Sights and Sounds: Paul and Linda McCartney RAM 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Vinyl Release To be made available on May 14, 2021; 'Ram On' tribute coming too!

Not one, but two reasons to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Paul & Linda McCartney's 1971 masterwork Ram...Robert Kinsler

Paul and Linda McCartney

RAM

50^th Anniversary Limited Edition Vinyl Release

To be made available on May 14, 2021 

To celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Paul and Linda McCartney's 1971 masterpiece RAM, the album will be reissued May 14, 2021, as a limited-edition half-speed mastered vinyl pressing via UMe.

Paul's most recent release, the #1 album McCartney III, recorded in "Rockdown" last year, saw a return to the homespun, lo-fi style of the earliest days of his solo career.  The eclectic charm and intimacy of 1970's McCartney and 1971's RAM found Paul redefining his post-Beatles creative identity, while unconsciously rewriting the rules of pop music and creating new genres along the way—or as Pitchfork would later describe RAM's sustained influence on generations of fans and musicians alike, "inventing an approach to pop music that would eventually become someone else's indie-pop."

The only album to be credited to both Paul and Linda McCartney, RAM was created mostly at Paul and Linda's farm in Scotland (following initial, more traditional studio sessions in New York).  Unlike the completely solo sessions that resulted in Paul's eponymous debut album, the recording of RAM found Paul and Linda enlisting a number of musicians, including Denny Seiwell, who would become a founding member of Wings, Paul's next musical adventure.

The RAM sessions were completed in early 1971, also yielding the standalone single Another Day, a worldwide hit that preceded RAM's May 1971 release.

RAM's singular sonic palette was unlike its predecessor—or anything else for that matter—and has grown exponentially in stature and influence over the decades. Critically polarizing at the time, the album was instantly beloved by fans, hitting #1 in the UK and giving Paul his first post-Beatles American #1 single, the GRAMMY-winning Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.  In recent years the record has continued to solidify its standing as one of the most loved in Paul's unparalleled output. Fans and critics alike continue to sing its praises: Rolling Stone has hailed the album as a "masterpiece" and "a grand psychedelic ramble full of divine melodies," Pitchfork has praised it as "a domestic-bliss album, one of the weirdest, earthiest, and most honest ever made," and Mojo, perhaps most accurately of all, has deemed RAM "quintessentially McCartney."

© Paul McCartney/ Photographer: Linda McCartney

'RAM ON' - A 50th Anniversary Celebration of Paul & Linda McCartney’s RAM - Out on May 14, 2021

For the 50th anniversary of “Ram” by Paul & Linda McCartney, more than 100 musicians have come together to celebrate this much-loved seminal album. With Sir Paul McCartney’s blessing, they have re-recorded all of the “Ram” songs to create “RAM ON: The 50th Anniversary Tribute to Paul & Linda McCartney’s RAM,” released on May 14, 2021 through Spirit of Unicorn Music (distributed by Cherry Red Records).

Hear a teaser of all tracks from “RAM ON” here: https://youtu.be/EhEU7Z7HPH0

It is a testament to the enduring love and affection for “Ram” that so many artists across three generations should want to be a part of this recreation of a classic album. The idea was born in 2020 from a discussion between producer/multi-instrumentalist Fernando Perdomo and Denny Seiwell, the original drummer with Paul McCartney & Wings, who performed on “Ram.” Original guitarist David Spinozza returns to reprise his parts on the album along with Marvin Stamm who played flugelhorn on “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.” They are joined by their musical contemporaries Davey Johnstone (Elton John Band) and Will Lee (The Fab Faux).

A second generation of musicians includes Brian Wilson’s daughter Carnie Wilson (Wilson Phillips), Dan Rothchild (Heart, Sheryl Crow) Pat Sansone (Wilco), Joey Santiago (Pixies), Eric Dover (Jellyfish) and Durga McBroom (Pink Floyd, Blue Pearl).

The latest cohort of musicians with this love of “Ram” includes Dave Depper (Death Cab For Cutie), Lauren Leigh, Cindy Wassermann and Frank Drennan (Dead Rock West) and multi-instrumentalist Timmy Sean.

“RAM ON” includes warm and sensitive re-recordings of all the original tracks on “Ram” plus two non-album tracks from the “Ram” sessions: McCartney’s first single after his departure from The Beatles, “Another Day,” was a huge global hit in 1971 and the single’s B-side “Oh Woman Oh Why,” is also included. The tribute closes with a reprise of the opening track “Too Many People (Slight Return).”

“RAM ON” is produced by Fernando Perdomo and Denny Seiwell.

“From early on I wanted this to not be a typical tribute record,” says Fernando Perdomo. “Every musician on this record loves ‘Ram’ with all their heart and I think it shows. This record was made with pure love.”

“RAM ON” Track Listing:
01. Too Many People feat Dan Rothchild
02. 3 Legs feat The Dirty Diamond and Durga McBroom
03. Ram On feat Pat Sansone
04. Dear Boy feat Adrian Bourgeois
05. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey feat Bebopalula
06. Smile Away feat Timmy Sean
07. Heart of the Country feat Dan Rothchild
08. Monkberry Moon Delight feat Timmy Sean
09. Eat At Home feat Dead Rock West
10. Long Haired Lady feat Rob Bonfiglio and Carnie Wilson
11. Ram On Reprise feat Pat Sansone
12. Backseat of My Car feat Brentley Gore
13. Another Day feat Gordon Michaels
14. Oh Woman Oh Why feat Eric Dover and Lauren Leigh
15. Too Many People (Slight Return)

“RAM ON” is released in CD format on 14th May 2021 via Spirit of Unicorn Music. We’re also considering the release of a vinyl format later in the year, more details to follow.

You can pre-order the album here: https://geni.us/ramon50th

“Uncanny! ‘Ram On’ effortlessly captures the beauty, spirit and charm of Paul and Linda’s original. Wonderful!” - Paul Sinclair, Super Deluxe Edition.

About “Ram”
Recording sessions for “Ram” took place in New York and Los Angeles between October 1970 and March 1971. The principal musicians were Paul McCartney (vocals, bass, keyboards, guitars and ukulele on “Ram On”), Linda McCartney (harmony and backing vocals), Denny Seiwell (drums), David Spinozza (guitar), Hugh McCracken (guitar) with Marvin Stamm (flugelhorn on “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”).

“Ram” was released 17th May 1971. McCartney was hurt by the negative reception from the press, but the album was a huge commercial success and much-loved by fans around the world. In retrospect, the critics heaped praise upon the album at the time of its re-release in 2012 and fans continue to love the album to this day.

photo by Cyndi Trissel

About Fernando Perdomo
A powerhouse of the LA music scene Fernando Perdomo has made a name for himself as an in-demand producer, singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is featured in the Netflix documentary “Echo In The Canyon” where he is seen backing up Brian Wilson, Norah Jones and Regina Spektor. He played on the official soundtrack album of the film along with Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Stephen Stills. Fernando owns and operates Reseda Ranch Studios in Los Angeles. He has produced hundreds of records and as a session guitarist and bassist, he has played with Emitt Rhodes, Todd Rundgren, Curved Air and many more.
https://www.fernandoperdomo.com/
Facebook – @Fernandoperdomomusic
Twitter - @fperdomo

About Denny Seiwell
Having played with New York’s jazz elite, Denny received an invitation from Paul McCartney to move to London and become a founding member of the post-Beatles phenomenon Wings. Denny toured with Wings and played on many of that era’s biggest hits, “My Love” and the Oscar nominated “Live And Let Die” along with McCartney’s “Ram,” “Wildlife” and “Red Rose Speedway” albums. Other highlights of Denny’s London years included work with Joe Cocker, Donovan, and The Who with the London Symphony Orchestra on their groundbreaking version of the Rock Opera “Tommy.” Denny’s signature drumming can be heard on records by Art Garfunkel, James Brown, Astrud Gilberto, Deniece Williams, Janis Joplin’s posthumous “Farewell Song” album and Billy Joel’s “Cold Spring Harbor.”
https://dennyseiwell.com/
Facebook - @denny.seiwell
Twitter - @dennystrio

RAM ON: The 50th Anniversary Tribute to Paul & Linda McCartney’s RAM
Release Date: May 14, 2021
Catalogue no. SOUM001CD

The Lickerish Quartet follows up 'Masterpiece' debut EP with 'Threesome Vol. 2,' set for release on January 8, 2021

Check out The Lickerish Quartet's hard-charging new single. It is great!

The Lickerish Quartet's first single and video, "Snollygoster Goon," out today, Friday, Nov. 20, 2020!

 

The Lickerish Quartet, left to right: Tim Smith, Eric Dover,
and Roger Joseph Manning Jr.

 

 

November 20, 2020 -- THE LICKERISH QUARTET—ex-Jellyfish members Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Beck, Air, Cheap Trick, Imperial Drag), Tim Smith (Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Finn Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Umajets) and Eric Dover (Imperial Drag, Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper, Sextus)—is standing by their promise to their fans to release more new music before the end of 2020. 

 

Today they’re excited to announce their highly anticipated THREESOME VOL. 2 EP, which will be released January 8, 2021 via Stranger Danger Records and Tapes. Pre-orders will be available starting Friday, December 4 here. The first single and video, “Snollygoster Goon,” can be seen now on the band’s official YouTube page and streamed on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon.

 

In addition to the new music, THE LICKERISH QUARTET is offering unprecedented access to the band thanks to a plethora of exciting “Experiences,” which will be available for purchase on their official website. These exclusive offers include: “Perform / Record On Your Song,” “Co-Write a Song With Us,” “Video Chat,” “Music Lesson,” and many others. 

 

It’s the follow-up to their debut EP, THREESOME VOL. 1, lauded by critics as “a masterpiece” which was released May 15, 2020 via The Lickerish Quartet/Label Logic, as distributed by Ingrooves and can be purchased and streamed on all digital outlets.

 

With song titles like “Snolllygoster Goon,” “The Dream That Took Me Over,” “Sovereignty Blues,” and “Do You Feel Better?” Manning, Smith, and Dover’s undeniable chemistry can once again be found throughout THREESOME VOL. 2. The songs formed from the same sessions that begun in 2017 offer a slinky and feisty landscape of temptation, freedom of thought, hope and dreams, and a shout out to all who game the systems. An edgy second round of soaring vocals, angular guitars, and pulsing drums, enveloped by timeless keyboard arrangements requires multiple listens to appreciate fully. Manning, Dover and Smith ruminate on these new songs:

 

“Do You Feel Better?” as told by Tim Smith:

A romp along the primrose path of temptations, internal and external, real or imagined, the tiny demons we dance with throughout our lives.
A pulsing bass and hypnotic guitar rhythm plays like the backing band to a striptease you’ve sneaked into, and don’t know where to sit, but all are welcome!
Some things are more dangerous than others, of course, but this song is sort of a combination of letting your guard down, because of preconceived notions of what’s right or wrong, and justification  of actions you think you understand to have under control. Who knows?
Experiences do give us perspective, and this song tries to play between the id and superego--a Screwtape letter demon, and an Angel of Mercy.
 

“Sovereignty Blues” as told by Roger Joseph Manning Jr.:

 

“Fears fire’s all they’re fanning, but I won’t light up their fuse.” A tale as old as humanity. Group control over another through the tried and true tactic of fear. And always partnered with a fatal dose of “divide and conquer.” But who’s actually pulling the levers and pushing the buttons of the propaganda machine behind the Wizard of Oz’ curtain of crowd control, so to speak? Irrelevant. Ultimately, the perennial question for any person, provided they value sovereignty above all else, is: am I going to choose love over fear, peace over chaos, and God over the ego in any given moment? Everything can be taken from a man but one thing (to quote Viktor Frankl): “The last of the human freedoms, to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” And with that in mind, grab a torch, march to your own drum, and sing along!

 

“The Dream That Took Me Over” as told by Eric Dover:

 

You are driving without a destination lured by the wanderlust of your own making.  You turn up the stereo volume and continue along, moonlight reflecting off the chrome of your vehicle.

We invite you to put the top down and take a ride into the inner dialectic of our conflicted protagonist as we answer the question: Is there equilibrium in the chaos or does science hold the key? 

 

“Snollygoster Goon” as told by Eric Dover:

 

A frenetic forensic foray into classic old as civilization themes involving

greed, graft and corruption as applied to any political sphere.

The music is Adderall based in theory to reflect the absolute

breakneck speed at which the corruption flourishes. The snake oil salesman kissing babies, the saccharine unimaginative public image.

 

The first single from THREESOME VOL. 1, “Lighthouse Spaceship,” has had nearly 50,000 plays on Spotify since its release in March. Lyric videos for “Lighthouse Spaceship” and “Fadoodle,” as well as an acoustic performance video for “There Is a Magic Number,” can be seen on the band’s official YouTube page.

 

Rave reviews emerged about THREESOME VOL. 1 since before its release. Popmatters.com hailed, “Fans of both Jellyfish and Imperial Drag will rejoice at the Quartet's sound. There are doses of XTC/Queen/ELO-style harmonic structures, flirtations with progressive and psychedelic rock, and tasteful but deeply impressive musicianship.” While the Minneapolis Star-Tribune declared, “If you love the harmonies of Queen, the songwriting of Brian Wilson and the lushness of Borns, (‘Lighthouse Spaceship’) is a must-add to your playlist.” The Day (CT) proclaimed, “This mini-masterpiece offers the same joy-crafted recipe fans loved about the '90s-era band (Jellyfish): Four sugar-packed tunes of Queenisms, lick-the-spoon Wings frosting, wry Fountains of Waynery, and a quick waterside through Brian Wilson's acid-period brain.” And MusicPlayers.com concluded, ““…these tracks are dreamy good! The songs cover a variety of classic pop styles from a time when you didn’t have to clarify that pop was actually a form of rock music, with a heavy dose of ‘70s vibe and incredible vocal harmonies draped over jangly electric guitars, folky acoustics, vintage keyboards, and bass grooves that can only be called… exceptional.”

 

Proclaims Tim Smith, “THREESOME VOL. 2 finds our threesome in fine form, with four new songs to get you through COVID times and beyond!”

 

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New Music: The Lickerish Quartet, Steve Earle & The Dukes, The Claudettes, Sara Evans, Waylon Jennings

Whether you are sheltering in place or getting back out to work or play, there are some truly fantastic new releases worth discovering including the debut from The Lickerish Quartet, as well as the latest albums from Steve Earle & The Dukes, The Claudettes, and Sara Evans. There is also an essential new Waylon Jennings release out via DVD and digital.

The Lickerish Quartet - Tim Smith, Eric Dover and Roger Joseph Manning Jr.

Artist: The Lickerish Quartet
Title: Threesome Vol. 1 (The Lickerish Quartet/Label Logic)
You might like if you enjoy: Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, Imperial Drag, dada
Tell me more: While groundbreaking '90s psychedelic pop outfit Jellyfish appears unlikely to ever reform, the next-best-thing is the new musical project christened the Lickerish Quartet featuring Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Tim Smith and Eric Dover — all of whom were members of Jellyfish. The band's debut release Threesome Vol. 1 fully delivers on the anticipation that has surrounded the Lickerish Quartet from the earliest moments when the trio's formation was announced in early March 2020. "Bluebird's Blues" recalls the magic of Jellyfish to be sure, an original track as intoxicating and melodic as it is inventive  — shimmering harmonies and stunning pop craft as bright as the sun. The bouncy and buoyant "Fadoodle" is pure fun, a power pop shot that celebrates rekindling romantic lust with unabashed joy.  "There is a Magic Number" is a relatively quiet affair; but listen closely to the lovely luster constructed via nuanced layers of vocal harmonies and involving instrumental flourishes that embolden the cut. The ace offering on the EP is the ambitious "Lighthouse Spaceship," a 6½ minute dose of greatness borne out of the friendly ghosts of XTC, Queen, Electric Light Orchestra and "Pet Sounds"-era Beach Boys. The digital version of the album is available now, while the audio CD format is set for release on June 26, 2020. Information: TheLickerishQuartet.com.

Artist: Steve Earle & The Dukes
Title: Ghosts of West Virginia (New West)
You might like if you enjoy: Phil Ochs, Johnny Cash, John Mellencamp
Tell me more: Ambitious, forceful and resplendent in ways that will excite discerning listeners of all stripes, Steve Earle & The Dukes' new LP Ghosts of West Virginia is an important and compelling tour de force. The album features six songs from the play "Coal Country" (a collaboration that Earle worked on with playwrights Jessical Blank and Erik Jensen) as well as four additional tracks. Opening on March 3, 2020  at The Public Theater in New York City, "Coal Country" was postponed after only two weeks due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Steve Earle / Photo By Jacob Blickenstaff 

But it will take more than a global pandemic to diminish the power of Ghosts of West Virginia. The a capella opener "Heaven Ain't Goin' Nowhere," old-time sing-along "Union, God and Country" that addresses the multi-generational role that mining plays in coal country, and Appalachia-drenched "Devil Put the Coal into the Ground" transport the listener into a world that few outsiders know or appreciate. The Springsteen-styled "John Henry was a Steel Drivin' Man" and probing "Time Is Never On Our Side" delve further into the realities that have reduced the value of human life in coal mines. The rage from the lives lost consumes "It's About Blood," a searing rocker that finds Earle sounding off the names of every victim who died in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in 2010 as the Dukes play powerfully in accompaniment. The gorgeous country ballad "If I Could See Your Face Again" (sung by actress Mary Bacon) imagines a miner's widow lamenting she won't see her husband again: "If I could touch you one more time / Just to Hold your Head in Mine / I'd never let you go again / I promise" — a particularly melancholic and mournful track. Other songs like the potent mandolin-adorned "Black Lung," Southern rocker "Fastest Man Alive" and sparse "The Mine" bring further power and poetic grace to the purposeful "Ghosts of West Virginia." Information: SteveEarle.com.

Artist: The Claudettes
Title: High Times in the Dark (Forty Below Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Alabama Shakes, Southern Avenue

Tell me more: The Claudettes' sound is at once magically familiar and decidedly new, with the quartet's sound somehow weaving roots rock, New Orleans rhythm and blues, and Memphis rock 'n' soul together with a post-punk attitude blended together into a sonic brew the band has rightfully dubbed "garage cabaret." On the troupe's brilliant new album High Times in the Dark, Johnny Iguana's astounding piano playing and singer Berit Ulseth's marvelous voice vy for attention in all the right ways, while there is still room to showcase the top-tier work of Michael Caskey (drums) and Zach Verdoorn (bass, guitar). The rip roaring "24/5," lush "I Swear to God, I Will," edgy rocker "Declined" and moody "I Don't Do That Stuff Anymore" showcase the wide-ranging approach of the talented outfit. The songs are powerful, with sweeping arrangements equaled by the involving lyrics exploring the vast reaches of the modern world. The lavish "You Drummers Keep Breaking My Heart" addresses the challenges of keeping the seat behind the kit filled, while the album-closing track "The Sun Will Fool You" is a sobering account of an unfeeling lover who has everyone fooled — this selection that finds Ulseth's soprano at its most vulnerable while Iguana offers lone accompaniment with plaintive playing on his keyboard. Information: theclaudettes.com.

Artist: Sara Evans
Title: Copy That (Born To Fly Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Sara Evans, Old Crow Medicine Show, Little Big Town
Tell me more: Country singer Sara Evans uses her signature vocals in the service of revisiting more than a dozen classic hits on her aptly-named Copy That. Revisiting iconic selections forged over the past six decades and representing several genres, the exuberant Celtic pop romp "Come On Eileen" (a 1982 hit for Dexy's Midnight Runners) and Chicago's "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" feel mostly faithful while the reworked takes on the Pretenders' "Don't Get Me Wrong" and Carole King's "It's Too Late" are much more interesting. Other surefire choices include Evans' lavish version of John Mayer's "All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye," a lush reading of the Wallflowers' "6th Avenue Heartache" and a rousing modern take on The Knack's "My Sharona." Evans also has a couple of interesting collaborations, including the spirited "Whenever I Call You 'Friend' " with Little Big Town's Phillip Sweet and yearning "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" with Old Crow Medicine Show. Information: SaraEvans.com.

Artist: Waylon Jennings
Title: The Outlaw Performance (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: Waylon Jennings, Shooter Jennings, Johnny Cash
Tell me more: Fans of the late outlaw country legend Waylon Jennings are in luck. The newly-released The Outlaw Performance (available on DVD or via digital) features a special 1978 concert featuring Jennings playing in front of a sold-out crowd in Nashville, TN. The presentation features Jennings and his band in concert, with the concert footage combined with Jennings' own words adding depth to the performance. Highlights find him recalling his connection with country music and music friends in his life; he talks about key songs, why he learned how to play lead guitar, and his admiration and connection with Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly and George Jones. After kicking things off with the uptempo opener "Are You Ready for the Country?" (written by Neil Young), Jennings delivers one great track after another including the rowdy "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean" (enhanced by his sharp lead guitar work), a cover of Robert Lee McDill's tender ballad "Amanda," Merle Haggard's "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down" the confessional "You Asked Me To" and the audience favorite "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys." He closes out the set with his 1973 classic "Honky Tonk Heroes" and his 1975 number one hit "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way." Bonus features on the release include "Friends Remember The Outlaw" with archival interviews with George Jones, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Jennings' long-time drummer Richie Albright. The full concert without the narration is also included. Information: eagle-rock.com.

Robert Kinsler

The Lickerish Quartet release lyric video for “Fadoodle” from debut EP, ‘Threesome Vol. 1,’ due out May 15

The Lickerish Quartet has a new single (“Fadoodle”) and accompanying lyric video from their forthcoming debut due May 15, 2020. What a great song! Robert Kinsler

THE LICKERISH QUARTET

(ROGER JOSEPH MANNING JR., TIM SMITH, ERIC DOVER, FORMERLY OF JELLYFISH)

RELEASE LYRIC VIDEO FOR “FADOODLE”

FROM DEBUT EP, ‘THREESOME VOL. 1,’ DUE OUT MAY 15

PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW

April 15, 2020 -- THE LICKERISH QUARTET--Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Beck, Air, Cheap Trick, Imperial Drag), Tim Smith (Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Finn Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Umajets) and Eric Dover (Imperial Drag, Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper, Sextus)—have released the second video from their highly anticipated debut EP, THREESOME VOL. 1 EP, which is set for release on May 15 via The Lickerish Quartet/Label Logic, as distributed by Ingrooves. Pre-orders are now available here. The first single, “Lighthouse Spaceship,” was recently released on the band’s official YouTube page.

Today, the lyric video for “Fadoodle”—created by Todd Productions, Inc.--premiered exclusively on the band’s Facebook page. It can also be viewed now on the band’s official YouTube page. 

The Lickerish Quartet

“Fadoodle” is a Dover-driven look at how to rekindle the fires of a long-entrenched relationship. “Well, I’m always looking for new ways to say dirty things,” Dover observes with a laugh. “I found a big list of naughty words from back in the day for what people used to denote fornication. It’s fascinating, because this has the distinction of being a pop song that has the world’s oldest slang yet is released in the 21st Century.” Adds Manning, “This one has that eighth-note driving thing that was a big part of the glitter sound of the early punk wave, so it’s got that kind of energy right out of the gate. Thankfully, once we had Eric’s lyric in place, it was just a free-for-all in having fun with the vocal interplay.” 

From the mischievous harmonic invitation of “Fadoodle” to the folk-tinged uplift of “Bluebird’s Blues” to the twangy lamentation of “There Is a Magic Number” to the cosmic muscle of the EP’s first single, “Lighthouse Spaceship,” THREESOME VOL. 1 confirms the communal strengths of a trio of songwriters who have clearly retained an intuitive sense of knowing exactly how to elevate the sum of each other’s musical chops. 

Early rave reviews are starting to emerge about THREESOME VOL. 1. Popmatters.com hailed, “Fans of both Jellyfish and Imperial Drag will rejoice at the Quartet's sound. There are doses of XTC/Queen/ELO-style harmonic structures, flirtations with progressive and psychedelic rock, and tasteful but deeply impressive musicianship.” While the Minneapolis Star-Tribune declared, “If you love the harmonies of Queen, the songwriting of Brian Wilson and the lushness of Borns, (‘Lighthouse Spaceship’) is a must-add to your playlist.”

While THE LICKERISH QUARTET don’t anticipate playing any live dates together anytime soon, they can confirm there are two more four-song EPs waiting in the wings, if demand warrants their release. Acknowledges Manning, “Realizing original ideas of my own is the most gratifying thing about making music, and the natural progression of what the three of us are doing together is you want to share it with people.” Declares Dover, “I’m always going to have time for doing music with these two people, even if we don’t live near each other. And if we only do two songs instead of 12, then we only do two. I’m cool with that.” Concludes Smith, “There’s a level of trust between collaborators who all share the same general goal. Only that can keep it interesting and push it even further to where it can go. At the end of the day, as long as all three of us are excited and inspired with what we come up with, we’ll figure out a way to do more of it.” 

www.thelickerishquartet.com

www.facebook.com/thelickerishquartet

www.twitter.com/thelickerish

www.instagram.com/thelickerishquartet

www.youtube.com/channel/UCfWybdIebZGc5piOklNCJIw

Sights and Sounds: Get ready for the arrival of the Lickerish Quartet on May 15, 2020

What promises to be one of the best albums of the year (based upon the fantastic track "Lighthouse Spaceship," here are details about the debut offering from The Lickerish Quartet.

THE LICKERISH QUARTET

THREESOME VOL. 1

 

Roger Joseph Manning Jr.  Vocals, Keyboards

Tim Smith  Vocals, Bass, Guitar

Eric Dover  Vocals, Guitar

 

 

 

Absence makes the collaborative heart grow fonder. Just ask the three masterful musicians who comprise the modern-day supergroup known as The Lickerish Quartet. Fans and eagle-eared listeners alike will instantly recognize the shared pedigree that Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Beck, Air, Cheap Trick, Imperial Drag), Tim Smith (Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Finn Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Umajets), and Eric Dover (Imperial Drag, Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper, Sextus) all have together by way of the melodiously fruitful time they spent in the ’90s alt-rock cult-favorite collective known as Jellyfish. After many years in the interim of supporting the visions of other artists, they were eventually able to reconvene on their own in early 2017, spending whatever time they could spare in the ensuing three years to create something they could truly call their own.

 

To that end, Manning, Smith, and Dover’s undeniable chemistry can now be found within every sonic pore of the four songs that comprise The Lickerish Quartet’s cheekily named Threesome Vol. 1 EP, which is set for release on May 15, 2020 via The Lickerish Quartet/Label Logic, as distributed by Ingrooves. From the mischievous harmonic invitation of “Fadoodle” to the folk-tinged uplift of “Bluebird’s Blues” to the twangy lamentation of “There Is a Magic Number” to the cosmic muscle of “Lighthouse Spaceship,” Threesome Vol. 1 confirms the communal strengths of a trio of songwriters who have clearly retained an intuitive sense of knowing exactly how to elevate the sum of each other’s musical chops.

Watch the lyric video for "Lighthouse Spaceship" here.

 

“While touring with Jellyfish, it was pretty clear to me that both Eric and Tim had plenty to say as writers in their own right,” Manning reports. “All these years later, it was like picking up where we left off in many ways. Ultimately, the songs go on their own journeys, but I also think our collective vocal sound puts a stamp on all of them, no matter who’s singing lead. That’s what really joins it all together.” Smith very much agrees with that assessment. “It’s a good feeling knowing we found a way to blend together again as the three of us, and then find new ways to explore our ideas,” he marvels. “I think all the songs we did make something magical out of the mundane aspects of daily life.”

 

Threesome Vol. 1 opens with “Fadoodle,” a Dover-driven look at how to rekindle the fires of a long-entrenched relationship. “Well, I’m always looking for new ways to say dirty things,” Dover observes with a laugh. “I found a big list of naughty words from back in the day for what people used to denote fornication. It’s fascinating, because this has the distinction of being a pop song that has the world’s oldest slang yet is released in the 21st Century.” Adds Manning, “This one has that eighth-note driving thing that was a big part of the glitter sound of the early punk wave, so it’s got that kind of energy right out of the gate. Thankfully, once we had Eric’s lyric in place, it was just a free-for-all in having fun with the vocal interplay.” 

 

Next comes Manning’s “Bluebird’s Blues,” which features Mellotron and a 3D feel born from a musical bed he initially came up with back in 1988. “That one was very much a guitar song,” explains Manning, “and after showing my idea on piano to Tim and Eric, they were able to run with it immediately to give it that folkie guitar feel that it needed, and was calling out for. All of our contributions, including those of our drummer Jeremy Stacey, show the intricacies and clever ways of how we were able to move through that folk chord progression.” Interjects Dover, “It was an instantaneous thing we did, from Note 1. It set the mood, and it’s a beautiful moment. Being able to do that is one of the things we have going on together musically.” 

 

 

The third track is “There Is a Magic Number,” a Smith-penned rumination on how to deal with the sad circumstance of two people who have drifted apart after putting the blame for their dissolution on a number that signified the last straw — all buttressed by a signature trippy guitar line courtesy of Dover. “That just had to do with my favorite ’60s psychedelic garage records along with a little bit of surf music thrown in because I like some of those clean, twangy things,” Dover confirms. Adds Smith, “You never really hear any sad surfer music, do you? I just thought this was an interesting play on the idea of what could cause a relationship to end, without them really knowing why but blaming the circumstances on the final number you reach in your head after experiencing X amount of things, X amount of times.”

 

The EP concludes with the quite heady 6½-minute trip on a “Lighthouse Spaceship.” Manning reflects, “It was just a big experiment we were eager to conduct, and Eric’s genesis for the idea of the lyric really helped pull it all together. Once we had that very vivid imagery in hand, we could start expanding upon it in the arrangement to help paint the visual extension of his lyrics, which are wonderfully psychedelic.”

 

While The Lickerish Quartet don’t anticipate playing any live dates together anytime soon, they can confirm there are two more four-song EPs waiting in the wings, if demand warrants their release. Acknowledges Manning, “Realizing original ideas of my own is the most gratifying thing about making music, and the natural progression of what the three of us are doing together is you want to share it with people.” Declares Dover, “I’m always going to have time for doing music with these two people, even if we don’t live near each other. And if we only do two songs instead of 12, then we only do two. I’m cool with that.” Concludes Smith, “There’s a level of trust between collaborators who all share the same general goal. Only that can keep it interesting and push it even further to where it can go. At the end of the day, as long as all three of us are excited and inspired with what we come up with, we’ll figure out a way to do more of it.” Hear, hear. Given the inherent, aurally seductive nature of Threesome Vol. 1, we have a feeling many fans both old and new will want much more of The Lickerish Quartet music in their lives — and then some.