Singer/songwriter, guitarist, producer and former member of Argent, Russ Ballard has announced the release of a double album, Songs From The Warehouse/The Hits Rewired, due out on 18th April, via Frontiers Music Srl. Ahead of that, new single and video, ‘I Know There’s Something Going On‘.
The song was originally a single by former Abba singer Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad, and featured on her Something’s Going On solo album, produced by Phil Collins.
“That was a quick one,” Ballard about the song’s origins. “I wrote it when the first digital reverbs came out. I played around with these new sounds, took my holey guitar and that’s it. I took me an hour to write it from start to finish. Phil Collins turned it into a massive song then with his drum sound. Years later, Frida said she wished I did more songs for her. How lovely from her”.
Songs From The Warehouse/The Hits Rewired should be a real treat for rock fans: the first CD contains new songs, that show once again that inspiration never left Ballard, while the second CD includes brand new recordings of famous hits either penned or performed by him during the years.
Russ Ballard expressed his excitement for the release, commenting: “It’s a buzz releasing a new album. What started as my lockdown-tapes during the pandemic became an album! During lockdown, my studio was a life saver for me, and I found new ways of writing and recording. The result gives the listeners a good insight into this time – have a listen!”
Ballard has released a plethora of singles from the album, which he discusses below, alongside videos for them.
“America’s management asked me to write a song for them. Their best song for me was always ‘Horse With No Name’ – it had that hypnotic theme. I thought if they could get another hypnotic one – that would be a big hit… So, I wrote ‘You Can Do Magic’ and it was a hit for them!” said Ballard on how he wrote that song originally.
Of ‘Courageous’ he said: “Living in a mad world” – aren’t we somehow? In a world where a little girl is a “’mother to her brother for so long’. I had this strong story in my mind one day… A dark one with a good end – ‘You have the power to stand strong – Long may you shine one’”.
And of a song you may have heard before: “‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ has been recorded by many artists and entered the American Hot 100 by three separate artists: Rainbow, Head East & Cherie & Merrie Curry, ” he commented. “The album which featured the song in the first place made me feel winning as it held four more hits for others. This version is my third and I hope you like it”.
‘Resurrection’, was out a while back as a single, and Ballard said of it: “A last minute addition to the album. Roly, who wrote the song together with me, said that ‘Resurrection’ would be a cool song title. That simple. It turned out to be too good to miss it on the album. A true rocker.”
One of the most renowned and gifted songwriters in pop and rock music. Ballard’s music career started when he was only 14 years old and he wrote a tune, which was recorded by The Shadows, appearing on their album The Sound Of The Shadows in 1964. During the 70s and 80s, his songs ruled the airwaves and the list of hits is pretty much endless. Numerous records/artists were also produced by him, not least Roger Daltrey, America, Elkie Brooks and Skindred. With 10 studio albums already to his name, songs featured on TV shows like Miami Vice and dancefloors across Europe, there’s little stopping Russ Ballard.
CD1 features: ‘Resurrection’, ‘Courageous’, ‘Journey Man’, ‘The One Who Breathes Me’, ‘The Wild’, ‘Charlatan’, ‘Soul Music’, ‘Sleepwalking’, ‘Last Man Standing’, ‘Make Believe World’, ‘The Family Way’, ‘Fearless’ and ‘The Last Amen’.
CD2 features: ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’, ‘Winning’, ‘God Gave Rock And Roll To You’, ‘Voices’, ‘New York Groove’, ‘You Can Do Magic’, ‘Liar’, ‘I Know There’s Something Going On’, ‘I Surrender’, ‘No More The Fool’, ‘So You Win Again’, ‘Free Me’ and ‘On The Rebound’.
You can order the album here.
