Bo Bice’s ‘See the Light’
As word gets out on the Internets about Bo’s new CD, we’ve seen our site traffic increase dramatically and many of our new visitors are looking for information on the new album.
As yet, details haven’t been given in a formal press release, but Bo and/or his management have provided various tidbits of information over the last few months, so for new visitors, or those just suffering from leaky memories, I thought it would be helpful to summarize what we know here.
The CD will be titled ‘See The Light’ and will be released on October 23rd, 2007. (You can already pre-order from Wal-Mart and receive a free download of the totally rocking new song ‘Witness.’)
Of this CD, Bo has said: “I think this CD will really showcase all I’ve wanted to with my music–it’s a chance for me to go out and rock in a way that I’m really comfortable with.”
Producer
“See the Light” was produced by award-winning Nashville producer Frank Liddell. Frank’s other production credits include Miranda Lambert, LeeAnn Womack and Chris Knight. He is also a song publisher who has been responsible for hits by Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and the Dixie Chicks among others, and he owns his own indie record label.
On his label’s MySpace page, Frank talks about his approach to production:
When I grew up, popular music was not governed by the same principles that are governing it today,” says Liddell. “There were great songs, great musicians, great singers—writing about their generation, their time, their beliefs, their core feelings. It was music made from one person to another—not at anybody. It was not preconceived or pre-marketed. I don’t think record buyers have changed.
Musicians
The album will apparently feature a “who’s who” of rock, with appearances by Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, drummer Steve Gorman (The Black Crowes, Stereophonics), legendary session guitarist Waddy Wachtel (The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, James Taylor, Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan) and award-winning bassist Glenn Worf (Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits, Aaron Neville, Tammy Wynette, Bob Seger).
Other musicians’ names were mentioned but we’re not sure we have identified them correctly, so I’ll leave the list there for now. (As if that wasn’t enough!)
Recording Process
Bo talked on several webchats about how he recorded this CD. Paraphrasing him, he said that the goal was to create an authentic sound with as few overdubs and as little pro-tooling as possible. Contrast that with his RCA album TRT, where often most of the instruments on any one track were played by the producer of that track.
As far as we know the CD was recorded both in his home studio, Rockhound, and at Omni Sound in Nashville.
We don’t know the names of everyone involed, but we do know that John Beard, of Blackbeard Studios in Nashville served as an engineer on the project (and put up with being filmed for a whole day while we all watched on a webcast!)
Track Listing
We’re not entirely sure whether this track listing is correct or complete, but Wal-Mart is showing the tracks as follows:
Witness
Whiskey, Women & Time
Got Money
This Train
Take The Country Outta Me
See The Light
Ain’t Gonna Die
Only Words
I’m Gone
Sinner In A Sin
You can preview ‘Witness’ and listen to clips of 3 other songs on Bo’s MySpace page. They’re so good, Bo’s fans are beside themselves! You can also see live acoustic videos of some of Bo’s new songs here.
Writers
Unlike Bo’s first CD, he either wrote or co-wrote every track that appears on the Wal-Mart track listing. Co-writers are his close friends as opposed to writers-for-hire and include Thomas Lee (See the Light and This Train), Dan Hardin (Only Words), Chris Tompkins (I’m Gone) and Gary Nichols (I Ain’t Gonna Die)
Label and Distribution
No details have been provided, but Bo’s label appears to be a joint venture between himself and his management company Strategic Artists Management. This follows an increasingly popular trend of management companies setting up their own labels, as we reported here. The label, $ugarmoney/StratArt Records is presumably part of SAM’s parent company, Frontline Management, but no details are known. We also don’t know who is distributing the album, although clearly some arrangement is in place since Bo is featured all over Wal-Mart’s music store.
Promotional Plans
Bo has talked about gearing up for promotional activities including TV, radio and print media, but we don’t know details. (That seems to be a theme of this blog doesn’t it?). Thanks to a random MySpace blog posting, we do know that is he preparing to shoot a video, but we don’t know whether that video is for ‘Witness’ or some other song.
Likewise, Wal-Mart is showing ‘Witness’ as what they call a “radio single” but as yet none of the major radio industry websites are showing the song as having being released to radio, so we can’t confirm that.
So Now You Know!
And that’s it - a summary of all we know (and all we don’t know) about “See the Light.” Just on a purely personal note, I know one other thing … everything I’ve heard has so far exceeded my expectations that it is ridiculous. I can’t stop listening to ‘Witness’ and I do not expect to survive hearing my personal favorite ‘See the Light’ if the production is even half as good as ‘Witness.” So it’s been nice knowing you - stay safe!
September 16th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Thanks for updating and consolidating all this, lulu. Yes, the songs we’ve heard are out of this world, and I am breathless with anticipation about the tracks to come.
I’m so thrilled for Bo and loving how his long-time fans are coming out of the woodwork to check out this CD. Kudos to Frank Liddell for having faith in our Bo and producing this fantastic music.
This is a very exciting time in Bo-land and it’s only going to get better. We love you, Bo!
September 16th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Thanks lulu for doing this. Let the whole world now that this album is not just some kind of a lit bulb idea but a well-planned, well organized project that Bo and his A-list of collaborators made. Whether this cd will sell gazillions is no longer an issue. The fact is, Bo has put his heart, soul, $$ and literally his guts into this perhaps knowing that this project is the fulfillment of his lifelong dream of getting his music out there with the people who shared the same philosophy about bringing your own kind of music, people who mutually trust and appreciate each other’s talents. This is Bo’s blood, sweat and tears made more precious by these people’s willingness to lay their reputation at stake for some long haired hippie who used to sell cds from the trunk of his car, this tiny guy armed only with a guitar as his shield who wants to fight the big dragons out there that are eating up the music industry. Now, they must have really, really liked Bo, really, really liked him. (tm Sally Field)
September 16th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Watching someone who has worked so hard have all his dreams come true has been a long, rocky, and amazing journey. I’m glad I decided to come along.
Bo has collaborated with some of the best on this CD, yet it’s still all Bo. I love what I’ve heard so far, love that he’s been able to work with old friends and new ones, and is giving the music that he loves to the fans.
Bo is so proud of this CD. I’m so proud of Bo. And, really happy there are people in the industry who believe in him as much as I have.
Rock On Bo Bice.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Excellent wrap-up, Lulu.
September 16th, 2007 at 10:21 am
I addded a section on writers per chefgirl’s suggestion - thanks!
September 16th, 2007 at 11:35 am
wow, lulu! what a great recap - comprehensive, informative, exciting - I WANT THAT CD NOW!!!!!
September 16th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Great writers update, lulu. I had forgotten about Dan Hardin. I can’t wait to see who else is on this CD!
September 16th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Thanks, lulu, good job. It’s hard to keep finding words to express how good I think it is/will be. With “See the Light” I hope and pray Bo will get the respect he so richly deserves from the music industry.
Thanks to everyone who had anything to do with it. I think we need to mention the wonderful John Beard … he seemed to be there every step of the way.
September 16th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Good point suedel. I added John Beard.
September 16th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Lulu you are just amazing. Thanks for putting this info together for us Bo fans. If we are this excited just imagine how Bo must be feeling right now. It’s just a few short weeks before his “baby” that he worked on for so long finally is presented to the world. I am really proud of how hard he worked, never giving up or sacrificing his dreams, his integrity or his ideals and hope that he finally gets the acceptance in the music industry that he deserves.
September 16th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Thanks, lulu1001, for letting fans and visitors to this site know the process that Bo went through to end up with his own “labor of love.” IFLBB
September 16th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
lulu, thanks for that fun and informative recap - you’re a walking Encyclopedia Bo-tannica!
Seriously, when you spell it all out like that you see what an achievement it truly is. Very exciting times indeed!
September 16th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Seeing all of that in one place is exactly what I needed to absorb everything. Thank you so much for consolidating all the information in one place. For the first time, everything actually sunk in and has made me more excited than ever!
I do have one question. Somewhere along the line I missed what happened to Sugarmoney. Can someone fill me in?
September 16th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
It appears that the members of SugarMoney went their own ways sometime last fall or winter. This seems to have coincided with Bo’s departure from RCA and subsequent formation of his own label in conjunction with SAM, as well as with the time off required for his recovery from surgery. Kris Bell, John Cooper, and Shane Sexton are playing together in a new band. Thomas Lee has been playing both with Bo and with Stephen Cochrane’s band. New band members Luis Espaillat, Miles McPherson, and Phillip Shouse have all been busy with other projects while Bo completed his album, but we expect the three of them and Tommy to be with Bo at his gig next month in Cumming.
September 16th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Thanks, Jennheifer… it’s been bothering me for awhile now because I was worried that there was a falling out. I hope they continue to remain close.
September 16th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Kudos to LULU and everyone else that contributed to this blog. Great background information. Thanks for putting all the facts together. I for one, appreciate it very much.
September 16th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Thanks for the blog, very interesting. Lots of information on what we know and what we don’t know. I’m looking forward to the next blog with you can update us with the whole story.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Even with all the information about See the Light contained in this blog, it also reminds me of how much more we have to learn. An—ticipation!
September 17th, 2007 at 6:36 am
Great blog Lulu. With it mapped out like you this, you can see what a really amazing journey this has been & will continue to be for Bo & us. I love this ride!
October 16th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
luv the witness video…it rocks!!!!!!