Back in what seems like another galaxy in a different eon, Bill told me that he was ready to record a new studio album.

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As he says… “Time’s fun when you’re having flies” and so here we are in the final stage of the process.

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Throwing caution to the wind, the lid of my cryogenic chamber has been raised sufficiently to allow me to write this because it is definitely ready for release on vinyl, CD and digital on 22nd May.

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The gestation period of a Bill Kirchen record is immeasurable. It is certainly never the same as the previous one. The science is equally baffling. The baby tracks (trackettes?) are always born healthy and rapidly develop into mature beings but they never die. They get, hairier and tougher, funnier and sadder and strut on with their chins up, shoulders back and their chests puffed out. He’s one proud daddy.

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That’s why we never try and hurry the process. I say we, but I cannot take the credit. The man behind the end results that we all started work on is Paul Riley. Paul’s efforts as producer of this album are monumental. He refuses to accept second best and has relentlessly pursued his target of another everlasting Bill Kirchen record. Genius.

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It’s impossible to even begin to explain what has happened to the tracks since the first days of cutting them in January 2023. Suffice to say that with engineer/bass player Jack Saunders being based at his White Cat Studio in Austin, Texas close to Bill, and with Paul based in London - everyone has been burning the midnight oil to get this one right. And it has paid off. We have a truly great record here and I want to thank the three of them for managing to get through the countless pinch-points they’ve encountered along the way.

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It was worth it.

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And what a faultless selection of material.

I shan’t just reel off my comments on a list of songs. What’s the point of that? It doesn’t matter what music you like. If you’re someone who’s reading this anyway, YOU’RE GONNA LOVE IT. Why waste my time?

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I will simply say that CAT OUT OF THE BAG is the title track and it could not be more appropriately named or better placed in the running order. It’s not what you’d necessarily expect from Bill Kirchen but he wrote it with long-time pals John Tichy and Austin de Lone. Austin’s hand in the production of this one is a massive contribution to the impact it makes. Sad that the wonderful Mr. de Lone ain’t around to witness the birth as we lost him last year. But he sure lives on through this track. That’s him banging out those power chords on rhythm guitar in there too. Farewell Audie.

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Bill Kirchen’s determination to finish this record and get out there touring it is a force to be reckoned with. Sometimes – as he’ll tell you – the process of getting this album finished has been more like getting a cat out of a stocking. Paul flew to Texas to produce the album but got ill upon arrival and spent the whole time in bed. Since then, patience, wallets, fingernails and blood pressure have all been mercilessly put to the test. Oh yeah…and Bill recently copped a collapsed lung.

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But here it is. With Rick Richards on drums and Jack Saunders on bass and contributions from other guests, this is Bill Kirchen at the top of his game with a bunch of songs that brings out the best of all his talents.

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And how about a huge round of applause for Taylor Rushing’s perfect artwork. The guy has it absolutely spot on. It couldn’t be better.

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Now that his lungs are fully blimped and the doc has cleared him for take-off, watch out for Bill in your neck of the woods when he starts peddling this record from a stage near you sometime soon.

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