On Saturday, April 23, Ben Vaughn’s celebrated artistic career will come full circle with the release of The World Of Ben Vaughn. A return to his roots. His recording roots, that is.
In 1986, Ben Vaughn debuted his first album on vinyl only. He had no choice—the CD player had yet to become an everyday home appliance.
Meeting deadlines is nothing new for Vaughn. After releasing seven albums (including the legendary Rambler ’65, recorded entirely in his car) and touring internationally, he spent more than a decade in Hollywood creating television music for Third Rock From The Sun and That ’70s Show and scoring numerous films.
To realize his vinyl vision, Vaughn recorded much of the new album in the Mojave Desert at the Relay Shack, well-known to fans of his syndicated radio show, The Many Moods Of Ben Vaughn. With not a soul around for miles in any direction, he laid down all the tracks, jumping from one instrument to another. Ben’s longstanding experience as a record producer (Arthur Alexander, Ween, Los Straitjackets, Nancy Sinatra, Charlie Feathers), his renown as a songwriter (Marshall Crenshaw recorded “I’m Sorry But So Is Brenda Lee”) and his collaborations with such artists as Alex Chilton, Alan Vega, and Rodney Crowell have earned him a reputation as a true career artist. But not one who’s tied to the past. Just recently, indie rock icons Deer Tick released a version of his classic “Too Sensitive For This World.” His radio show, meanwhile, continues to attract a growing multi-generational listenership.
Tied in with the Record Store Day release of The World Of Ben Vaughn will be a string of U.S. dates and a tour of Spain in May. “I’m excited about performing the new songs in front of people,” says Ben, “and it looks like that might actually be allowed to happen now!”
1) My Own Reality
2) Wayne Fontana Was Wrong
3) Blind Alley
4) Asking For A Friend
5) You
6) New Jersey Rock 'n Roll
7) No Count
8) You’re Gonna Wish Love Was Never Invented
9) Feet
10) Deep In The Weeds
11) Nobody Likes A Show Off
