STEVENS CHECKS IN ON NEW “MYTH LIVE” 2 CD SET 

 A lot of artists think they are dating themselves by calling an album an album. “Album” may be defined as a vinyl phonograph, but it also can mean a collection of things. Hence, a photo album is a collection of photographs. I don’t like referring to new music as a CD. In my case, I don’t have a new CD because it is a 2 CD package. Furthermore, some people will never see the actual CD’s because they will go to iTunes and download the songs.

Ok. The record is straight. I have a double album. Wait a minute. Record? Hmmm. No, I can’t call it a record. That is definitely a round and vinyl disc with grooves. But, this new double CD album has some cool grooves. The encore with “Too Much Fun” is pretty groovy. All right I’m bragging. Sorry!

But it does feel good to finally make a double album because in my formative years, my favorite music was on double albums.
Rolling Stones: “Exile On Main Street”
Allman Brothers Band: “At Fillmore East”
Eric Clapton: “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs”
Stevie Wonder: “Innervisions”
Beatles: “The White Album”

Ah, there it is again, album. Would a boxed set be an album of albums? I digress. Well, maybe not. The new double album, Myth Live,” is comprised of a few songs from each album.

DISC 1

Track 1, “Another Pretty Face,” from Albertville (released 2007) is the only song from that album. The show was partly a release party for Albertville and “Another Pretty Face” was the only song from Albertville that we knew at the time. So, I put that first, hoping anyone from the record company would hear it, have some drinks and not notice there were no more songs from the album. I think my plan worked.

Track 2, “My Blues Are Turning Red,” from Bring On the Blues (released 2003) showcases a red-hot band. This song sounds like the closer. In fact, as I was mixing it, I thought people would think I moved the songs around. My band really kills on shuffles like this and we did play it second.

Track 3, “Blue Drops of Rain,” from Blue Drops of Rain (released 1995) sounds pretty much like the record. It’s nice to show I can actually duplicate my studio work. Some guitarists can’t resist turning their songs into unrecognizable jams. Mark Johnson plays some big fat bass notes on this one. If your walls start shaking, don’t worry. It’s not an earthquake.

Track 4, “The Brothers,” from Blue Drops of Rain (released 1995) also stays pretty true to the original with an unrecognizable jam at the end. Hey, sometimes it works!

Track 5, “It’s Over,” from Blue Drops of Rain (released 1995) may be the concert’s finest moment. The breakdown at the end with the crowd cheering, the B-3 comping and the scatting Strat licks have even me on the edge of my seat.

Track 6, “Band Introduction,” allows me to relax, sip come Crown Royal, introduce the band, catch a breath, and sip some Crown Royal.

Track 7, “Road To Zen,” from Road To Zen (released 1997) showcases a great performance of a great road song. This version with the crowd noise in the acoustic guitar section seems to beat the studio version and may be the best time we ever played it. Just glad we happened to be recording.

Track 8, “This Train,” from Mean and Lean originally Getaway (released 2000) is soulful and showcases some groovy drumming by Norm Steffen and a snazzy B-3 solo by Paul Testa. We learned this for the show and may have only played it publicly twice. We all secretly hoped it wouldn’t end up as “This Train Wreck.” It didn’t. We nailed it.

Track 9, “Something I Can’t Do,” from Bring On the Blues (released 2003) really takes you there! I don’t know why, but a live blues performance with a vivacious crowd seems to hit the spot. Turn this one up!

DISC 2

Track 1, “Lonesome Road Blues,” from Bring On the Blues (released 2003) moves along like an 18-wheeler on a downhill pass and epitomizes one of my concerts. It’s fun, passionate, has 2 guitar solos and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Just enough to give you some insight of life on the road.

Track 2, “My Love For You Has Died,” from Bring On the Blues (released 2003) comes alive on this version with not only crowd noise, but also someone in the audience clapping to the song. I brought up the crowd mics in the second half of the song to add this to the mix. To that person in the audience, with good time and having a good time, I thank you!

Track 3, “Mean and Lean,” from Mean and Lean originally Getaway (released 2000) shows the Chuck Berry – Keith Richards influence. No speed just the riffs that matter. Infectious! Makes you wonder if you’ve had 2 drinks or 3 drinks and why you are even counting.

Track 4, “Aloha Peke,” from Alone At Last (released 2005) was rearranged from a quiet acoustic instrumental to a quiet electric instrumental. This one is a stand out. Dedicated to my mother, she would be proud.

Track 5, “Big House Blues,” from Road To Zen (released 1997) is just so much fun to play live I had to include it.

Track 6, “My Neighborhood,” from Road To Zen (released 1997) features some tasty blues harmonica from Jim “Walleye” Stark and more Chuck Berry – Keith Richards guitar licks. It must have made the lady in the audience yelling “My Neighborhood” all night very happy.

Track 7, “One More Time,” from Road To Zen (released 1997) begins the encore. Extended guitar solo at end could get me on Rolling Stones Top 100 guitarists list, if they only knew I existed.

Track 8, “Too Much Fun?,” from Road To Zen (released 1997) is really too much fun to listen to and lives up to the title. I didn’t expect it until I finished mixing, but “Too Much Fun?” builds and closes the show with power. Features Melody Gilbert trading some vocals with me. This one makes the short list!

Well, there you have the run down on the new double album. Hopefully my modesty has not undersold AND my entrepreneurship has not hyperbolized…the MUSIC that always speaks for itself.

~ Corey Stevens, December 2007

Did you know the origin of the word, “album,” is Latin for a white tablet? I can go on. But, don’t you think calling new music a CD when you can download it and never physically touch anything but the keyboard and mouse (in my case a trackball) is a misnomer? Sometimes I like to think back to a time when I was in a rural area in the South and a fan said, “Corey, I love your music. I have all your tapes!”

“MYTH LIVE” is available on iTunes, CD Baby, coreystevens.com and in a store near you.