LEE KERSLAKE – Eleventeen (2021)

Late OZZY OSBOURNE and URIAH HEEP drummer LEE KERSLAKE‘s debut solo album ”Eleventeen” has just received a posthumous release via HNE Recordings, the hard rock and metal arm of Cherry Red Records.
It’s a joyous collection of timeless rock songs showcasing his remarkably strong voice and wide influences. Opener ‘Celia Sienna’ is sensitive, while ‘Take Nothing For Granted’ wouldn’t be out of place on an early-80s Uriah Heep album.

He shows his more raucous side on the honky-tonk fun of ‘Port And A Brandy’, and does a fine interpretation of Carole King’s ‘You’ve Got A Friend’, before the instrumental ‘Mom’ provides a sedate timbre to close with.

Kerslake’s personal notes on each song suggests he knew this would be his final work. It’s a welcome reminder of his skills.
“Take Nothing For Granted” “is based around my wife and then some,” said Lee, evidently with tongue firmly in cheek. Elsewhere, “Where Do We Go From Here”, according to Lee, is about how “ot’s all too late to realize… where do we go from here? I’ve had to many argumentative girls in my life!!!”.

“You May Be By Yourself (But You’re Never Alone)” was written “when Bob Daisley gave such a loving look to Squish, his daughter. It moved me all those years ago.” According to Uriah Heep guitarist Mick Box’s dedication on the album, “The song ‘Port And A Brandy’ made me smile as we have shared many of them together over the years.”
Next up is a heartfelt rendition of Carole King’s timeless “You’ve Got A Friend”, which Lee dedicates to “all of my friends past and present who I have loved through music.”

Kerslake passed away last September, so there’s something poignant about his debut solo album being released now. But putting aside such thoughts, judged solely on its musical merits ”Eleventeen” is a fine Classic Rock record.

 

01 – Celia Sienna
02 – Take Nothing For Granted
03 – Where Do We Go From Here
04 – You May Be By Yourself (But You’re Never Alone)
05 – Port And A Brandy
06 – You’ve Got A Friend
07 – Home Is Where The Heart Is
08 – Mom

 

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