|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2003
NEW WEST RECORDS SIGNS JOHN HIATT
LABEL DEBUT, BENEATH THIS GRUFF EXTERIOR,
DUE OUT MAY 6, 2003
LOS ANGELES, CA – Cameron Strang, president of New West Records, has announced the signing of acclaimed singer/songwriter John Hiatt and a May 6 release date for his label debut, Beneath This Gruff Exterior.
Recorded live in the studio, Beneath This Gruff Exterior is the first of his 18 albums to be credited to the alliance known as "John Hiatt and the Goners," which refers to his long-time band consisting of guitarist Sonny Landreth, bassist Dave Ranson and drummer Kenneth Blevins. Hiatt and the Goners reunited for the first time in almost ten years for the recording of his last album, The Tiki Bar is Open, released in 2001. The new disc was co-produced by Don Smith, who worked with Hiatt on his 1995 album, Walk On, (and has engineered albums for such artists as the Rolling Stones and Tom Petty), John Hiatt and the Goners.
Beneath This Gruff Exterior is Hiatt’s most rocking album to date, and features some amazing musical interplay among the band members, a by-product of the energy level achieved by the live-in-the-studio set up. "We really just wanted to go in and get to the nuts and bolts of what this quartet does – if you come hear us live, this is pretty much what you get," said Hiatt about the sessions. It also spotlights another dozen Hiatt song gems, including The Most Unoriginal Sin, a song that John wrote several years ago but never recorded until now. Willie Nelson did record the tune for his Across the Border album in 1993.
John Hiatt is one of the most-covered songwriters in contemporary music, with his compositions having been recorded by such a diverse artist roster as Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Iggy Pop and Paula Abdul, among others.
"John Hiatt is a great writer and a terrific performer," said Cameron Strang in making the announcement. "The first time I heard his music was from a tape played on a movie set in Vancouver. A few years later he came to town with the Goners, and I’ve been a fan ever since. For him to become a part of the New West family is a dream-come-true."
John Hiatt and the Goners will tour extensively in support of the release of Beneath This Gruff Exterior. He is managed by Ken Levitan of Vector Management and is booked by Rob Prinz and Nikki Wheeler of United Talent Agency.
Close this window
|
