Description
Limited edition digi pack CD.
The NYC-based rock musician has recruited a who’s who of famed rock musician friends for this effort, including Dave Stewart, Earl Slick, Duff McKagan, and members of Paul Weller’s band and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
(The Last Day of Summer) Album Story
It all began with “Heartbreak.”
During early days of the pandemic, with not much else to do, I began to write. The first song that came was “Heartbreak.” I was excited. I knew I had something special. I’d been chatting – as we all were – via text and FaceTime and (eventually) Zoom, with friends around the globe. My pal Ben Gordelier, Paul Weller’s drummer, was excited by the simple demo I’d recorded, and offered to add some drums. It brought the track to life. I’d already enlisted Eric Lichter to be the producer on whatever my next project might be, so he was on board. As was my ever-present musical compadre Earl Slick. “I heard it once, and I knew exactly what you wanted, and what it needed,” he told me. Jordan Summers, my keyboardist pal, based out in LA, did his thing, and Lee Harris, the guitarist from Nick Mason’s band, waiting out the pandemic in rural France, added some delicate flourishes, courtesy of the lap steel he’d bought from Walter Becker’s estate, and the track was just about finished. But it needed bass. Who to call? Why, Duff McKagan, of course. Would a guy from Guns N’ Roses – albeit with a punk rock heart – know what to do with a Time Out Of Mind-esque ballad? It was a stupid question, really. Duff’s part was perfection.
By now it was October 2020, and while we’d been piecing “Heartbreak” together long distance, I’d been writing furiously.
Ben cut more drum parts, as did Jeremy Stacey, the incredible drummer most closely associated with Noel Gallagher’s solo recordings, and I enlisted former-Heartbreaker Ron Blair, the Boogie Wonder band’s Boogie Cindy and Joan Chew from Lez Zeppelin, to add some bass. During the first break in the pandemic lockdown, after the first round of vaccinations, Slick and Eric and I put some meat on the bones of the songs they’d all sent back during sessions at Eric’s rural Dirt Floor Recording studio, and Jordan, Jody Bagley and keyboard legend Mick Talbot all worked their magic to the tracks that were finally coming into focus.
That’s when the excitement really kicked in for me. It was clear that this was a special batch of songs, and that everybody, with nothing much else to do, had given them their all. It was exciting and stimulating, and corralling the last batch of contributions became a pure joy.
Steve Cradock – Weller’s right hand man for more than two decades – added some gorgeous piano to “Till New York City Dies” and 6- and 12-string acoustics to “The Poacher,” while Jess Greenfield from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (and now Wonder 45) arranged some gorgeous harmonies on the soul-y version of “Movin’ On.” Todd Morse, from the Offspring, filled out the backing vocals that Eric and I had cut, and multi-instrumentalist Don Miguel did for me what he had done when producing Leonard Cohen’s last two records, adding some final, ethereal adornments to a few of the tracks, one of which already included parts by Gene Parsons of the Byrds and Steve Holley from Wings. Finally, during sessions at Mark Plati’s studio in the East Village, where he had worked with David Bowie back in the 90s and 00s, Shannon Conley, from my live band, laid down some beautiful harmonies, and even a bit of harmonica, and Mark and I did some final vocals, guitar and backing vocals.
The Last Day of Summer – as it had been called since almost the very start of the sessions – was nearly complete, save for three people without whom it would not be the record it eventually became.
Ace mix master Duane Lundy worked tirelessly to help me realize my vision, adding sonic elegance without ever compromising those all-important rough edges, and Justin Perkins mastered the shit out the tracks.
But it was Dave Stewart’s 11th hour touch, on his version of “(Broken) Without You,” that brought the proceedings to a close on the highest of high notes. I’d played the song during the making of the album (at the time called, simply, “Folk”) to anyone who would listen – Slick, Paul Weller, Steve Cradock, especially – insistent that I was missing the mark, even if just barely. Then, like the mysterious, sitar-strumming caterpillar he played in the Tom Petty video, along came Dave. “What are you working on?” he asked. “Would you like me to take a crack?” Working from his studio “on a small island in the Atlantic,” Dave’s ghostly guitar flourishes and his gorgeous mix were the icing on the cake.
And so, after nearly three years, The Last Day of Summer was complete. I’ve made lots of albums during my years as a musician and songwriter, but for some reason, this one feels like the first. Like my old band The Badge’s debut, it feels like a manifesto of sorts; as though everything I’ve ever wanted to say in a batch of songs is there. All artists rank their latest work as their favorite, but this record means so much to me, I can’t imagine it could ever be less than most special – most life affirming – experience I’ve ever had in taking a bunch of loose, random ideas from the dark recesses of my mind, to my weird little notebook with the Chinese characters on the front, to the demos and sessions that, due to the pandemic lockdown, seemed to stretch on forever, and, finally, to the lovingly realized disc you now hold in your hand. And, to finally top the product off: Bob Gruen photographed the cover!
I’m a lucky guy. Enjoy. (Jeff Slate)
Jeff Slate
Biography
Jeff Slate is known as a world-class frontman and songwriter on the New York City music scene, where his band’s monthly residency in the heart of Chelsea draws sellout crowds and famous guests. But it was a long and winding road to that coveted place as part of New York’s cultural firmament.
Slate came up in the mid-1980s US East Coast post-punk scene, playing CBGBs and other legendary clubs of the day as the singer, guitarist and principal songwriter of the Mindless Thinkers, named by Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols at a drunken aftershow party. By the early 90s, Slate was a solo artist, and made his name after working with The Who’s Pete Townshend, touring with Sheryl Crow and founding the mod-influenced band The Badge. Taking a page from the likes of the Kinks, The Who and the Small Faces, The Badge released three albums of original material, as well as numerous singles, EPs and live releases, before going on hiatus at the end of the 00s.
Since then, Slate’s solo releases have included famous friends and A-list session players, and his songs have appeared in advertising and films, and on television, including in the hit show Gossip Girl. Slate has toured throughout the US over the past 13 years, sharing the stage with Roger McGuinn, Jeff Tweedy, Willie Nile and Margo Price and Sheryl Crow, and headlining the Switchyard Festival at Tulsa’s legendary Cain’s Ballroom and Tom Petty Weekend in the late artist’s hometown of Gainesville, Florida. He’s even been an all-star counselor at the celebrated Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp!
A regular guest host on SiriusXM, Slate is the co-author of the 2017 book The Authorized Roy Orbison, with the late-legend’s sons, and has written liner notes for albums by Orbison, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix, among many others. Last year, Slate interviewed Bob Dylan, one of only a handful the icon has given this century.
Jeff’s fourth solo album, The Last Day of Summer, featuring Dave Stewart, Duff McKagan, Earl Slick and members of Paul Weller’s band and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, is due out later this year.
Jeff Slate
The Last Day of Summer (Deluxe Edition)
Produced by Jeff Slate and Eric Lichter
Engineered by Eric Lichter, Jeff Slate, Mark Dann, Mark Plati, Duane Lundy, Kurt Bloch
Mixed by Duane Lundy at The Lexington Recording Co.
(Broken) Without You (Dave Stewart Version) produced by Jeff Slate and Eric Lichter with Dave Stewart
Mixed by Dave Stewart
Mastered by Justin Perkins at Mystery Room Mastering
Cover photograph by Bob Gruen, cover design by Jared Friedman
Performed by:
Jeff Slate: Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, slide guitar, piano, Hammond organ, drums
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Eric Lichter: Acoustic and electric guitars, bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Steve Cradock: Piano, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars
Mick Talbot: Hammond organ, keyboards
Mark Plati: Acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals
Jordan Summers: Piano, Hammond organ, Mellotron, harpsichord, keyboards
Jody Bagley: Piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
Don Miguel: Electric guitar, keyboards, omnichord, Hammond organ
Shannon Conley; Harmonica, backing vocals
Todd Morse: Backing vocals
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
with
Dave Stewart: “Ghost” guitar
Duff McKagan: Bass
Ron Blair: Bass, lap steel, electric guitar
Lee Harris: Electric guitar, lap steel
Boogie Cindy: Bass
Joan Chew: Bass, violin
Adam Ippolito: Hammond organ, keyboards
Jessica Greenfield: Backing vocals and arrangement on “Movin’ On”
Justin Craig: keyboards
Gene Parsons: Mandolin
Steve Holley: Percussion
Jeremy Stacey: Drums, percussion
(Heartbreak (Album Version)
Standing in your hallway
Looking in your eyes
Feeling all your love
Telling all those lies
I took your love, I took everything
And in return I gave you nothing
Lying in your bed
With my arm around you
Feeling your heart beating
Telling all those lies
I took your love, I took everything
And in return I gave you nothing
But heartbreak
Heartbreak
Heartbreak
Yeah, heartbreak
But you’ve gotta live life
Like you’re gonna die
You’ve gotta make the choices that will
Change your life
Looking at your picture
Waiting for your call
Trying to find the courage
For facing all those lies
I took your love, I took everything
And in return I gave you nothing
But heartbreak
Heartbreak
Heartbreak
Yeah, heartbreak
But you’ve gotta live life
Like you’re gonna die
You’ve gotta take the chances that will
Change your life
And the heartbreak
Heartbreak
Heartbreak
Yeah, heartbreak
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Lee Harris: Electric guitar, lap steel
Duff McKagan: Bass
Eric Lichter: Acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Jordan Summers: Hammond organ, keyboards
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
World of Your Love
Well, as the sun fades into a clear blue night
And I hold you close to my heart
I never thought that love could be like this
Still I wait for it to fall apart
Where has my pain gone?
Where has the hate gone?
You’ve taken them from my life
What is the future?
Will you be there?
That’s all I want to know
And as the cars pass by our lonesome highway
We watch the lights passing over the hill
And I run my fingers through your hair
Under the moon by the tree on our hill
Don’t ever leave me
Please don’t deceive me
Don’t play games with my heart
I’ll hold you tight, girl
No, don’t fight, girl
I can’t stand being apart
I need a world of your love
A world of your love
I need a world of your love
A world of your love
And I try, to stay honest
Cuz you’re not the first
But you’re the finest to me
To me
To me
To me
And my love is to you like an open book
And my prayers are for you when I kneel
It’s hard to imagine my world without you
And all of the pain that I’d feel
You’ve given me love
Yes, you’ve helped me see love
Life isn’t all thorns and pain
My love is peaceful
My love is grateful
We’re in a world of our own
I need a world of your love
A world of your love
I need a world of your love
A world of your love
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Lee Harris: Electric guitar
Ron Blair: Bass, lap steel, electric guitar
Eric Lichter: Acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Jordan Summers: Piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
Ben Gordelier: Percussion
Jeremy Stacey: Drums, percussion
The Last Day of Summer
A love that was forever
Is haunting me
And tears of rage
Are making it hard to see
I gave you my love
That’s all I had to give
A love that was forever
Is haunting me
Your beautiful heartbeat
A fading piece of history
You’re just a dream
That might have never been
But when I close my eyes
Our secret’s safe with me
Your beautiful heartbeat
A fading piece of history
On the last day of summer
The last day of summer
The last day of summer
The last day of summer
I watched you struggle
With the pain
I dried your tears
Again and again and again
You changed my world
But you were mortal just the same
I wish I could have taken
Away the pain
At the end of the beginning
When there was nothing left to say
In those sleepless nights
You found your way
And all that I’m left with
Are the lines on my face
At the end of the beginning
You found your way
On the last day of summer
The last day of summer
The last day of summer
The last day of summer
And when I finally do see you
On a crowded street
I’ll try to make eye contact
And hope that you see
A dead man walking
Amongst the saved
I’ll try to make eye contact
And hope that you see
On the last day of summer
The last day of summer
The last day of summer
The last day of summer
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Ron Blair: Bass, electric guitar
Don Miguel: Electric guitar, omnichord
Eric Lichter: Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Jordan Summers: Piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
Shannon Conley; Harmonica, backing vocals
Todd Morse: Backing vocals
Ben Gordelier: Percussion
Jeremy Stacey: Drums, percussion
Till New York City Dies
I’m gonna love you till New York City dies
I’m gonna love you under New York City skies
Cuz all the to and fro it makes me feel alive
I’m gonna love you till New York City dies
There is no question
In my mind
The promises I make
They’re not the hollow kind
But I can’t reach you
No I can’t reach you
Of course maybe
I don’t deserve to
I’m gonna love you till New York City dies
I’m gonna love you under New York City skies
Cuz all the to and fro it makes me feel alive
I’m gonna love you till New York City dies
I played the victim
One too many times
Till the bitter end
I believed my own lies
And I can’t reach you
No I can’t reach you
Of course maybe
I don’t deserve to
I’m gonna love you till New York City dies
I’m gonna love you under New York City skies
Cuz all the to and fro it makes me feel alive
I’m gonna love you till New York City dies
Step inside the circle
Say my name
I’m holding onto nothing
With no one but myself to blame
I’m gonna love you till New York City dies
I’m gonna love you under New York City skies
Cuz all the to and fro it makes me feel alive
I’m gonna love you till New York City dies
Yeah, I’m gonna love you till New York City dies
I’m gonna love you under New York City skies
Cuz all the to and fro it makes me feel alive
I’m gonna love you till New York City dies
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Steve Cradock: Piano
Don Miguel: Electric guitar, keyboards
Eric Lichter: Acoustic guitar, bass, backing vocals
Jordan Summers: Hammond organ, keyboards
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
Movin’ On
Between the lines on my face
Between the sadness and grace
I won’t let the bitterness in
I won’t let the pain win
And you’re movin’ on
Late in the afternoon
In some strangers room
Dreaming of what never will be
Of all the things you can see
And you’re movin’ on
Yeah, you’re movin’ on
Yeah, you’re movin’ on
You keep shouting bout love
Preachin’ God from above
But I’m not half of that man
Though I’ve done all that I can
And you’re movin’ on
Yeah, you’re movin’ on
Yeah, you’re movin’ on
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Eric Lichter: Acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Boogie Cindy: Bass
Mick Talbot: Hammond organ, keyboards
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
The Poacher (Remastered)
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Steve Cradock: 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars
Eric Lichter: Backing vocals
Joan Chew: Bass, violin
Adam Ippolito: Hammond organ, keyboards
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
(Broken) Without You (Album Version)
When winter comes, you will move on
When winter comes, you will move on
When daylight comes, I will be gone
When daylight comes, I will be gone
‘cause that’s the way I live with thirty years of hurt
And my heart is broken without you
The things we’ve lost, the times we’ve shared
The things we’ve lost, the times we shared
The memories, nothing can erase
The memories, can’t be erased
‘cause that’s the way I live with thirty years of hurt
And my heart is broken without you
When tomorrow comes, I will be there
(You will be loved)
When your heart turns, I will be loved
(You will be loved)
When springtime comes, I will be there
(You will be loved)
When your heart turns, you will be loved
(You will be loved)
In all I’ve learned I’m still the same
In all I’ve learned I’m still the same
In all you’ve suffered, you are still loved
In all you’ve suffered, you are still loved
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Ysee: Vocals
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Mark Plati: Acoustic guitar
Eric Lichter: Electric guitar, bass, backing vocals
Todd Morse: Backing vocals
Jody Bagley: Piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
Man on the Moon
I’m walking down familiar streets
Dreaming of your touch
Places where we used to meet
When we were first in love
I can’t face the future without you
Living without you
I feel just like the man on the moon
Oh, oh
I play the future in my mind
Knowing it’s a dream
I’m fighting wars with memories
Just trying to let it be
So I can face the future without you
Living without you
I feel just like the man on the moon
Oh, oh
So I can face the future without you
And living without you
I feel just like the man on the moon
Oh, oh
And I’d walk a thousand miles to guard your doorstep
Trying a little each day to build the love and trust back
Do do do do
Do do do
Do do n’do do
So I can face the future without you
And living without you
I feel just like the man on the moon
Oh, oh
So I can face the future without you
And living without you
I feel just like the man on the moon
Oh, oh
So I can face the future without you
And living without you
I feel just like the man on the moon
Oh, oh
Jeff Slate: Vocals, piano, electric and slide guitar, drums
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Eric Lichter: Acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Matt Kalin: Hammond organ
Todd Morse: Backing vocals
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
All Our Dreams
I’d only dreamed of this
To be in love like in some black and white movie
Dreaming of your kiss
And forced to duel like in some ancient story
And all our dreams have turned to nightmares
‘cause everything I say is wrong
I’m only trying now to reach you
I’m forced to do it in a song
I wish we’d felt secure
So it didn’t feel that each time was the last time
So unsure
And still each time felt like the first time
And all our dreams have turned to nightmares
‘cause everything I say is wrong
I’m only trying now to reach you
I’m forced to do it in a song
And I dream of a wall
That you’re behind
But there’s no door to let me in
And I fear the call
When you tell me that it’s over
I had another dream
A dream of you and me ending up together
And in this other dream
Our love is forever
But all our dreams have turned to nightmares
‘cause everything I say is wrong
I’m only trying now to reach you
I’m forced to do it in a song
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Eric Lichter: Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, backing vocals
Jody Bagley: Piano, keyboards
Jordan Summers: Mellotron, harpsichord, keyboards
Don Miguel: Hammond organ, keyboards, electric guitar, omnichord
Todd Morse: Backing vocals
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
Drowning Slowly
I woke up in a cold, cold sweat
Full of demons I couldn’t forget
Memories so painful, I didn’t notice the tears
Or the bitter way I was confronting my fears
“I’ve got so much to be thankful for,”
I said over and over
As I gripped at my pillow like caressing a lover
And I couldn’t explain in my mind what was haunting me
All that I knew is that I was drowning slowly
In the cold I can feel myself aging
And when I close my eyes
I can feel my heart breaking
The ghosts and the echoes
Of a love that follows me
And the secret songs of the hope that still haunts me
And it all seems so casual
And it all seems so useless
The tears they are real
But the belie the courage
And I couldn’t let the go from my heart what was haunting me
All I know is that I am drowning slowly
I’m holding on to hope and salvation
Still living in a dream of forgiveness and redemption
There was a time when I couldn’t imagine
All this loneliness
And this blessed oblivion
But my mind it is clear
And my heart it’s untainted
And my greatest regret isn’t what was said
It’s what was unsaid
And I still can’t let go of the heart that is haunting me
All that I know is that I am drowning slowly
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Don Miguel: Electric guitar, glockenspiel, accordion, bass
Adam Ippolito: Hammond organ
Gene Parsons: Mandolin
Steve Holley: Percussion
Movin’ On (Single Version) [Bonus Track]
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Mick Talbot: Hammond organ, keyboards
Boogie Cindy: Bass
Jessica Greenfield: Backing vocals and arrangement
Eric Lichter: Backing vocals
Shannon Conley: Backing vocals
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
Heartbreak (Single Version) [Bonus Track]
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Lee Harris: Electric guitar, lap steel
Duff McKagan: Bass
Eric Lichter: Acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Jordan Summers: Hammond organ, keyboards
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
(Broken) Without You (Dave Stewart Version) [Bonus Track]
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Ysee: Vocals
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Dave Stewart: “Swamp” guitar
Mark Plati: Acoustic guitar
Eric Lichter: Electric guitar, bass, backing vocals
Todd Morse: Backing vocals
Jody Bagley: Piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
Heartbreak (Stripped Version) [Bonus Track]
Jeff Slate: Vocals, guitars
Earl Slick: Lead guitar
Lee Harris: Electric guitar
Duff McKagan: Bass
Eric Lichter: Acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Jordan Summers: Hammond organ, keyboards
Ben Gordelier: Drums, percussion
Justin Craig: keyboards, additional engineering
Duane Lundy: Additional Production/Mixer
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