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We’ve just see the Pope go home and tonight there’s the repeat of Radio 2’s tribute to John Bonham, The John Bonham Story (narrated by Dave Grohl) and there’s loads of Jimi Hendrix tributes everywhere, Iif there is a connection, this album isn’t it as it was recorded in Malibu, California. That’s because Black Country are an Anglo-American rock supergroup amalgam of Glenn Hughes (ex-Deep Purple bassist), Joe Bonamassa (guitars - loads), Jason Bonham (son of Led Zeppelin’s drummer) and Derek Sheridian (Hammond B3 + Leslie Speaker, Korg keys).

Whilst Glenn is likely to have grown up in the region to the north-east of Brum known as The Black Country, it’s hard to credit Jason as having lived in a Rock Star’s mansion (with swimming pool) round in Quarry Bank or Halesowen. With that moan out of the way (as an former member of the Walsall Swimming Club, I’d recommend a visit to the area especially the Black Country Museum, Dudley Zoo, Walsall’s Art Gallery, the Yeltz and loads of pubs - pause to wipe nostalgic tear from eye duct).

And with the Glenn Hughes Purple connection, there’s some real (not faux or tribute) connections to proper heavy metal that were part of the Black Country’s [geographical] environment and it rocks like UK heritage. If you said, at the start/end of each track you can imagine Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman (RIP) or Tommy Vance (RIP), I don’t think you could get a better recommendation than that.

As I haven’t listened to ‘Stairway To Heaven’ and ‘Smoke On The Water’ for years (or intend to listen) but eight and a half minutes of ‘Song Of Yesterday’ might turn me (except ‘Song Of Yesterday’ is just as good - if not better).

‘No Time’ might not be ‘Black Dog’ but you gotta love it (even the ‘Kashmir’ string interlude and there’s a nod to Jeff Beck’s jazz-rock period) [Must look up Purple’s ‘Smoke On The Water’ jazz version]

And talking of ‘Black Dog’, the title track ‘Black Country’ is their ‘Black Dog’ (as done by DP’s Hughes period): I wanna be a rock chick after experiencing this one.

Hughes vocals sound as good as they used to (particularly ‘The Great Divide’) and he gets most of the lyrics credits. Whilst the lyrics to some, like ‘The Revolution In Me’, are a tad A-level (still another top track with all contributing but Bonham and Bonamassa excelling) it’s doesn’t matter a jot as his vocals have that blues/soul/gospel element that comes to the fore on ‘Stand (at The Burning Tree)’; especially with Sheridan doin’ his stuff - this is so much better than a heavy metal album (post 1976).

Arguably the longest and last track, ‘Too Late For The Sun’ is their opus (bostin keys from our man again) as it builds to a climax as after a bit of guitar dub out.

I’ve been backing away from reviewing this album as if they didn’t do the Black Country justice I’d have slagged them off mercilessly. Thankfully, they haven’t as it’s first rate and if there’s and secret gigs at Ma Pardoes, I want to be there. It’s hard to believe that this 12 track album was recorded in a matter of days (OK, there’s more than one rock cliché included) but it’s a credit to the musicians and evidence that Black Country rock runs in their veins.

A Black Country [the band] gig/audience might be full of 40/60 year old bald blokes playing air guitar but don’t let that put you off getting this CD. You don’t have to be hammering out nails in your back yard or eating drippin’ on a pork scratchings to know that this is going to be big as a steel yard Furness at Merry Hill or as hot as a vegetable samosa at Cape Hill: May the gods of rock bless the one last soul that’s Black Country - time to kiss ya mojo.

Black Country are planning a tour in 2011.

P.S. When the hammer falls, will the Wolves and Baggies stay up this season?

Reviewed: Black Country - Communion (Mascot Records) Car. No. M7319-2 Release date: 20th September 2010
Tracklisting:
1. Black Country (3:14)
2. One Last Soul (3:52)
3. The Great Divide (4:45)
4. Down Again (5:46)
5. Beggarman (4:51)
6. Song Of Yesterday (8:33)
7. No Time (4:13)
8. Medusa (6:57)
9. The Revolution In Me (4:59)
10. Stand (At The Burning Tree) (7:02)
11. Sista Jane (6:55)
12. Too Late For The Sun (11:13)

Links:
www.bccommunion.com
www.mascotrecords.com
Radio 2 The John Bonham Story www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 [listen again for 7 days] The John Bonham Story features new interview material from all three remaining Led Zeppelin members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones; along with Carmine Appice, Paul Rodgers, Lulu; and Bonham’s sister Deborah and son Jason. It first broadcast on BBC 6 Music back in May 2010.
www.yampy.co.uk Annuck and Ayli (that’s Enoch and Eli to people from outside the Black Country