The second solo album from Hall & Oates half John Oates was co-produced by Jed Leiber, the son of the legendary songwriter Jerry Leiber.
Jerry Lieber and his songwriting partner Mike Stoller wrote the classics ‘Hound Dog’, ‘Kansas City’, ‘Jailhouse Rock’ and ‘There Goes My Baby’.Jed has co-produced Oates’ new album ‘1000 Miles of Life’. The album is John’s second solo album.
“After 30-plus years devoting myself to my art and craft, I needed to make a musical statement that someday I could look back on and realize, at that moment of time, I did exactly what I wanted to do,” he said in a statement. “I’ve never written songs like this. I was on this inspirational roll. There was an urgency to it. I realized that I had no more time in my life for rehearsals... and I took that energy into the studio.”
Oates credits the inspiration behind this album to three recently departed individuals, Arif Mardin, who produced the first two Hall & Oates albums), songwriter Jerry Lynn Williams, and his original guitar mentor Jerry Ricks.
On the new album, Oates performs Williams’ ‘Send Me Angels’ with Blind Boys of Alabama. The album will also feature Steve Cropper, John Popper and Bekka Bramlett.
He describes the experience of making this album as “effortless’ and the most “inspirational playing I’ve experienced since recording Abandoned Luncheonette”.
After this album, Oates says it will be back to working with Daryl Hall again. “Doing this album is good for both of us,” he says. “When we do come back together, we bring those experiences to what we do, which makes it even better. But this is a very personal record for me and, without a doubt, the highlight of my recording career.”
‘1000 Miles of Life’ is due September 23.
