As an artist whose lifeblood flowed from these real-life exchanges of camaraderie and community, the Boston-based SARAH BORGES was faced with perhaps the most daunting question of her professional career: How to connect and continue as a vital and viable working artist amid a frightfully uncertain future fraught with unknowns. That’s where the aptly named brand new album, Together Alone comes in. In a true-life twist on the old saying, “when life gives you lemons…,” a homebound Borges did the one thing she knew how to do better than almost anything else. She picked up her guitar and started writing songs such as “Wasting My Time,” which serves as a thematic linchpin of sorts for the new album. Even the job Borges took as an airport courier during the pandemic to keep the bills paid and home hearth burning proved creatively useful. The temporary gig translated into a boisterous new track, namely the lighthearted rave-up, “She’s a Trucker,” based on the multi-Boston Music Award winner’s four-wheeling across state lines, carrying occasionally strange cargo.
Sarah received a huge help in the person of her longtime mentor Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, the venerable producer and guitarist who’s played with everyone from Joan Jett & the Blackhearts to Steve Earle and the Dukes. More recently, Ambel’s been Sarah’s band mate and co-conspirator in addition to his usual job running his Cowboy Technical Services Recording Rig studio in Brooklyn, N.Y. Here’s how it worked: One by one, Borges would send along her home-recorded guitar and vocal demos — with Sarah singing into her iPhone, and utilizing her clothes closet as a vocal isolation booth — to Ambel’s home recording setup. He’d listen carefully to the rudimentary tracks, and then sort out who in his musical Rolodex might play what, where, when, and how. The tricky part, Ambel says, was that “I had to think of not only great players, but great players that could do a very good job recording themselves at home.” Among those ready, willing, and able was ex-Bottle Rockets bass player Keith Voegele, residing in Springfield, Illinois. Another was Keith Christopher, Ambel’s longtime Yayhoos band mate currently playing bass with Lynyrd Skynyrd and living in upstate New York. A talented trio of drummers scattered from New York to Nashville also sent in dispatches.
Sarah Borges proves she’s a survivor, coming out of it stronger than ever, still gorgeously twangin’ and rockin’ down the road.
Mailorder English
SARAH BORGES: Wow, this lady rocks on Together Alone !
THE BAND OF HEATHENS brave the pandemic with Remote Transmissions Vol. 1 !
With their professional lives on hold during the pandemic, The Band of Heathens found a year-long creative workaround. Every Tuesday night, the five-piece group came together via Zoom from their respective homes – from L.A. to Asheville – to host the Good Time Supper Club, a ninety-minute variety program. „It was nice to be able to use music as a connective thread and something that’s healing,“ says guitarist-vocalist Ed Jurdi. „We were doing it for ourselves, but the greatest benefit was how it created this community for us to hang out with our fans.“ Guitarist-vocalist and fellow founding member Gordy Quist agrees. „The show was like a release, where we all connected and forgot about the stuff going on around us. At some point, we decided to bring in guests for an interview, and that turned into ‚Hey, let’s pre-record a music video of a cover song with each of them.'“ That segment of the show, called Remote Transmissions, became a much-anticipated fan favorite each week. And it is now the title of their latest album, featuring covers of ten classic songs with guest vocals by the likes of Margo Price, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Charlie Starr. It’s just the latest innovative move for The Band Of Heathens, who over the last fifteen years have released nine acclaimed albums of roots rock originals, played festivals like Bonnaroo and South by Southwest, and toured the world many times over (Rolling Stone calls them „a smoking live band“), all while remaining that rarest of birds – a truly independent group.
This is a pre-order. The item won’t be shipped before the release date 25.02.2022. If you want to order other items please place a separate order so those items are not delayed.
MARKUS RILL explores some new avenues with Everything we Wanted !
25 years after his debut album MARKUS RILL releases Everything We Wanted, an album that brings together all his strengths: profound, wide-ranging Americana songs, gripping rock’n’roll and stirring soul with intelligent, touching lyrics. The 14th album is indeed a high point and culmination in the work of the singer-songwriter with the sandstone voice. There’s no other aetist in Germany, probably in all of Europe, who’s closer to Steve Earle, John Hiatt, Mellencamp, Tom Petty, no one who does his roots rock thing more authentically than the 51-year-old native of Frankfurt/Germany.
“My goal as a songwriter has always been to write every kind of song I like listening to myself – but with my own twist, of course,“ Rill says. He succeeds almost effortlessly with the 14 songs on Everything We Wanted. It’s easy to hear that Rill draws inspiration from Texas, from Nashville and Memphis, from the heyday of rock’n’roll as well as from the present. It’s just as clear that Rill is a confident original artist, with his own point of view, the ability to create poetry out of everyday language, and that unique voice.
The album opening title track is a catchy listen and unmistakably a song from and of the here and now. „The air was pure, water was clean … we had everything we wanted till we wanted more“ Rill sings over a pulsating groove. Moving from finger-pointing to reflection in the last verse gives the song special depth. Rill receives congenial supported from his longtime band, The Troublemakers, augmented by a few guests.
„During the pandemic a lot of great musicians had time to contribute to my album,“ says Rill. Thus, Jen Gundermann, a much in-demand musician and member of Sheryl Crow’s touring band, was available to record with Rill 15 years after their last collaboration. She provided brilliant piano and organ parts on the title track and the entire album. Backing vocalists Elizabeth Lee from Texas, Camille Bloom from Seattle and Rill‘s buddy Robert Oberbeck are also an integral part of the album’s always convincing Americana sound.
The same is true for longtime Blue Rose labelmate Todd Thibaud who stands out as a co-songwriter and duet partner on the laid-back midtempo rocker „Heart Up Yet.“ The record continues with „Hope Waits,“ an inspiring folk-flavored ballad of the highest order. „It perches in the soul, holds on tight and won’t let go – hope waits.“ That’s Rill drawing from Emily Dickinson and Glenn Campbell.
The songwriter and his Troublemakers explore some new avenues, leaning into crisp the riff-rocker „Never Trust Forever“ and into „Tumblin‘ Dominoes“ which is a hats-off to the Georgia Satellites and the Rolling Stones. And there’s even a first horn appearance on a Rill record. Jim Hoke and Roland Barber who have played with Aretha Franklin, Keb‘ Mo‘, Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton are giving „Where I Belong“ some soulfire. „The idea for the song came from my guitarist Maik Garthe after we opened for Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes.“ Further forays into new territory lead to the Nick-Cave-meets-Time-Out-Of-Mind-like „The Mystery Of You“ or the wondrous groove-folk of „Color Of My Heart.“
But of course, there’s also another a number of those compelling storytelling songs that are Rill’s great strength and have won him a slew of songwriting awards. „Flesh & Blood & Bone“ blends twang, Trump, Prine and human dignity with an an enticing alt.country gallop. „Country Town“ is an irresistible flannel-shirt, roll-up-your-sleeves roots rocker. The atmospheric outlaw brew „Slack“ and the piercing narrative „Get Paid“ combine strong lyrics with compelling rhythms. Album closer „Monochrome“ is a spartan but touching work of grief. And then there’s the outstanding „Always Trusted You,“ a mountain of a song, Rill’s moving ode to his late mother.
The Troublemakers with drummer Leonardo von Papp, bassist Chris Reiss and string master Maik Garthe (baritone, slide, 6- & 12-string guitars, dobro and mandolin) are proving themselves once more as a rhythmically as well as sonically versatile backing band. Rill sings with soul, sensitivity and power, making you believe every word he says.
In short, this is a whopper of an album. It delivers on everything Rill learned during his time in Austin, Texas, during three studio productions in Nashville, during concerts with Townes van Zandt, Rosanne Cash and Southside Johnny as well as about 1,000 gigs in dive bars, clubs and on big stages. Outstanding songs, a variety of sounds, classy performances. Everything We Wanted is for Markus Rill & The Troublemakers what Wildflowers was for Tom Petty.
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VINYL – VINYL – VINYL – VINYL – VINYL – VINYL
Joe Camilleri releases 50th career album with the 19th BLACK SORROWS album Saint Georges Road!
Finally available – exclusively in Europe through our mailorder – is the vinyl edition! Worldwide limited to 600 copies, 180g vinyl, gatefold cover, with lyrics printed inner sleeve, LP-size poster with many photos, front cover hand-signed and numbered by band mastermind Joe Camilleri. We have limited stock available!
Joe Camilleri and THE BLACK SORROWS are thrilled and proud to announce the world-wide release of Saint Georges Road on 10th September through Ambition Records. To celebrate this milestone – and to make this record truly special – Joe Camilleri reunited with Grammy nominated Peter Solley – producer of Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons’ breakthrough album Screaming Targets (‘79) that featured Joe’s first Top 40 hits, „Hit and Run“ and „Shape I’m In“.
Saint Georges Road showcases 11 original tracks written by Joe Camilleri and his long-time writing partner Nick Smith.
Before they embarked on the project, Peter Solley asked Joe one question, “What kind of record do you want to make?” Joe replied, “A good one.”
“This album is a testament to Joe Camilleri’s long-lasting career and his burning desire to keep working at his craft. The album shows the power of love and inspiration that spans 40 years of our lives,” says Peter Solley, who also adds his Hammond B3 and keyboards to the record… “I’m sure, Saint Georges Road will inspire Joe’s fans as well.”
At the final listening session, as the title track was played, Joe recalls a profound moment, “We were two like-minded souls coming together for what could be the last time… we knew we had something special… a record that was a culmination of everything I’d done before and probably the best record I’ve made.” The following day Peter Solley headed back to his home in the US. The day after that, Australia’s borders were shut.
THE BLACK SORROWS are one of Australia’s most prolific and enduringly popular bands renowned for their high-energy live shows, musicianship, and infectious, roots-soaked blues rock. They’ve sold more than two million albums to date and won an ARIA Award for Best Group.
Joe Camilleri has been at the forefront of Australian music for decades as the leader of Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons and The Black Sorrows and as writer of radio anthems „Hit & Run“, „Shape I’m In“, „Chained To The Wheel“, „Harley & Rose“ and „Never Let Me Go“.
Joe Camilleri is an ARIA Hall of Famer and at 73 years old, a rock’n’roll lifer. Not ready to hang up his boots just yet, he’s working on his 51st album. It’s what he does.
Saint Georges Road is exclusively in Europe on CD through the Blue Rose Records mailorder. As a limited edition Blue Rose is offering the deluxe edition of the album which includes 5 bonus tracks in a deluxe signed package by Joe Camilleri and a 12 page booklet.
„Somewhere a curtains falls“, Joe Camilleri sings in Another Blue Day, a standout on The Black Sorrows‘ 19th studio album. „It’s the end of the play. For me, it’s just the start.“ And though this is the 50th album in his remarkable career – yes, 50th – Camilleri crackles with the vitality of an artist who’s just embarking on his musical journey. If you need proof, check out the exhilarating Livin Like Kings.
Reunited with English producer Peter Solley (who helmed 1979’s Screaming Targets with Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons), Saint Georges Road is sophisticated, soulful and superb, a crowning mioment in a career that refuses to look back. Yep, consider this the end of Act One. There’s a lot of life left in Joe Camilleri. (JB-Hi Fi Stack Magazine)
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