For those not in the know, Ten Years After are best known for their Platinum-selling album A Space in Time which featured the Top 40 hit 'I'd Love to Change the World', and their prodigious performance appearance at the Woodstock Festival in upstate New York, August 1969.

Indeed, their rendition of 'I'm Going Home' was featured in both the subsequent film and soundtrack album and catapulted them to star status.

Original members Ric Lee and Chick Churchill have continued this legacy and are now rounded out by Guitarist/Vocalist Marcus Bonfanti and Bass Icon Colin Hodgkinson.

A Sting in the Tale was engineered and produced by Bonfanti at his Cricklewood Green Studios in Cricklewood, North London and mixed by acclaimed Canadian mix engineer Doug Organ in Edmonton Canada.

The 4 bonus live tracks, including 'I’d Love To Change The World' were recorded during a subsequent tour in Erfurt, Germany.

As Drummer Ric Lee states, “The creative process of the studio album was a joy. Writing and recording together, being able to construct songs that reflect the personalities, memories and experiences of each of the members was extremely satisfying."

"We’re very happy that Deko suggested adding four live bonus tracks to make this the Deluxe Edition".

1. 'Land Of The Vandals'
2. 'Iron Horse'
3. 'Miss Constable'
4. 'Up In Smoke'
5. 'Retired Hurt'
6. 'Suranne Suranne'
7. 'Stoned Alone'
8. 'Two Lost Souls'
9. 'Diamond Girl'
10. 'Last Night Of The Bottle'
11. 'Guitar Hero'
12. 'Silverspoon Lady'
13. 'Land Of The Vandals' (live)
14. 'Last Night Of The Bottle' (live)
15. 'Silverspoon Lady' (live)
16. 'I’d Love To Change The World' (live)

To my mind, from start to finish, the 2017 album was a British blues rock masterpiece, chock full of excellent production, and a sound that still held fast the spirit of the original band.

Furthermore, both original members Ric Lee and Chick Churchill really did an excellent job on the album, and the additional of both Marcus Bonfanti and Colin Hodkingson was a masterstroke of the highest quality too.

The album is simply one of the best blues rock records of this very young century. Bonfanti sings as if his palette is whiskey-coated, embracing every emotion of each song, perfectly mastering the harder gait and the quieter tones in their own moments.

And then we have three older gentlemen, including world-famous bassist Hodgkinson (Whitesnake/Rainbow, et al) who all play like young gods. From the bright opener 'Land of the Vandals', on through to the deadly sad 'Up in Smoke', the fast-paced, foot-tappin' 'Suranne Suranne' and the big 'Stoned Alone', the album doesn't contain any fillers at all.

For a little more knowledge, the album title A Sting In The Tale reflects the same sentiment Ric and Chick wished to convey in the 2015 live album The Name Remains The Same.

Through the new lineup the music continues to evolve and grow fifty years on. The sound of the band will always be heavily rooted in the way they paved the way during the late sixties and early seventies and will never forget its incredible heritage.

This new record is the Sting in the continuing Tale of Ten Years After. Deko Entertainment Bruce Pucciarello on Ten Years After joining the Deko family, “Their story is legend and working with these guys at DEKO has been a privilege. The album, classic organic contemporary, forward, it just rocks. You put it on…you can’t just listen once.”

Ten Years After - 'Suranne Suranne' Music Video

www.ten-years-after.co.uk