Lonely Avenue Article

Andi SBG · Posts: 965 Join date: 2008-05-17

This morning I happened to stumble across a glowing early review from way back in August, when Trouble Train and Lonely Ave were released:
http://jazzuality.com/jazz-news/sneak-preview-of-the-new-brian-setzer-orchestra-album-songs-from-lonely-avenue/

Nothing new here, though this is a staggering comparison:

Quote:

"The devilish "Trouble Train" appears in propulsive rhythm, an ominous minor key and wickedly good roaring guitar, this song revisit the familiar character of the devil up to his old tricks. Speaking about train, I’ve been waiting to see another composition to meet the ageless legend "Take The A Train", and this one is a match. Not only that, but this song also echoes the other great song about Lucifer, the Charlie Daniels' masterpiece "Devil Went Down to Georgia". "Trouble Train" is simply a massive opening to set the mood for the whole album."

Comparing Trouble Train with A Train! Wow! Way to go B! Apparently I'm not the only one who hears big band royalty in this CD!

On the topic of Trouble Train, last night I saw some friends I hadn't seen in a few weeks, so I brought along the new CD to squee about. I was saying how amazing it was to have my photo on the CD of my favorite artist of all time. "Who is it?" one fella asked from across the room. "Brian Setzer," I said. "Songs From Lonely Avenue from the Brian Setzer Orchestra - it just came out less than two weeks ago." "Oh! I heard a song from that on satellite radio earlier today, driving down here from LA!" he exclaimed, "something about a train?" "Yeah! Trouble Train!" I said with excitement, "they're playing it on satellite radio?? How cool!" He smiled, "yeah! Good stuff!"

He got pulled into another conversation so I wasn't able to get any details about what station, which satellite service, etc. But it made me giddy to know that it is getting airplay, given how difficult it would be to pigeonhole it into traditional radio formatting. Anyone else hearing it anywhere on the air?

Scatman · Posts: 79 Join date: 2008-09-20

Trouble Train has been on regular rotation on Little Steven's Underground Garage on XM Radio. I didn't catch the name of the show, but it appeared to have a pre-recorded blurb about the song being "The best song of the week", a few words about the big band and the upcoming Extravaganza Tour. Quite a shocker the first time I heard it on XM, and heard it several more times throughout the week which tells me it got played several times a day..................

Ooby Dooby!
Scatman

Andi SBG · Posts: 965 Join date: 2008-05-17

Rockin' into the night: Brian Setzer's new album one for all generations

By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Published: 11/1/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/1/2009 5:36 AM

Rockabilly guitar-slinger and big-band frontman Brian Setzer is at it again. This time, he brings us "Songs From Lonely Avenue," a collection of 13 originals penned by the bandleader himself.

It's a propulsive rocket-blast from the past, and this time Setzer has partnered with the legendary Frank Comstock, who wrote arrangements for Benny Carter, Doris Day, Judy Garland, Stan Kenton and more. Comstock also penned theme songs for "Rocky & Bullwinkle," "Adam 12" and "Dragnet" and recorded the 1962 classic cult album "Project Comstock: Music From Outer Space." Comstock wrote all the horn arrangements for this rambunctious collection.

Setzer paints a vivid fantasy of colorful characters set with stunning aural contrast against rain-darkened streets and fog-haloed city streetlamps.

The rockabilly- and surf-guitar-tinged tunes practically shake with bright horns, hammering upright bass and rowdy swing. They evoke timeless images of 1950s mohair cardigans and poodle skirts, stiletto heels, pompadours, jukeboxes and leather biker jackets.

Indeed, Setzer strikes chords with music-lovers from any generation, from grandma to greaser and even the all-the-rage modern version of punk retro princesses in pink and black polka dots and their dapper, denim-wearing, racecar-mad beaus.

There are grown-up themes: love, loss, passion and partners in crime. It's a vibrant, old-school flashback that breaches nearly all music genres, eras and social strata.

It's a modern classic with pitch-perfect
melodies and apocalyptic minor keys from the former Stray Cats frontman. His guitar work is delirious, guitar-riff benediction.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra will perform its greatest hits and Stray Cats and holiday classics Dec. 11 at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville. For more information, visit his official Web site at tulsaworld.com/BrianSetzer.

Andi SBG · Posts: 965 Join date: 2008-05-17

Another review...

Taking pages out of black-and-white gangster movies, “Songs From Lonely Avenue” tells somewhat similar tales, all concocted by the 50-year-old Stray Cats leader who strayed from rock to swing.

And swing this CD does – starting with a wild, wild ride on the “Trouble Train,” speeding down the express track. Most of the tracks are uptempo. In one exception, the swingsters go bluesy with the give-away title “My Baby Don’t Love Me Blues.”

Blue you won’t be, and a good deal of the credit goes to 87-year-old Frank Comstock, a big name in Hollywood when Setzer was a pup. He scored the music for “Dragnet” and its offshoot, “Adam-12.” He also scored the music for the Setzer horns.

“Kiss Me Deadly,” also the title of an old Mickey Spillane novel, is a standout. “Dead Man Incorporated” is another must-hear.

There are a number of swing-type bands making the rounds these days, but so far, Brian Setzer is the mob boss. Go, cats!

– Frank Roberts

Brett · Posts: 465 Join date: 2008-09-05 Age: 44

in Germany i found a workshop for guitar in a guitar mag.
They show how to play "Mr. Jazzer goes surfin",

If anybody is interested view my Album on myspace. Article is in german, but tabs and notation is international.
In a few days i`ll delete pics on myspace. But i could mail it... Rolling Eyes

click here

lemoncat · Posts: 7 Join date: 2009-11-06 Age: 21

Brett wrote:

in Germany i found a workshop for guitar in a guitar mag.
They show how to play "Mr. Jazzer goes surfin",

If anybody is interested view my Album on myspace. Article is in german, but tabs and notation is international.
In a few days i`ll delete pics on myspace. But i could mail it... Rolling Eyes

click here

Thank you Pics!

I love this song. I love you

Andi SBG · Posts: 965 Join date: 2008-05-17

http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE5AG0P820091117

By Gary Graff

DETROIT (Billboard) - Brian Setzer's new album, "Songs From Lonely Avenue," was inspired by film noir themes from the '40s and '50s. Now he'd love to see someone make a movie based on the record.

"I'd love Quentin Tarantino to take a crack at it," Setzer tells Billboard.com, noting that the album's 13 songs are "a loose storyline to a movie. It is thought-out, though. To me it could all be part of a movie."

To ensure that "Songs From Lonely Avenue" had an authentic cinematic quality, Setzer reached out to Frank Comstock, the 87-year-old arranger who worked with Judy Garland, Stan Kenton, Benny Carter and many others and also wrote the theme songs for "Dragnet," "Adam 12" and "Rocky & Bullwinkle."

"Comstock is just a hoot," Setzer reports. "He's the last one of his generation. He's a genius, up there with Nelson Riddle and all the great arrangers of his day. But he always wants to do it his way, too. We'll fight about chords. 'That chord's wrong!' 'Well, Frank, why is it wrong?'

"It just is. It doesn't make sense!' So we have our musical thing, but no one I've met can write arrangements like him. He writes around the lyrics and never steps on my singing, but the words speak through the instrument. It gives you chills."

While Setzer waits for Hollywood to come knocking for "...Lonely Avenue," he's gearing up with his Orchestra for their annual Christmas Rocks! Extravaganza Tour, which kicks off Friday in Detroit. The show will, of course, draw from his "Christmas Rocks!" album -- which is packaged with a DVD of a 2006 concert for PBS as "The Ultimate Christmas Collection" -- but Setzer says he'll be playing plenty of "...Lonely Avenue" and other non-Yule selections from his catalog.

"I didn't go out last year, so I'm really looking forward to playing this Christmas," says Setzer. "The Christmas tour now is pretty much whatever I want to do. I still do a lot of the Christmas songs, but I want to play some of the '...Lonely Avenue' stuff, Stray Cats stuff, just pick the songs I want to do now. People don't seem to mind; they just want to hear the songs."

Setzer doesn't have anything planned yet for 2010, and he's not ruling out another run of Stray Cats shows. "Y'know, I really miss the guys," he says. "I really hold that (band) dear, more now than I ever used to. I would like to play with them again. I don't know about running around places like Europe or Australia anymore, but I will play with those guys again, I don't care if it's the corner bar."

talldave · Posts: 21 Join date: 2009-08-20

Andi wrote:

"I still do a lot of the Christmas songs, but I want to play some of the '...Lonely Avenue' stuff, Stray Cats stuff, just pick the songs I want to do now. People don't seem to mind; they just want to hear the songs."

Sounds good to me!

Andi wrote:

Setzer doesn't have anything planned yet for 2010, and he's not ruling out another run of Stray Cats shows. "Y'know, I really miss the guys," he says. "I really hold that (band) dear, more now than I ever used to. I would like to play with them again. I don't know about running around places like Europe or Australia anymore, but I will play with those guys again, I don't care if it's the corner bar."

Ditto!