LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ New West Records/ Ammal Records) - New West Records & Ammal Records are excited to announce the release of Working Man's Cafe, a new studio album by legendary songwriter Ray Davies. Available in North
America on February 19th, 2008 Working Man's Cafe, features 12 new songs written by Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame member Davies, and co-produced with Grammy Award winning producer/engineer Ray Kennedy (Fleetwood Mac, Steve Earle, Delbert McClinton.)
Recorded in Nashville, TN at Kennedy's Room and Board Studios and mixed in North London at Konk Studios, Working Man's Cafe is only Davies' second solo album, following his solo debut 'Other People's Lives,' which was released in 2006. In addition to the regular album, a deluxe CD/DVD version containing bonus artwork, exclusive live performances and a video interview about the inspiration for Working Man's Cafe will be available. The album will also be released as a Limited Edition 180 gram vinyl record.
"We are honored to have the opportunity to work with Ray Davies," says Cameron Strang, President of New West Records. Danny Goldberg, President of Ammal Records, adds "For as long as I can remember, I have always idolized Ray Davies, and I am absolutely thrilled to be working with him on Working Man's Cafe."
Working Man's Cafe, focuses on the plight of the worker, the every day man around the world. It is Davies' "American record" (many of the songs were written and all produced in the US) describing the changes he's seen in this country since he first started visiting in the '60s. In a recent four star Mojo Magazine review Davies is described as having "a tourist's blend of enchantment and bafflement" when writing about the United States. In the album's reflective title song, Davies goes to buy a pair of new jeans but ends up getting lost in a shopping mall which is full of chain stores and brand named coffee houses. The album is also driven by love and relationships which is especially apparent in "Imaginary Man," where Davies warns a woman not to get involved with him because "she doesn't really know what she's getting."
Davies, one of Britain's pre-eminent songwriters, uses all situations he finds himself in as inspiration for songs, especially difficult times. "Morphine," was written when Davies was in the Intensive Care unit at Charity Hospital-Louisiana State University after being attacked and shot in New Orleans. The song helped Davies work through the fear of being in the hospital and the pain from the shooting.
Davies plans to visit the US and Canada in January to do advance promotion for the album and will return for extensive touring beginning in the spring throughout North America.
