NEAL CASAL
''FADE AWAY DIAMOND TIME''
OCTOBER 1995
57:00
**********
01 - Day In The Sun 05:03
Vocals: Janiva Magness, Julie Christensen
02 - Maybe California 04:35
03 - Free To Go 06:04
04 - Leaving Traces 04:27
Percussion: Dave McNair
05 - Bird In Hand 04:56
Pedal Steel Guitar: Greg Leisz
06 - These Days With You 04:28
Percussion: George Drakoulias
07 - Cincinnati Motel 04:27
Percussion: Jim Scott
08 - Feel No Pain 05:05
Piano: Neal Casal
09 - One Last Time 04:14
Vocals: Janiva Magness, Julie Christensen
10 - Open Ground 04:15
Pedal Steel Guitar: Greg Leisz
Percussion: Denny Fongheiser
11 - Detroit Or Buffalo 05:08 (Barbara Keith)
12 - Sunday River 04:18
Tracks By Neal Casal, Except 11
**********
Bass - Bob Glaub
Drums - Don Heffington
Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals - Neal Casal
Pedal Steel Guitar - Fooch Fischetti
Piano, Organ, Electric Piano - John Ginty
Vocals - Angie McKenna
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Rob Caldwell
The story of Fade Away Diamond Time is as rocky as one of the roads in Casal's rural country-rock songs. After a number of years as a struggling musician, including a stint as guitarist in the Southern rock band Blackfoot, he was signed in 1991 to a publishing contract with Warner/Chappell Music. He had enough songs at the time for an album, but it was felt they were not ready for release yet. In 1994, Bud Scoppa, who had been an ardent supporter of Casal's music, heard a tape of demos recorded that same year (of which one, "Don't Turn Your Back on Me," can be found on the 1997 outtakes release Field Recordings) and felt the time was right for Casal to be signed to the label he had just joined, Zoo Records. Yet, only five weeks after the signing, Scoppa was ousted from Zoo due to corporate downsizing. The label, surprisingly, let plans for the album continue, but basically ignored it. With a lesser experienced or talented artist, this might have resulted in a shoddy album, but it worked to Casal's advantage, as he was free to do whatever he wanted. Recording was done with producer Jim Scott and a fine array of musicians, including veteran session musician Bob Glaub on bass, in Palacio del Rio, a Spanish mansion near Santa Barbara that used to be Dean Martin's house. The idyllic setting proved perfectly suited for the music that resulted. Relaxed, timeless-sounding songs mixing elements of rock, country, and folk comprise the album. Casal's songs strongly evoke Jackson Browne and the Eagles' Southern California country-rock, along with the harder edge of Neil Young and Young's folk side. This is predominantly a band recording and the interplay of the musicians is very tight. It sounds like they're all playing together in a living room because, well, they are. Lyrically, the songs focus on interpersonal relationships and well-crafted character studies. The warm, bright "These Days With You" echoes Neil Young's "Long May You Run," while "Detroit or Buffalo" is an impassioned, take-no-prisoners song of restlessness and wanderlust. Despite his often-present influences, Casal is an adept songwriter in his own right, covering varied ground from the majestic rock of "Day in the Sun" to the introspective folk of "Bird in Hand" and the album-closing slow waltz of "Sunday River." The album was released to critical acclaim, but conversely, almost no support from the record label. Within a few months Casal was notified by phone in the Nashville bar where he was performing that he had been dropped from Zoo Records and that the tour was abruptly over. Within two months after that, Zoo itself was out of business. Though temporarily set back, Casal released Rain, Wind and Speed not long after in 1996.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Shaun Belcher
Exile on Main St.
Born in New Jersey on November 2, 1968, country-rock songwriter Neal Casal enjoyed an acclaimed solo career before joining Ryan Adams' backing band, the Cardinals, in the mid-2000s. Casal had a restless childhood following the divorce of his parents, spending time in such various states as Georgia, California, Michigan, Florida, and upstate New York. At the age of 13, he received what would prove to be the catalyst for his music career: the twin gifts of a guitar and a copy of the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. The budding singer/songwriter was fronting his own band by high school, taking inspiration from the swagger of the Stones as well as the craft of Peter Tosh, Hank Williams, and Woody Guthrie. A publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music arrived in 1991, and a contract with Zoo Records followed three years later.
Fade Away Diamond Time
For his first studio album, Casal teamed up with Wilco/Whiskeytown producer Jim Scott, who molded a reinvention of post-Woodstock '70s rock around Casal's literate songwriting. Recording sessions took place in a Spanish mansion outside of Santa Barbara -- the same mansion that Dean Martin once called home, in fact -- and Casal emerged with his stunning debut, 1995's Fade Away Diamond Time. The album's mix of Americana and California-styled country-rock won critical acclaim from publications like the Washington Post, but Casal was still dropped from Zoo's roster halfway through the following tour. Zoo went out of business soon after, but Casal bounced back, joining the indie label Buy or Die and releasing a low-key acoustic disc, Rain, Wind and Speed, in 1996. The German label Glitterhouse released Rain, Wind and Speed in Europe, where Casal's melodic and tuneful "poetry" picked up a loyal following after he made several solo and group appearances. His increased profile led to a second Glitterhouse release, a limited-edition collection of outtakes and unreleased tracks called Field Recordings, in 1997. That same year, Casal assembled a full band (including many players who joined him on Fade Away Diamond Time) and took five days to record the self-produced The Sun Rises Here. Music veterans began to take note of the songwriter's credentials, and James Iha (the Smashing Pumpkins) even solicited Casal's help for his first solo disc, 1998's Let It Come Down.
Basement Dreams
Neal Casal continued to release solo albums in the late '90s and into the 21st century, including 1998's Basement Dreams, 2000's Anytime Tomorrow, 2005's Return in Kind, and 2006's No Wish to Reminisce. He also joined Ryan Adams' backing band, the Cardinals, playing lead guitar and contributing vocal harmonies to a string of albums.
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
********************
''FADE AWAY DIAMOND TIME''
OCTOBER 1995
57:00
**********
01 - Day In The Sun 05:03
Vocals: Janiva Magness, Julie Christensen
02 - Maybe California 04:35
03 - Free To Go 06:04
04 - Leaving Traces 04:27
Percussion: Dave McNair
05 - Bird In Hand 04:56
Pedal Steel Guitar: Greg Leisz
06 - These Days With You 04:28
Percussion: George Drakoulias
07 - Cincinnati Motel 04:27
Percussion: Jim Scott
08 - Feel No Pain 05:05
Piano: Neal Casal
09 - One Last Time 04:14
Vocals: Janiva Magness, Julie Christensen
10 - Open Ground 04:15
Pedal Steel Guitar: Greg Leisz
Percussion: Denny Fongheiser
11 - Detroit Or Buffalo 05:08 (Barbara Keith)
12 - Sunday River 04:18
Tracks By Neal Casal, Except 11
**********
Bass - Bob Glaub
Drums - Don Heffington
Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals - Neal Casal
Pedal Steel Guitar - Fooch Fischetti
Piano, Organ, Electric Piano - John Ginty
Vocals - Angie McKenna
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Rob Caldwell
The story of Fade Away Diamond Time is as rocky as one of the roads in Casal's rural country-rock songs. After a number of years as a struggling musician, including a stint as guitarist in the Southern rock band Blackfoot, he was signed in 1991 to a publishing contract with Warner/Chappell Music. He had enough songs at the time for an album, but it was felt they were not ready for release yet. In 1994, Bud Scoppa, who had been an ardent supporter of Casal's music, heard a tape of demos recorded that same year (of which one, "Don't Turn Your Back on Me," can be found on the 1997 outtakes release Field Recordings) and felt the time was right for Casal to be signed to the label he had just joined, Zoo Records. Yet, only five weeks after the signing, Scoppa was ousted from Zoo due to corporate downsizing. The label, surprisingly, let plans for the album continue, but basically ignored it. With a lesser experienced or talented artist, this might have resulted in a shoddy album, but it worked to Casal's advantage, as he was free to do whatever he wanted. Recording was done with producer Jim Scott and a fine array of musicians, including veteran session musician Bob Glaub on bass, in Palacio del Rio, a Spanish mansion near Santa Barbara that used to be Dean Martin's house. The idyllic setting proved perfectly suited for the music that resulted. Relaxed, timeless-sounding songs mixing elements of rock, country, and folk comprise the album. Casal's songs strongly evoke Jackson Browne and the Eagles' Southern California country-rock, along with the harder edge of Neil Young and Young's folk side. This is predominantly a band recording and the interplay of the musicians is very tight. It sounds like they're all playing together in a living room because, well, they are. Lyrically, the songs focus on interpersonal relationships and well-crafted character studies. The warm, bright "These Days With You" echoes Neil Young's "Long May You Run," while "Detroit or Buffalo" is an impassioned, take-no-prisoners song of restlessness and wanderlust. Despite his often-present influences, Casal is an adept songwriter in his own right, covering varied ground from the majestic rock of "Day in the Sun" to the introspective folk of "Bird in Hand" and the album-closing slow waltz of "Sunday River." The album was released to critical acclaim, but conversely, almost no support from the record label. Within a few months Casal was notified by phone in the Nashville bar where he was performing that he had been dropped from Zoo Records and that the tour was abruptly over. Within two months after that, Zoo itself was out of business. Though temporarily set back, Casal released Rain, Wind and Speed not long after in 1996.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Shaun Belcher
Exile on Main St.
Born in New Jersey on November 2, 1968, country-rock songwriter Neal Casal enjoyed an acclaimed solo career before joining Ryan Adams' backing band, the Cardinals, in the mid-2000s. Casal had a restless childhood following the divorce of his parents, spending time in such various states as Georgia, California, Michigan, Florida, and upstate New York. At the age of 13, he received what would prove to be the catalyst for his music career: the twin gifts of a guitar and a copy of the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. The budding singer/songwriter was fronting his own band by high school, taking inspiration from the swagger of the Stones as well as the craft of Peter Tosh, Hank Williams, and Woody Guthrie. A publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music arrived in 1991, and a contract with Zoo Records followed three years later.
Fade Away Diamond Time
For his first studio album, Casal teamed up with Wilco/Whiskeytown producer Jim Scott, who molded a reinvention of post-Woodstock '70s rock around Casal's literate songwriting. Recording sessions took place in a Spanish mansion outside of Santa Barbara -- the same mansion that Dean Martin once called home, in fact -- and Casal emerged with his stunning debut, 1995's Fade Away Diamond Time. The album's mix of Americana and California-styled country-rock won critical acclaim from publications like the Washington Post, but Casal was still dropped from Zoo's roster halfway through the following tour. Zoo went out of business soon after, but Casal bounced back, joining the indie label Buy or Die and releasing a low-key acoustic disc, Rain, Wind and Speed, in 1996. The German label Glitterhouse released Rain, Wind and Speed in Europe, where Casal's melodic and tuneful "poetry" picked up a loyal following after he made several solo and group appearances. His increased profile led to a second Glitterhouse release, a limited-edition collection of outtakes and unreleased tracks called Field Recordings, in 1997. That same year, Casal assembled a full band (including many players who joined him on Fade Away Diamond Time) and took five days to record the self-produced The Sun Rises Here. Music veterans began to take note of the songwriter's credentials, and James Iha (the Smashing Pumpkins) even solicited Casal's help for his first solo disc, 1998's Let It Come Down.
Basement Dreams
Neal Casal continued to release solo albums in the late '90s and into the 21st century, including 1998's Basement Dreams, 2000's Anytime Tomorrow, 2005's Return in Kind, and 2006's No Wish to Reminisce. He also joined Ryan Adams' backing band, the Cardinals, playing lead guitar and contributing vocal harmonies to a string of albums.
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
********************
2 comments :
very good thank you Davy!!!!
Thank you my friend.
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