With his latest album, 7th, getting a four-star review in The Irish Times, and 7/10 in Hot Press, northern soul brother Ben Reel is clearly doing something right.
And you can find out just how right when Reel brings his band to the Hot Spot in Greystones this Friday, December 11th, marking the acclaimed singer/songwriter’s Wicklow return to our quiet little redneck town, after his June debut.
And you can find out just how right when Reel brings his band to the Hot Spot in Greystones this Friday, December 11th, marking the acclaimed singer/songwriter’s Wicklow return to our quiet little redneck town, after his June debut.As Ben prepares to fly in on his private jet, we asked him to pick the Tracks Of His Years…
These are only 5 songs, I guess I could list 100 more if I had the time from several other great artist like Neil Young, Bob Marley, Roy Orbison, Ray Charles, James Brown, Thin Lizzy, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, etc, etc .
All these great artist had an influence on me and lots more that I could mention.
When I was 17 I started my first band with school mates from Crossmaglen – Promised Land, playing Beatles, Springsteen and U2 covers – but within 2 years I had written enough songs for a full original set. We then changed our name to Trim The Velvet, which continued up until 1997.
I started my solo career in 1999 as Ben Reel and here I am 7 albums later, and I haven’t looked back…
Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
Inspired me when I was 13 to pick up a guitar, after seeing Bruce at Slane in 1985. His Born to Run album had a big influence on me.
God Only Know by The Beach Boys
Masterpiece in arrangement, melody, harmony… maybe the greatest song ever written in popular music.
Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles
Another genius masterpiece and like God Only Knows maybe one of the greatest songs in popular music ever written.
The Beatles are the greatest band ever, never to be surpassed. Lennon & McCartney are the Beethoven & Mozart of popular music.
The Times They Are A Changin’ by Bob Dylan
A song that is still relevant today after the financial crash and with America still wanting to wage war on with whatever enemy they can create for themselves. This song along with Blowin In The Wind captured in a nutshell the whole revolutionary movement of the early ’60s generation, and it still speaks to me today.
Sweet Thing by Van Morrison
This whole album, Astral Weeks, had a big impact on me, where it took you away to another place. The songs are timeless and magic, and my favourite is Sweet Thing.