LOVERBOY guitarist PAUL DEAN starts Spring with his own renewal, digitally releasing a new song and accompanying video, 'Be With You' his first solo material in more than 20 years, since 1994’s album, Machine. The single will be available digitally on March 21st for streaming at all major sites, including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and Deezer, as well as for download on iTunes and Amazon Music and viewing on YouTube.
“Be With You” is based on a song Paul reveals “has been kicking around since Loverboy’s “Just Getting Started” album, but its current iteration offers a “mariachi, south-of-the-border Mexicali blues” flavor, marked by Dean’s acoustic and twangy electric guitars – in large part thanks to his trusty Floyd Rose whammy bar. The result sounds like it could have come straight from a Traveling Wilburys’ album, or a Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez movie. “It was originally intended as part of a soundtrack to a screenplay I’m working on”, says Dean. It is the first of 11 new songs, many recorded at co-producer Mike Pisterzi’s Dallas-based Maximedia Studios with Loverboy mates Matt Frenette and Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve. Loverboy singer Mike Reno even contributes lyrics to one track.
“It’s a huge change musically for me from what I do with the band,” said Dean. “It reminds me of Loverboy’s debut album in its stylistic diversity, because each of the songs is so different. I just wrote what I was feeling and what I loved to hear and perform. It’s totally meant to be danced to, especially ‘Be With You’.”
Indeed, the video is a “celebration” of Loverboy and its fans, featuring Dean today (“My wife talked me into being real, owning up to who I am,” he says) playing over footage shot more than three decades ago with the band. The object of desire is an alluring woman, (who is featured in the cover band at the beginning of the band’s “Lovin’ Every Minute” video), whooping it up on stage in a display of self-empowerment, the unaware object of the narrator’s obsession.
“I like that kind of juxtaposition of really positive music with ambiguous lyrics,” says Dean, referencing such Loverboy classics as “Turn Me Loose” and “The Kid Is Hot Tonight,” the latter warning about the perils of fame. “Taken at face value, you could say “Be With You” is simply a love song.”
The new video comes on the heels of last year’s digital release of Dean’s 1989 solo debut, Hard Core, with it’s accompanying re-released videos of “Sword In Stone”, and “Draw The Line.” Dean says, “This is not a break from Loverboy. It’s meant to augment what we do as a band - to continue the dialogue, the conversation, with our fans, and keep them invested in us, individually and collectively.”
LOVERBOY's four-decade-long career began in Calgary when vocalist Mike Reno was introduced to guitar legend Paul Dean, the two eventually joined by keyboardist Doug Johnson, drummer Matt Frenette and bassist Ken "Spider" Sinnaeve, who replaced the late Scott Smith in 2000. The band’s releases include the four-million-selling Get Lucky, and three double-platinum releases in their self-titled 1980 debut, 1983's Keep It Up and 1985's Lovin' Every Minute of It, including the hits "Working for the Weekend," "Lovin' Every Minute of It.
We are in the middle of the firstMichael Bormann´s Jaded Hard production. In advance, the previously announced 'Best Of Rock Songs' – album, Michael Bormann 'Rock Hard', will be released May 5.
A special package (CD, t-shirt, lanyard and autograph) for early birds will be offered until March 31.
Tracklist: Conspiracy, I Will Hold The Line, Live Your Life, Anymore, Life Is A Miracle, I Wanna Be A Rockstar, When Push Comes To Shove, Come Take Me Higher, Won't Surrender, It's Only Physical, Let's Make History, Live And Let Die , Breathless, Stand Up 2017, I'm Not Your Entertainment , My Favorite Time
1. Wasteland
2. The Enemy
3. Set Free
4. Scream Of Anger
5. Tears Of Our World
6. Phoenix
7. One World
8. Story Of My Life
9. Coming Home
10. Conspiracy Of Science
11. Final Moment
12. Black Days (Digipak Bonus) 13. Flying High (Digipak Bonus)
GIG is the brainchild of a trio of legendary music-makers Randy Goodrum, Dave Innis and Bruce Gaitsch (hence GIG from their last names).
Singer-songwriter Randy Goodrum has written or co-written countless hits, including “You Needed Me” for Anne Murray, “Who's Holding Donna Now” for El DeBarge, “Oh Sherrie” for Steve Perry and “I'll Be Over You” for Toto, to name just a few. Goodrum is also half of the renowned quality pop duo JaR, along with ace producer, songwriter and guitar player Jay Graydon.
Bruce Gaitsch is an extraordinary songwriter, guitarist and top session player who has performed and/or recorded with dozen of major acts, including Chicago, Celine Dion, Elton John, Amy Grant and Peter Cetera. Gaitsch has also co-penned big hits like “La Isla Bonita” for Madonna and “Don't Mean Nothing” with his old friend Richard Marx.
Dave Innis is one of the founding members of the successful country-pop group Restless Heart. He is also a successful songwriter and keyboard player, having penned and co-written hits for a number of world-class artists, including The Pointer Sisters, Peter Cetera, Lee Greenwood and Kenny Rogers, among others.
GIG is a special project that started out in 2013 and continued to 2015. An all-star cast rounded out the album production, including fabulous drummers like Keith Carlock of Toto and Steely Dan fame, Dan Needham who backed up stars like Michael McDonald and Marc Broussard, Billy Ward who was a drummer for Bill Champlin and Marc Jordan, plus Suzanne Vega's player, Doug Yowell. The bass parts were handled by George Hawkins Jr., Kenny Loggins' legendary bassist, and Nashville's top session guy Tim Denbo. The very talented singer Janey Clewer, who’s also Gaitsch's wife, sang the gorgeous harmonies with Goodrum, who delivers some killer lead vocals throughout the project.
A special treat on Brave New World is the song "All I'll Ever Needed", which closes the album. The song was written by composer and keyboardist Michael Haddad, who demoed it with lead vocals by the late Warren Wiebe. Warren's precious vocals were kindly granted by Haddad to Contante & Sonante that asked GIG to record a whole new backing track for the song. The result is a new recording of "All I'll Ever Need" that perfectly fits the soft-rock atmosphere of Brave New World.
GIG's Brave New World is destined to be a must-listen for the lovers of West Coast pop and soft-rock. The material included is a true master class, both in arrangement and execution.
Released in a limited edition of only 1000 copies.
Track listing:
1. Private O’Toole
2. Hernando’s Paradise
3. The Box
4. Peddler, Pete
5. Waiting
6. Ramblin’ Dan
7. Little Flame
8. All There Is
9. Isle Of Pigs
10. Brave New World
11. All I'll Ever Need -- feat Warren Wiebe
Listen to FOREIGNER's Mick Jones and UB40's Ali Campbell on this episode of Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon on Westwood One. Co-hosting is Alan Niven, plus we divulge the mystery track give it another spin and have a bonus interview at the end of the show!
In our first interview, Foreigner's Mick Jones talks about the upcoming tour with Whitesnake & Jason Bonham, the importance of reuniting with Lou Gramm and the other past members, making new music with Foreigner/Lou Gramm, Mutt Lange, past albums, his 1989 solo album, working with Johnny Hallyday and writing in French, session guys Jimmy Page & John Paul Jones, Spooky Tooth, and more.
In our second interview we talk with UB40's Ali Campbell. He discusses the band's new album A Real Labour Of Love, reggae, the band's longevity, the split, New Zealand's Got Talent, their unplugged album and covering Prince, Red Red Wine, farewell tour, the North American Market and much more.
With all the talk of Farewell tour and the era of classic rock standing on its last legs, I reached out to 83 year old blues guitarist, Eddie 'The Chief' Clearwater to talk about making a new album (at his age), and his plans to never retire. Plus, we talk Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, the Chicago's Blues scene, his induction in the Blues hall Of Fame.
And last we reveal the title, artist and story behind the 'mystery' track that was played on a previous episode.
