We are featuring in exclusive the Deadline Music digipak 2024 reissue of “Shelter Me“, the first solo album by legendary Great White front man JACK RUSSELL. Originally only released in Asia, this special reissue features a brand new artwork and two bonus tracks.
Despite Great White still recording and touring circa 1996, longtime singer / leader Jack Russell found it necessary to issue his first ever solo album that same year, “Shelter Me”.
Anyone thinking that the reason for this sudden solo outing was because Russell wanted to try taking on some different musical styles will be mistaken — “Shelter Me” is faithful to the melodic bluesy hard rock that he’s made a career of for two decades by this point.
In fact, such tracks as the album-opening title track, “You’ll Lose a Good Thing,” and the power ballad “Leave Me Lonely” are so Great White-esque that it’s almost impossible to tell the two apart. Not strange, as most the guitar work on the album is handled by Great White’s Michael Lardie.
The recording sessions line-up includes top notch performers, like the rhythm section of iconic bassist Tim Bogert (Jeff Beck, Hollywood Monsters) and drummer Myron Grombacher (Lita Ford, Pat Benatar).
Musically, the Great White connection continues with a new, emotional version of the band’s classic “Save Your Love”, while “Take My Pain” is a killer rocker that wouldn’t be out of place into any Great White album.
Other highlights include the power ballad “When I Look Into Your Eyes” that could have been a MTV hit in 1988, the bluesy burn of “Long Way To Go”, Jack’s ballsy cover of The Beatles’ “Hey Bulldog”, as well as the poignant title track, “Shelter Me”, which expresses empathy for the growing homeless population.
Among the bonus tracks there’s other Beatles cover (Russell was a big fan), a short take on ”Mean Mr. Mustard”.
Right in line with Great White’s brand of melodic bluesy hard rock yet more ‘personal’ lyrically speaking, “Shelter Me” is a really strong and good solo album from the late Jack Russell, unheard by many and now available again.
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – Shelter Me
02 – Take My Pain
03 – Leave Me Lonely
04 – Long Way to Go
05 – Hey Bulldog
06 – You’ll Lose a Good Thing
07 – 24/7
08 – The Fault’s All Mine
09 – Roll with the Tide
10 – Faith in You
11 – Save Your Love
12 – Shine On
13 – When I Look into Your Eyes
BONUS TRACKS:
14 – Mean Mr. Mustard
15 – Let It Rain
Jack Russell – lead and backing vocals
Matthew Johnson – guitar, backing vocals
Michael Lardie – guitar, keyboards, percussion, harmonica
Tim Bogert – bass
Myron Grombacher – drums