The Music of Jock Bartley

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BLINDSIDE CD AMERICAN REVIEWS

“For those who've only known Jock Bartley for his hot licks and tender pickings with Firefall, it will 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 masterpiece 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 has recorded "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 from ‘Breakfast With The Beatles’ on 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. Jock on!"
G. BROWN KCUV Denver & author of ‘Colorado Rocks – A Half-century of Music in Colorado’

"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

“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.”
ERIK DYCE Marketing Director of Red Rocks Ampitheater and Denver Theaters & Arenas

"Let me send you a comment a listener sent after hearing the song: "Woo hoo, he is the real deal! Play more!" Let me tell you, we agree and we will. The music has passion and fire and the playing is skilled but not sterile. Excellent stuff.”
NR Davis, Grateful Dread Radio

BLINDSIDE CD EUROPEAN REVIEWS

Zeitgast > UK > Reviews > Jock Bartley - ‘Blindside’ > Winged Horse Records > www.zietgeist-scot.co.uk
Generally speaking, life is a a series of mild disappointments. Days go by with nary a flutter of excitement as one grey day rolls into another But sometimes life throws you a frolicking puppy of a prize. And so it was another grey day when the dull clunk heralded a visit from the postman. A day not enlivened by the huge pile of CDs lying there, their padded envelopes glaring at me. I could almost smell the flurry of post hardcore EPs, pressed up by Myspace wannabees. But, dedicated reviewer that I am, I started ripping them open, hoping for the merest glimmer of magic. And there it was, an innocuous blue folder that somehow drew my hands towards it. I opened it, and there it was. Just like that. The debut solo album from Jock Bartley. Fortunately I keep a supply of smelling salts handy to deal with situations like this.
Now I'm working on the principle that you will be shaking your heads wondering what I'm banging on about, so let me tell you. Jock Bartley was the lead guitarist with Firefall. Still no? The finest of all the seventies country rock pioneers, a band I have spent far too much Ebay cash on. And then my eye caught sight of the names appearing with him - Richie Furay and Rusty Young from Poco, John McEuen and Jimmie Fadden from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, fellow Firefall ex Mark Andes. Assorted members of the Subdudes, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, String Cheese Incident and more! This was promising to be manna from heaven. Or another dose of the disappointments.But I took a deep breath and dived on in. And, oh, it is good. And just to confirm Jock’s place in the pantheon of guitar greats, this was the guy who replaced Tommy Bolin and Zephyr and was later hired as lead guitarist by Gram Parsons to play with him and Emmylou Harris in the Fallen Angels Band. And it was with Parsons replacement in the Flying Burrito Brothers, Rick Roberts, that Jock Bartley was to form Firefall with. Now, that's quality, and this record is absolutely drenched in it.
Taking in the whole gamut of rootsy rock and roll music, this covers country rock, blues, ballads and more as Jock totally goes for it. An absolutely essential album - key tracks, well pretty much them all, but you might want to start with the hard driving Santana / Manassas like vibe of 'Just Let Go', the blues drenched 'I Used to Say' or the gumbo sound of 'Goodhearted Man'.

I have been following Jock since the 1970’s and find that the depth of his voice as well as his near virtuoso talent with the guitar makes "Blindside" a near masterpiece. This is really an excellent CD which emphasizes the singing and playing skills of a real 21st Century talent. The style and range of tracks on this CD show the real depth and breadth of Jock's abilities. Although supported many well known artists this talented and accomplished musician deserves to hit the big time in his own right! Jock Bartley is a must be artist for this big time.
- Freddy Celis, Rootstime, GERMANY

Media name: Peggy MacNeil
Company name: Isles FM, SCOTLAND
Date: 2007-03-07 09:54:56
Feedback: Brilliant CD which arrived safe and sound today. One of these Albums you start listening to and can't stop until you hear it all! This Album deserves all the airplay it can get.

Media name: Jan Nederveen
Company name: Radio 794, NETHERLANDS
Date: 2007-03-06 12:38:29
Feedback: 2 Jock Bartley Economy {starten op 4 sec) CDP1003 4.09 9 06 The songs from “Blindside are straight rock music from the singer/ songwriter Jock Barley. I must confess, I’ve heard of Jock Bartley before. And that is ashamed, because it is a very fine cd with fine songs. Each song has it’s own sphere, so like the song “Call on me”. That is more a ordinary rock song with a good chorus. The songs from this cd are worth to be played on the radio and that is what I will do tonight in this program. I have coose for “Economy” because it’s heavy guitar licks in the accompaniment.
Read the Press Release: Firefall Guitarist Debut CD Features All-Star Line-up

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©2006 Jock Bartley / Azure Productions

BLINDSIDE CD AMERICAN REVIEWS
“For those who've only known Jock Bartley for his hot licks and tender pickings with Firefall, it will 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 masterpiece 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 has recorded "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 from ‘Breakfast With The Beatles’ on 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. Jock on!" G. BROWN KCUV Denver & author of ‘Colorado Rocks – A Half-century of Music in Colorado’

"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

“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.” ERIK DYCE Marketing Director of Red Rocks Ampitheater and Denver Theaters & Arenas

"Let me send you a comment a listener sent after hearing the song: "Woo hoo, he is the real deal! Play more!" Let me tell you, we agree and we will. The music has passion and fire and the playing is skilled but not sterile. Excellent stuff.” NR Davis, Grateful Dread Radio

BLINDSIDE CD EUROPEAN REVIEWS
Zeitgast > UK > Reviews > Jock Bartley - ‘Blindside’ > Winged Horse Records > www.zietgeist-scot.co.uk Generally speaking, life is a a series of mild disappointments. Days go by with nary a flutter of excitement as one grey day rolls into another But sometimes life throws you a frolicking puppy of a prize. And so it was another grey day when the dull clunk heralded a visit from the postman. A day not enlivened by the huge pile of CDs lying there, their padded envelopes glaring at me. I could almost smell the flurry of post hardcore EPs, pressed up by Myspace wannabees. But, dedicated reviewer that I am, I started ripping them open, hoping for the merest glimmer of magic. And there it was, an innocuous blue folder that somehow drew my hands towards it. I opened it, and there it was. Just like that. The debut solo album from Jock Bartley. Fortunately I keep a supply of smelling salts handy to deal with situations like this. Now I'm working on the principle that you will be shaking your heads wondering what I'm banging on about, so let me tell you. Jock Bartley was the lead guitarist with Firefall. Still no? The finest of all the seventies country rock pioneers, a band I have spent far too much Ebay cash on. And then my eye caught sight of the names appearing with him - Richie Furay and Rusty Young from Poco, John McEuen and Jimmie Fadden from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, fellow Firefall ex Mark Andes. Assorted members of the Subdudes, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, String Cheese Incident and more! This was promising to be manna from heaven. Or another dose of the disappointments.But I took a deep breath and dived on in. And, oh, it is good. And just to confirm Jock’s place in the pantheon of guitar greats, this was the guy who replaced Tommy Bolin and Zephyr and was later hired as lead guitarist by Gram Parsons to play with him and Emmylou Harris in the Fallen Angels Band. And it was with Parsons replacement in the Flying Burrito Brothers, Rick Roberts, that Jock Bartley was to form Firefall with. Now, that's quality, and this record is absolutely drenched in it. Taking in the whole gamut of rootsy rock and roll music, this covers country rock, blues, ballads and more as Jock totally goes for it. An absolutely essential album - key tracks, well pretty much them all, but you might want to start with the hard driving Santana / Manassas like vibe of 'Just Let Go', the blues drenched 'I Used to Say' or the gumbo sound of 'Goodhearted Man'.

I have been following Jock since the 1970’s and find that the depth of his voice as well as his near virtuoso talent with the guitar makes "Blindside" a near masterpiece. This is really an excellent CD which emphasizes the singing and playing skills of a real 21st Century talent. The style and range of tracks on this CD show the real depth and breadth of Jock's abilities. Although supported many well known artists this talented and accomplished musician deserves to hit the big time in his own right! Jock Bartley is a must be artist for this big time. - Freddy Celis, Rootstime, GERMANY

Media name: Peggy MacNeil Company name: Isles FM, SCOTLAND Date: 2007-03-07 09:54:56 Feedback: Brilliant CD which arrived safe and sound today. One of these Albums you start listening to and can't stop until you hear it all! This Album deserves all the airplay it can get.

Media name: Jan Nederveen Company name: Radio 794, NETHERLANDS Date: 2007-03-06 12:38:29 Feedback: 2 Jock Bartley Economy {starten op 4 sec) CDP1003 4.09 9 06 The songs from “Blindside are straight rock music from the singer/ songwriter Jock Barley. I must confess, I’ve heard of Jock Bartley before. And that is ashamed, because it is a very fine cd with fine songs. Each song has it’s own sphere, so like the song “Call on me”. That is more a ordinary rock song with a good chorus. The songs from this cd are worth to be played on the radio and that is what I will do tonight in this program. I have coose for “Economy” because it’s heavy guitar licks in the accompaniment. Read the Press Release: Firefall Guitarist Debut CD Features All-Star Line-up

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