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We’ve lost count of how many albums Rich Hopkins has released. There are quite a few and most of them were even released on Blue Rose Records. But at some point every series ends, and this has happened with the latest work – “The Gift” is released exclusively on Hopkins‘ own label, San Jacinto Records. This is not because the masters had a falling out with his long-standing German label. The connection is still good, “best friends” so to speak, but the market has changed a lot in the last few years, musicians are founding their own record labels and marketing their new works themselves, at concerts, on their own website or even digitally via the relevant platforms. The latest figures from the music industry prove them right – just 13% of sales are generated through CD sales, with vinyl at 6% not even half of that, the rest is sold digitally. However, this is also a milkmaid’s calculation, because these proportions depend very much on the genre and the target groups, and so we cannot understand why for many artists the CD plays no role at all and sometimes only rely on vinyl. This is also the case with the new Hopkins album: It is released exclusively as a vinyl LP and we offer it exclusively in Europe via the Blue Rose mail order.

With Rich Hopkins and his wife Lisa Novak moving back and forth between their homes in Tucson, Arizona and Austin, Texas, the new album was recorded in more diverse locations and with more diverse musicians than ever before. We count a total of musicians in the album credits, including long-time companions such as Mike Therieau, Goerge Duron, Jon Sanchez, Falcon Valdez, Duane Hollis, Ernie Mendoza and Lars Goransson, who also produced the album together with Rich and Lisa. Additional singing guests included Lisa’s daughter Hannah Novak as well as Carey Bowman and Brad Brooks.

And the music? Nobody would have expected that Rich Hopkins would suddenly take different musical paths, and that’s not what happened. He puts everything into the songs again, as his many loyal fans know him. Sometimes you get the impression that the concentrated energy flows into his guitar work one last time and that he could have found a conclusion with the new album “The Gift”. But knowing Rich Hopkins, he will soon announce that he is working on a new album.

Kommentare deaktiviert für New album by RICH HOPKINS & LUMINARIOS – „The Gift“ only available on vinyl and exclusively in Europe through us!

SHIZZOE, HANK One More Day CD
€ 16,90^*

SHIZZOE, HANK One More Day 2-LP
€ 39,90^*

«One More Day», Hank Shizzoe’s 17th album, IS OUT NOW on CD, limited edition Double LP and Hi-Res-download. 13 songs, six originals, a handful of traditionals and carefully selected covers, all played by a crack band and sounding mighty fine.

«One More Day» is an Americana-album with a clear focus on songs – and guitars. Although there are only a few guitar solos on these 13 tracks, the music is driven by six string artistry. Tasteful electric guitar textures go hand in hand with expertly captured acoustic instruments, resulting in classy arrangements and sounds. The album covers a wide musical spectrum from hard driving rock to laid back foot-tappers and gentle, warm folk songs.

Hank: «My songwriting gained more depth, I work a lot more on my songs, give them time to grow. I used to write impulsively, following the initial spark. These days I tend to try out different keys, beats and arrangements. By the time we went into the studio a lot of these songs – and that includes the traditionals and covers – had seen a great variety of incarnations. We were very focused and at the same time left room for spontaneous developments. Interplay between musicians is really important, even more so when you play with masters. You move air together. Resonance is what you’re after. I think we succeeded beautifully and I’m very proud of this, my 17th album.»

«One More Day» was recorded in early 2024. One session with the full band (Tom Etter on guitars, Michel Poffet on upright bass, Simon Baumann on drums) and one session in a folk setup with Etter and Poffet plus irish singer Shirley Grimes. Guests include Luke Bulla from Austin, TX on fiddle. He was a member of Lyle Lovett’s Large Band and played with everybody from Tony Rice, Shawn Colvin and Ricky Skaggs to Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell and Patty Griffin. The man’s a master on his instrument! The great Ben Jeger played Hammond Organ and piano, Christian Brantschen tinkles the ivories on one song. All recorded with top notch studio equipment, expertly mixed and mastered. You won’t believe your ears!

Kommentare deaktiviert für Swiss Americana mastermind HANK SHIZZOE is back with his first album since five years – One More Day !