Posted on by Nathan Beaudry

Episode 337 – Bernie Marsden – Look At Me Now (with Jonatan Hedlin)

Link to video episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuN7upAOXSQ

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History:

  • Recorded at Britannia Row Studios, London between March 20 and April 14 1981.
  • This is the second of two solo albums Marsden recorded while in Whitesnake.
  • Between March 20th and April 14th 1981 Bernie worked on this album.
  • This album brings together many of the musicians he’d previously worked with on his first solo album “And About Time Too” as well as Cozy Powell’s album “Tilt.”
  • They recorded at Britannia Row in London.
  • EMI was annoyed at the Bernie Marsden albums that were being imported and offered to pick up the rights to the first album for UK release and urged him to release another album.
  • Bernie: “All the stuff was written and ready to roll. I stayed there for three weeks then gave the tapes to Guy and said ‘Mix it’ I never saw a copy until it came out – as you can see!”
  • Apparently Bernie was not happy with the cover art.

Technical:

  • Engineer [Assistant] – Mike Johnson*
    • Started work with Joy Division, worked with Jon Lord, Pink Floyd, and many more. Still active in the Liverpool music scene.
  • Engineer, Mixed By, Producer – Guy Bidmead
    • Worked with Yes, Pat Thrall, Camel, Noel Redding, and more.
  • Mastered By – Mike Jarratt
  • Producer – Bernie Marsden

Album Art & Booklet Review

  • Artwork – Malcolm Horton
    • https://www.malcolmhorton.co.uk/
    • Did artwork for Come An Get It.
    • Grew up in Birmingham and became good friends with Bill Ward. Eventually ended up touring with the band and doing a number of commissions for various rock stars including Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) , Ian Paice (Deep Purple and later Whitesnake), Ozzy Ozbourne (Black Sabbath) and George Harrison (The Beatles).
  • Album art was changed on the reissue.

Notes

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Album Tracks:

Side One:

  1. Look At Me Now
    • Bass – Neil Murray
    • Drums – Ian Paice
    • Guitar, Vocals, Written-By – Bernie Marsden
    • Piano, Synthesizer [Polymoog] – Jon Lord
    • Bernie: “Looking back at it, some of those songs should have been Whitesnake songs – “Look At Me Now” would’ve sold truck loads, it’s a good tune.
  2. So Far Away
  3. Who’s Foolin’ Who
  4. Shakey Ground
    • Bass – Neil Murray
    • Drums – Cozy Powell
    • Guitar, Vocals – Bernie Marsden
    • Synthesizer – John Cook (4)
      • Very few entries on Discogs.
    • Written-By – Al Boyd*, Eddie Hazel, Jeff Bowen*
      • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakey_Ground
      • Co written by Eddie Hazel of Funkadelic
      • Al Boyd was a soul singer and composer from Cleveland, Ohio.
      • Jeff Bowen worked with The Commodores, The Temptations, and more
      • On the original album there was a heavier typeface for this track. Originally the song in this place was called “Always Love You.”  Bernie said, “Always Love You So” was very very wimpish. It was almost a sixties pastiche and EMI said ‘er sorry Bernie but we really don’t think it’ll be good for your image’ and I agreed with them and said ‘what do you want me to do’?”
      • EMI offered to pay for a track to replace it and used the song “Always Love You” as a b-side for the single release.
  5. Behind Your Dark Eyes

Side Two:

  1. Byblos Shack: Part One (Thru The Doors)
  2. Byblos Shack: Part Two (Shown The Doors)
  3. Thunder And Lightning
  4. Can You Do It? (Rock City Blues)
  5. After All The Madness

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Bustin’ Out The Spreadsheet

Reception and Charts:

  • When it was time to release the two albums EMI asked what label he’d like to be on and he said Parlophone and the resurrected the label especially for him.  The only other group on Parlophone at the time were The Beatles.
  • There were plans to do live shows in the UK to promote the albums but Bernie was too busy with Whitesnake.
  • There was a radio session in August of 1981 where four of the songs were covered with Coverdale coming in to sing.

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