Longtime Paul McCartney touring guitarist Brian Ray recently released his third solo album, My Town, a 10-track collection of songs that display the veteran musician’s passion for power pop, blues, soul, and melodic 1960s rock.
Videos by American Songwriter
The album, which was released on E Street Band guitarist “Little Steven” Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records label, features six tracks that Ray initially put out as singles over the last several years, plus four newly recorded songs.
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Ray told American Songwriter that Van Zandt first approached him about signing him to a singles deal in 2017, years after they had first met at a pre-show backstage party while Brian was on tour with McCartney.
“[H]e was so kind and generous, and so curious,” Ray said of Little Steven. “Like, he’s one of those guys that you’re almost thrown off by his genuine enthusiasm for all things music.”
Ray explained that his Wicked Cool Records deal was “a bite-sized amount of commitment” for him, was open ended, and allowed him to be completely available to tour with McCartney.
After amassing several singles, Van Zandt then offered to release a full-length album by Ray. Brian just needed to come up with four new songs and, put together with six previously released tracks, My Town was born.
Van Zandt Co-Wrote a Song on the Album
One of the newer tracks, “Bad 4U,” was co-written by Van Zandt.
“[T]hat was a great collaboration with Little Steven,” Ray noted. “[T]he main character is an adolescent kid in town, who … has a huge crush on a girl, but she likes bad boys. And he himself isn’t a bad boy. He’s a good kid. And instead of finding a good girl … he decides that he, to win her love, is going to be bad too.”
Brian explained that the collaboration came about after he thought he’d finished the tune, and sent it to Van Zandt for his approval.
As Ray recalled, “[Steven] says, ‘It’s just great. I love it. It’s a hit. But I think we should change it. … I think that the main character in the song needs to be stronger. Like, he can’t be like wimpy.’ … And he starts naming off all these great characters. And it became a litany of all the bad boys of cinema. [Y]ou have James Dean … Bob De Niro … Leatherface … [A] Clockwork Orange … Norman Bates.”
The music video for the songs, which you can check out on YouTube, features AI recreations of some of the characters mentioned in the lyrics.
About the Musicians Who Contributed to My Town
Ray tapped the talents of a variety of respected musicians to contribute to the various tracks on My Town.
“We have Michael Des Barres, [who] co-wrote a song with me [‘Spell Breaker’] and did a little guest vocals on there,” Brian told American Songwriter. “We have Scott Shriner from Weezer on some background vocals and bass. We have Davey Faragher on some bass, from Elvis Costello’s band [The Imposters]. We have Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums, from Paul McCartney’s band and many others, as well as [drummer] Erik Eldenius, from Billy Idol’s band. … [I]t’s an embarrassment of riches.”
Ray, meanwhile, played guitar, bass, and keyboards on the album, in addition to contributing lead vocals throughout.
About the Latest Single, “Hold Me Close”
The latest, and likely final, single released from My Town is called “Hold Me Close.”
“[I]t’s a song [that features] a theme I’ve returned to a few times,” Ray maintained. “And it’s basically, ‘Come on, babe, get on the back of my motorcycle, or in my spaceship. We’re getting the hell out of here!’”
Brian said he incorporated a variety of musical influences into the track.
“I was kind of bringing in a little bit of Duane Eddy. We have some low baritone reverb guitar,” he pointed out. “We have some sort of Romantics kind of crunchy guitar. A little bit of Ramones in there. And when it comes to the chorus, it kind of leaves and goes to sort of … the early space rock [instrumentals] of the early ’60s, like ‘Telstar’ and ‘Apache.’”
A music video was released to accompany the single that you can check out on YouTube. The mostly animated clip features a romantic couple from another planet that’s in the middle of an apocalypse. The two lovebirds must find a way off the planet and travel to a new world to keep their romance, and themselves, alive.
My Town Release Details
My Town is available now on CD, vinyl LP, and via digital formats. Signed CD and vinyl copies can be purchased at BrianRay.com. Ray’s official site also is offering several exclusive My Town-themed merch items, including T-shirts, mugs, and tote bags.
Appreciates Van Zandt’s Support
Ray told American Songwriter that a great aspect of his deal with Wicked Cool Records is the support he gets from Van Zandt. That includes regular airplay on Little Steven’s Underground Garage SiriusXM radio station, of which Brian is a huge fan.
“It’s just been an incredible ride, and I feel so much support there at the label,” he enthused. “Steven is such a great advocate. He’s a great A&R man, so he’s a perfect foil for my own musical instincts.”
No Current Plans to Play Shows in Support of My Town
Ray said he’d like to play some concerts to promote My Town, but he won’t have the chance for now because of his touring commitments with McCartney.
“Paul has us booked from September 1 till Christmas,” he noted. “So, I’m not gonna have a shot right now to do that, but I would sure love to do it. It would be so much fun.”
Meanwhile, Ray notes that the Beatles legend still loves to tour, something he couldn’t be more happy about.
“There’s no signs of him slowing down,” Brian said. “And, you know, I’ll always be waiting by the phone to see what he wants to do.”
As previously reported, McCartney will be playing concerts in South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Europe this fall.
Tickets for McCartney’s concerts are available via a variety of outlets, including StubHub.
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