Rock Artist Management

Reviews

Classic British blues rock from two of our finest unsung heroes

When I was checking out the bio of Peter Barton and Jerry Donahue I couldn't believe that I must have seen and heard each of them scores of times over the years and didn't know it. Between them they've played and recorded with Steve Cropper, Boomtown Rats, Denny Laine, the Swinging Blue Jeans, Fotheringay, Animals and Friends, Chris Rea, Nanci Griffith, Robert Plant and even the legend that is Sir Cliff Richard!

FALLEN is one of those rarities that will become the talk of the Parish without any form of advertising, radio or TV performances. Mark my words, people will stop each other in the street to tell complete strangers how good this album is. The musicianship throughout is staggering and Pete Barton's voice is reminiscent at times of Joe Cocker, Jimmy Nail, Eric Burdon and Bruce Hornsby -- but is definitely his and his alone. Jerry has been a 'guitar for hire' for far too long and FALLEN finally allows him to let loose throughout; but always in a professionally restrained manner. I guess the name Eric Clapton will crop up when some people listen to the singing and guitar playing on FALLEN and they won't be far wrong in that judgement.

The opening track is a belter! The Runner is just crying out to be played over the titles of a gritty police drama on TV. The interplay between Jerry on guitar and Snake Davis on sax will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Silver Horses would be a stand out song on an album by Pete and Jerry's more illustrious friends. There is even more gorgeous sax playing from Snake Davis and the addition of piano and synth from Dave Rowberry and Rick Wakeman at the same time as Peter serenades the love of his life and gives the song more passion than an episode of Sex in the City. I don't want to keep name dropping, as this is Peter Barton and Jerry Donahue's album; but what's not to like on an album that includes Zoot Money, Scott Whitley, Clive Bunker, Mickey Gallagher and the superstars that I've already mentioned?

What's Life About? is a tongue-in-cheek pop at rock's glitterati and First Encounter is an instrumental so cool, it will make Hank B Marvin consider retiring. Italian Cowboy is already a contender for my song of 2010! Very reminiscent of Jimmy Nail's better stuff; the hook is light-hearted enough to be memorable and yet again the musicianship is fabulous and complements Pete's rough-diamond voice like a velvet glove. Baring in mind Peter has been playing and singing Animals songs for the last 10 years it should be no surprise that the album ends with The House of the Rising Sun and this version runs Eric Burdon a very close race! Peter gives the song just the right amount of pathos it deserves and the interplay between Jerry Donahue and Snake Davis (again!) provides enough of an edge to make the song sound fresh again. I demand that you hunt this album down like a rabid dog and insist that the guys tour the UK as early as possible! AH

Maverick Magazine 5/5
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Most impressed...Rather Knopfleresque - vocals and guitar. - Very nice - good songs too. Dave Kelly -The Blues Band

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Album Of The Week Fallen by Peter Barton and Jerry Donahue
Thursday 3rd December 2009

Peter's glorious gritty vocals open this album in a corker of a rock song called The Runner. The soul brass section underpins the lightning blues rock guitar from Jerry.

Organic is a humourous, country rock number with a sway to the rhythm beat. It has a strong hook and melds sax, keyboards and guitar into a crunchy melody. It also has my vote for one of the craziest lines in a song; Don't panic I'm going organic, What Can I Say has some delicate fingerpicking guitar, some sea rush cymbals over a pretty tune. It has a sad feeling of loss pervading the track Mixed Emotion is a cheerful little instrumental with a solid beat and experimental time changes. It has a jazz-charged tinge overlaid by The Shadows style rock 'n' roll guitar.

There is a haunting little jazz blues ballad called Silver Horses and a pure rock 'n' roll sing a long in What's Life About.

A lush instrumental of rock guitar in the style of Eric Clapton makes up First Encounter. .

Peter at his best comes in the powerful track Looking For The Light. It has the distinct Animals And Friends feel and vocals that give shivers down the spine.

Italian Cowboy showcases the softer side of Pete's vocals with female backing singers adding to the gentle touch.

Last but by no means least is Peter and Jerry's version of House Of The Rising Sun, a stunning finale to a rock classic of an album, that is still in my CD player - always a good sign. - Flicky Harrison

Swindon Times

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BR fm

November 2009

Having first heard Peter Barton belting out the classics of The Animals (the Screaming Bear front man with no shoes on his feet) and since reciprocating the role of Geldof in the Boomtown Rats, I was expecting a blazing full on Rock fest, but was pleasantly surprised at this mellower form of grizzly. The reason behind this subtler approach is I suspect from the collaborations with former Fotheringay and Fairport Convention guitarist Jerry Donahue. With guests ranging from Animals' Mickey Gallagher and John Williamson to Donahue's former Fairports' Dave Mattacks and Dave Pegg, plus a Who's Who of Seventies Alternative and you just know this album is going to be something special by the cast.

Sometimes all that glitters is not gold, fortunately that is not the case on Fallen, intelligent, witty lyrics are carried along by some fantastic musical meanderings. The album bursts into life with The Runner with guitars reminiscent of Dire Straits but a lot more fun, risqué even, 'Back door gunner'. Snake Davis adds some mesmerising Sax to proceedings, making the listener want to here the rest of the tracks, an ideal opener. Organic follows next with shades of Mustang Sally. A few instrumentals are mixed with gravely ballad What Can I Say? and Silver Horses. What's Life About? brings us back to the fun of The Runner and includes Zoot Money on Piano and Clive Bunker(Jethro Tull) on Drums. Italian Cowboy with it's oddly delivered vocal style and even odder lyrics would be a fine closer, but Peter and Jerry have not finished with us yet, a barnstorming rendition of House Of The Rising Sun, complete with soaring Sax and delicate note choices from Jerry.

This album works on so many levels, think what Dire Straits could have done if Mark Knopfler had a sense of humour. Some albums you don't like immediately, others are growers, this one has Instant Classic written all over it.

Chris Phillips

BRfm

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Bolton News

November 2009

Peter Barton has been in a number of bands over the years, The Boomtown Rats and The Animals amongst them.

On this album, he has teamed up with the legendary Jerry Donahue (recently part of folk group The Gathering) to record this excellent album with a number of friends.

Most of the album has been written, or co-written by Barton and it is he who supplies the lead vocals.

There are two instrumentals showcasing the exemplary talents of Donahue, but it has to be said that the album is dominated by Barton.

The Animals' influence is evident, and two of the tracks were co-written with John Williamson and John Steel (drummer with the band), and the album finishes with a version of that band's biggest hit 'The House Of The Rising Sun'.

Also on the album is bass player with the current Zombies line-up and The Kinks - Jim Rodford.

Mickey Gallagher (Animals, Blockheads) and Alan Silson (Smokie) appear on 'Organic'.

R'n'B legend Zoot Money supplies piano on 'What's Life About?' and drummers Paul Burgess (10cc), Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull) and Dave Pegg also turn up.

The Animals' old keyboard player Dave Rowberry plays on 'Looking For The Light' and 'Silver Horses', but sadly died before the track was completed.

Diverse influences merge effortlessly throughout the whole album making it a delight to listen to.

By Martin Hutchinson

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As front man and bassist with Animals & Friends for the last decade and more recently also filling the same shoes with original Boomtown Rats Garry Roberts & Simon Crowe, to many PETER BARTON is the epitome of the '1-2-3 go for it from the off' 'live' performer. Intent on taking the show to the audience and determined to drag them to the band, he fearlessly combines either the The Animals' Burdon-Chandler partnership or manages to take on a Geldof-Briquette persona that has delighted 'Rats fans.

The route to these two bands has seen Peter performing with many musicians, including Stax and Otis Redding legend, Steve Cropper, Mick Green of The Pirates (also Paul McCartney, Bryan Ferry, Van Morrison), Trevor Burton (The Move, Steve Gibbons Band) and Denny Laine (Moody Blues, Paul McCartney & Wings). All of which presents you, Dear Listener, with an intriguing prospect with 'Fallen', a new album of mellower, subtler performances of largely original songs that sees Peter continue his creative working relationship with guitarist and 'string-bender' extraordinaire , JERRY DONAHUE.

From his early days in such bands as Fotheringay (with the late Sandy Denny) and Fairport Convention, to notable performances and/or recordings with Gerry Rafferty, Robert Plant, Joan Armatrading, Johnny Hallyday, George Harrison, Cliff Richard, Chris Rea, Warren Zevon, Bonnie Raitt, Hank Marvin, Roy Orbison, Nancy Griffith, The Yardbirds, and The Hellecasters, Jerry epitomizes the consummate guitarists guitarist. The son of the late 1940s/50s Big Band leader Sam Donahue and TV and film actress, Patricia Donahue, brother of the late Marc Donahue, and father of singer/ songwriter Kristina Donahue, Jerry has combined the Celtic folk music of his adopted home in the UK with his American rock, blues and country roots to arrive at his own, unique, unmistakable style.

Both Peter and Jerry previously worked together in the Jerry Donahue Band and whilst Jerry was putting the finishing touches to the second Fotheringay album (which had lain, uncompleted, for 33 years!) in Peter's Acoustic Wood Studios during 2008 in Clitheroe, Lancashire, the two decided to collaborate on an album for the first time under their own names, Jerry having produced Animals & Friends ' 'Instinct' album in 2004.

'Fallen' opens with a sure-fire contender for a TV series signature tune, the Knopfler-esque 'The Runner' before giving way to the wry, irresistible 'Organic', featuring not only the superb sax of Snake Davis, but also, arguably, the most psychedelic solo Jerry Donahue has played for some years ! .'Mixed Emotion' (first recorded for his 'Telecasting-Recast' album), is one of two Donahue instrumentals included on 'Fallen' - the other being the sublime 'First Encounter'. Silver Horses' (which sees keyboard duties shared between the late Dave Rowberry and Rick Wakeman) along with 'Looking For The Light' were originally recorded for The Animals' 'Instinct'. The knockabout boogie of 'What's Life About' features not only the inimitable Zoot Money on piano, but some wonderful mandolin from Simon Brady, accompanied by former Jethro Tull drummer and Jerry Donahue Band member, Clive Bunker.

The album closes with a beautiful reinterpretation of the classic 'House of The Rising Sun' boasting a stellar line-up that includes Gerry Conway (Fairport, Jethro Tull, Cat Stevens) and Pat Donaldson, who were in town to help Jerry with completion of the Fotheringay album.

Other guests on the album include Mickey Gallagher (The Animals, The Blockheads), Dave Mattacks (Fairport Convention) ,Jim Rodford (Argent, The Kinks), Pete Spencer & Alan Silson (Smokie), Dave Pegg (Fairport), Marc Donahue, Foster Paterson (Fish), Alan Thomson (John Martyn), John Williamson (The Animals), Paul Burgess (10CC, Camel, Jethro Tull)) and Peter's daughter Amy Barton.

Dave Hill Tenacity

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FALLEN - Peter Barton & Jerry Donahue