Paul & The Tall Trees – So Long - New LP Record 2019 Limited Edition Sky Blue Vinyl - Alt Rock / Funk / Soul
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Paul Schalda is a poet, perhaps a bit of a tortured soul, a hopeless romantic, and a guy from Staten Island. That last bit might not make sense to people who aren’t from New York. Let’s say that it puts the blue in his collar and sticks his feet to the ground. Paul’s music seems to embody the unexpected overlap of The Band’s Americana, Ian MacKaye's unhinged emotion, Otis Redding’s raw soul, and the doo-wop melodies his father, Bill Schalda Sr. (a member of Brooklyn vocal group, The Montereys) raised him on. His sophomore album is produced by long time collaborator and old friend Tommy Brenneck and Big Crown’s own Leon Michels. For the people who are already fans of Paul’s debut Our Love In Light, the growth and maturity will be impossible to miss.So Long reads and feels like you snuck in his room and read his journal. Deeply personal and heartfelt, he takes on a variety of topics in the songs, the common thread being the vulnerability and passion he delivers them with. The opener "Although We Cry" is perhaps a perfect example what makes Paul’s music so unique. He finds a way to cut right to the bone, entirely emotional and simultaneously emotionless…"Although we cry, we are not meant to be". The title track "Then We’ll Wave (So Long)" puts Paul amongst the great storytellers of song; tension, misdirection, and irony all play a part in taking one of the most sung about topics in life; love, and putting a brand new twist on it. Paul spent some years out on the road playing guitar in The Extraordinaires backing the late great Charles Bradley where they became close friends. During that time he penned a few songs for Charles, one of which he wound up recording himself. That song, "Beware" showcases another side of P&TTT’s range, a gritty, driving, warning tune where the band has a chance to get funky. One thing you hear in Schalda’s music, no matter which song, is that the road hasn’t been easy. His voice can be hauntingly harsh, yet hopeful and tender, raucous and gravelly one moment, smooth and intimate the next. Even though he is being compared to the famous groups and musicians mentioned above, he can only call it Rock and Roll and be humbled. "I’m very lucky to be able to do this," Schalda says. "And I’m extremely happy. Especially for my father. He worked hard for his sons and this record."
Tracklist
A1 | Although We Cry | |
A2 | Then We'll Leave | |
A3 | Shining | |
A4 | Someone To Someone
Featuring – The Sha La Das |
|
A5 | Over The Echoes | |
B1 | Beware | |
B2 | My God (I Remember '98) | |
B3 | Ask Me | |
B4 | Patiently Awaiting | |
B5 | Numerous Times |
Companies, etc.
- Lacquer Cut At – Golden Mastering
- Produced At – The Diamond Mine
- Mixed At – Sound Factory West
Credits
- Art Direction – Danny Akalepse, Paul Schalda
- Backing Vocals – Carmine Schalda (tracks: A4), Julie Acosta, Mireya Ramos, Shae Fiol, William Schalda Sr.
- Baritone Saxophone – Freddy DeBoe, Jared Tankel
- Bass – Nick Movshon (tracks: B3)
- Bass, Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Organ, Drums, Backing Vocals – Tommy Brenneck*
- Design – Josie Couch
- Drums – Homer Steinweiss (tracks: A4, B3), Justin Guip, Nick Movshon (tracks: B2)
- Engineer – Jens Jungkurth, Leon Michels, Tommy Brenneck*
- Engineer [Assistant Mixdown] – Todd Monfalcone
- Guitar – Alex Chakour
- Lacquer Cut By – JJ*
- Mixed By – Tommy Brenneck*
- Organ – Max Shrager (tracks: B4)
- Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Bass, Tenor Saxophone, Percussion – Leon Michels
- Photography By – William Schalda Sr.
- Piano, Organ, Mellotron – William Schalda Jr.
- Producer – Leon Michels, Tommy Benneck*
- Trumpet – Andrew Green* (tracks: A1), Billy Austik
- Written-By – Paul Schalda
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