John Verity - Blue To My Soul (2017)

'Blue to my Soul' is JV's 20th album since the 'Argent' days and finds John once again in the company of some great musicians, continuing along his chosen path of blues flavoured originals and covers. As ever, the music is powerful yet soulful, mixing UK style guitar blues influences with strong choruses, and lyrics bound to make you smile and perhaps even make you cry...

'Blue to my Soul' comprises six JV originals together with four covers, three of which are already in the JV Band live set, plus an acoustic version of Alabama Blues, featuring Max Milligan on guitar.

The rest of the album features: Steve Rodford or Liam James Gray on drums. Bob Skeat, Roger Inniss, John Gordon or Jamie Mallender on bass. Jamie Pipe, Bob Fridzema, or Ian Gibbons on keyboards. Bianca Kinane or Jayne Tretton on background vocals. The CD is recorded, mixed and mastered entirely at 101 Recorders, Cardington UK.

JV says :-

“When writing and recording for a new album I always try to recall the feedback we’ve had from people at gigs, and online. It’s also useful to bear in mind the response to different types of music on my previous albums. It’s not always the ‘obvious’ ones that capture people’s imagination – sometimes I’ve been really surprised at the reaction I’ve had from certain types of material. That has taught me to have an open mind and just go with my gut feeling and enjoy what I’m creating regardless of the style of music. I know for example that people expect to hear some blues, and some with a rockier edge.

I’ve learned that when I wear my heart on my sleeve most people don’t mind, and can see what I’m trying to say. Some of my more thoughtful songs have turned out to be the most popular.

When it comes to overall choice of material I remember how impressed I was on hearing each new Beatles album in the 60s, and the way they weren’t afraid to do all sorts of different styles of music, and make it work under one roof. Whatever I do is always going to have a blues/rock edge and I feel that this thread ties it all together. Finally, for this album I had to recall the times when people would look through the CDs on our merchandise stand at gigs, asking ‘which one’s ‘Hold Your Head Up’ on?

Well the answer now is - ‘Blue to my Soul’!”