American Without Tears
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This song was on Elvis Costello’s masterpiece ‘King Of America’ album which came out in 1986. On this record Elvis Costello used musicians Ron Tutt (drums) Jerry Scheff (bass) and James Burton (guitar). All three also played in Elvis Presley’s live band from 1970-1977. James Burton, the man with the Pink Paisley Telecaster guitar, was also a member of ‘The Hot Band’- – who not only backed up Elvis Presley live, and in the studio, beginning in 1969, but he also backed up Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris and Merle Haggard. Elvis Costello recorded this at a live session at the Sound Factory in Hollywood. Jimmy Cliff and the ‘Engine Room’ recorded in the same studio for Jimmy’s ‘Rebirth’ album. When I was producing the Jimmy Cliff record last year, I couldn’t help but think about ‘King Of America’, and how T Bone Burnett had all those guys play live in the studio, and how all those “engine room” tracks we did, were done live in that same fantastic old room.
“On tv they prosecute anyone who’s exciting” is one of the strongest Elvis Costello lyrics ever.
Tim Timebomb – Vocals, Guitar
Kevin Bivona – Mandolin, Melodica, B3, Rhodes, Acoustic Bass, Percussion
Mark Switzer – Banjo
Coming To Your Rescue
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‘Coming to Your Rescue’ is one of my favorite Northern Soul songs. Originally recorded in Hollywood on May 26. 1967 by the Triumphs, the producer was Larry Williams, an R&B bandleader/musical director, who also worked on tracks for Little Richard, Johnny Guitar Watson and Lloyd Price. I used the Ohio Ramblers on mine.
Tim Timebomb – Guitar and Vocals
Ryan Foltz – Drums, Backing Vocals, Horns, Percussion
Doug McKean – Bass and Guitar
Justin Gorski – Keys
Liz Kelly – Backing Vocals
Guardian Angel
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Originally released on the 'Rock N Roll Theater' album that accompanied ‘Dante' in April 2012. This song was recorded in the same session as 'Honor Is All We Know,' it’s about a real living guardian angel - flesh and blood.
Tim Timebomb - Guitar and Vocals
Kevin Bivona - Guitar and Bass
Jesse Bivona- Drums
Dash Hutton- BG Vocals
Adalida
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Originally written by Mike Geiger, Woody Mullis, and Michael Hoffman. This track was recorded by my good friend Ryan Foltz, who was also the engineer and producer on the Rancid song ‘Civilian Ways.’ It features a talented group of Cleveland musicians called The Ohio Ramblers. I love Zydeco music and wanted to record something inspired by the works of Clifton Chenier, Rockin’ Dopsie, and Buckwheat Zydeco.
Tim Armstrong - guitar, vocals
Ryan Foltz - bass, horns, percussion, background vocal
Doug McKean - guitars Justin Gorski - keys, accordion
Liz Kelly - background vocal Chris Yohn - fiddle
Dave McKean - percussion
Honor Is All We Know
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Written in the spirit of my work with Operation Ivy and the British Oi! band Cock Sparrer, I wrote this song during the financial bailout of Wall Street addressing the idea of hard times and the importance of standing by your friends. I dug out my old Seville for this one and ran it through a Mesa Boogie amp, the same set-up I used in Op Ivy. The Bivona brothers from the Interrupters are my backing band, Jesse on drums and Kevin on guitar and bass. Originally released on the ‘Rock N Roll Theater’ album that accompanied ‘Dante’ in April 2012.
Tim Timebomb – Guitar and Vocals
Kevin Bivona – Guitar and Bass
Jesse Bivona– Drums
Dash Hutton- BG Vocals