Originally published by L.S. Media. April 8th 2012.
L.S. Media Rating *****
You only have to listen to the first track on The Very Best of Ian Prowse to know that not only is this an album of distinction and that if you cut him open, from every open pore and scratched surface would run the Mersey River, the biggest and most truthful aspect of the album is that it is Liverpool.
The Beatles may have captured the nation’s hearts alongside with Gerry and the Pacemakers and The Searchers and they may have been the ideal bands to usher in the new-found confidence that Liverpool found after World War Two but those days are gone. Even though we should never forget what these acts gave Liverpool, times have moved on and the city has had its fair share of ill advised, ill thought of knocks and political games aimed at its proud heart. At the end of the day, it’s still here and the lyrics of the first song, indeed the album’s title says it all, Does This Train Stop On Merseyside?
The album is a celebration of one of the finest modern musicians to reside in Liverpool, and in every song on the album, whether it’s the heady days of the band Pele or through to, in my opinion, one of the best bands in the country right now, Amsterdam, there is a little piece of Liverpool strewn through each song.
From the Celtic beauty of Home with its haunting, heart-breaking violin section and meaningful lyrical persuasion, the incredible feel of Fireworks and the utter intelligence of Raid The Palace, Does This Train Stop On Merseyside is exactly the right album to take to the people of Merseyside and beyond the Runcorn Bridge and Ellesmere Port to shout that no matter what, Liverpool is home to many. It might not be as perfect as the rest of the world would have it but to its inhabitants, the diverse culture and the city’s unique ability to take in a complete stranger and make them welcome, it’s as perfect and as wonderful as the album aspires to be.
Of course with any best of album, there will be tracks missed off that will make some scratch their heads and wonder where this track went or why was that moment left out, it’s all conjecture and in the end it’s up to the musician to say what their highlights are and should never be left up to the corporate suit to decide on their behalf. In this compilation, there is a not a bad song anywhere, no matter how hard you try, it boils down to the same thing. It’s an album of sheer warmth, of justified bitterness the odd moment where if you know the bands Ian Prowse has been in, or know Ian himself then a tear will fall as you relive the moments with him.
Does This Train Stop On Merseyside? Is there life beyond the realms of the nation’s musical and cultural capital? Listen for yourself, it’s the only advice I can give.
Ian D. Hall