Bernie Marsden - Kings

Bernie Marsden
Kings
(Conquest)
8/10
By Decibel Report

Carefully polishing the thrones of three blues legends, Bernie Marsden does BB, Freddie, and Albert King proud with his fine execution of choice cuts on this homage to these royal blues greats.

Bernie’s rendition of Albert King’s Don’t Lie To Me kicks off an album brimming with respect, his creamy sweet guitar tone and strong vocal heralds a track selection of all strengths and no weaknesses. And Freddie King’s Help Me Through The Day is full of the sorrowful feel demanded of this lament to the downtrodden. Showcasing his experienced guile and craft, Woman Across The River's tempo changes and gentle swing is handled masterfully by Bernie and his band. Not forgetting original Beale Street troubadour BB King’s Help The Poor that has just the right easy going level of spirit which the great man himself would nod down to in approval.

Bernie’s voice also suits these numbers very well as Freddie’s appositely titled Me And My Guitar and Same Old Blues sums up the febrile inspiration behind this classy production of blues classics. The passionate performance and feel of these songs will remind the listener of those much-loved Whitesnake blues numbers that this British blues-rock band covered back in the day.

Two original Marsden penned instrumentals also slip seamlessly into this tribute to scratch a seven-year itch since his previous album release. Heavily freighted with Freddie King numbers, it’s clear as blue crystal where Bernie’s empathies lie on this first release of his Inspiration Series. Bernie Marsden puts on a bravura display of guitar brilliance on this album that he was clearly born to make.