• Californian Blues guitarist/singer Mike Eldred, a veteran from Lee Rocker’s band for many years, is now stepping out with his own celebrity-studded Trio record, containing guest performances by the legendary Ike Turner on piano and Elvis Presley’s guitarist, Scotty Moore on guitar.
• Ten years in the making, “61 and 49” features 13 blistering Eldred originals, displaying his musical influences from guest artist and friend) Scotty Moore to Jimi Hendrix.
• Mike Eldred’s soulful vocals complement his Trio’s hard edged Rockabilly, Blues and Classic Rock delivery.
• Emotional high points on the album are two performances of Ike Turner playing his inimitable boogie woogie / barrelhouse piano, and Scotty Moore’s instantly recognizable lead and rhythm guitar work on one track.
This record took a long time to make. It didn’t take a long time to write.
We approached our first CD with this wild, carefree abandonment, because we were just excited that WE (Jerry, John, and myself) had an actual band - that we could play whatever we wanted, and that we had a buddy with a studio. Jerry Angel and John Bazz, both in The Blasters at the time who were heavily responsible for keeping the blues and roots music alive in America, and me coming from Lee Rocker’s Big Blue where I made two CD’s with Lee.
This process was different. There was this sense of soul, repentance, anger, longing, angst, I dunno what it was, but it was deep. The songs flowed out, one after another in succession, almost just as they appear here. I knew that this was going to be way different than the first record.
I recorded the demos at my house, and made CD’s of each song, and when we went into the studio, the guys had not heard anything yet, so, I would play the CD, we would talk about some stuff, and then we would track the song. Each of us was in a different room, and I was even in a different building with all the amps and this little video camera on me so they could see me…but I couldn’t see them. Bizarre, but it worked really well, actually.
Once the basics were done, Chris Falson and I went through each track with Chris Rich engineering. Falson got it immediately, and pushed for more. We reached out to several of our friends who we really wanted to be on the CD. Scotty Moore has always been an idol of mine, and a musical mentor. So we asked him to be on the CD. We also wanted Cesar Rosas, songwriter and guitarist for Los Lobos, to appear on the CD. He is playing nylon string guitar on This Old Train. Cesar has this incredible blending of Mexican musical phrasing, and then all this cool blues comes out! It fit so well with the song. Kid Ramos from the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Los Fabulocos had also played on a tour with us, and Kid and I always have a lot of fun playing together, so we asked him to play on Louise. Kid actually broke a string on the last lick, and it’s still on the CD! Then, we started talking about Ike Turner being on it.
Gary Chiacchi is one of the coolest people in the world, and we were talking one night about how the CD was going, and about Ike. I have always been a huge fan of his, and Gary said he knew Ike very well. I asked Gary if Ike would be interested on playing on the record, and Gary said he would ask Ike. About a week later, I got a call from Gary telling me Ike would do it, and to send him the song. I sent two. Another week goes by, and I get this call and the guy says, “Hey, this is Ike Turner, and man these songs are cool! Do you got a guitar there? Let’s go through these, I gotta couple questions”. Unreal. Rehearsing over the phone with Ike Turner.
Ike’s parts speak for themselves. He was a gift that most people won’t understand or acknowledge. The main difference between you, Ike Turner, and me is that nobody made a movie of the crap we’ve done.
Ike and I became very close friends, and he is still missed by all of us.
These songs are all real and in many cases were very painful to get out, but the process was amazing, to be honest. They are things we don’t talk about, things we should talk about, and things we all wrestle with daily. I kept waiting for somebody to come up and say, “hey where is this stuff coming from”? I remember playing an early version of Don’t Go Down There for John Mayer in my truck. He gets done listening, and he looks at me and says, “Man, that’s frightening”.
Each of the songs has a really cool background, and they took on these lives of their own once we started recording. They are songs about real people, real events, and experiences that continually shape our lives.
She’s A Rocket Written about one of my daughters, Maclyn. That girl is on 11…all the time!! Jake’s Boogie Inspired by a guitar player named Jake Berger from North Carolina. Played in the Belmont Playboys for a while. Just a cool guy who I met while out there one time.
Louise Hmmm. It’s a girl’s middle name, actually. Kinda ties into For A Girl. I tend to write songs for girls and don’t tell them. That would ruin it I think.
Ms Gayle’s Chicken House There was an annual event for a while at Scotty Moore’s house. Gayle makes the best chicken. Jimmy, Jimmy
Top Jimmy told me this story one night in Las Vegas. All true. He was a saint. This Old Train All about “The Road”, and our bizarre want/need to be on it. I Ain’t Comin’ Back Yah, well we all get to that point at some time, I think.
Mr. Newman This song was written about a child molester from the child’s perspective. You know, not really knowing that they are being abused. The name comes from a guy who whenever he was mentioned, was always, “Mr. Newman” which I just think is weird. He was not a child molester that I know of.
Lookie Here Yup. A pretty girl is a pretty girl. 61 and 49 Went down there for a soul-soak once. This song stayed with me. I loved it down there. Now, it’s…I dunno…they have casinos now. Don’t Go Down There
A field holler and a warning. Don’t mess. You’ll get burned.
I have been to the Crossroads. When I went, it was still kinda vibey and it meant a lot to me to go down there and see that, and Muddy’s cabin, and Clarksdale. Now, it’s a little different. Good tourist spot. 61 and 49 may be the place of legends and maybe some truth. I don’t know. I went a long time before this CD was recorded, and it has haunted me ever since. I don’t think you sell anything down there. I think you come to grips with who you are. And, I think those crossroads come up over, and over again, and you have to figure out which way to go. And, that’s the hard part. Mike Eldred
Jerry Angel - Drums, Percussion Hometown: Los Angeles, CA.
Jerry got his first professional job playing the drums at age 10. He was playing with Leon Russell at age 21. The list of people who Jerry has played with is mind-boggling! Everyone from Carole King to Brian Setzer, and Dwight Yoakam, and Divinyls, and The Dickies, the list goes on and on! It was while he was playing with the Blasters that he met Mike Eldred. As top blues circuit players around L.A., Angel, Eldred, and Bazz were always ending up getting the same call to back up some harmonica player or singer. The three always had a great time playing together, and as a result of that formula jelling so well, the trio found themselves playing together more often than not, but usually backing somebody else, not as a real band. It was Angel who suggested that Eldred start his own band. It was also Angel who procured the band’s first studio recording time. Jerry remains the anchor for the trio, holding down the backbeat and the "keeper of soul" both live and in the studio.
John Bazz - Bass Hometown: Downey, CA.
John Bazz is one of the founders of the Blasters whose impact on roots music and the L.A. punk/new wave scene is legendary. The Blasters were one of a handful of bands that has carried the torch of blues and rockabilly onto another generation. Bazz' approach to the bass is unwavering and relentless. He doesn’t just "play" the notes; he literally pulls them out kicking and screaming. John's basses are tone-tools that are constantly being subjected to a full-frontal assault that usually ends up with several broken strings, knobs, or pickups. It is that passion in his playing that lays the foundation and DRIVE in every song. There is a push in John’s playing that is unmistakable. Other bass players see it and often comment on it. John Bazz is what a bass player is supposed to be. John is always being called for sessions, gigs, and continues to tour with the Blasters when he is not playing or recording with the Mike Eldred Trio.
Mike Eldred - Guitars, Vocals Hometown: Artesia, CA.
Eldred started playing guitar when he was 14 and has not looked back. Playing in bars, weddings, high schools, and everything in-between, Mike got a call one day from Brian Setzer's guitar tech who had passed Eldred's 4 track demo to Lee Rocker. It was that encounter that began Eldred's professional career recording two CD's with Lee and finally stepping out with his own band. Mike's influences are varied and extreme. From Scotty Moore to Hendrix, there are no barriers to his musical taste. "He's not afraid of blurring lines in American Music. By bending all of his favorite musical styles, Mike has created his own original voice in modern electric guitar playing. HE'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, BABY!" raved Brian Setzer about Eldred's playing on MET's first CD. Eldred has gained many accolades from not only his peers, but also the press for his "take-no-prisoners" guitar style, and his deep song writing abilities. Mike has had spotlights in both Guitar Player Magazine, and Guitar World. Magazine, and the band's first CD released on Virgin France attracted the French magazine "Guitarist" which promptly promoted the CD "Album Du Mois" or, "Album Of The Month".
Recorded at: The Shed – Monrovia, CA; El Rancho Del Soul East and West – California and Arizona; Golden Track Studio – San Diego, CA.
Engineered by: Chris Rich,Hank Linderman,Mike Eldred. Mastered by:
Hank Linderman. Produced by:Mike Eldred. Executive Producer:
Chris Falson. Executive Producer of ZOHO release: Joachim “Jochen” Becker.
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