Review: Billy Falcon

Today I'm spotlighting Billy Falcon's releases "Pretty Blue World" (1991) and "Letters From A Paper Ship" (1994).

Billy Falcon had some other LPs come out in the late 70s and 80s, but I am not aware of any of them making them to CD. Be nice if they were made available for download, but you can at least stream them from Billy's web site. He's also got a page on myspace.

Billy never hit it big, but struck a chord with Jon Bon Jovi, who served as a catalyst to put Billy Falcon into mainstream for 15 minutes with his only top 100 hit "Power Windows," from "Pretty Blue World." Jon Bon had his own (short-lived) record label for a while (JAMCO via Polygram Records), which put out these two records. Billy also (co-)wrote a decent amount of material for others, including several Bon Jovi tunes. But don't expect a Billy Falcon record to sound like Bon Jovi! While more acoustic-driven rock than Bon Jovi, Billy does share a great knack for a good hook. His voice is a bit grainy at times, and make take some getting used to, but I think it suits his music style very well.

"Pretty Blue World" is a really great effort. Not a bad track in the bunch. Billy's songs tell stories, but stories that we can all relate to. I think a lot of his lyrics are drawn from life experience. "Power Windows" is about extracting the joy out of the simple things in life, while "Heaven's Highest Hill" is about coping with the loss of a significant other. This theme comes up again on his next record. Billy also has a good sense of humor, as heard on tracks like "Married in the Morning." Having a sense of humor must be important to the guy, as it is apparently the barometer of success in his relationships; he ironically addresses the theme of complacent lovers watching the flames die in the tune "Not Funny Anymore." Like his next release, the songs almost always follow the pattern mid-tempo/slow/mid-tempo/slow, etc. To me, it is better than those records that cram 4-5 ballads in a row and put you to ZZZZZZZZZ.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

"Letters From A Paper Ship" is a decent follow-up, but didn't engage me as much as its predecessor. "Wonder Years" and "Paper Ship" make the CD worth picking up - two outstanding tracks that I could listen to again and again. As on "Pretty Blue World," we have the homage to departed wife/mom again, this time in "Mama's Face," an upbeat and happy song, but with lyrics that may bring a tear to your eye. That sense of humor comes out again on the bluesy "Don't Want Any." The closing track is the only song I know comparing love to a cup of java.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 6, 7, 9, 11

By the way, Billy Falcon has gone on to produce more music, by making more records (web site) and by making babies (Rose Falcon).