Hello Everyone,
I’m really excited to share what promises to be one of the finest releases of the year and a seminal work from Texas songwriter, Chuck Hawthorne. Fire Out Of Stone will be officially released on July 26th. In April, The Bluegrass Situation premiered “Such Is Life (C’est La Vie)”, and the second single, “Amarillo Wind”, will be released this month, accompanied by a stunning music video.
The album was produced by hit songwriter Walt Wilkins and Jumping Dog Studio owner/engineer Ron Flynt. It features accompaniment by some of the finest musicians in Austin, who also happen to be Walt’s band – The Mystiqueros. Below are downloads and a little more info about the album and Chuck. Hard copies will go in the mail next week; if you’d like to ensure you are on the list, please send me an email and I will make sure you get one. Thank you as always for everything you do to support great music!
Adam Dawson
www.BrokenJukeboxMedia.com
BrokenJukeboxMedia@gmail.com
740.409.0567
Chuck Hawthorne : Fire Out Of Stone
Americana : Folk : Country
Release Date : July 26th
Radio Add Date : July 15th
www.ChuckHawthorne.com
Facebook : Twitter
Download Assets : Private Stream
Here “Such Is Life (C’est La Vie)” on The Bluegrass Situation
“best songwriter I’ve heard in 20 or 30 years.”
-Michael Martin Murphey
“Chuck Hawthorne’s songs are as authentic as the scars on his hands and the grit in his voice. Beautifully played, naked and raw – you can smell the sweat, leather and oil coming through the speakers.”
-Rod Picott
“For me, hearing Chuck’s music for the first time was like discovering buried treasure. He’s gifted with a poetic sense that transcends the ages, but also reflects the best of folks, in the time we live in here and now. Yes sir, both as an artist, and a person, old Chuck will always have your back.”
-Adam Carroll
“Hawthorne’s voice is a hybrid of Eddie Vedder’s and Gordon Lightfoot’s, his instrumentation spare like Townes Van Zandt, and his songs…are deliberate workaday tales reminiscent of Nebraska-era Springsteen or James McMurtry.”
-Mike Seely. No Depression
On July 26th, Austin songwriter Chuck Hawthorne will release the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2015 debut, Silver Line…the long awaited full length album, Fire Out of Stone. Stories of Hawthorne’s military career and his chance meeting with Silver Line producer Ray Bonneville may have originally drawn listeners to his music, but songwriting enthusiasts worldwide soon recognized the powerful strength of the songs and voice of Chuck Hawthorne. Since his emergence in the songwriting world, Chuck has toured non-stop in the US and Europe. Winning over audiences everywhere he goes, he has built a solid, loyal fan base and a reputation as a “songwriter’s songwriter.” He has truly found his voice as a performing artist, which has been fully and flawlessly captured in Fire Out Of Stone.
For his sophomore album, Hawthorne turned to Texas songwriting stalwart Walt Wilkins to produce alongside Jumping Dog Studio owner Ron Flynt. The 10-song collection explores themes of transformative survival and healing, which Hawthorne discovered upon receipt of a gift from an Old Friend. In Chuck’s words:
“I’d purposely let a package that had been delivered to the house sit unopened on my workbench for quite some time. I knew the contents. Edith Dobson had thoughtfully sent her late husband’s final album to me from Switzerland. It wasn’t an album I wanted playing in the background as I shuffled around the shop; it deserved a genuine listen with a full spirit. Late one night, after all our traveling musician houseguests made it to bed, I put Richard Dobson’s last record on and discovered the song, ‘I Will Fight No More Forever.’ I probably listened to it 20 times that night.
The next day, I realized Dobson had gifted me the theme of my next album. I started looking into my back catalog selecting songs about survival, transition, and moving on – crucible songs – making Fire Out Of Stone. It turns out I had quite a few to pick from.
Being a huge Walt Wilkins fan and hearing the great work he and Ron Flynt were doing as producers for many Austin artists, I was taken aback when Walt agreed to produce my sophomore record. I’m incredibly honored and fortunate to have worked with Walt and Ron. The vision they crafted for the sound and the talent they brought into the fold to make it real was far beyond my own. I’m grateful to every musician on this album. It was a sight to behold watching eyes close, radars flip on, bodies lean into it and gifting these songs their years of experience, thousands of gigs, and wide open spirits. Hats off to: Ray Bonneville, Marian Brackney, Julie Carter, Ron Flynt, Libby Koch, Geoff Queen, Ray Rodriguez, Bill Small, and yes, Walt Wilkins…Fire Out Of Stone.”
The resulting album features 10 tracks, all penned by Hawthorne except for the aforementioned “I Will Fight No More Forever” by Richard Dobson. From the upbeat recounting of a biker’s last ride (Such Is Life) to the somber reflection of losing a friend in a car accident (Standing Alone), Hawthorne and the assembled crew deliver a collection of poignant, timeless songs with impeccable production and performances. Other standouts include Chuck’s rendition of Dobson’s Chief Joseph inspired epic, “I Will Fight No More Forever”, and the heart wrenching tale of love and death in West Texas, the second single, “Amarillo Wind” (which will be accompanied by a brilliant music video debuting in June). Intensely personal and unflinchingly honest, Fire Out Of Stone is an essential record for all fans of the American songwriting tradition.
- Such Is Life (C’est La Vie) (3:42)
2. Amarillo Wind (3:53
3. Arrowhead & Porcupine Claw (4:37)
4. Sara’s All The Way (4:09)
5. New Lost Generation (3:08)
6. Worthy of the Sea (3:25)
7. Broken Wire (3:37)
8. Broken Good (3:17)
9. Standing Alone (3:37)
10. I Will Fight No More Forever (3:31)All Songs FCC Clean
Focus Tracks : 1, 2, 4, 8All songs written by Chuck Hawthorne
Chuck Hawthorne – acoustic guitar & vocals
except track 10. I Will Fight No More Forever (Richard Dobson)
Produced by Walt Wilkins and Ron Flynt
Recorded and Mixed by Ron Flynt at Jumping Dog Studio in Austin, Texas
Mastered by Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Digital Mastering in Austin, Texas
Ray Bonneville – harmonica
Marian Brackney – fiddle & viola
Julie Carter – cello
Ron Flynt – bass & baritone guitar
Libby Koch – harmony
Geoff Queen – steel guitar & dobro
Ray Rodriguez- drums & percussion
Walt Wilkins – high strung guitar & percussion