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Black Eyed Sons

Cowboys in Pinstriped Suits

31st January 2025

Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits is the debut album from Black Eyed Sons. A band made up of former members of the legendary Quireboys. Guy Griffin (Lead Vocals/Guitars), Paul Guerin (Guitar), Keith Weir (Keyboards), Nick Mailing (Bass) and Pip Mailing (Drums). The band have enlisted the help of some equally legendary friends to guest star on the album as well including Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Mike Tramp (White Lion), Scotti Hill (Skid Row), Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network) and Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke).

This album is no nonsense proper old school rock, kicking off with Lie To Me which had my head nodding from the off, a great upbeat start to the album. If there is one thing I love in my rock music it’s piano and harmonica, and this has plenty of that. I can just imagine this being a great live sing a long fan favourite. From this point onwards all of songs feature guest musicians. The second track Medicine features Josh Todd, Stevie D (Buckcherry). After the uplifting start to the album, this track slows it down a bit. It starts off with a nice bluesy guitar riff. You might recognise the vocals of Josh Todd in the second verse. The third track Foolin’ Yourself has a classic ’70s blues rock feel to it, this one features more harmonica, which I absolutely love, plus Steve Conte (NY Dolls, Mike Monroe) Kyf Brewer (Company Of Wolves/Barley Juice). The lyrics are very catchy and will most likely get stuck in your head.

If the second track wasn’t full on rock ballad then the fourth Autumn Reigns most certainly is. This song featuring Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke) is just beautiful. It made me feel kind of emotional, that’s when you know a band is doing a rock ballad properly. Don’t listen without hankies on standby. Next up is the collab with Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) on the title track Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits which, by the way, is a great name. Joe Elliott’s vocals are unmistakeable, this is the one I was looking forward to the most as big fan of Def Leppard. Joe is also joined by Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) Chip Z’Nuff (Enuff Z’Nuff) on this track. Joe has previously worked with the guys in The Down ‘N’ Outz so it was natural to have him feature here. Track six, Don’t Throw Me In The Corner features Chip Z’Nuff ( Enuff Z’Nuff) and is perhaps one the rockiest on the album, great guitar solos, more harmonica and piano giving it that ’70s feel.Your True Colours featuring Mike Tramp (White Lion) is a great track, full of soul, and another great guitar solo.

Savoir Faire featuring Alan Clayton (Dirty Strangers), Steve Conte (NY Dolls, Mike Monroe) Chris Johnstone (Quireboys) is a brilliant track which features a classic rock band story about watching girls go by, one in particular catches his eye and now he is ‘gonna make her mine’ because she has Savoir Faire – the ability to do and say the right thing in any social situation. This is one of my favourites on the album. Dig Me Out Of This Hole the ninth track of the album features Scotti Hill (Skid Row), another great rock ‘n’ roll track. So Glorious is the penultimate track on the album and features Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network), another slower track but again, it’s a nice one, Dan Reed’s vocals suit the song. Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory featuring Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) brings the album to a close, and if you think you’ve heard this before you’d be right, this is a cover of Johnny Thunder’s 1978 song which has also previously been covered by Guns ‘N’ Roses, it’s a nice track to end on.

I could just listen to this album over and over again, there is not a bad track on it. It has classic blues rock songs, and rock ballads in equal measures. The collabs on this album definitely make it stronger. Simply brilliant!

ERB RATING: 10/10 

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Track Listing

1. Lie to me
2. Medicine w/ Josh Todd, Stevie D (Buckcherry)
3. Foolin’ Yourself w/ Steve Conte (NY Dolls, Mike Monroe) Kyf Brewer (Company Of Wolves/Barley Juice)
4. Autumn Reigns w/ Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke)
5. Cowboys in Pinstriped Suits w/ Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) Chip Z’Nuff (Enuff Z’Nuff)
6. Don’t throw me in the corner w/ Chip Z’Nuff ( Enuff Z’Nuff)
7. Your True colours w/ Mike Tramp (White Lion)
8. Savoir faire w/ Alan Clayton (Dirty Strangers) Steve Conte(NY Dolls, Mike Monroe) Chris Johnstone (Quireboys)
9. Dig me out of this hole w/ Scotti Hill (Skid Row)
10. So Glorious w/ Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network)
11. Can’t put your arms around a memory w/ Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper)