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Tracklist
1. Blue Highway 05:48
2. My Love For You 03:25
3. Puerto Vallarta 03:21
4. Slow Night 03:41
5. Chicky Chicky Boom 04:14
6. I Love You 05:54
2. My Love For You 03:25
3. Puerto Vallarta 03:21
4. Slow Night 03:41
5. Chicky Chicky Boom 04:14
6. I Love You 05:54
Larry Long’s new release, Slow Night, transports the venerable singer-songwriter with folkie roots into the contemporary realm inhabited by musician-producer Cory Wong and Antwaun Stanley (lead vocalist for Vulfpeck), plus members of Prince’s brass section, The Hornheads and Cory Wong’s Green Screen Band.
Slow Night mixes 3 of Larry’s older songs that were hand-picked by Wong and deliciously re-imagined: the trademark “Blue Highway,” an unforgettable ear worm, Chicky-Chicky Boom,” and the ever-tender, “I Love You.”
“These 3 old tracks are some of my favorite Larry Long songs from his recording legacy. We gave them a modern edge,” Wong says. “We flipped Larry’s folk-roots script, especially on ‘Blue Highway,’ which now has a more Delta blues edge, and we messed a bit with vocals on that wonderful spoken word poem at the end of the tune, written by the late Bill Holm, a well- known Minnesota poet and writer. To me it now sounds like a Native American rap piece by the late wordsmith and First Nations’ artist, John Trudell.”
As for the new three new tunes, Wong and band provide a rich, polyphonic edge to the title track: “We really played with the song’s cool vibes, ‘cuz it’s the best modern pop tune he’s ever written – and it’s very tasty!” Long’s new song to his daughter, “My Love for You,” and the picturesque postcard from “Puerto Vallarta” round out a satisfying set created by Long, Wong and the rest of musicians on this sweet, funky – AND YES, “very tasty” six-song CD.
Slow Night by Larry Long was produced by Cory Wong and mixed by John Fields (Miley Cyrus, Switchfoot, Jonas Brothers, Pink, and Demi Lovato).
Credits
released January 1, 2019
Slow Night by Larry Long
Produced by Cory Wong
Mixing Engineer: John Fields
Mastering: Cory Wong
Recording Engineer: Matt Patrick, Library Recording Studio
Special thanks to these incredible musicians:
Cory Wong: Electric & Acoustic Guitar
Joe Savage: Pedal Steel, Lap Steel, Harmonica
Kevin Gastonguay: Keyboards / Yohannes Tona: Bass
Ian Allison: Bass / Petar Janjic: Drums
Antwaun Stanley: Background Vocals
Michael Nelson: Trombone, Arranger
Kenni Holmen: Sax / Steve Strand: Trumpet 1
Adam Meckler: Trumpet 2
Graphic Design: Planet Claire Creative
Back Cover Photograph: Tim Bonea,
Courtesy of the Woody Guthrie Center.
Words, Music, Lead Vocals and Harmonica by Larry Long
Words & Music by Larry Long
© ℗ Larry Long Publishing 2018 (BMI).
Thanks to Amy Cordova for her beautiful front cover artwork Chiri Biri Bi.
Spoken word poem on Blue Highway written by Bill Holm.
My Love For You was written for my daughter Alana.
Review
Larry Long’s Slow Night is an album that captures the quiet intensity of reflection and contemplation. With a stripped-down, intimate sound, the album feels like a personal conversation between the artist and listener, filled with vulnerability and emotional depth. Through its understated arrangements and heartfelt lyrics, Slow Night explores themes of longing, love, loss, and the passage of time.
A Meditative Journey
Slow Night is an album that invites listeners into a reflective state, where the pace is slower, and the world feels just a little bit more still. Long’s lyrics focus on the quieter moments of life—the pauses between the rush of daily existence—and the emotions that come with those moments of solitude. The songs are introspective and thoughtful, yet they possess a sense of quiet strength. It’s an album that speaks to those who find beauty in the subtle and who appreciate the power of silence and stillness.
The lyrics in Slow Night often reflect a deep sense of introspection, with Long addressing themes of personal growth, emotional vulnerability, and the complex nature of relationships. The pace of the music matches these themes, with each track unfolding gently, allowing listeners to absorb the emotional weight of the songs.
Musical Composition and Arrangement
Musically, Slow Night has a minimalist quality, with acoustic guitars, subtle percussion, and an occasional touch of piano or strings. The arrangements are simple but effective, providing a rich backdrop for Long’s voice and lyrics. This simplicity allows the emotional content of the songs to shine through, without the distraction of overly complex instrumentation.
Long’s voice is central to the album’s charm, soft yet resonant, delivering each song with sincerity and emotional depth. His delivery matches the album’s introspective tone, conveying the quiet beauty of the lyrics without overwhelming the listener. The musical choices complement the mood of the songs, creating an atmosphere that is calm, reflective, and deeply personal.
Themes and Emotional Impact
The themes explored in Slow Night are ones that everyone can relate to at some point in their lives—loneliness, yearning, the passage of time, and the complex nature of human connection. Long’s ability to communicate these emotions in such a tender, honest way is one of the album’s greatest strengths. Each song feels like a moment of vulnerability, offering a glimpse into the artist’s inner world.
The album’s emotional impact is profound, inviting listeners to reflect on their own lives and experiences. While the pace of the album is slow, it’s never dull. Instead, the slower tempo allows the listener to sit with the emotions and fully experience the depth of the music.
Final Thoughts
Slow Night is an album that offers a quiet, introspective escape from the noise of the world. Larry Long’s ability to convey complex emotions with simplicity and grace makes this album a deeply moving experience. It’s an album for those who appreciate the beauty of stillness, the richness of reflection, and the quiet power of music that speaks to the heart.
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