this optimistic rocker. ‘Life can be full of ups n downs, sometimes you have to deal with clowns’. Straight to the point once again. Bernie is ‘doing the best I can’ as he urges his partner to ‘stay with me darling, hold onto my hand’, wonderful keyboards providing the backdrop to the female choir during the delightful chorus.
‘Time is moving fast’ but Bernie slows things right down as he ‘lays my burden down … picks up your heart and runs’ to SAVANNAH – Bernie’s soft vocal atop delightful soothing keyboards as we chill out to this peaceful laid back tune.
BAD REPUTATION – A sassy and groovy riff forms the basis to this tune. Filled to the brim with female backing vocals from Caroline Hawkins and Alex McIlquham-Jones it also features a searing lead break from Bernie towards the end.
Opening with a burst of Hammond and Bernie’s soulful guitar YOU KNOW is an emotional love story. ‘When you love someone … You don’t need to keep sending flowers’. You just know!!!
Our album draws to a close with a chance to reflect during THE PEARL a brief instrumental piece.
Early purchasers of this album are however in for an extended treat. As initial first pressings of the vinyl and CD will be accompanied by a bonus disc containing further new recordings. Featuring several reworkings of classic Marsden and Whitesnake tunes this bonus CD alone is reason enough to purchase a copy of WORKING MAN.
Amongst the ten tracks included on this must-have bonus disc are:
LOOK AT ME NOW the title track of Bernie’s 1981 second solo album which is given an energetic work over.
MIDNIGHT BELIEVER – Bernie turns his hand to the funky soul blues of B.B. King’s tune from the 1978 album of the same name.
WHO’S FOOLING WHO – the second track from LOOK AT ME NOW to be given a Whitesnake style workover.
HERE I GO AGAIN – Originally appearing on 1982’s Saints and Sinners album this is the first of four reimagined Whitesnake tracks to be featured. The hobo kicks the drifter into touch and reclaims a rightful place in the chorus of this refreshing Marsden rework.
AIN’T NO LOVE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY – a complete workover of the Bobby Blue Bland classic which Whitesnake first featured on 1978’s Snakebite EP this version features impressive keyboard work from Bob Fridzema.
TIL THE DAY I DIE – the closing track from Whitesnake’s 1981 classic Come An’ Get It album receives a Zeppelin like workover and features Tom Leary on violin.
TIME IS RIGHT FOR LOVE – The fourth consecutive Whitesnake track to be given a workover is taken from 1978’s Trouble.
COME ON IN MY KITCHEN – Robert Johnson’s classic blues from 1936 brings the impressive bonus disc to a close.
Bernie Marsden – The very mention of his name invokes a smile. That smile just gets broader and beams brighter as you spend time with this incredible album. The quality of work on this album demonstrates Bernie at the top of his game – be it on vocals, his incredible talent as a songwriter or the sublime excellence of his guitar work. Though it wasn’t originally intended to do so WORKING MAN serves as a mighty fine tribute to a true giant of the British blues and rock world. A final album to be rightly proud of. Thank you for the music Bernie!
Bernie Marsden – Working Man
Limited Edition Double CD
Disc One
1 Being Famous
2 Midtown
3 Longtime
4 Invisible
5 Son I’ve Never Known
6 Steelhouse Mountain
7 Working Man
8 Valentine’s Day
9 Savannah
10 Bad Reputation
11 You Know
12 The Pearl
Disc Two (Bonus Disc)
1 Look At Me Now
2 Midnight Believer
3 Who’s Fooling Who
4 Just Don’t Have The Time
5 Foolish Day
6 Here I Go Again
7 Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City
8 Til The Day I Die
9 Time Is Right For Love
10 Come On In My Kitchen
Limited Edition Double LP
Side A
1 Being Famous
2 Midtown
3 Longtime
4 Invisible
5 Son I’ve Never Known
6 Steelhouse Mountain
Side B
1 Working Man
2 Valentine’s Day
3 Savannah
4 Bad Reputation
5 You Know
6 The Pearl
Bonus LP
Side C
1 Look At Me Now
2 Midnight Believer
3 Who’s Fooling Who
4 Just Don’t Have The Time
5 Foolish Day
Side D
1 Here I Go Again
2 Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City
3 Til The Day I Die
4 Time Is Right For Love
5 Come On In My Kitchen
WORKING MAN shows that Bernie Marsden was writing and recording at the peak of his powers to the very last.
He was a remarkable man with a huge heart.
www.conquestmusic.co.uk
www.berniemarsden.com
Photo Credit: Adam Kennedy