Artist: Jonny Lang
Album: Fight For My Soul
Bitrate: 246kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Provogue Records
Genre: Blues
Size: 121.41 megs
PlayTime: 1h 05min 38sec total
Rip Date: 2013-08-31
Store Date: 2013-08-30
Track List:
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01. Blew Up (The House) 4:41
02. Breakin' In 3:37
03. We Are The Same 5:59
04. What You're Looking For 5:44
05. Not Right 4:32
06. The Truth 5:09
07. River 4:20
08. Fight For My Soul 5:01
09. All Of A Sudden 4:43
10. Seasons 5:00
11. I'll Always Be 7:05
12. Breakin' Me (Acoustic) 5:15
13. Never Should Have Lied 4:32
(Acoustic)
Release Notes:
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Sixteen years ago, at the age of 16, Jonny Lang found incredible success with
the release of his major label debut album Lie To Me. Fame does not seem to have
impacted him from being the same country farm boy from Fargo, ND who got his
start in the local clubs of Minneapolis. He survived the passage of youth to
adulthood, fell in love, began a family, and in the process passed through the
life lessons we all endure. He has a keen sense of what he aims to achieve
creatively, what music means to him, and is focused on the impact that his songs
bring to the lives of those that encounter his repertoire. For Lang, with the
release of Fight For My Soul, he is entering a chapter wherein he has found his
true voice.
When asked what he would tell his younger self if he was afforded the
opportunity to share advise, he wisely answers, "I would say all of those voices
steering you away from questionable decisions, listen to them. They are right."
He has encountered many in the public eye through his career that approaches two
decades. With those experiences, and the personality traits he has witnessed, he
has a clarity of how he wants to be, and how he wants to treat others.
This sense of who he wants to be is the core of the album. Lang shares, "The
inspiration for the songs on the record vary widely. Some are about personal
struggles, some are focused on injustices I have seen. Some are random fictional
stories that hopefully can relate to people in some way that is a blessing to
them. IÆve wanted to make this album for a long time. Creatively, I think there
is a lot more going on inside of me than IÆve been sharing on recordings."
The album defies categorization by a single genre. The textured arrangements,
broad worldview, gorgeous vocal melodies, and expressive guitar playing are what
defines Fight For My Soul. It is unequivocally what Lang aimed to achieve over
the long period he has been working on reaching a realized vision. He offers,
"Much of what I've experienced through music and life in general is in these
songs. I really like reaching out and connecting with people. For me, this is
what it's all about. It keeps it fresh with different experiences every day."
Lang has been working on the release for three years with Producer Tommy Sims,
who co-wrote Eric ClaptonÆs Grammy winning ôChange the World.ö The duo
collaborated on the project from the ground up. The first step was fine-tuning
the soulful numbers Lang demoÆd at home. He relates, ôSometimes I write music
that I could never imagine putting on a record, and thanks to Tommy's ability to
see the continuity in these songs, where I might not have, they are on the
album. Sims also brought in one number, the acoustic-electric soul-rocker ôBlew
Up (The House),ö and played several instruments the album that include resonator
guitar on that tune, and contributing world class bass guitar performances on
select others.
This grass roots approach was new to Lang, whose four earlier studio albums were
written and crafted under the watch of his previous record labels. It was a
welcome change. After Lang released his Grammy winning Turn Around in 2007, he
made the decision to forego the major label route and became an independent
artist. The first result was 2009Æs Live At the Ryman, but Fight For My Soul, by
its nature, is his first fully realized artistic achievement through his own
label SayRai Music, featuring his own touring band: drummer Barry Alexander,
bassist James Anton, rhythm guitarist Akil Thompson, keyboardist Dwan Hill and
background vocalist Missi Hale. ôRecording with the band for the first time was
really gratifying,ö says Lang. ôTheyÆre all amazing musicians and weÆve grown
together musically and personally by playing hundreds of live shows. This served
us well in the making of Fight For My Soul. Because of them, I have grown
musically in ways I never thought I could, and it really is an honor to have
them on this record."
LangÆs full touring schedule as well as making his family a priority in his
life, are the primary cause for the length of commitment it took to deliver this
album. He reflects, " Between being with my family, and being out on the road
touring, the last thing you want to do when home is to go and make a record. We
have had to pick our spots to fit in recording time. In the last year, we've
been able to work on it more consistently, and to finally wrap this thing up.
And with the delivery to label partners Mascot in Europe and Concord for North
America, he achieved what he set out to deliver offering, "I'm really happy with
the body of work we have for this one. It's kind of hard to be excited and know
what the record was going to be like when the process is extended over such a
long period of time. Today sitting here I am really proud of the recordings."
As an artist he has evolved since he began the writing process. The sound of
that evolution is all over Fight For My Soul. ôWhat YouÆre Looking Forö
carefully layers banjo, guitars, spacey keyboards and a percussion sample to
create a sonic dreamscape for its story of searching for lifeÆs essentials ù
faith, love, hope. The arrangement of ôWe Are the Sameö evokes the freewheeling
spirit of MotownÆs Psychedelic Shack era.
The path Lang has been on has brought him the opportunity to interact with some
of the most respected legends in music. On the way up, he shared the stage with
The Rolling Stones, B.B. King, Aerosmith, Sting, and Buddy Guy, who he continues
to tour with today. As a 12-year-old, he began a journey in Fargo, ND that has
brought him to points across the Globe, and as he looks on the upcoming
near-term future, he shares, "With this album, I really look forward to bringing
our music to people in places where I've never been before. Music is one of the
greatest conveyers of ideas and emotions, and in a sense that doesnÆt have as
much to do with the individual performing, but the power of the connection. One
of my goals is the music can be a blessing to the people listening to it in some
way. And if Fight For My Soul can help somebody by making them feel better or
that theyÆre not alone, thatÆs my idea of success for this album.ö