Pottstown, PA (Top40 Charts/ MVD Entertainment) Michael Stanley started out as a bass player with the folk-rock group Silk in the late '60s, and according to Michael, "We weren't very good." Destiny demanded a solo career which in 1972 began with the self-titled first album on Tumbleweed Records which was produced by Bill Szymczyk (The Eagles, The Who) and featured "Rosewood Bitters," the song that would launch the 40 plus year journey that culminates in the release of The Solo Years 1995-2014. One more solo effort came in 1973 entitled "Friends & Legends" which is aptly titled since it, like the first album, included the efforts of Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren and
David Sanborn with Bill Szymczyk at the helm again. It produced the legendary classic, "Let's Get The Show On The Road" which, to this day, commands thunderous applause in concert performances.
In 1974, Michael's friend
Jonah Koslen was added to the list of friends and legends along with
Daniel Pecchio from Glass Harp, and Tommy Dobeck and The Michael Stanley Band came into being. For more than a decade MSB worked wonders with fans and the singles charts as they took control of the Mid-West Rock scene. 12 albums and 12 years later, Michael saw the end of MSB and thought his rock star status had come to an end. But in the words of Michael, "Making music is a powerful drug; one that, despite the travails of the profession, can help keep you sane...or maybe just a little bit less insane...but anyway you look at it, it's still a hell of a lot cheaper than therapy!"
And thus, in 1995 he picked up where he left off in '74, feeding the addiction of writing songs and performing. Michael says, "It was a second act that I had never envisioned but one that I am eternally grateful for because it led to the twelve solo albums from which The Solo Years was pulled. I have been blessed to be able to continue to make music with people I love and respect and they always, always make the tunes better. And to rekindle a working relationship with my dear friend and mentor Bill Szymczyk on this anthology was the perfect icing on the cake."
This 3 disc set is structured as - Disc One: The Rousers, Disc Two: The Weepies and Disc Three: Crispy's Critters. The Rousers are tunes that have always excited his fans. The Weepies are powerful and emotional ballads. Crispy' Critters (referring to Bill Szymczyk's nick-name of "
Crispy") was selected and sequenced by Bill himself and includes Bill's faves from Michael's solo material. Bill was driven to write liner notes for this release as well.
The Solo Years - 1995-2014 also includes two previously unreleased tracks that are sure to make Stanley fans very, very happy. Twenty years down and at least twenty more to go. Michael Stanley never stops!
Pre-order / Info: https://mvdb2b.com/s/MichaelStanleyTheSoloYears19952014/LL222
Track Listing
Disc 1:
My
Brand New Day
Nothing And
Everything To Prove
It's All About Tonight
Just Another Night In America
The Ground
Lovers Lane
Sweet Jane/Wichi Tai To
Didn't We Burn
Shadowland
The Times We Had
The Job
I Am You
Romeo Is Bleeding
Drinkin' In The Driveway
The Hang
Disc 2:
My Side Of The Moment
Talking In Tongues
You Just Never Know
When It Don't Come Easy
Any Other Fool
To Love Somebody
Any Time I Try
Lover
Fait Accompli
Winter
Martha
From A Train
Another New Year's Eve
Home Tonight
Disc 3:
Coming Up For Air
Eleanor Rigby
One Good Day In A Row
Vicodin & Prayer
What Would Frank Do
Eyeball Kid
The Curves Of Bratenahl
Lap Dogs Dance
How Many Guitars Do You Need
Breaking Down
Uptown
Last Good Nerve
Money Shot (Bonus Track)
Raise The Dead (Bonus Track).
