Ricky Ross – This Is The Life

Description

This Is The Life is a solo album by the British singer and songwriter Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue fame, released on Papillon Records in 2002, a division of the Chrysalis Group. Also released on Evolver in the US the following year. The album was recorded and mixed by Kenny MacDonald at Park Lane Studios in Glasgow, Scotland; with MacDonald, David Scott, and Ricky Ross producing. All songs written or co-written by Ricky Ross.

The first couple of songs start slowly and subdued and build to a climax. «Rodeo Boy» takes thing up a gear with its dirty sounding piano sounding like its walked out of a White album session. From there on in the album takes a number of musical directions as «Angel And Mercedes», «Starring Love» and «Hippy Girl» all find Ricky back at his infectious pop best while «Nothing Cures That» and «Threatening Rain» return to his soul roots and there are great ballads aplenty. Once again Mick Slaven’s biting guitar solos kick home throughout the proceedings but these are wonderfully augmented by Davie Scott’s melodic pop contributions on glockenspiel, synthesiser, 12 string and harmonies. «My Girl Going To Town» is perhaps the best track on the album but most of the tracks stand favourable comparison with the back catalogue. 13 great songs well produced and with great performance after performance of songs written for friends, fans, and family members. Shortly before the album eventually came out Ricky explained, “The songs come from the last five years of writing and the title is not meant to be smug but the calm dawning on those of us who are ancient as hell – that life is not a dream far off but present reality. I’ve spent a long time thinking about this album. I honestly believe it to be my life’s work as I seem to have invested so much time and energy writing, recording and haggling to get it released.” Definitely one of Ricky’s best ever records solo or with Deacon Blue. [Dougie Adam, Cross Rhythms, July 2005]

> Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/7fWYsS6WhFdogLdouOHg7z)

CD tracklist:

01. Northern Soul
02. London Comes Alive
03. Rodeo Boy
04. This Is The Life
05. Angel And Mercedes
06. I Sing About You
07. Nothing Cures That
08. Threatening Rain
09. Starring Love
10. Hippy Girl
11. My Girl Going To Town
12. Looking For My Own Lone Ranger
13. The Way To Work

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