- 'Passion' is JV's 21st album. This short film offers an insight into the new album, the creative process along with John's influences. It also features sneak previews of some of the albums songs. The Album itself, documents fifty years of musical travels across eight wonderful tracks from a man who most certainly still has the Passion.—Earl Barrington
- "A summary of my influences" is how John Verity describes his latest album in what is his 50th year as a solo artist. We saw John at Giants of Rock in January and were impressed not least with an overflowing merch stall reflecting great industry over those five decades and indeed more recently.
Of course many will recall that for a time Verity was in a later line-up of Argent after Russ Ballard had gone and then formed Phoenix whom many considered to be Argent-lite.
He produced Saxon's debut album in 1979 and two years later joined pop rockers Charlie co-producing their fifth album (ironically band founder Terry Thomas went on to produce several big names in the late 1980s/early 1990s including Bad Company and Foreigner) Verity has beaten a solo trail ever since.
'Passion' is a fair stock take of John's music in 2020. 'Higher' recalls Ritchie Kotzen ('Fooled Again') but is a neat enough opener followed by another great rocker 'Wise Up' with a topical lyric and a groove that reminds of Michael Schenker (a la 'Armed And Ready').
'Sand In My Pocket' has a hint of Bad Company mixed with the Isley Brothers ('That Lady'). 'Broken Heart' slows things down with a late night soulful groove punctuated by tasteful guitar. This was another song that impressed at Giants Of Rock.
'Big Stick' and 'Bad Boy' are conventional rockers whilst 'Red Devil' pays tribute to Ginger Baker and is caste in sixties power trio mode a la 'Politician'. The album closes with an attractive instrumental 'The Open Road'.
Yes, the influences are here loud and clear, it's a little derivative, but characterized throughout by great playing and musical sensibility. Verity's previous album was 'Blue To My Soul' in 2017 and 'Passion' is a great update for fans, re-stating his credentials as one of rock's real national treasures.
Here then, is this delightful film that explores in greater detail some of those avenues. John talks us through some of his home studio techniques along with a few clips of the new album as a taster. Glorious stuff, and you'll notice a more rockier approach than what we've seen more recently from the guitar maestro. Check it out, look for it through John's website or Youtube. You'll be spinning this discs for many years to come.
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