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BCC V is coming
Release date for the Black Country Communion’s fifth studio album V is set for June 14, 2024. A track from the album, called Stay Free, has been posted for your listening pleasure:
Track listing:
- Enlighten
- Stay Free
- Red Sun
- Restless
- Letting Go
- Skyway
- You’re Not Alone
- Love And Faith
- Too Far Gone
- The Open Road
Black Country Communion still are:
Glenn Hughes — vocals & bass guitar
Joe Bonamassa — guitar
Jason Bonham — drums
Derek Sherinian — keyboards
Produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Shirley, ‘V‘ marks a monumental chapter in the band’s storied career, embodying a renewed spirit and an evolution of their unmistakable sound. Shirley captures the essence of the band’s journey, stating, “For a band that started out as a collection of the best practitioners of their instruments, they very quickly found a unique sound. This time around, it has more purpose, the riffs are tougher, and there are hooks! Yes, hooks! It’s the most cohesive record, full of soul and grit, and I think this is the one that’s going to be the benchmark for Black Country Communion“. Glenn [Hughes] agrees, “In my opinion, we had the best time recording this record at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, tons of fun & a magical recording. Meet you inside the Music”.
Since their debut in 2010, Black Country Communion has delivered a series of critically acclaimed albums, each showcasing the group’s ability to fuse British blues-rock with American soul in a way that captivates audiences worldwide. Their return with ‘V‘ and the single “Stay Free” reaffirms their status as rock royalty and showcases their growth as musicians and storytellers.
Kevin Shirley’s insight into the recording process highlights the unique chemistry and camaraderie within the band. “When we convened in 2023 to start recording the album ‘V‘, it really was like picking up the day after the most recent gig,” Shirley reflects. “The camaraderie is immediately evident. Once they start playing, everyone is deadly serious, and the music sounds like this band, and nothing else sounds like it.”
‘V‘ is a milestone that celebrates the journey, talent, and vision of Black Country Communion. As the band embarks on this new chapter, they invite fans old and new to join them in experiencing the depth and power of ‘V‘ and the electrifying energy of “Stay Free“.
The news follows the announcement of the band’s upcoming performance at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA on Sunday, March 17th, 2024. This rare appearance will be the first live performance in America from the band in over 11 years. Presented by Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, all profits from the concert will be donated to support music education and musicians in need. The band is also set to appear on the Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea music festival, sailing from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico from March 18-22, 2024.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
There will be three live recordings on the fourth side of the double vinyl album: “Sway”, “Save Me” and “Wanderlust” recorded during their tour of the UK in 2018.
https://imusic.de/music/0061297907229/black-country-communion-2024-v-lp
March 2nd, 2024 at 22:30Yo,
I love the cover ! It reminds me of the craft that flew over Phoenix in 1997 & had Governor Fife Symington in a ruffle for days, until he got a staff-member to dress-up in an ET-suit on national TV revealing the culprit of the event…
That didn’t go down so well with the general public who saw the craft, but fingers crossed people appreciate the new LP.
Peace !
March 2nd, 2024 at 22:59Cracker of a song, even sounds a little Mk IIIish.
March 2nd, 2024 at 23:51Listened to it today after watching the new SOTW video. I also got a Mk III vibe from it and am looking forward to the entire album. Hope they tour the States (So Cal) again.
March 3rd, 2024 at 02:38This is as good as it gets.
March 3rd, 2024 at 08:33Well done guys and Glenn is still a great freak force of nature when it comes to voice and Bass.
Peace ✌️
Brilliant stuff! To me, has strong vibes of Zep’s Trampled Underfoot, as well as Hendrix and Mk3 Purple.
Can’t wait to hear the rest of the album. I must take my 13 year old Daughter to see BCC- She’s a huge Glenn Hughes fan after seeing him on tour doing Classic Deep Purple late last year.
This deserves to be turned up to 11!
March 3rd, 2024 at 14:46Never been a huge fan of BCC but I do like this… very 70’s vibe and really has a MK III vibe. Nicely (but not overtly) funky with some cool backing vocals.
March 3rd, 2024 at 17:48@6 said…
qt.”To me, has strong vibes of Zep’s Trampled Underfoot”…
+1 here ! More than a hint, but that’s OK, I like the tune & LZ, so it’s a win-win lol !
Peace !
March 4th, 2024 at 11:57The production is very promising indeed but how is this similar to Mk 3?
March 4th, 2024 at 16:39“I like the tune & LZ …”
Now let’s not get carried away, Gregster. A semblance of decorum in a Purple forum (rhymes!) please.
March 4th, 2024 at 16:51Both the verse vocal melody and the chorus are very Mk IIIish, that chorus is something that wouldn’t haven been out of place on Burn, Stormbringer or CTTB, Daniel. Some Blackmore’isms by Herr Bonamassa too, especially at 02:46 and 03:03 – standing on the shoulders of giants or in this case: on the brim of Ritchie’s pilgrim hat!
March 6th, 2024 at 14:26I can’t hear it personally, neither the Mk 3 or Ritchie link. For starters, Glenn’s “shouting” vocal style in the chorus is heavily removed from his style of singing on the Mk 3 albums, where it was 100% melody. Thankfully, he mixes the shouting up with more laid back vocals in the verses. On previous BCC albums his singing has been way over the top. Hopefully he goes for a more nuanced approach on the fifth one 🙂
March 6th, 2024 at 18:29Of course this is sung in Glenn’s voice style of today, Daniel, yes. But being “shouty” has always been a part of Glenn’s style – not to the exclusion of everything else I hasten to add -, it’s when his turbo kicks in, bit like Rob Halford in fact (well, they’re both from the same neck of the woods i.e. Midlands, Glenn’s Cannock and Rob’s Walsall are only 10 miles apart). I mean what he sang in “Burn” (the song) as his vocal line in the chorus was even “screamy”. Since he always harmonized the higher voice to Coverdale’s vocal lines and really belted it out, being “shouty” came as part of the job description.
I’ve been listening to quite a bit of BCC recently and noticed that there is a lot more organ playing going on than I had remembered, there is a reason why Derek Sherinian has become Coverdale’s go-to-keyboarder embellishing Whitesnake’s re-released albums with organ parts that previously weren’t there.
March 7th, 2024 at 13:16Nothing that is overbearing vocally on those Mk 3 albums. That came much later. With BCC, in fact. Wish he would sing like he did on Hughes/Thrall more often. Glenn is at his best when he doesn’t overdo it. Some days I feel Hughes/Thrall is the ultimate Glenn showcase, both in terms of his vocals and bass playing.
March 7th, 2024 at 16:44I’m totally with you, Daniel, Hughes Thrall is the pinnacle of Glenn’s work when doing AOR/meldodic rock/pop with a touch of New Wave. Unfortunately, both Thrall and him were too coked out of their heads to promote it sensibly.
Unfortunately, Glenn by himself is not really a pop writer (he’s said so himself), whether it’s his solo albums, BCC or The Dead Daisies, he has a way of writing and constructing songs as well as singing them that is somewhere between Brit gritty Hard Rock, his Soul influence and a good dose of Grunge. That’s why some people say that all the music where he collaborates in the writing process sounds the same. I find that a little harsh and unfair, but there is certainly a general Glenn Hughes recipe for his own music.
March 8th, 2024 at 01:16Take a song like Muscle and Blood. Killer riff with a bass line that has more swagger than anything else I can think of 🙂
March 8th, 2024 at 19:21If you listen to Sweet Revenge from the new Hughes/Robin George release (on Spotify), he almost sounds like a completely different singer there to what you are hearing on the new BCC single. Granted, the former was recorded in 1989 and Glenn is getting older too. But still, his singing on BCC’s Stay Free only shows a fraction of the unleashed Glenn you are getting on Sweet Revenge, in my opinion. He’s become more limited in his expression that way. Studio wise, that is. He was still unleashed when I saw him live last year 🙂 Are you catching him in Germany next month, Uwe? Will be interesting to hear your thoughts.
March 8th, 2024 at 19:45Yes indeed regarding Glenn Hughes and his changed vocal delivery. I was shocked & really disappointed when I purchased the Iommi Hughes album Fused. I have stated this before here a few years ago. His vocal delivery was poor & had changed so much from what I previously knew & liked. It is what it is. He was a fantastic vocalist back in the earlier days & still singing great on the Tony Iommi ‘Seventh Star’ album in 1986. Not to worry. Cheers.
March 8th, 2024 at 21:44I’m lined up for two of Glenn’s solo gigs in the coming months, darn right I will report, Daniel!
I believe it started with Addiction (the album) when Glenn changed his style in delivery. He somehow decided that everything should become grittier, his voice, his bass sound and his music. Blame Nirvana. But he feels at home with that style and has largely kept it since then. Mind you, Glenn’s work with Trapeze was grittier than what he did with Purple too. Trapeze could not afford the type of album productions Purple had – and you heard the difference.
March 9th, 2024 at 02:45Sounds good 🙂 I don’t think it’s a matter of Glenn no longer being able to sing in that melodic rock vein, but rather him purposefully moving into another direction. It just happens so that Glenn’s preferred style of delivery is not necessarily what the fans crave from him. Many of his fans rate his collaborations with Thrall, Norum, Moore, Phenomena and the Europe guys as the moments where he shine the most. And these are all representative of the kind of melodic rock that he has consistently turned his back on. But as he says himself, gotta keep changing 🙂 In a way, it would be somewhat sad if he was still stuck in 1989 mode. I just wish he would get back some of that “juice” in his singing again. Think Feel from 1995 🙂
March 9th, 2024 at 11:55Right, Glenn can do pop easy
https://youtu.be/YatoBNyAoJk ,
but it’s just not his choice, he’s no John Wetton (I loved him as a bassist/singer too, big ASIA fan here).
https://youtu.be/MiYlWgnlqqA
When Wetton was AWOL from Asia, I always wondered: “Why is no one giving Glenn a call?”, but of course they did not want to replace an alcoholic with a coke head at the time. Greg Lake, while a logical choice on paper, struggled with the Wetton material vocally. I’m no John Payne hater, but he was no Wetton either.
And don’t tell me that Asia were more Prog than pop, someone once called them aptly “thinking man’s Air Supply”. 😂 But then I like Air Supply too, I enjoy my music pizza with extra cheese topping!
Another band Glenn could have slotted in nicely with his skill set would have been Wishbone Ash once Martin Turner had been ousted. That didn’t happen either.
March 9th, 2024 at 16:29Settle down Uwe, Glenn Hughes in Asia or even worse Wishbone Ash????????? No way, how to ruin a good band yes indeed. In regards to Greg Lake he didn’t join Asia at all & never would, he was only helping out Carl Palmer who was desperate for the band not to lose that gig, for many reasons. Asia was never for Greg Lake, he did a good job though at that concert being thrown in at the deep end with pretty well no notice. Two mighty vocalist are John Wetton & Greg Lake and not too bad as bass guitarists & songwriters. Not to mention Lake as a guitarist also. Both are very much missed in this musical world. Cheers.
March 9th, 2024 at 21:45That version of Video killed… was recorded in the early 90s. I don’t think Glenn would be able to produce that kind of vocal today, I’m afraid. He could still probably be more melodic if he wanted to.
March 10th, 2024 at 06:34Glenn can still do amazing stuff, just listen to this comparatively recent recording which unfortunately hasn’t seen a proper release yet because the whole project seems to have faltered due to its founder Gary Miller passing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv1dIN87C3M
Next to the Police original this is the best version I know. Glenn sings it with a raw edge, but so did Sting and it fits the subject matter.
******************************************************
Herr MacGregor, I know that you are the perennial ELP groupie and how you go to bed with your cuddly stuffed Tarkus toy every night,
https://i.redd.it/9whtxoppwup91.jpg
I wasn’t knocking your beloved Greggie boy, of course he’s a gifted musician. I have that Asia live recording too, let’s just say he soldiered through the tracks manfully if without any esprit de corps.
Not sure whether his tenure might not have been longer with the band had things gelled better, he did record with Geoff Downes after all, you know how incestuous those Proggies are:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i-KaUeVQ4g&list=PLvVInkWctBZtBoFkFxXW0E1i0Z6BuV_bQ
You’re aware of the stuff Glenn did with Keith (he is uncharacteristically subdued at first, but makes himself more than heard at 03:55)?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwws-ZF-O_g
More deep cuts from them, the one about the mythical armadillo creature with tank tracks included.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28abTOUwlaM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMC_fA0ChzU
March 10th, 2024 at 16:29The Geoff Downes & Greg Lake material did re surface towards the end of Greg’s life, which he was positive about. Although back when they did it he apparently wasn’t all that chuffed on it. The 1980’s eh, too much for me that over produced sound & style of the original songs. Greg Lake also fell for that back then as so many others did. Geoff Downes whilst a very good keyboard player has a too much commercial take on things to my ears. The way Asia became after their debut album & his production on a few albums ( GTR with Howe & Hackett for one). Downes has worked with some of the best indeed, however it always seems to be so commercial & influenced by his style & his sounds in everything he touches. Except for the Drama album with Yes & the first Asia record Downes usually leaves me wondering, what if? The Glenn Hughes performance with Keith Emerson & Marc Bonilla & others I do remember reading about & I have never heard that until now. Thanks for the links, not my cup of tea regarding Hughes vocal on Lake’s songs with ELP. Too soulful etc but that is Hughes take on the songs, he has to put his spin on it I suppose & the same with Whiter Shade of Pale. Over singing at times, something that Greg Lake never ever did. Not to worry it was interesting to hear all the same. That lineup & Hughes wasn’t playing bass by the look of it. The Roxanne version is good as I thought it would be. A rather similar style to Hughes is Sting’s vocal in that sense. Thanks again. Cheers.
March 10th, 2024 at 23:44Yes, Downes has a very playful, commercial pop touch and sheen, much more so than Emerson, Wakeman (all Wakemans actually) and Jobson or, for that matter, Airey and Lord. For some reason I never took him to be a great improviser, but he excels as an arranger, songwriter and provider of nicely poppy and catchy embellishing keyboard lines. If that is your thing.
I’ve seen him with YES once and a couple of times with ASIA. He belonged better with ASIA I thought.
March 11th, 2024 at 03:45Roxanne was recorded ~ 10 years ago.
March 12th, 2024 at 18:42Downes is definitely an Asia only keyboard player indeed. He is the most ‘not up for it’ keyboard player Yes have ever had. Steve Howe likes it nice & easy these days, gone are the challenges that other musicians throw at him. Chris Squire also backed off in his musical approach in later years. Yesasia or Asiayes. Cheers.
March 13th, 2024 at 20:41A visual audio of Stay Free now released …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfS37sqWCHM&t=207s
And a Trapez’ish unreleased BCC track (except on vinyl) that has been waiting in the vaults:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgXV2L8C4XU
March 19th, 2024 at 20:09