However, it is a highly recommended listen to the new album by Jim Cregan & Co, out now and available via most platforms. Or better still, check out their tour dates and pick up a cd whilst attending a live gig near you!
Review by Colin Baker – January 2022.
Itâs never easy to establish your own brand when your major selling point has been covering a high profile artists material for the passed decade (initially under the title of Apart From Rod) â even for such a talented song writer as Jim Cregan.
Too many references as being âA Tribute bandâ can become very annoying, even if the principal songs you perform have been made famous by (Sir) Rod Stewart, when in fact itâs your own name included under the majority of the tracks references of âwritten byâ.
So late December whilst excited to be back attending a concert of Cregan & Coâs, I was lured into purchasing the groups latest CD release comprising 12 songs, of which only 2 are you ever likely to have heard of before.
The refreshing new original material is very well produced and features shared vocals from the unique gravel voice of Ben Mills, the soulful sound of Sam Tanner and a treat of Jim singing solo thrown in as well. Just add that to the quality of the groupâs musical talent, with Harry James on drums and Pat Davey (also part of Kenney Jones
âgangâ) on bass, and I think you will find a bit of a âgemâ is available to add to your playlist.
The skilled song writing of Jim Cregan (10 of the 12 tracks can be attributed to Jim as having either solely written them or co-written) offers you a variety of tempos.
NâOubliez Jamais (Never Forget – for those of us that didnât get their French âOâ level, plus saves you yelling at âAlexaâ for a translation!) is a great opening track that sets the tone for the whole album. A little bit of research and I found that Joe Cocker released this song back in 1997, it became a hit in both France and Germany, itâs out there on You Tube and will give you a taste of the type of quality found throughout this album.
Ballads with numbers such as Start Cryinâ, Guardian Angel, All Those Dreams Ago and a song you probably recognise Friend For Life (which I hadnât appreciated Jimâs co-writing with Steve Harley), will serenade you over a candle lit dinner.
Probably the song – Itâs Only What We Do, has a real rock feel about it, but the remaining 5 tracks (I exclude Downtown Train â as I feel I donât need to comment on) each vary in their melody beat that will get stuck inside your head.
My personal view is, I love the lyrics on Donât Listen and All Those Dreams Ago, alongside Start Cryinâ and NâOubliez Jamais, these are my favourites on the album.
I hope you take the time to give the album a listen and if you do, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Note – final track – All Those Dreams Ago, Jimâs final lyrics are âAnd the best is yet to comeâ – if there is more in the locker like this album, please get recording as I canât wait to hear some more.
*If you havenât read Jimâs autobiography âAnd On Guitarâ â I highly recommend this as well. Why not buy both via their website: https://www.creganandco.com/