Colorado (Glass Onyon PR/ www.jockbartley.net) - Rock 'n' Roll is alive and well as rock music legends convene in the Colorado Mountains to record on a hot new CD! Jock Bartley, lead guitarist, songwriter and leader of '70s U.S. rock sensations Firefall, has just completed his debut solo CD entitled Blindside. Bartley is best known for his inspired work on such classic Firefall hits as "You Are The Woman", "Just Remember I Love You", "Strange Way", "
Cinderella" and "
Mexico". Recorded between January and August 2006, Blindside features guest appearances by such rock luminaries as:
*Richie Furay, former Poco member and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee with the Buffalo Springfield,
*Rusty Young from Poco,
*John McEuen and Jimmie Fadden of The
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,
*Mark Andes from Spirit,
Heart and Firefall,
*John Magne from The Subdudes,
*Brian Nevin from Big Head Todd And The Monsters,
*Michael
Travis of The String Cheese Incident,
*Bob Harris from Warren Zevon, Frank Zappa and Axe, along with many other notable musicians and singers.
Songs from Blindside effortlessly span the musical spectrum - from rock to pop to blues, the album showcases Bartley's extraordinary songwriting talents. The tender, heartfelt ballad "Veronica So Fair" not only displays Jock's vocal prowess, but could quite possibly be one of the finest love songs ever written! The well-crafted pop-rock title cut 'Blindside' is the first single. All songs on Blindside were written by the Firefall guitarist, who also produced the album. Another highlight of this exciting new CD is the positive message song "Call On Me", which was originally written in 1998 for Suicide Prevention . The song became an anthem of sorts for the cause and the national crises hotline, 1(800) SUICIDE. A portion of the proceeds from the sales and performance of "Call On Me" will be donated back to Suicide Prevention, helping to reverse the terrible national statistics.
Here's what the media is saying about Jock Bartley's new CD:
"For those who've only known Jock Bartley for his hot licks and tender solos with Firefall , it'll be a delightful surprise to discover that his songwriting, singing and guitar skills are totally relevant in the 21st century. Jock's solo CD Blindside is a masterwork where the love songs have edgy twists, the topicality comes with biting humor and the music is not pigeonholed into any particular genre. Those who like an edgy, contemporary singer-songwriter-guitar virtuoso should be elated that Jock took the time to record Blindside . It is one of those rare albums that you can slide into your CD player and hit the 'repeat all' button to enjoy over and over again."
- Archer - Breakfast With The Beatles - 99.5 The MTN, Denver
"Jock Bartley has always been a guitar hero to be reckoned with - he was a student of jazz great Johnny Smith, for crying out loud - but his chops were criminally undervalued with the softer ballads that stereotyped Firefall. Jock 's first solo album falls into the 'better late than never' category - besides a roster of guest artists that reads like a Who's Who of Rocky Mountain rock, his monster playing is all over the record."
- G. Brown - KCUV Denver &author of Colorado Rocks - A Half-century of Music in Colorado
"Jock Bartley's Blindside is a hit! It is refreshing to have an accomplished leader provide the vision the music scene so desperately needs right now. Lost in a rudderless-sea of acts, Blindside provides steady and true hand-on-the-wheel songs that pilot us to the promised land. Congratulations Jock!!!"
- Erik Dyce - Marketing Director for Red Rocks Amphitheater and Denver Theaters &Arenas
"Jock is a talented musician, guitarist, artist and songwriter. Because he has toured and been involved in so many recording hits over the last decades, it gives him a musical perspective that shines through on his new solo CD."
- Paul Reed Smith, master guitar maker of PRS Guitars
"This is a much wider-ranging project than what we have heard on the many fine Firefall releases over the years, and it all works. This is music that is viable in 2007, where many of Firefall's '70s contemporaries have fallen into 'golden oldies' status? 'Veronica So Fair' ranks with the best ballads of Crosby, Stills and Nash, and they would do well to cover it."
- Mark Saxon, Songwriters Guild of America, East Coast Project Manager
Blindside is now available on the new independent record label Winged Horse Records. It is also available on www.jockbartley.net and My Space for individual songs or entire CD download. Blindside can also soon be purchased online from CDBaby.com, iTunes and E-Bay. In support of Bartley's new album, plans for a major tour of the US and Europe are in the formative stages.
In Addition to his new CD and continuing work with Firefall, Jock is an artist of growing renown. Four of his Beatles paintings are featured in a new coffee table book released worldwide, entitled Beatles Art - Fantastic New Artworks of The Fab Four, in which Jock has also written the foreword. Borders Books is sponsoring a number of Colorado and national book signing 'events' in which they will also display, promote and sell his solo CD Blindside.
For more information: www.jockbartley.net & www.firefall.com