With the great 50s-influenced “Rock ‘N’ Roll Boys,” Ricky Byrd opens his first-ever album, Lifer. This autobiographical little ditty sets the stage perfectly for what turns out to be a great rock and roll guitar album with tons of heart and some really great songs. Byrd is known not only from his stints playing electric guitar for such heavyweights as Ian Hunter and Roger Daltrey, but also for his iconic turn in Joan Jett’s Blackhearts band. He’s the main axe man on “I Love Rock and Roll” and co-wrote a number of tunes with the former Runaway. On Lifer, we see him busting out good and hard with his first solo record, full of influences and acumen.
“Foolish Kind,” a sweet mid-tempo love song, sees more of Byrd’s fine melodic sense; actually, many of the tunes are built around very singable choruses. The groove gets going with the wonderful horns (Chris Anderson on trumpet and Neal Pawley on sax) on “Ways Of A Woman” and some of Byrd’s best vocals. “Wide Open” has the guitarist playing acoustic with another stellar vocal.
We’re into some solid slide playing on “Dream Big” with its big infectious chorus. “Things To Learn” absolutely rocks with solid drumming from Shawn Murray. On the sweet chorus of “Turnstyle ’01,” Byrd sounds like Ian Hunter, while his guitar picking meshes well with the organ work of Jeff Kazee on this lovely ballad that closes the album. Not that you’d have any doubt that someone with Ricky Byrd’s history couldn’t produce a great album, but Lifer is even better than one could have ever hoped for.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
