For some time now, many friends and fans have asked why they can not get... Calico, Simplify or Nevermind My Blues on Spotify!? Well, I didn't have the rights, or they were discontinued from distribution or maybe there was a slight degree of laziness involved! These all came out on the cusp of now, widely used digital streaming platforms. I have just recently acquired the rights to do so on my own.
I stand tall behind all 3 and the times they represent. They were each singular adventures and I relish the memories of recording and representing them all.
“Calico” (Original Release 2004/Sci Fidelity Records):
What a fun record to make. Shane Smith, my still very close friend and compadre in Pistol For Ringo, moved out to LA. He contacted me soon after to say he had connected with Dave Kalish, who I had met years ago on a kooky night in Philly when he was working with Ricki Lee Jones. Look him up. Amazing player. Dave put together a studio in Silverlake known as Redstar. What can I say.. got in on the first floor. What a time. Brought out buddies new and old...Scotty from what would become 4 Way Street. Ron Crawford, drummer from Lisa Loeb’s band and fave Philly band The Dave's. The record was inspired by a lot of change going on in my life and I was in new place of experimentation and fluid thinking. The songs came easy. It was a life changing and miraculously artistic moment. I'll never forget floating over Mulholland listening to the first roughs of "Blacklight”. I had a lot of help getting it released nationally from Jack Barton and Kevin Morris. The photos by were all by Lisa Scahffer who was just getting her thing going. We had a great day with hanging with my family props. As with almost all of my records, there are just too many friends to mention who popped in and out of sessions and added whatever “just the right thing we needed” was.
BA Picks: “Zig Zag”, “Blacklight”, “Calico Kid”, “Pickin’ The Lock” & “Bluegrass”
“Nevermind My Blues” (Original Release 2007/Ropeadope Records):
Also recorded primarily in Los Angeles, this was actually never intended as a “blues” record. Just the meaning behind the title that I should live in the awareness that, my life ain’t so bad in the big scheme. That song features Pete Thomas of Elvis Costello’s band on drums. he was a hoot. Also on this record is Shelden Gomberg (Ben Harper, Rickie Lee Jones, Ryan Adams, Warren Zevon) and Tom Brechtlein (Chick Corea), Julian Coryell (Jewel, Alanis Morrisette, Amiee Mann) along with a cast Philadelphia characters I added on when I returned from LA. The project started out as q fairly solo adventure, again with Shane Smith at the controls. It’s a little all over the place but there are some real keepers in the batch.
BA Picks: “Nevermind My Blues”, “Leaving NOLA”, “Eggs’ and I’ll always have a soft spot for “Timeless”
“Simplify” (Original release 2010/B.O.S. Music):
My manager at the time says "Ya know, you’re voice is getting more "bluesy" by the day! You should write like a Blues record!!” Uh...ok.. sure. And I did. I have little patience for typical I IV V Blues. Bores me to fucking tears. I don't give a crap how well you can play pentatonic solos. Can you write a tune!!? I got a band that totally killed every kooky tune I wrote for this record. Formerly known as The Brakes, they were a truly great young Philly band who had an incredible future that was curtailed by unforeseen depressing shit, yet they all went on to do amazing stuff afterward. I always say... Hey.. play bass in my band and your career will take the off! I promise!! Barrie Maguire, who co produced my Columbia record came in and crushed as well. His arrangement ideas and his production was impeccable.
It was super fun to record almost live. It was a different personality, and I absolutely LOVE some of these songs and play them at every show, to this day.
BA Picks: “Simplify”, “Depend On Love”, “Slow Learner” & “Baby, Let The Tears Roll Down”