“Bed of Roses” is a joy-filled, randy trip down memory lane with the incomparable Ian Hunter, master songscribe and long time collaborator with the late, great guitarist Mick Ronson.
His new album, Defiance Part I will be released on April 21. You can pre-order your copy here: https://sunrecords.lnk.to/BedOfRoses
“Bed of Roses” happily describes a well-loved but long gone club scene and young musician’s lifestyle. The song doesn’t break any barriers or push any boundaries, but it takes the listener back to a certain place, where the insider’s all in the know, wink [from the guy who wrote “The Outsider“].
“If the lamps don’t sway/you just died,” Hunter sings at one point, in what has to be the best “played every club” lyric ever.
Inviting onetime Heartbreaker Mike Campbell in to play lead guitar gives the song a southern accent, timeless overtones and everpresent immediacy. Campbell’s ability to fit his riffs to the song are as good as they’ve ever been. He seamlessly transitions between setting the tone with his opening riffs and moving to gorgeous slide fills throughout the ditty.
The same Ringo who pounded life into “Help“ and “Penny Lane“ is the rollicking, beating heart of this song. Note well the “giddy up” beats after the first chorus. This left handed timekeeper, funseeker and Captain of the “Yellow Submarine” drums the groove back into Ian Hunter’s good old memories in a way no drum machine ever could.
Lay yourself down on this “Bed of Roses” and enjoy the comeback single of the year.
