“One of the fundamental things about the project was that I set out to not make an album,” Marshall Crenshaw notes. “So I did this project, and now at the end of it, there’s this album, for the album fans!”
The celebrated singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer is discussing #392: The EP Collection, his new CD on the Red River Entertainment label. The 14-track set collects a dozen standout tracks drawn from the innovative series of six 10” vinyl EPs that Crenshaw released between 2013 and 2015, plus a pair of never-before-heard rarities chosen especially for this collection. Street date is Aug. 21.
The EP series was the product of Crenshaw’s decision to break away from the standard album/tour cycle by recording and releasing a steady stream of new music over an extended period. The endeavor proved wildly popular with his fans, and brought in lots of new fans too.
“I really did love the EP project, and I’m kind of sad that it’s over,” Crenshaw comments. “I was looking for a different way of working that would keep me motivated; it was cool, because it had a sense of urgency; there was always something that had just come out and always something that was on the way. It was an inspiring way to work.”
#392: The EP Collection’s twelve studio recordings encompass six new Crenshaw originals and six cover songs. The former group includes “Grab the Next Train,” “Move Now” and “Driving and Dreaming,” while the cover numbers include the Burt Bacharach/Hal David/Carpenters chestnut “Close to You,” James McMurtry’s “Right Here Now,” Bobby Fuller’s classic “Never to Be Forgotten” and vintage numbers by the Easybeats, the Move and the Lovin’ Spoonful.
Rounding out #392: The EP Collection are two previously unreleased tracks: a live version of the Everly Brothers classic “Man with Money,” recorded with Crenshaw’s frequent touring partners the Bottle Rockets, during the week after Phil Everly's passing, and “Front Page News,” a ’90s recording of a previously unheard original that Crenshaw wrote with noted country tunesmith Leroy Preston (“I can’t remember when I did it, or why, but I like it!,” says Crenshaw).
“I was fortunate to have lots of brilliant people helping me on these tracks, and they really lifted the proceedings,” Crenshaw reports. “I’m proud about the range of super-excellent musicians who came on board for these sessions.”
#392: The EP Collection includes contributions from avant-jazz trumpet icon Stephen Bernstein, noted jazz vibraphonist Bryan Carrott, versatile Nashville bassist Byron House, Daniel Littleton of the band Ida, renowned composer/keyboardists Rob Morsberger and Jamie Saft, along with longstanding Crenshaw cohorts like guitarists Glen Burtnick and Andy York, bassist Graham Maby, Brian Wilson/Beach Boys sideman Jeffrey Foskett, and acclaimed indie troubadour Dan Bern, who co-wrote four songs with Crenshaw.
Meanwhile, on several tracks, Crenshaw worked on his own in his home studio, overdubbing all or most of the instruments and vocal harmonies himself. Crenshaw states, “I've been into the narcissist, solitary-genius thing for a long time. For instance, ‘Cynical Girl,’ on my first album, is just me, and ‘Someday Someway’ is my brother on drums and me on everything else. So working alone sometimes is standard procedure for me.”
All told, #392: The EP Collection confirms that his musical flame continues to burn as brightly as ever.
“I still love recorded music and believe in it as an art form, whether it’s a single or album, or vinyl or CD,” Crenshaw asserts, adding, “I think I'll probably stick with it.”
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