Take Me Back is the name of the upcoming project from Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show, expected in January 2012 on Karl’s KSBC Music label.
This will be his first new release since 2003, and serves to introduce a number of new faces on the Big Country Show. Recently returned to the group, but familiar to long-time fans is Chris Hill on banjo. Newest member, Billy Hurt is on fiddle and CJ Lewandowski is playing mandolin. Karl’s son Kris is on bass, as he has been for some time, with Shiflett Sr. on guitar and lead vocals.
Lewandowski tells us that the album’s title is is meant literally.
“The focus of the project is a reflection of what Karl Ray heard as a young boy in Texas, when he was learning how to pick the guitar. He heard the likes of Bob Wills, Don Gibson, Buck Owens, Flatt & Scruggs, Monroe, etc. The project has some great classic country selections on it from Wills’ evergreen Take Me Back To Tulsa to Floyd Tillman’s Makes No Difference Now.”
Tracking was completed last month at Gary Vincent’s Vincent Sound Studio in Henderson, KY, and is now in the mixing stage.
Karl also brought in a ringer for this project to provide percussion. According to CJ…
“Danny Bureau, from Connecticut, joins us on the recording with a steel contraption (like a washboard) with all kinds of gadgets and do dads on it. When asking Karl about what he thought people would say about the scruboard, he said, ‘If they like it, they’ll talk about it. If they dont like it, They’ll talk about it. Either way, they are talking about us!’ “
CJ was also fulsome with his praise for the boss man’s generosity.
“What I really like about recording with Karl is that he wants the whole band to shine, and gives everyone a chance on this new record. Karl sings, Chris Hill sings a solo, I sing a solo, every solo instrument is showcased on an instrumental. There are duos, trios, solos… It’s all there on Karl’s projects. I think the fans will like the variety on this new CD.
This project will hopefully fit the bill for all the KSBC fans that having been waiting 8 years for a new project, and possibly introduce some new folks to the vintage tradition that has come to be known from Karl Shiflett.”
Should be a goodn’.
Here are a few more photos from the sessions.
