Richard Barone Collaborates with Tony Visconti On His Latest, “Glow”
NYC-based musician, songwriter, producer and author Richard Barone (The Bongos) will release his new album, Glow, on Bar/None Records in September. The album features co-writes with Paul Williams and Jill Sobule, as well as a T. Rex cover, and album production by none other than T. Rex producer/engineer Tony Visconti.
Bar/None will release Richard Barone's "Glow" in September.
Barone had wanted to work with Visconti ever since scheduling conflicts prevented the latter from producing The Bongos’ major label debut. Most of Glow’s tracks were written in the studio; some, like “Girl,” came together very quickly and others, like “Sanctified,” became elaborate Visconti productions. The album reportedly puts Visconti’s collection of vintage synthesizers and obscure music-making devices accumulated in sessions with Brian Eno, David Bowie, T. Rex and others, to good use.
The Visconti-produced tracks were recorded at Looking Glass Studios prior to its closing, and at Visconti’s private NYC studio, Secret Sound. Visconti mixed those tunes as well.
Glow also features “state-of-the-art gear” that Barone picked up through his collaboration with Gibson Guitars, including the Digital Les Paul guitar. Each string on the Digital Les Paul has the ability to be recorded on its own individual track.
The title tune was written when Barone stopped by producer/engineer Steve Addabbo’s studio, Shelter Island Sound, to pick up a hard drive and showed him the prototype instrument.
In the album-previewing press release, Barone notes, “Walking through Manhattan, I started hearing the arpeggio chords of ‘Glow’ in my head. Then some words and a melody became attached, set to the rhythm of my walking. When I got to the studio, I couldn’t wait to show Steve the guitar, plug it in and demonstrate the possibilities. I started playing ‘Glow’ and asked if we could record it. It was amazing how quickly it came together.”
The Paul Williams (“Rainy Days and Mondays” and “We’ve Only Just Begun”) co-written “Silence Is Our Song” is from a live radio broadcast on New York WFUV DJ Vin Scelsa’s “Idiot’s Delight” program.
And, a frequent Barone collaborator — Jill Sobule — co-wrote the tune “Odd Girl Out,” for Glow. Magic Shop owner and producer/engineer Steve Rosenthal mixed “Odd Girl Out.” Leslie Ann Jones mixed the title song at Skywalker Sound, and Addabbo mixed the album closer, “Glow Symphony.”
Richard Barone will perform at a Gulf Coast Oil Spill Benefit show at City Winery this Friday: http://www.citywinery.com/events/93762. For more on Barone, visit http://richardbarone.com.
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