(MPM) Bill Wence has set a May 15th release date for his new album Analog Man in a Digital World, the latest CD. On the new CD, Wence is backed by a list of all-star musicians, including Charlie McCoy, Becky Hobbs, Jonell Mosser, Sisters Morales, Gretchen Peters, Bryan Owings, Dean Hall, Byrd Burton, Stick Davis, Bekka Bramlett, John Rees, Louis Meyers, Rick Lonow and The Jordanaires.
Analog Man in a Digital World features 11 tracks of Americana, honky-tonk country and rockin' roots music – the kind Bill Wence has been making in a career that spans over 40 years and includes stints as the road piano player for the legendary Wanda Jackson, who also contributes liner notes to the album along with another legend, Johnny Rivers. The CD was produced by Bill Wence and Joe Funderburk and recorded at Creative Workshop in Berry Hill, Tennessee. In addition to four originals, Wence has tapped into the songbooks of some wonderful songwriters and also includes his take on such classics as "Unchained Melody," as well as the Buster Brown blues chestnut, "Fannie Mae."
"I've been recording since I was about 18, starting in California and in Nashville," Wence states. He eventually hit the Billboard charts in the late '70s and early '80s a number of times with cuts by Ronnie McDowell, Cristy Lane and others, including four Billboard chart singles under his name.
"For my third Americana album, I picked some original songs from friends that I thought fit what I do, as well as four songs I wrote, plus a couple of covers," says Wence. "I've known and worked with Charlie McCoy for decades, as well as Jonell Mosser, Sisters Morales, Becky Hobbs and the others on the sessions. All the sessions are almost all one take with the band and very little overdubbing. Johnny Rivers titled the album for me and his notes along with Wanda Jackson's are a nice addition."
Of special interest with the guests featured on Analog Man in a Digital World, it should be noted that the sessions paired guitarist Byrd Burton and bassist Stick Davis, who were both members of The Amazing Rhythm Aces, the Grammy-winning country rock band that had such '70s hits as "Third Rate Romance," "Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song") and "The End Is Not in Sight." Also, Bekka Bramlett, an in-demand singer on albums with such artists as Delbert McClinton, Sam Moore, Shane Dwight and many others, is the daughter of Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett. Drummer Bryan Owings has played on countless albums and tours with Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Chip Taylor and a host of others; Louis Meyers is a renowned multi-instrumentalist and is also the Executive Director of The Folk Alliance organization. Last but not least, the Jordanaires are the iconic rock and country backing group whose career spans working with Elvis and Ricky Nelson to countless other classic recordings.
