Welcome to Frankie’s Film & Music! I’m the ‘Melody Freak’ Frankie Akhi. It has been 52 days since Andry Hernandez Romero was illegally deported, by the American government, to a Salvadoran prison. And, the album I want to talk about today is a brand new release from rock and roll’s ‘kings of the western world,’ Deacon Blue, and the album is called ‘The Great Western Road.’
Deacon Blue are a Scottish six-piece band fronted by husband and wife team Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh. Their debut album was the seminal Raintown, followed over the years by records like Walking Back Home, Believers, and City of Love. And The Great Western Road is a really solid outing, with one good tune after another, including the title song, in addition to ‘Late ‘88,’ ‘Underneath the Stars,’ ‘Turn Up Your Radio,’ and the quietly beautiful ‘Curve of the Line:’
Deacon Blue write songs about people’s lives, which is what makes this essential rock music for our time. Rock and roll ain’t about the affluent or well-to-do, who can afford $10,000 vintage guitars and Marshall stacks. It’s about the will of the working man, and the hopes and dreams of the downtrodden. And, they’re no strangers to hard work and perseverance - that’s evident in their prolific output.
They’re from the post-war era, where it was gospel that if you played by the rules and busted your ass, you could live a good life. But, throughout their time just as a band. the world’s changed. And, people’s faith has been shaken. Some despair at this and bemoan that our best days are behind us, while others withdraw from reality altogether. However, the working class, who are reminded every day of what this world really is, forge on. They still hope for a better tomorrow, and are willing to sacrifice for it. To give the next generation what they didn’t have.
Through good times and bad, the will of the common man carries our society and culture forward, toward peace and progress. And, I think rock and roll is a celebration of that ethos. Deacon Blue sing songs of love, loss, renewal and, indeed, songs for our time.
What’s most striking about this band’s music are the variations they’re able to come up with on happy and noble themes - not something you hear much these days. And, oddly, their sound hasn’t changed that much since 1987. If you’re not familiar with their discography, it’s hard to even put a decade on much of their work. I guess you could say their songs are expressions that are authentically Ricky, Lorraine, and the band, exploring the dimensions of their lives and, perhaps, pieces of their souls.
That right there is one of them - among the best songs in Deacon Blue’s catalog are their biggest hit ‘Dignity,’ as well as ‘Chocolate Girl,’ ‘Ribbons and Bows,’ ‘Jesus Do Your Hands Still Feel the Rain,’ ‘In Our Room,’ and ‘Look Out,’ leaving out some other real gems. The members of the band are James Prime, Dougie Vipond, Gregor Philp, Lewis Gordon, and of course Ross and McIntosh. The Great Western Road was released on March 21, 2025. I think you’ll dig it.
And that’s my review for today - please like, subscribe, comment, and join me again, next time, on Frankie’s Film & Music.
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