Jeff Slate “The Last Day of Summer” Out 17 May 2024

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Limited edition digi pack CD.

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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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