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Top 10 of 2011

The holidays were a wonderful time for me. I hope they were for you. Lots of blessings and fun events going on at church and the studio. That's right. During the last two weeks of the year, I finally got the horns laid down for the album. Larry O. Williams (Gap Band) and Rahmlee Davis (Phenix Horns; Earth, Wind & Fire) provided tenor sax and trumpet, respectively. It was a true honor to work with them and even more of a thrill to hear their playing on my own compositions. Our next and final recording session at Karma Frog is scheduled for King Day, Jan. 16. We will be wrapping up the background vocals. Then it is all down to mixing and mastering.

Then I will be able to concentrate on artwork and the other promotional material to go along with the album. I am sure that this will be my favorite record of the Dozens as my friends and I are calling 2012. Of course, how can I let the year begin without a recap of my favorite recordings from 2011? Well, here goes; a combo of LPs and singles. In descending order:

1. Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part 2. Don't call it a comeback, call it a party.
2. Tom Waits - Bad As Me. A close-shave second. Rollicking, dark and danceable.
3. Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now. Call it a throwback. Their best complete album since Rio.
4. Roy Orbison - The Monument Singles Collection. Monophonic bliss circa 1962 from the man in the glasses.
5. Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do? Motor City soul by way of Ann Arbor for the 21st Century.
6. Hanson - "Give A Little." A pure single serving of pop.
7. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues. A sublime collection of modern folk-rock.
8. Wilco - "Dawned On Me." I actually heard this on the radio. Remember radio!?
9. Foster The People - "Pumped Up Kicks." The catchiest single about mayhem and gunplay this year.
10. Midnight In Paris. Original Soundtrack to Woody Allen's comeback. File under Jazz.
11. Bonus for 2011. Black Keys - "Lonely Boy." The video for this single sold me.

Happy New Year! Check back soon for more updates from the studio.

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