The Jimmy Bowskill Band - Back Number

Jimmy Bowskill's prowess as a killer guitar player and convincingly soulful singer has long been established, and his evolution as a songwriter is now visible on Back Number. It's the most fully realized Jimmy Bowskill Band album to date. The trio features drummer Daniel Reiff and bassist Ian McKeown; Jimmy increasingly involved his bandmates in the writing process. "Generally, we approach a song with a riff idea I may have and we'll expand the song together from there. It's a new experience for me, building a song that way, and it's a lot of fun," Bowskill explains.

On hand this time to co-produce the album with the band was Brian Moncarz (Dean Lickyer, Moneen). Described by superstar producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper) as "one of the hottest young producer/engineers around," Moncarz proved an inspired choice.

"We were all on the same page, and the recording went quickly and smoothly," says Jimmy. "We did all the bed tracks live off the floor. We wanted to capture what we do live, without sugarcoating anything."

The result on Back Number is an album that exhibits real dynamic range, while adhering to the classic sound of a blues-rock trio. "Spirit Of the Town" is a powerful horn-fuelled ballad. That song has deep personal resonance for Jimmy: "I wrote it about my home town of Bailieboro [near Peterborough, Ontario]. I have a really strong connection to that town, and it's about the changes I've seen there over the years."

A notable songwriting peer who admires Jimmy's work is Ron Sexsmith, and the two collaborated on Back Number's "Little Bird." "Ron has definitely been an influence on me over the years," explains Bowskill. "For that song, he came up with a really cool melody and lyrics, and I gave him a riff idea I'd recorded. Sitting down together to write was a lot of fun." Sexsmith also wrote the song "Least Of My Worries" specifically for Jimmy. That tune, a cool jazzy shuffle, features Bowskill playing some fluent barrelhouse piano.

Jimmy's lyrical skills are also in full evidence on "Seasons Change," an epic and soulful song featuring a vocal performance Paul Rodgers (a fan and friend of Bowskill) would be proud to call his own. The propulsive and catchy "Linger On Sweet Time" is another highlight of this consistently strong, filler-free album.

Side 1

Take A Ride

Linger On The Sweet Time

Salty Dog

Little Bird

Sprit Of The Town

Side 2

Sin’s A Good Man’s Brother

Sinking Down

Down The Road

Seasons Change

Broke Down Engine

Least Of My Worries

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