Album Notes

Steve Baskin and the band were holed up at Real to Reel studio and Steve's Underground Studio at the end of 2008 and early 2009 recording the follow up to his debut album, "I Sometimes Think".

"Naked" is the new album and its themes run all over the place – love; love gone bad; running; the stress of the office; the Zen of the river; runaways; prostitution; and death.

In a 2007 article from The Valdosta Daily Times, "I Sometimes Think" was described as “a poppy blend of groove and soul with a nice slice of edge.” In a recent article, the newspaper contends that Naked is both more raw in its emotional impact while more refined in its musicianship and production. This second CD maintains a pop quality fueled with a charging rock attitude. And it’s just some unvarnished great music.”

Steve wrote all but a few of these songs himself. He wrote My Empty House with Nashville studio cat and old band mate, Rich Herring; he wrote Something Smells Fishy with North Carolina native, Tracy Brown; and I Think I Love You was written by Tony Romeo for The Partridge Family.

While Steve played and sang everything on I Sometimes Think, his incredible band played on all of Naked's tracks. Richard "Zoot" Blasingame played keyboards, organ, Grandma's accordion, bari sax and sang backup; Brian Hudson played drums and did all of the banging on things on the record; Joe Randolph played bass and Alex Slinin handled the electric and lead guitar work. Steve handled the lead vocals, some of the backup and acoustic and electric guitars.

Steve also got great sessions from Pamela Bishop who sang on Please Don't Leave, My Empty House and I Think I Love You; Ruben Harris playing cello on Naked and Lie; Michael McKenzie doing the trumpet work on My Empty House; and Mark Van Allen (Sugarland) playing pedal steel on Float on Down.

Naked was recorded Jonathan Beckner at Real to Reel Studio and by Steve at his Underground Studio. Glenn Matullo did the mixing and production at Orphan Studio. And Colin Leonard mastered the record at Glenn Schick Mastering. All of the production was done in Atlanta, Georgia.

Original cover art by The Bill Mayer and album photography was by Kevin Garrett. Lindsay Podrid did the art direction with additional photography from W. Scott Chester and Amber Tyree.

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