(My first CD was also the first time I recorded without a back-up band. It took three years to record, doing up to 50 takes of some of the songs in order to "get it right". When, after it's release, I saw how little most people paid attention to what they were listening to, I became much more relaxed about the recording process. One reviewer [Mike Breen, City Beat - see citybeat.com] got the title wrong on one of his "favorite" cuts - "Jimmy Saders" - moronically calling it "Jimmy Sadness" [What idiot would name a song "Jimmy Sadness"?]. Another local critic [Larry Nager, The Cincinnati Enquirer - see fuckface.com] didn't even review it, saying that although he liked the songs, because they were done with only vocal and acoustic guitar accompaniment, it sounded like a demo recording [I think he felt that he was being kind]. I haven't listened to this record in about 5 years. My song writing got better toward the end of this project. The best songs - "Lover Man", "Widow's Walk", "It's Too Late To Say I Told You So" [Track not listed because, well.... it's the hidden track] - were all written as the recording was coming to a merciful close.)
Maurice Mattei started writing songs in his early teen years. Afterthe release of his first recordings in 1983 and 1988 he abandoned music to pursue photography. His interest lay primarily in documentary photography and this led him into certain social circles (Bikers, Drug Addicts, Debutantes, Wrestlers, Strippers, Socialites, Celebrities, etc.) that he found to be strangely new and oddly exciting. This vast and glorious parade of life re-ignited his desire to write songs. In 1995 he released his first CD of original material. He has since released 7 CD's, the latest being a live recording entitled "Maurice Mattei And A Room Full Of Victims". In addition to CD's, Mr. Mattei has released three cassette tapes, two 7-inch singles, one tape-cassette single and one CD single since 1995. To see a complete discography, examples of photographic works, lyrics page, additional mp3's, and miscellaneous writings please go to the Maurice Mattei web site - www.mmattei.com.
Influences include Robert Johnson (Blues Singer), William Burroughs (Writer), Billie Holiday (Jazz Singer), Chuck Berry (Singer/Songwriter), Robert Frank (Photographer), Keith Richard (Singer/Songwriter), Donatien-Alphonse-Francois de Sade (Writer), The Beatles (Rock Band), Leonardo Da Vinci (Artist/Inventor), Elvis Presley (Singer), Marcus Aurelius (Writer/Emperor) and Buffy Davis (Actress).
Mr. Mattei has performed steadily since his 1995 release. He performs solo and prefers to be an opening act since this allows him to get home at a reasonable hour. The following is a list of a few of the Artists, most of which few people have ever heard of, that Mr. Mattei has performed with: The Cole Brothers, The Brand, Radiolaria, Victoria Williams, David Wolfenberger, Over The Rhine, Mercy Baby, Ric Hickey and The Loose Wrecks, Roger Mcguinn, Love America and Johnny Graves.
Read more...