New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Today, Dallas-based soul/R&B group Bastards of Soul announced their new album Give it Right Back will release on November 17th through Skylark Soul Co. The follow-up to their 2022 sophomore album Corners, Give it Right Back contains the final collection of songs recorded with their late bandleader Chadwick Murray before his untimely passing in 2021. Simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, Give it Right Back represents finality and loss, but it also radiates with soul and conviction, warmth and fun.
Bastards of Soul also shared today the lead single "This Love," the last song Chadwick ever wrote, a beautiful ballad dedicated to his wife Hannah. Sadly Chadwick didn't have the chance to record vocals before his passing, so as a tribute, and with Hannah's blessing, the band's close friend and fellow Dallas musician Keite Young is featured on the track in his honor.
"'This Love' is probably the best recording that we've ever made and I think it's a beautiful love letter from Chadwick to his wife," said co-writer and Bastards of Soul bass player
Danny Balis. "We're super honored to have Keite Young handle vocals on this and I think Chadwick would be very very proud."
Formed by a collective of veteran Dallas musicians including Balis, keyboardist Chad Stockslager, guitarist Chris Holt, and drummer Matt Trimble, Bastards of Soul quickly emerged as a local favorite, led by the powerhouse first-time frontman Chadwick Murray. Although he had spent the previous two-decades of his musical life as a bassist playing in the background, Chadwick commanded attention in the spotlight with his magnetic presence, charisma, and joyous vibe. They generated buzz at break-neck speed, signed with Eastwood
Music Group, recorded and released their 2021 debut Spinnin' at Niles City Sound, and started playing packed theater shows along with performances with artists such as The
Black Pumas and Kamasi Washington. Relix hailed "Spinnin' is a fitting debut for Bastards of Soul; it shows the band's power, but suggests there's much left in the tank," while Dallas Observer raved "The album is packed with the type of joyous, groove-laden, heart-thumping soul that fans of not only the Hall of Fame greats who inspired the band will enjoy, but with the sort of sonic fire which gave latter-day soul titans such as Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones and Lee Fields their devoted followers."
The Bastards of Soul's world orbited around Chadwick. Audiences connected with him instantly and wanted more. And here he was at the onset of his middle-aged years making it happen for the first time. He kept telling everyone it was like a dream.
That dream ended tragically and abruptly and left a close-knit group of friends and family in distress and shambles. The band would only have the opportunity to record roughly 20 more songs before losing Chadwick to an unexpected illness. But by releasing Corners back in
Spring of 2022, six months after his passing, plus this final collection of songs now, the band feels the resolution and satisfaction knowing they did everything possible to make sure as many people as possible will get to know and love Chadwick the way they all do.
With some additional help from friends like Young, Jordache Grant, The Sha La Das, and Matt Pence, the remaining members of the band came together to complete this final tribute. One last opportunity for the band and their fans to reflect back on how much this music and specifically Chadwick meant to them.
Give it Right Back is the first official release on this newly launched DFW-based record label. Luke Sardello and Skin Wade of Eastwood
Music Group have partnered with Waric Cameron to create the new imprint which will take over the Eastwood catalog as well as release several exciting new projects from the funk, groove, and soul spectrum. Eastwood will remain in place to handle licensing and publishing for artists and varied projects.
Tracklisting:
1) This Love
2) Try A
Little Love
3) While It's Hot
4) Woman of Hell
5) It's Gonna Be Alright
6) You Let Me Down Again
7) Bitterness (Ghost Funk Orchestra Remix)
8) BBQ in Paris
9) The Truth Won't Change Your Mind
