Bob Leslie
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Bob Leslie

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom | SELF

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom | SELF
Band Americana Singer/Songwriter

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"In a Different World"

Most “Country” acts here depend heavily on American Country music, but this is a definite Glasgow album....

Of the ballads, I particularly enjoyed “Time To Smell The Roses”, but it's the up-tempo numbers which really leave their mark. “The Star Harmonica Band” is a fine tribute to a guy called Jimmy Fletcher, who not only was an inspirational musician, but an inspiration to young junior footballers too. The song features some really neat harmonica too, courtesy of Fraser Speirs.

But the one that'll get the most reaction has to be “Cowboy In The Heart Of Glasgow”, which for a few readers, may just be too close to home, but I think we all know a few candidates. It's a good fun, inoffensive song.

As well as Fraser Speirs, Bob has amassed a good set of players in Alex Mack, Carl Esprit Bridgeman, Craig Nelson, Jim Keilt and Robin Rankin. There's also backing vocals from Alice Leslie and Bernadette Collier. I enjoyed the album. I especially liked the Glasgow aspect. That really worked for me!
Stewart Fenwick, Country Music and Dance in Scotland, October 2010 - Country Music and Dance in Scotland


"In a Different World"

Scottish singer songwriter Bob Leslie wears his heart on his sleeve. From the first track to the last his influences are proudly on display. On the opener "The Cultural Imperialists Have Got Me" he makes no apologies for a lifetime immersed in Americana and this lyric must be the only one this year to feature a "philabeg" - look it up!

Predominantly acoustic in feel, the CD ranges from up tempo tunes like "Cowboy in the Heart of Glasgow" which deals with the C&W alter ego of an ordinary working man, to this writer's favourite track, the tuneful, saxophone embellished ballad "Time to Smell the Roses".

Title track "In a Different World" features some excellent playing from bassist Carl Bridgeman and elsewhere there are contributions from Fraser Speirs on harmonica and guitarist Jim Keilt as well as those of multi-instrumentalist Alex Mack, Bob's partner in his previous band, The Outfit.

Well worth a listen, some sound samples, artist information and details of where to purchase CDs and MP3s can be found at his website http://www.bobleslie.biz/

Tim Clarke, Little Roots - Americana & Roots Music, October 2010 - Little Roots - Americana and Roots Music


"LITTLE ROOTS _AMERICANA & ROOTS MUSIC"

"Rich vocals"
"Fine guitar ... reminiscent of Thin Lizzy"
"Well worth a listen!"

Full review at
littleroots.com
- Tim Clarke


"DUNOON OBSERVER"

"Like the early Bruce Springsteen!" - Gordon Neish


"ED'S MIXED BAG"

The Outfit's "The Devil Ain't A Friend Of Mine"? F*A*N*T*A*S*T*A*S*T*I*C!
Ed Ovett
Podcaster
www.edsmixedbag.com
Florida
April 18th 2006 - Podsafe Music Network


"TPN ROCK"

And now, something a little bit special while I continue to tour America. Bob Leslie’s The Outfit were playing Edinburgh just before I crossed the Atlantic, and I was there to capture a live session from the new line up. It’s raw, real, and I’m pretty sure you’re all going to appreciate it.
Ewan Spence
Podcaster
March 18th, 2006 - Ewan Spence


"BILLBOARD WORLD SONG CONTEST"

"Adios To Rock'n'Roll" and "Lady Luck Rode Away" both win Honourable Mention in this prestigious song contest by major American Music paper.
19th April 2006 - Billboard Magazine


Discography

"Fat Cat" - 1st September 2011. 10-track CD available http://www.bobleslie.biz as hardware and all major digital outlets.
"In A Different World" - 1st August 2010. 12-track CD available http://www.bobleslie.biz as hardware and all major digital outlets.
"Little Stories From The Mine" - 5th March 2005. 10-track CD - with my then band, The Outfit, now out of print.

I've been mainly writing and recording, doing the odd solo gig from time to time, since the band broke up in 2007. We did get some great reviews and showcases from the podcast crowd as I indicate below:

TPN ROCK
17th March 2006
Our very good friend Ewan Spence recorded us live at Noble's and he's just taken time off from his wanderings in the US of A to put up half-a-dozen original tracks on a special TPN Rock Session. This gig was only the 2nd we'd played with our present line-up so it's a touch rough'n'ready but it's rock and it's live. What more do you want?!?

ED'S MIXED BAG
8th March
Ed Ovett from Florida hosts this very eclectic show at www.edsmixedbag.com. Ed very kindly played our "Adios To Rock'nRoll" on his show #22. Check it out!

Portobello On Line/Leith FM
17th January 2006
Tom Fahey from podcast Portobello On Line www.last.fm/user/AmericanaUK and local radio station Leith FM, 87.7FM, http://www.leithfm.co.uk/ played all of the Outfit's album "Little Stories From The Mine" over the festive season. He's also put it on his long-term playlist for the "AmericanaUK" programme.

THE TARTAN PODCAST
8th October 2005
Mark Hunter of the much-famed Tartan Podcast - www.tartanpodcast.com - has featured "No Strings And No Regrets" as the T.P.'s contribution to the 3rd edition of the Podshow Music Rewind - www.podshowmusicrewind.com - a kind of "podcast of podcasts" where podcasters from all over the world submit some of their favourite tracks. Thanks Mark!

THE ANTIPODEAN PODCAST
8th October This Australian science and technology /music podcast - antipodeanpodcast.libsyn.com - has featured "Adios To Rock'n'Roll" on their APC 2005-10-08 show

TPN ROCK
Hot News Ewan asked us back for TPN Rock Show #30 (available as of 22nd October) and gave an airing to "Adios To Rock'n'Roll". Thanks for having us back, Ewan!

-Ewan Spence hosts excellent
Edinburgh-based show - thepodcastnetwork.com/rock/
he featured "Mara" on Rock Show #22.

THE GLITCH- a man with taste from Toledo,
Ohio podcaster - played "Adios To Rock'n'Roll" in August on
his fine programme "The Glitch 31"
available at theglitch.ws/

BRAVE NEW FRONTIERS - Toronto-based
Randall Cousins hosts this at
rotonoto.com/bravenewfrontiers.htm
it's a great indie/alt-country show that also has
radio distribution in New Zealand!
We're on BNF show 75 with "Mara"

When checking Outfit-playing Podcasts, please click on any "vote" links and/or
send in a comment mentioning that
you heard us there (helps us get asked back!).

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Bio

Bob Leslie is a veteran Scottish singer-songwriter. Despite taking time out to raise a family, he has never stopped writing, and has now followed up 2010's self-penned Americana album, "In a Different World", with "Fat Cat" - 10 songs showing a mixture of lyrical wit and romanticism reminiscent of Tom Waits and Jim Webb. As well as songs for personal performance, he can also write, in many different styles, to someone else's brief and would be particularly interested in writing for film.

Bob started singing from the cradle – which annoyed the hell out of the neighbours and puzzled his parents. He paid his dues for 20 years in professional rock bands, and many more semi-pro, mainly singing, but also playing guitar or bass and songwriting for every type of venue from folk and workingmen's clubs to festivals and theatres.

Along the way, he has worked with such notables as Colin Bass (bass player of seminal prog-rockers Camel), Zeke Manyika (drummer for Scots chart-toppers Orange Juice), Andy Hamilton (sax player for multi-million-selling Canadian songwriter Corey Hart), Jim Keilt (lead guitar with John Otway and in Tommy, the Musical), Dave Vasco (guitarist for Warner Brothers artists Clancy), Kathy O'Donoghue (vocalist with, amongst others, Roger Chapman and Hank Wangford), Fraser Speirs (harmonica maestro with Paolo Nutini), Chris Glen and Ted McKenna (bass and drums, respectively, with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band).

Early in his career, he excited interest in his voice and songwriting from Apple Records, Chrysalis Records, and Boscobel (the Kinks' managers). At one point he recalls, the wee man from Chrysalis asked him to write a follow-up to Total Eclipse of the Heart, He replied “You must be joking!” and thinks this may have locked the doors on teenage idolhood for him. Anyone still wishing for such a follow-up would now only have to wave money to receive an affirmative reply.