Dan Wilson In Words and Music

When a musician tells a good story, it's a golden evening.  Dan Wilson took center stage last night at Joe's Pub (with the accompaniment of keyboardist and smart phone programmer Brad Gordon).  Dan told lots of great stories and played lots of great music. 

Dan Wilson at Joe's Pub

I met Dan when I managed his earlier band Trip Shakespeare.  They were a powerhouse. Their live shows were unmatched for excitement and sweat.   Dan had the hits with his next band Semisonic.  Last night he told us of the genesis of Closing Time.  Although Dan was happy to be in his routine of playing the same song each night to close the band's set, band members were bored and wanted something new.  At the same time, he and his wife were expected their first child.  He wrote Closing Time.  Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.  When I first heard that song, it brought back so many memories of hanging out in clubs and talking to bands after the show.  There was always someone to say gather your coats and head out, we're closing.

Dan has co-written with "very strong women":  Carole King (his second co-write), the Dixie Chicks, Adele, Pink, etc.   In a story arc that played out over the evening, he began by talking about how initially it was slow going to hook up with other writers. Finally John Titta his music publisher asked his manager Jim Grant, if he would be interested in writing with Carole King.  Dan's mother said to him, remember she spells her name with an "e".  Being nervous at their meeting, the first thing Dan could think of to say to Carole was "My Mom loves you."  She said, "That makes me feel old." 

Several songs later, Dan gets to his writing with Adele.  They meet in this small studio in LA and Adele says I'm not really that familiar with your stuff, but my Mum loves you.  The ironic circle closed.  They wrote Someone Like You.  She played the unfinished song for her manager (who loved it) and her Mum (she cried).  Dan said we must be on to something and they were.

It's the little touches that make a wonderful evening even greater.  Dan who I admire as an artist as well as musician, had printed up a take home memento of the evening. His illustration work can also be seen in the video for his latest single Disappearing. 

Dan has three more shows on deck tomorrow in Minneapolis, then to Hollywood and San Diego.  Go see him!

Adele Has A Soul Half-Sister

The production is pulling from those wonderful records by British singers such as Dusty Springfield, Lulu, Petula Clark and Sandie Shaw. Aside: What great names! Interestingly, there wasn't much crossover use of producers for these musicians. The one thing the singers did have in common is recording a Bacharach/David song. Who could resist?

Jessie Baylin's new record Little Spark comes out next week. It will play right alongside Adele. The songs are solid, great vocals and the production as I said lends itself to 1960's pop-soul. Jessie is not British. She's originally from NJ and now makes her home in Nashville (Could Jessie in Memphis be next?). It was produced by Kevin Augunas.



According to Record of the Day, Jessie negotiated her way out of her Verve contract (From my experience in working with them, it was probably a career saving move. They can be a great label, but not for a singer-songwriter.) and made this record with an inheritance from her grandmother. Her label's name, Blonde Rat Records is a tribute to her grandmother. It was her nickname.

The first single Hurry Hurry is so darn catchy. You'll be humming it.




The title track's music invokes the open road. It's the perfect soundtrack for a long drive. Mix that with Guster's Jesus On The Radio and Glenn Campbell's Gentle On My Mind and you are cruising.

A line per track:
I Feel That Too is country tinted.
Love Is Wasted On Lovers has the sway of Hot Fun In the Summertime.
Star Cannon is the closest to a Dusty record.
Dancer is the most upbeat song on the collection.

The album is nicely paced and easy to listen to. It isn't a rock out record, but you could listen to it anywhere and turn it up loud.

Music Sales Are Up After 7 Year Decline. Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Are Hatched.

 Nielsen Soundscan data is repoting that U.S. music sales are up for the first half of 2011. These numbers are through the week ending July 3.  Album sales were up almost 1%.

According to TechCrunch: 155.5 million albums were sold in the U.S. in the first six months of 2011, compared to the 153.9 million albums sold at this time last year, resulting in that slim 1 percent hike. Of course, when one includes single-track downloads (generally speaking, 10 songs are the equivalent of an album) the number of albums sold comes to 221.5 million, resulting in a 3.6 percent rise. 

These numbers are not exactly a breakthrough.  I don't think the record labels will be doing a dance yet considering Adele is the number one record and she sold just over 2 million copies. 


It's going to take a few more reporting periods to see if the trend continues. 

Adele's Jerk Ex-Boyfriend Feels Entitled To Royalties

As Techdirt points out, this is a few weeks old, but still worth mentioning. In this litigious society we live in, it seems that exes are taking it a little too far.  As if a breakup isn't bad enough, the person who caused the heartache tries to sue you for ownership of the songs you wrote because of the breakup.

Adele's ex is claiming he "inspired" the songs and therefore should get partial ownership. Isn't he embarrassed to make such a claim?  Isn't he embarrassed that he caused such pain?  Guess not.  He wants a cut of the royalties.

Adele's response to him: Well, you made my life hell, so I lived it and now I deserve it.