Reviews
Artist:Steve Young Album: Famous For A Day
Label: self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: https://www.musicglue.com/steveyounguk
Steve Young is one of those proper journeyman musicians who seems to have been around forever. The British guitarist and songwriter, originally hailing from the Isle Of Wight and now residing in Hertfordshire, also happens to be a music teacher, corporate entertainer and band coach.
He’s very well connected as well. Early TV appearances with Lionel Richie and Peter Andre led to more touring duties with famous artists, most notably Savage Garden front man Darren Hayes, which ended up with Steve being co-writer on Darren's last album in 2012.
Since then Steve’s live and recorded work has continued to be recognised and acclaimed in equal measure, but on April 26th 2024 he became the centre of a global news story for something maybe more bittersweet, becoming the first person in the world to receive a new mRNA cancer vaccine.
Pretty much a year on and Steve is doing well, with this release set to be timed with the end of his cancer treatment. The ten track album Famous For A Day is described as ‘A rumbustious journey featuring ten head nodding, foot stomping feel-good songs enriched with filthy guitar riffs, emotive lyrics, catchy choruses and epic guitar solos’, which also happens to be chock full of guest performances from esteemed musician far too numerous to mention in person here.
So, that sets us up for the album, as does opening song ‘SYUK Special’ which barges in on an off kilter, Clash style reverb heavy riff topped with Steve’s staccato vocal delivery, closely followed by the glorious swing of ‘Dog ‘N’ Bone’, pop, rock vibe in ‘Come Around’ and the wistful longing of track four, ‘Long Long Road Ahead’
Four songs in and Steve Young has covered more influences and styles than you can throw a stick at, and the rest of the album remains just as strong and varied.
Other personal favourites of mine are the Joe Bonamassa Blues stylings of the fine ‘Who You’, wonderfully riff heavy ‘Feelin’ Fine’ and the artful, almost cinematic scope of album closer ‘My Song’.
Whilst this album title may have been inspired by some portentous life events the content must nonetheless stand on its own merits, and it does this triumphantly.
Ten fine songs, superbly performed and a veritable feast of riffs.
Steve Young’s ‘Famous For A Day’ comes thoroughly recommended.
Paul Jackson
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