Keyboardist Ian McLagan to Release New Solo Album
Keyboardist Ian McLagan may have tentative plans next year for a Faces reunion and a Small Faces 50th anniversary concert, but first, the 68-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will take time to promote a new solo album. United States, McLagan’s first studio effort since 2008′s Never Say Never, will be released June 17 on Yep Roc Records.
Like Never Say Never, Ian recorded United States with his longtime backing group The Bump Band at his own Doghouse Studios in Manor, Texas, just outside of Austin. McLagan tells ABC News Radio that the new album’s title is a double entendre, noting that the collection’s 10 tunes focus on romantic relationships in varying, um, states.
“They’re all love songs pretty much, or unrequited love songs, or love gone wrong maybe,” he explains. “It’s always better for a song.”
Ian also notes that he incorporated a variety of “interesting influences” into the songs, including African and Jamaican sounds. He adds that the record also features “some rock ‘n’ roll,” “some ballads” and “flavors of the South.”
One tune McLagan says he particularly likes is the album closer, “He’s Not for You,” which he describes as “a love song from a guy who’s telling a young girl the guy she’s going out with isn’t for her. And, it’s kind of complicated.” (AUDIO IS ABC 1-ON-1)
Fans can get a preview of United States by visiting The Wall Street Journal website’s Speakeasy blog, which is hosting an exclusive stream of the album’s lead track, “All I Wanna Do.”
Here’s the complete track list for United States:
“All I Wanna Do”
“Pure Gold”
“Don’t Say Nothing”
“I’m Your Baby Now”
“Mean Old World”
“Love Letter”
“Who Says It Ain’t Love”
“Shalalala”
“How Blue”
“He’s Not for You”