As evident on his newest album, Sultans, U.S. based, British-songwriter, Bobby Long‘s love of The Beatles shines through on this release, due out onCompass Records March 1.
The two part title track pays homage to Sgt. Pepper, and of course, Long’s memories of the music being played at his home growing up in rural southwest England. The album features new songs of original material, featuring themes of love, loss and heartache, for which Long is known for.
Long started out his music career playing at open mic nights in London in 2009, and had one of his songs featuring in the hit film Twilight. He then came to the US, relocated to New York, and has made it his musical home since. In that time, he released his critically-acclaimed debut album, A Winter’s Tale in 2011, followed by Wishbone in 2013, and Ode to Thinking in 2015.
“The songs on this album are a definite continuation and development,” Long explains. “It’s about the whole body of work for me. It’s all part of the greater. I don’t think you can define anyone by one album. When you’re recording, you always have the greater picture in your head. Your imagination runs over the tracks, and they take all sorts of weird forms. The sounds of this record are the closest to what was in my imagination that I’ve come on a record.” Sultans was produced by multi-instrumentalist Jack Dawson with whom Long had collaborated and toured with on behalf of his 2012 EP The Backing Singer. It was recorded over a one year period in a studio in Brooklyn. With Long on guitar, Dawson also played bass on the tracks while studio engineer Dave Lindsay played drums.
“Jack and I have a shared love of so much music, and we would talk endlessly about records we love,” Long explains. “Jack, like myself, is a feel guy so we were never too picky about tone or instruments. The album is basically a reflection of our friendship and love of songs. Jack really added his own colours and personality to the album, and it’s definitely the best thing I’ve ever done. Of course, I always feel that the new one is the best one, but I feel pretty strongly about this one. I really love creating and writing. It feels as magical today as it did when I was a child.”
Tour Dates in support of Sultans:
March 1 – NYC – City Winery Loft
March 2 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
March 6 – New Haven, CT – Cafe Nine
March 7 – Portland, ME – Portland Empire
March 8 – Cambridge, MA – Club Passim
March 16 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java
March 22 – Asheville, NC – Fat Tire Friday, New Belgium Brewery
March 24 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
April 5 – Fort Collins, CO – Fat Tire Friday, New Belgium Brewery
April 11 – Austin, TX – Cactus Cafe
April 12 – Dallas, TX – Poor David’s Pup
April 13 – Oklahoma City, OK – Blue Door
April 16 – St. Louis, MO – Duck Room at Blueberry Hill
April 17 – Des Moines, IA – Gaslamp
April 18 – Davenport, IA – Raccoon Motel
April 19 – Fort Atkinson, WI – Cafe Carpe
Tickets will go on sale shortly. More U.S. shows will be announced soon.
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