Jules Shear didn’t have to wander far from his longtime Woodstock, N.Y., home to invite local artists, Pepe (piano), touring partner Molly Farley (vocals) and the legendary John Sebastian (harp) to join him at his friend’s nearby home studio and lay down some tracks.
The outcome of those sessions, a new studio album, One More Crooked Dance to be released by Funzalo Records on November 17.
Shear admits One More Crooked Dance is not a young man’s album, “I just write ‘em. And let them speak for themselves. And people will think what they wanna think” he explains.
Just piano, vocals and the occasional harmonica are interspersed among the 13 personal songs on One More Crooked Dance.
In his 40-plus years in the music business, Shear has never put out an album without guitar, bass and drums, so this is certainly a first, but when he’s asked about his method, he shrugs, “It was something we tried, and it seemed to be working out good,” he said about the stark, minimalist approach. “So, we just kept going.”
Shear started out his career with the Funky Kings, moved on to Jules and the Polar Bears and then an impressive solo career, he’s penned 1980s/90s hits like Cyndi Lauper’s “All Through the Night,” The Bangles “If She Knew What She Wants” and his own “Steady,” a co-write with Lauper. Not to mention catalog mainstays such as Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers’ “If We Never Meet Again,” Til Tuesday’s “(I Believed You Were] Lucky” and Alison Moyer’s Top 20 U.K. hit, “Whispering Your Name.” He was also the host and co-creator of the influential MTV Unplugged series.
“When people hear these songs, they’re not looking for answers to their problems, but listening to someone else who is dealing with it, too.” Says Shear
Hear him perform songs from One More Crooked Dance:
Nov. 26th at Federal Bar (Mimosas Series) in North Hollywood, CA
Nov. 27th at The Mint in Los Angeles, CA
www.julesshearshow.com
www.funzalorecords.com
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