December 10, 2004
Hi and thanks for stopping by.
It’s been a couple months since I’ve updated here and
I’m starting to get complaints,.. which is very nice! Thanks
for caring enough to complain! It’s always busy.. but I’m
always doing a lot of different things so here’s what’s
been going on since that last post in late September (just scroll
down for earlier updates).
My latest solo record, “Back To Even”, got a very nice
review in USA Today over the Thanksgiving holiday, which always
helps! There have also been uniformly-really-positive reviews in
No Depression, Uncut, Harp, Amplifier, Music Row, The Big Takeover,
Bucketful of Brains and an assortment of music-friendly daily papers
in the US and online websites. Look at the top of this page and
you’ll see a new REVIEWS section you can access that includes
as many of these articles as I could collect. I sincerely appreciate
all the support. Back to Even came out only a couple months after
the record I made with Jamie Hoover, “Paparazzi”, came
out last winter so some of the reviews came as “two-fers”.
Just know I’m doing my part in contributing to the flood
of independent music that’s out there these days.
: )
There’s also a new GALLERY page that has some photos. I included
a few that date back to the old Foster and Lloyd days since that’s
something many seem to be interested in. The BIO page has been
updated as well as the RANTS section. If you can’t find my
records anywhere else, don’t hesitate to visit the BILL FOR
SALE page as well. Did I say “stocking stuffer”?
Getting back to “what’s been going on”.. in general..
it’s been more of the same in terms of writing songs, working
in the home studio and playing songwriters nights in and around
Nashville. The work I do with Freedom Sings and The First Amendment
Center has continued throughout the last few months and I’m
assembling another cd that mirrors the program we take on the road.
That cd will be finished up soon.
The Long Players, our band that performs entire classic albums
with our Nashville community as the singers, did The Beatles “Sgt.
Pepper” album in October and had an amazing time. This particular
show was part of an event called The Beatles At The Belcourt which
was a three-day Beatles event with guest speakers and a great Beatles
lookalike band called “1964”. The benefit aspect was
keeping The Belcourt Theater open which is one of Nashville’s
oldest theaters as well as our only “art house”. Usually,
The Long Players just work within our way-above-average Nashville
community of singers to help us do these classic album gigs, but
with this Beatles event, we were able to include some of the folks
who were in town specifically for the event.. That’s how
we ended up with Mark Hudson (songwriter and producer who works
with Ringo) and surprise guests like Joey Molland from Badfinger.
Here’s a list of who did what are a few photos from that
night. I’ll have you know that the encore of Beatles songs
we knew off the top of our heads was LONGER THAN THE SHOW ITSELF.
Hard to stop once THAT gets going..
The Long Players Perform The Beatles Classic Album
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
October 16, 2004 at The Belcourt Theater
1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Mark Hudson)
2. A Little Help From My Friends (Henry Gross)
3. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds (Al Kooper)
4. Getting Better (Robert Reynolds from The Mavericks)
5. Fixing a Hole (Gary Burr)
6. She's Leaving Home (Kim Richey)
7. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (Michael Snow)
8. Within You, Without You (George & Dave Daeger from The Early
Evening)
9. When I'm Sixty-Four (Barry and Holly Tashian)
10. Lovely Rita (Hans Rotenbury from The Shazam)
11. Good Morning, Good Morning (Jamie Hoover from The Spongetones)
12. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Mark Hudson)
13. A Day in the Life (Steve Allen / Bill Lloyd)
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To view all the pictures and find out more about the event.. go
here: http://www.richardcourtney.com/beatle.html
Getting back to the Freedom Sings program.. we did
our annual local show on October 20th with a great
lineup. The house
band included
several of our Long Players group (Garry Tallent on bass, Steve
Ebe on drums and John Deaderick on keys and myself on guitar) as
well as Danny Flowers on guitar. Our regular Freedom Sings drummer,
Craig Krampf was able to come out and play along that night as
well. All the songs performed were either banned outright or fall
into the category of celebrating free speech. Here’s the
setlist:
Greg Trooper: I Ain't Marchin' Anymore
Pat Buchanan : What's So Funny ('Bout Peace Love and Understanding)
Adie Gray: I Get A Kick Out of You
Dave McKenzie: Work With Me Annie/Annie
Had A Baby
Ken Agee: Eve Of Destruction
David Paulson: Let’s
Spend the Night Together
Joy Lynn White: Love Child
David Kent :
Takin' My Country Back
Danny Flowers : Choice of Colors
Don Henry
and James Wold: Dear God
Jonell Mosser : Wasteland of the Free
Bill
Lloyd : Whole Lotta Shakin’
Bobby Hebb : Love For Sale & Sunny
Mark Volman : Keep It Warm & Happy Together
One of the most enjoyable things about this program is that we keep
adding new faces to the mix. The amazing Bobby Hebb who wrote and performed
the classic “Sunny”, has moved back to Nashville and we
were lucky to have him perform with us that night. Also, Mark Volman
who you might remember as Flo from Flo and Eddie and The Turtles, has
now moved into the area as well and took us all home with “Happy
Together”. I was smiling as hard as you can smile and sing at
the same time while doing the “ba-ba-ba-ba’s” at
the end of the song.
One of the more regular “songwriters in the round” shows
that I’ve been a part of over the last year is a group that includes
the band Swandive (Bill DeMain and Molly Felder), Amy Rigby and Don
Henry and myself. We played the Bluebird Café on November 10th
and had a great night. Swandive included a song that Bill and I wrote
on their most recent album, “William and Marlys”. The song
is called “Leftover” and their version is just beautiful.
I recently had the opportunity to be in the house band for a radio
show based out of Atlanta which turned out to be a really fun thing.
The program is called The Pointing Dog Social Club and is narrated
and scripted by one, Budd Harbis. Think Garrison Keeler from the Deep
South. Don Dixon was in charge of putting together the band and got
me onboard. I only later found out I was working with longtime friend,
Marshall Chapman, on the program. Along with Pump Boys and Dinette
singer, Jim Wann, we all got to sing our own songs as a part of the
show inbetween the irony-fuled cornpone.(and I mean that as a compliment!).
Here’s what it looked like as we performed the show in front
of a live audience.
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Speaking of Ms. Chapman, we performed, only last night, at Nashville’s
Bluebird Café along with Rusty Young and Danny Flowers. Rusty
was in town working on a record with longtime Poco band mates Richie
Furry and Paul Cotton for a Richie solo album. There were hopes they’d
all come down for an off-the-cuff acoustic reunion but Paul and Richie
had their working heads on in the studio. It was a blast nonetheless.
Tonight (December 10th) I’m in the house band for the annual
John Lennon tribute. It’s the tenth year as well although I’ve
only been involved for the last eight or so. Here’s the press
blurb :
The 10th Annual “Imagine No Handguns” benefit is kicking
off the holidays on Friday, December 10 at the Exit-In. Please come
and join us for a great night of music, friends, and fun. This event
pays homage to the music of John Lennon through performances from various
musicians. Proceeds benefit the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence;
a cause that can benefit us all in the long run.
SHOW: Friday, December 10 Exit-In on Elliston Place
8pm-ish $10 cover at the door
Featured performers :
Steve Allen, Aquavelvet (Jim Hoke & friends), The Bees, Betty Dylan,
Jon Byrd, Katie Cook, John Deaderick, Steve Ebe, Walter Egan, Rosie
Flores, Gyspie Hombres, Janis Ian, Phil Lee, Bill Lloyd, Matthew Ryan,
Eddie Perez, John Sieger, The Skirtz, Garry Tallent, Holly & Barry
Tashian, Jason White, Tommy Womack and others.......
It’s always a good time and I’m especially looking forward
to singing harmonies with Janis Ian on Norwegian Wood and Love Me Do.
Thanks to all those who sent me emails and remembered me on my recent
birthday. As I bear down on the halfway mark, I’m trying to celebrate
being alive on a daily basis!
Thanks, as always , for checking in here.
Best regards
Bill
September 20, 2004
Hello and thanks for stopping by.
Summertime is winding down. Hope it was a good one for you and yours. I've not written an update since July so here's the usual recap along with some upcoming stuff.
Aside from the occasional gig, there's been a good bit of songwriting and the recording of “demos” of these new songs over the summer. Many of the songs are co-written ones and I've been collaborating with other Nashville-based writers like Robert Ellis Orrall, Bill DeMain from chamber-pop band Swandive, Rand Bishop (now a Nashville hit-maker but also onetime member of The Wackers you powerpop fans!) and Canadian singer/songwriter Tania Hancheroff. My co-write with pal, Beth Nielsen Chapman, called “Trying To Love You” managed to score some radio play on the BBC in the UK over the summer too.
There’s been more really nice press on both the Back To Even and Paparazzi cds and more continues to show up. The mentions/reviews have shown up in No Depression, Uncut, Amplifier, The Big Takeover, USA Today online and a bunch of places in the UK as well. Thank-you!
On the gig front, the Crenshaw, Dixon, Hoover and Lloyd band did a few shows at the end of July. We hadn't done anything together for a few months and it was great fun to play together again. Jamie and I have played by ourselves as a duo a couple of times but to play with the full band was just a gas.
Here's a picture of the band taken back in January by our filmaker pal,
Steve Boyle. We never got around to naming our quartet aside from the
Crenshaw,Dixon Hoover and Lloyd moniker which never seems to fit a poster
or a newspaper blurb. Some of the jokier names we came up with included
The Hanging Chads and the Four Stages Of Baldness. I started referring
to us at The Middle Aged Boys until Dixon corrected me that he was even
older than that. Me, I'm just getting used to the idea of middle age.
I’ve already gotten used to being in a band where I’m inevitably.. “and
Lloyd”. :)
Photo credit : Steve Boyle Left to right : Jamie Hoover, Don Dixon ,
Robert Crenshaw and Bill Lloyd
The Beachland Ballroom is always a fun room to play and we had a good time there on July 24. We then drove on to Detroit where Robert Crenshaw lives and played a club called Memphis Smoke which primarily features blues acts. We had a nice crowd there too. I think the fact that Jack White of The White Stripes used to work there seems to be part of the word of mouth about the club. At any rate, nice folks, nice room and nice barbeque for North of the Mason-Dixon line:). We recorded our set there that night on multi-track and we’ll eventually figure out if there’s anything there we can work with in terms of getting some kind of recording out there to document our combo. We finished out our mini-tour with a stop in Kalamazoo, Michigan on July 26th where we shared a bill with a band that Jamie produced called Maryz Eyez. Their stuff reminds me of the kind of modern power-pop that Green Day does. They were not only a great rock band but they were incredibly nice guys on top of it all. Go check ‘em out! http://www.maryzeyez.net/
The Paisley Pop label, that released the record Jamie Hoover and I did together (Paparazzi! Available here!), will be releasing a Tribute CD to The dB’s sometime in the not-too-distant future. I always loved their records. There’s a version of “Think Too Hard” on there that features Jamie and Robert singing along with Don and I on bass and guitar. I also did a version of the dB’s “Neverland” on my own for the tribute. I’m not sure when the dB’s tribute cd will be coming out. I’m also recording a version of “Without Love” for a Nick Lowe tribute record that’s due out sometime before long.
Speaking of tribute cds, there's a new one out of Canada on the Bullseye label that's a tribute to The Beatles. Never enough of those says me, especially when I get to contribute. I did "Across the Universe" but there's also pals like Al Kooper, The Spongtones and Andrew Gold who are on there as well. It's called "It Was Forty Years Ago Today" and I think it's just an import at this point. I've not heard it yet since they haven't sent me one yet. That's a hint.
There were a bunch of “songwriters in the round” shows that I did over the summer at The Bluebird Café here in Nashville. I’ve been doing those for many years now and it just doesn’t get old for me. Of course, there are always different writers and singers to play with at each gig. On July 30th, I played with Danny Flowers, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Jim Photoglo which was a wonderful time. Greg Trooper, Amy Rigby, Tom Hambridge and I played there on August 5th. On August 18th, I did a writers in the round with Swandive (Bill DeMain and Molly Felder), Amy Rigby and Don Henry. I just played September 10th at The Bluebird with Fred Knobloch, Danny Flowers and Will Kimbrough. Each and every time it’s a little different and a whole lot of fun. The Swandive, Amy Rigby, Don Henry and me lineup will play again there on November 10th. It will be listed on the concerts link as well.
In my last update I mentioned that Performing Songwriter asked me to provide them with an article about my work with The First Amendment Center. That issue was still on the stands when I checked last and has Carole King on the cover. It’s the first time I’ve ever written anything that’s been published nationally so I was happy about that. I’ve had a fun and fulfilling relationship with The First Amendment Center over the last five years helping them with their Freedom Sings program. The Freedom Sings band has a handful of dates this Fall at schools here in Tennessee and Georgia. Now that the Executive Director of the FAC, Ken Paulson, has moved on to become the new editor at USA Today, the program will probably do these shows a little more infrequently. If this show DOES show up in your town or your school, I urge you to attend for not only the entertainment value but the educational aspect. We have another Freedom Sings show open to the public at The Bluebird Café on October 20th. Some of the guests who are scheduled include Bobby Hebb (yes! Sunny!), Mark Volman from The Turtles, Jason White, Jonell Mosser, Amy Rigby, Greg Trooper, Don Henry, Joy Lynn White, Adie Grey, Dave McKenzie and Shonka Dukereh with more to be named later.
Another series of concerts that I’ve been doing with some friends is a band called The Long Players. We’ve been choosing what we think to be a “classic album” and performing it in it’s entirety. So far we’ve covered The Rolling Stones / Let It Bleed, Neil Young / After the Goldrush , Bob Dylan / Blonde On Blonde and just did The Band by The Band. We did Blonde On Blonde on July 22nd to a packed house at 12th and Porter here in Nashville. The extra fun part was that legendary organist/songwriter/producer Al Kooper (who played on Like A Rolling Stone, Blonde On Blonde and other Dylan records) came to town and sat in with The Long Players on this night. We also managed to get Charlie McCoy, who played on lots of Dylan records as well as Blonde on Blonde, to come out and sit in with our band. Nashville may be the best community in the world to do a fun project like this.
Here’s what the last two gigs looked like in terms of who did what.
The Long Players Perform The Band’s Classic 2nd LP “The
Band”
September 16, 2004 @ 12th & Porter
Across the Great Divide ( Michael Kelsh ) Rag Mama Rag ( Pat McLaughlin
)
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down ( Beth Nielsen Chapman )
When You Awake ( J. Fred Knobloch )
Up On Cripple Creek ( Mark Horn )
Whispering Pines (Jesse Alexander & Jon Randall )
Jemima Surrender
( Tim Krekel )
Rockin' Chair (Eric Brace)
Look Out, Cleveland (Brad Jones)
Jawbone ( Matt King )
The Unfaithful Servant ( Jim Photoglo )
King Harvest [Has Surely Come]
(Jason White)
The Long Players are: Steve Allen, Steve Ebe, Bill Lloyd, Garry Tallent
With Jim Hoke, Peter Hyrka, Jack Irwin and Randy Leago
THE LONG PLAYERS PRESENT Bob Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde"
THURSDAY, JULY 22 @ 12th & PORTER
THE LONG PLAYERS : Steve Allen (guitar); John Deaderick (keyboards);
Steve Ebe (drums); Bill Lloyd (guitar); Garry Tallent (bass);
WITH Al Kooper (keyboards); Charlie McCoy (everything) & Jim Hoke
(everything else)
GUEST VOCALISTS
Rainy Day Women #12 & #35 : Warren Pash
Pledging My Time: Phil Lee
Visions Of Johanna : Bobby Bare Jr.
One of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later): Newton Dominy
I Want You : Mark Germino
Memphis Blues Again: Chuck Mead (BR549)
Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat : Al Kooper
Just Like A Woman : Adrian Belew
Most Likely You Go Your Way... : Jason Ringenberg
Temporary Like Achilles : Will Kimbrough
Absolutely Sweet Marie : Bob Develante
4Th Time Around : Richard Ferriera
Obviously Five Believers : Tracy Nelson
Sad-Eyed Lady.. : Everyone..It’s The Whole Hee-Haw Gang
Oh yes, another aspect of this series of concerts is the chairty aspect. Depite whatever expenses, a percentage of the door goes to a charity. When we found out that the drummer from Blonde On Blonde, Kenny Buttrey, was battling cancer, he became our charity for the Dylan night. I’m sad to report that he has passed on but I got the nicest card from his wife just before he did. We’ve donated part of our proceeds from previous album nights to The Second Harvest Food Bank and a Cancer Walk. So.. The Long Players gigs can be lot of work to learn a whole album for a one-night only experience but it’s also a great deal of fun..both for the musicians and the audience. We celebrate the idea of an album, get to sing songs that everyone knows already and champion our local music community. Not a bad way to spend some time. We’re doing The Beatles Sgt. Pepper at the Belcourt Theater on Oct. 16th . More on that to follow.
One other gig I’d like to mention before I sign off; fans of Foster and Lloyd will have the chance to see us do that thing again on New Years Eve at The Bluebird Café. We’re scheduled to play in a special in-the-round performance that evening with ANOTHER duo from the late 80’s, Kennedy-Rose. We did a similar show with Rusty Young and Paul Cotton from Poco a few years back on New Years Eve so we know it will be a fun night. It will be great to play with Pam Rose and Mary Ann Kennedy, I was always a fan of theirs.
Well, that’s about all for now.
CD’s still available through this website.
Thanks again for stopping by.
Bill
July 12, 2004
Hello and thanks for stopping by.
This last month has been a fun and busy one.
I did the Songwriters Sessions for Nashville's public radio station,
WPLN, on June 12th with old friend Cindy Bullens and new acquaintance
Willy Porter. Truly a fun afternoon. The show has already been broadcast
so this recap doesn't offer anything but my post-gig enthusiasm. I
don't think they archive those shows but here's more about it. http://www.wpln.org/songwriters/2004/songwriters061204.html
I've also been back into the songwriting groove again working with friends like Robert Ellis Orrall, Bill DeMain , Tania Hansheroff and Rand Bishop.
If you were to scroll down through the last few years of these updates you would find that I've worked with The First Amendment Center in Nashville a good bit. Along with Don Henry, Ashley Cleveland, Craig Krampf, Shonka Dukereh and Pat Buchanan, we did another Freedom Sings show in Arlington, VA., just last week. The new issue of Performing Songwriter magazine has a small article I wrote about the work that we've been doing there over the last five years. It's my first article in a national magazine and I was very pleased to be asked to provide some background on this project.
My pal, Beth Nielsen Chapman, just got back from her tour in the UK. Our song, "Trying To Love You", was the single she was promoting and it went all the way to the top of the BBC's B list. Their A list is where The Spice Girls would go. Their B list is for Americana and Country and AC kind of music. I'm thinking that's an okay thing:)
I have a load of gigs coming up. Please look at the Concerts section of this website for details. The combo with Jamie Hoover, Don Dixon and Robert Crenshaw is active again with gigs coming up soon in Cleveland, Detroit and Kalamazoo Michigan.
The Long Players also have another album to celebrate on July 22nd. We're doing Bob Dylan's "Blonde On Blonde". Folks from the Nashville community come sit in with us to sing.. Note that we have the Al Kooper coming to sing AND to sit in with our band.
Here's the lineup.
Rainy Day Women #12 & #35 : Warren Pash
Pledging My Time : Phil Lee
Visions Of Johanna : Bobby Bare Jr.
One of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later) : Newton Dominy
I Want You: Mark Germino
Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again : Tracy Nelson
Leopard
Skin Pillbox Hat : Al Kooper
Just Like A Woman : Adrian Belew
Most
Likely You Go Your Way.. : Jason Rigenberg
Temporary Like Achilles :
Will Kimbrough
Absolutely Sweet Marie : Bob Delevante
4Th Time Around : Richard Ferrera
Obviously Five Believers : John Jorgenson
Sad-Eyed Lady.. : Everyone
takes a partial verse The Whole Hee Haw Gang.
SO that's about all for now.
Check back in soon when you have the time.
Bill
June 2, 2004
Hello and thanks for dropping by.
It’s summertime already. They say “Where does the time go?” and I can only tell you where it went.. I am currently working on the age old dilemma of controlling where it will go. I’ll get back to you on that.
May was a fun and busy month. Shortly after my last update here, The Long Players performed our second gig in our Classic Album series doing Neil Young’s “After The Goldrush” at 12th and Porter on May 7th. So you won’t have to scroll down to previous updates, here’s a recap about The Long Players. The band (besides me) includes Steve Allen (20/20) on guitar, John Deaderick (Dixie Chicks/Pinch) on keys, Steve Ebe (Human Radio) on drums and Garry Tallent (E. St.Band) on bass. The concept is that we play a classic album in it’s entirety and in the proper sequence with guest singers taking the lead vocals. Our first gig / album was The Rolling Stones “Let It Bleed”. With Nashville’s amazing talent pool, the results are always fun and really.. really.. good. Here was the lineup for the May 7th gig.
1. Tell Me Why (Jason White with Jack Silverman)
2. After The Goldrush (Jonell Mosser)
3. Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Mack Starks)
4. Southern Man (John Cowan)
5. Till The Morning Comes (The Long Players)
6. Oh, Lonesome Me (Allison Moorer)
7. Don't Let It Bring You Down (Joy Lynn White)
8. Birds (Allison Moorer)
9. When You Dance I Can Really Love (John Davis from Superdrag )
10. I Believe In You (Amy Rigby)
11. Cripple Creek Ferry (Greg Trooper)
The connection between the abundance of female singers and Neil Young’s vocal range is no coincidence. However, the truth is obvious.. Chicks Dig Neil.
We also worked in some more fun Neil covers at the end of the night with Allison Moorer doing Down By the River, Greg Trooper doing Ohio, Steve Allen and myself singing Cinnamon Girl and Jonell Mosser and I doing Like A Hurricane. Thanks also to Neil Rosengarden who helped us out with the brass parts on After the Goldrush and ‘Til the Morning Comes.
Our next gig is coming up on July 22nd when we’re doing Bob Dylan’s “Blonde On Blonde”. Al Kooper will be joining us and maybe a few of the other folks who participated in the original recording.
The next couple of days following that Long Players show I got to play two gigs here in my hometown with my buddy, Jamie Hoover. Jamie and my webmeister pal, Michael Slawter, came and spent the weekend. By the way, the Jamie Hoover/Bill Lloyd record Paparazzi, is receiving a slew of positive reviews. Check them out on the Discography page. All of my records are available through this site (see Bill For Sale section).
Jamie and I joined my old friend, Monte Warden and Tommy Connors in a songwriters in the round at the Bluebird Cafe on May 8th. Monte is deservedly enjoying some long awaited success as a songwriter having penned the latest George Strait smashola, “Desperately”. Monte and I have been pals since Foster and Lloyd toured with The Wagoneers back in the late ‘80’s. We’ve also written alot of songs together... Monte having the good taste to record a bunch of them on his solo records :)
Jamie was new to the Bluebird experience but played and sang amazingly as per usual. We got to perform alot of the Paparazzi material that night. The very next day we did an in-store at Tower Records here in Nashville. It was A Mothers Day-Sunday afternoon gig I’m grateful that our friends showed up to keep us from Spinal Tap-like humiliation! It was truly fun. I also did some songs from my new solo album, Back To Even.
Other Bluebird / Songwriters In the Round gigs this last month include a May 15th show with Danny Flowers, Pat McLaughlin and Bill Miller AND the May 19th gig with Swandive, Amy Rigby and Don Henry. Both of those nights were fabulous too. I’m a real fan of all of those folks. It was a big Bluebird month but I’m not back there until July. So it’s feast or famine..
Got a little bit back into co-writing songs this last month which I’ve not done much of this year with a backlog of songs and demos to record.However, opportunities arose and I was very pleased to be able to work with John Simon during his Nashville visit. You might know John’s name as a producer. Going way back to The Cyrkle’s “Red Rubber Ball” , the first Blood Sweat and Tears album, Janis Joplin and Big Brother.. not to forget the first two classic albums by The Band. Whew. How do you spell resume’? He still produces and makes his own records. He’s at http://www.johnsimonmusic.net It was a gas to meet and work with him this last month.
I also got back together with longtime co-writer, Irene Kelley, and finished up another song with her that’s been on the back burner for awhile.She has a new record finished too. She’s at http://www.irenekelley.com In my last update I mentioned all the UK related stuff that I’m peripherally involved with. Here’s the update. Last fall I got to work with Squeeze singer/writer, Glenn Tilbrook playing bass on his Nashville sessions. His album, “Transatlantic Ping-Pong” is now out in the UK and will soon have a US release.The title refers to it being recorded half in the US and half in England.It’s a great record and as a longtime Squeeze/Glenn fan, I was really happy to be a small part of it . So check it out at http://www.glenntilbrook.com
Also having some success in the UK is Beth Nielsen Chapman’s new single, “Trying To Love You”
Beth and I wrote the song and it’s on her new album “Look”.
Beth, of course,
has a site here : http://bethnielsenchapman.com/
If it wasn't already obvious, I tend to use this space as a music fan as much as I do promoting my own music. Whatever keeps you motivated. In the early '90's, I enjoyed working with Rusty Young from the band Poco. While our band with John Cowan and Pat Simmons (The Sky Kings) didn't end up in the Country Music Hall of Fame, we made some fun music and had some great times. On May 20th, Poco filmed a concert for DVD here in Nashville at The Belcourt Theater. They were as good as I'd ever seen them (which includes shows I saw in '72 and '74.. and many in recent years). The added bonus for that evening was that founding member, Richie Furray, was there and sang a few numbers (Kind Woman, Good Feelin' To Know and others) and played along on the rest. It was a great night to be a Poco fan. They hit all the high points from their records and delivered. At the end, they did an encore of the Chuck Berry classic, Rock'n'Roll Music and invited John Cowan and I up to sing along. Big fun!
I’m doing some more dates with pals, Jamie Hoover, Don Dixon and Robert Crenshaw in July. Detroit and Cleveland. Check the CONCERTS link for updated info there.
Much thanks for all the correspondence and support I’ve received since these new records are finally out.
What was it we used to say at the end of the school year? Oh yeah..
have a bitchin’ summer!
Bill
April 26, 2004
Hey there and thanks for stopping by.
It’s been a busy month since my last entry here so I’ll start
with a quick recap.
I’m really excited and happy to have some “new” music out and in stores after such a long wait. There are two records I’ve been talking about in this space for the last year or so, and now they’re both out.
My new solo album, “Back To Even” , is finally out and in stores. If you can’t find it in YOUR particular store, know that you can (a) get one directly from me through this site (b) ask your retailer to order it for you (it IS in the system of chains like Tower, Borders and Circuit City) or (c) find it online thorugh Amazon.Com, or (especially) Not Lame.. or Kool Kat.. or any of the other fine pop oriented websites that support this kind of music.
The record I made with Jamie Hoover called “Paparazzi” is still a relatively new record having only come out in January. It’s available through (a) this site.. (see Bill For Sale), (b) the Paisley Pop website and (c) online pop-oriented sites like Not Lame, Kool Kat, and others.. Thanks to all who have been so supportive with both of these records.
My DISCOGRAPHY page has now been updated as well. You can click on the cd covers for links to more information, credits, lyrics, reviews etc..
Looking over my last update, The Long Players were getting ready to do our first gig in our Classic Album series. This is a band made up of a bunch of us who enjoy playing together at the John Lennon Tribute every December yet wanted to play more... so we’re taking on the fun task of re-creating a classic rock album every month. The band is myself on guitar, Steve Allen(20/20) on guitar, Garry Tallent (E. Street Band), on bass, Steve Ebe (ex-Human Radio) on drums and John Deaderick (Dixie Chicks) on keys. Using Nashville’s amazing talent pool to enlist guest singers, it’s fun and draws attention to some records that deserve it. Our first gig was March 26th and we did The Rolling Stones / Let It Bleed album in it’s entirety. If this lineup sounds like a good time, then I wish you could have been there.
1. Gimme Shelter : Ashley Cleveland
2. Love In Vain : Gary Nicholson & Colin Linden
3. Country Honk : Rosie Flores
4. Let It Bleed : Tommy Womack
5. Live With Me : Billy Burnette
6. Midnight Rambler : Webb Wilder
7. You Got the Silver : Southside Johnny
8. Monkey Man : Dan Baird
9. You Can't Always Get What You Want : Jimmy Hall
As for the backup band, we learn the material and the singers just knock it out in their own way. We stay pretty close to the original arrangements as we’re celebrating the album. If you’re wondering, we did throw in some more Stones songs at the end of the night. If memory serves, Dan Baird also sang Brown Sugar ; Webb Wilder did Jumpin’ Jack Flash ; Southside Johnny did Honky Tonk Women and I did The Last Time. Our next gig is May 7th at 12th and Porter in Nashville. The album is Neil Young / After The Goldrush. To quote NRBQ, “C’mon if you’re comin’ “.
If you happened to pick up Goldmine magazine in March, you might have spotted me on the cover. it was a small insert picture but definitely on the cover nevertheless! As a longtime record collector and Goldmine reader, that was fun to have happen and the piece itself was mostly a career overview for their “Country Corner”. Hey, I also got name-checked in the brand new issue of Disc-overies. It's a Power Pop issue with Badfinger on the cover. It's mostly about the '70's acts that kept melodic guitar pop alive during that time. But they do mention me and a few other folks as having started up on the '80's and having stylistic similarities.
I spent a few days in early April on a small vaction in Chicago with my son for his spring break. We did the tourist stuff but I did manage to work in a visit to Chess Studios at 2120 Michigan Avenue. The nice guy who actually gave us the tour was Willie Dixon’s nephew. I recommend the tour even if you only soak up the vibe of the room where Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry. The Rolling Stones and so many others recorded.
My friend, Beth Nielsen Chapman, has recorded a brand new album called “Look”. The single, called “Trying To Love You”, is a song that the two of us co-wrote and it’s just been released in the UK and Europe. It made it’s debut on the Terry Wogan show (which is a pretty cool thing) and her label, Sanctuary, are already promoting it. We’re all hoping for a little luck with that one.
Beth has been a co-writer since we both moved to Nashville back in the 80’s and that longterm friendship is a treasure. She was honored by the American Cancer Society on April 15th for her hard work and commitment to helping both herself and others deal with the effects of cancer. She lost her own husband to cancer and within two years, fought off cancer herself. As you can guess, many folks in the Nashville community think alot of her and I felt honored to be asked to participate in the “entertainment” section of the evening’s banquet/concert. The other participants were Suzy Boggus, Gary Nicholson, Kimmie Rhodes and Jimmy Webb. Yes, that Jimmy Webb. Seeing him play Wichita Lineman solo on piano was a real treat. All those others listed are folks I love and have worked with before.. but I’d never met Jimmy Webb until that night.. I’m still typing on about it.
While I’m promoting other people’s records, let me say a word. Squeeze. What does that bring to mind? Okay.. besides that. If you’re thinking of one of the best pop bands to ever come out of England besides The Beatles, we’re on the same track. Lead singer and guitarist from that stellar group, Glenn Tilbrook, came to Nashville in October of last year to record tracks for a new album. I was lucky enough to get the recommendation to play in the studio band. I ended up being the bassist, save one song where Glenn played bass and I played some guitar. At any rate, that record is finally coming out. The single, called “Untouchable” IS currently out . Even if I didn’t have a thing to do with it, I would tell you it’s one of the best things he’s done in years.
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Okay, who else’s record can I plug? The new Swandive cd, “William and Marlys” is a must-have for fans of melodic, jazzy , 60’s-like soft-pop. I have a co-written song on there too that I’m proud of (“Leftover”) but I think the entire record is just amazing and one of Brad Jones best productions. John Wesley Harding just came to town and I got to see him do his solo acoustic show once again. Great show.. great songs.. great presentation. I keep thinking, if Chris Isaak has a tv show, then Wes needs one too.
Okay then. Here are some upcoming gigs.. that should also be listed on the “Concerts” page of this site.
The Long Players do “After the Goldrush”. Lots of interest on this one but the confirmed list of guest singers so far includes Greg Trooper, Amy Rigby, John Cowan, Jonell Mosser, Joy Lynn White and Matraca Berg. If it wasn’t obvious before.. it should be now : Chicks Dig Neil. I’m playing The Bluebird Cafe with Jamie Hoover, Monte Warden and Tommy Connors on May 8th and doing a Tower Records In-Store performance with Jamie on the next day, Sunday May 9th. Please come and keep us from reinacting the scene from Spinal Tap. I’m also playing The Bluebird twice more this month. It just worked out that way.. hope I get to play again this summer! On the 15th of May with Danny Flowers, Pat McLaughlin and Bill Miller. On May 19th with Swandive, Amy Rigby and Don Henry.
So there’s that. For now.
All the best to you and yours
Bill
March 22, 2004
Hello and thanks for stopping by.
While the "Back To Even" CD has already been made available through my website, the OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE is tomorrow, the 23rd. You'll be able to go online and find it in places like Amazon.Com, Borders and Circuit City as well as some of the ususal online pop-sites that support this music. Thank you Not Lame. Kool Kat etc.. did I say it's available directly from me too?
All this is exciting for me since I've not had a CD release since, Standing On the Shoulders of Giants on the Koch label in '99, getting this kind of distribution.
So what ELSE is up? I played a really fun night of music with pals, Swandive (Bill DeMain and Molly Felder), Amy Rigby and Don Henry on March 10th. We were at Nashville's famed, Bluebird Cafe. Wonderful night. Bill and Molly have a new Swandive cd out called "William and Marlys" and, if you know and like their stuff as I do, it's one of their best. I'm also proud to say that one of the songs that Bill and I wrote made it on to this new record. Our song is called "Leftover" and they did an amazing job with it. Thanks also to Brad Jones, who produced/engineered their record.
I've been busy with so many other things than songwriting this year, but did manage to write a couple of songs with longtime pal, Robert Ellis Orrall this month. He's got several projects in the air at the moment and I was happy to help. Besides his career as a country aritst about ten years back, he flipped back over to the pop side with his more recent projects (SOUND FAMILIAR?). You can find out more at www.infinitycat.com Check out the Monkeybowl cd by Bob Something. Monkeybowl opened for The Hanging Chads (Robert Crenshaw, Don Dixon, Jamie Hoover and I) here in Nashville in January.
After The Hanging Chads played the Mountain Stage radio show in February, our fun little middle-aged quartet hasn't played since. Hopefully, we can rectify that situation before the end of the year since it WAS so much fun. Janie Hoover and I are playing on May 8th here in Nashville at The Bluebird Cafe and then the next day as a duo at Tower Records. Please come. Nothing is sadder than a sparsely attended in-store performance. Shades of Spinal Tap! May 8th at The Bluebird will also be alot of fun with old pal, Monte Warden up from Texas and Tommy Connors also on the bill.
"Paparazzi", by the way, is continuing to get more exposure. Jamie and I are both excited that so many people really seem to like this collaboration. We've seen positve notices in Amplifier (they also liked The Hanging Chads show in Winston-Salem) and Magnet and there are, reportedly, more reviews on the way. You can find the Hoover/Lloyd CD on my BILL FOR SALE page as well.
The following is a press release from YET ANOTHER local project that I'm doing. The band that plays the Lennon Tributes every December wanted to play more often.. so we plan to and hope to make something out of it. Here are the details :
The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed Kicking off a "Classic Album Series" at 12th and Porter, The Long Players will be playing The Rolling Stones "Let It Bleed" album in it's entirety on the evening of March 26. An amazing list of some of Nashville's finest singers and artists will be on hand to sing and celebrate one of rock's finest albums in a live setting.
Who's Singing?
1. Gimme Shelter : Ashley Cleveland
2. Love In Vain : Gary Nicholson
3. Country Honk : Rosie Flores
4. Let It Bleed : Tommy Womack
5. Live With Me : Billy Burnette
6. Midnight Rambler : Webb Wilder
7. You Got the Silver : Southside Johnny
8. Monkey Man : Dan Baird
9. You Can't Always Get What You Want : Jimmy Hall
The "Classic Album" band is called The Long Players. Made up
of members from the house band for the John Lennon Tribute every December,
they all wanted to play as a unit more frequently which led to the "Classic
Album Series". Guitarist and organizer, Bill Lloyd, joins fellow
Long Players Steve Allen, John Deaderick, Steve Ebe and Garry Tallent
in this endeavor to celebrate a "classic album" every month
or so.
The name for the band, Long Player, is in reference to the vinyl 12-inch disc played at 331/3 RPM . A long player had high fidelity sound with grooves that could hold up to nearly forty five minutes of music on a two-sided record. They're still called LP's to this day. That 1948 breakthrough allowed singers, producers and artists the chance to create an uninterupted listening experience. It's these acknowledged high points, the pop art, the "listening experience" that The Long Players want to remember and celebrate in this Classic Album series. Come join in and you're expected to sing along.
So there's the press release. Sound like fun? I know WE'LL be having a good time. If this one goes well, we hope to do, maybe, After the Goldrush or Who's Next.. or something along those lines.. before long.
I've also been working on mixes for another CD for The First Amendment Center. We have a Spring full of Freedom Sings dates and a new CD that contains live performances from this program. The working title is , "American Banned". If this confuses you and you want to know more, please open my earlier updates where I tend to go on about The First Amendment Center and their work. There's also a link on my LINKS PAGE.
The Nashville Songwriter's Association Internation (NSAI) sponsors their annual Tin Pan South showcase series where, for about a week every year, Nashville clubs are full of NSAI sponsored shows. On April 2nd, I'm participating in another showcase to benefit this organization and it should be fun one. That night at 12th & Porter, the lineup will be Radney Foster, Jim Sonefeld (Soni from Hootie and the Blowfish), Patrick Davis and myself. I'm sure that Radney and I will mix in some of the old Foster and Lloyd songs to the set. Patrick is a talented young writer I've written one song with as well. He's got a website at www.patrickdavismusic.com.
I'm sure I'm leaving something out but that's all I can think of right
now.
Thanks for checking in and continuing to support both me and my music.
Bill
February 24, 2004
Hello and thanks for stopping by.
Much thanks to all those who came out to see the Crenshaw, Dixon, Hoover and Lloyd quartet as we played a run of dates starting in Nashville and ending in Chicago last month. We also played in Annapolis. MD a couple of weeks afterwards at the Rams Head which was a really fun show. We're playing Mountain Stage in Charleston, West Virginia this weekend.
The "Paparazzi" cd that Jamie Hoover and I collaborated on
is getting some nice press and favorable reaction from lots of folks.
There's a review in the new issue of Magent. Thanks for all the email
I've received.
Here are some photos of Jamie and I while we were out on the road promoting this new record.
photo by Daniel Coston
photo by Jeff Murphy
While it would
seem that "Back to Even" has found a permanent
spot on the back burner.. it's just not true! It's coming out very soon
on the New Boss Sounds label distributed through Redeye. Here's the cover
(designed by new pal, Michael
Slawter) as some means of physical proof!
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photo by Amanda Sullivan
I hope to get out and tour more with both the quartet, duo gigs with Jamie and some band gigs to coincide with my own album. Keep a lookout here for deatils.
I have more Freedom Sings shows with The First Amendment Center coming up (we just got back from Iowa.. it's cold in Iowa).No Buddy Holly jokes concerning Iowa in February were permitted. There's also a new version of the Freedom Sings CD that I'm working on as well.
I've still been doing a little bit of writing but mostly travelling as of late. James Griffin (formerly with Bread and The Remingtons) and I just finished up a demo of a song we wrote together back in November.
I also have some "songwriters-in-the-round" shows coming up soon. The soonest being this weekend with Rusty Young (Poco) < James Griffin and Walter Egan.
Well, there's a quick update. There are some more shows coming up so check the Concerts page as well as the Recordings page for updates.
Adios for now.
Bill