New music from rock legend Paul Rodgers was recorded in the Okanagan and Vancouver with the help of several local musicians, including Surrey害羞草研究所檚 Todd Ronning.
The eight-song , due out Sept. 22 on the iconic Sun Records, is the first album of original music in 25 years for vocalist Rodgers, of Bad Company fame.
which Rodgers co-wrote with Ronning and Maple Ridge-based drummer Rick Fedyk, with guitar work by Ray Roper and Keith Scott, organ by Chris Gestrin, production by Bob Rock and mix by Randy Staub.
Recording of the album was kept hush-hush for 18 months until the June 23 release of 害羞草研究所淟iving It Up,害羞草研究所� a funk-fortified anthem with a Led Zep-ish groove and lyrics about enjoying all that America (and Canada) has to offer.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a song where I had the music written a while back and I demo害羞草研究所檇 it over at Ray害羞草研究所檚 place (near Summerland),害羞草研究所� Ronning recalled in a phone call.
害羞草研究所淚 demo害羞草研究所檇 a bunch of stuff, you know, thinking maybe Bad Co. (Bad Company) or someone might like it. Who knows? But when I did that one, Paul liked it right away. I actually had another song planned for him, but he liked that one 害羞草研究所� you know, that害羞草研究所檚 OK, pick whatever you want. He had lyrical ideas and I害羞草研究所檓 super happy that he found something that I had done that he wanted to incorporate, you know?害羞草研究所�
With bed tracks done at Roper害羞草研究所檚 studio, additional recording for the album was completed at The Warehouse studio Vancouver.
害羞草研究所淩oper lives in the Okanagan, not far from Paul,害羞草研究所� Ronning explained. 害羞草研究所淎t The Warehouse, Bob (Rock) brought in Keith Scott (guitarist for Bryan Adams) to throw in a couple of things. Paul tweaked his vocals a bit there as well, but basically my job, and Rick害羞草研究所檚, too, was done up in the Okanagan.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所� RELATED: .
Ronning, who plays in the Heart tribute band Barracuda with Fedyk and Roper, has toured with Rodgers/Bad Company since 2012. He first met the British-Canadian singer back in 1996 when Rodgers lived part-time in South Surrey.
害羞草研究所淭hat was in the latter part of the year, when he was first getting together with his now-wife, Cynthia, in White Rock,害羞草研究所� Ronning recalled.
害羞草研究所淪ome local guys came together because Paul wanted to do an out-of-the-blue show at some small club in the area, just for fun, and we ended up doing it at the Ocean Beach (bar in White Rock), just five or six songs. Supposedly nobody was supposed to know, right, so I show up with my gig bag and all that and, and there害羞草研究所檚 a lineup around the corner, people trying to push into the doors. So I had to push my way in.害羞草研究所�
From there, a New Year害羞草研究所檚 Eve gig was arranged, along with another local club show the following year, and then Rodgers reunited with the original Bad Company guys. Ronning and Fedyk continued with the band King Karma.
Years later, Rodgers needed a bass player for a show, and Ronning got the call.
害羞草研究所淚n 2008 the bass player he was working with had some sort of medical issue,害羞草研究所� Ronning explained. 害羞草研究所淭hey were going to cancel a gig in Nakusp, so they called me to ask if I害羞草研究所檇 be ready to play the next day. Well, yeah! I learned some of the music on the plane trip up there,害羞草研究所� he added with a laugh. 害羞草研究所淚 did a good job and then it took a couple years after that until I was asked to be part of his band.害羞草研究所�
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Midnight Rose: My first solo album in nearly 25 years - available everywhere September 22nd!
害羞草研究所� Paul Rodgers (@_paulrodgers)
Until then, listen to "Living It Up" and pre-save the album with the link in bio.
害羞草研究所� Paul Rodgers (@_paulrodgers)
Rodgers害羞草研究所� new Midnight Rose LP was produced by Rock and Cynthia Rodgers (Paul害羞草研究所檚 wife), with album artwork created by Paul and Cynthia.
The album害羞草研究所檚 second single, 害羞草研究所淭ake Love,害羞草研究所� will be released July 28. Other song titles are 害羞草研究所淐oming Home,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淧hoto Shooter,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淢idnight Rose,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淒ance in the Sun,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淗ighway Robber害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淢elting.害羞草研究所�
The collection of songs 害羞草研究所済rew from sparks of ideas I had,害羞草研究所� . 害羞草研究所淭he sparks developed into a raging fire when the band and everyone involved brought their absolute 害羞草研究所楢害羞草研究所� game. I think it is my best album to date, I like it. I hope you do too.害羞草研究所�
Dominic Pandiscia, chief strategy officer of Primary Wave/Sun Label Group, calls Rodgers a rock legend.
害羞草研究所漌e害羞草研究所檙e proud to have him on the Sun Records label,害羞草研究所� stated Pandiscia, who calls Midnight Rose 害羞草研究所渁 modern-day classic that his established and new fans will love.
害羞草研究所淲e have heard one consistent comment throughout the record making process and it害羞草研究所檚 that Paul has never sounded better. I couldn害羞草研究所檛 agree more.害羞草研究所�
As for concerts, there is no word yet about Rodgers and band performing locally, if at all. .
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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