Dean Owens^{Whisky Hearts}

Newsletter: May 2007

New Album Release June 4th - Whisky Hearts

Hi there.

My new record Whisky Hearts is released June 4th on Vermillion Road Records and will be distributed by Shellshock Distribution. It will be available in all good record stores (and some crap ones) and also should be available online at the usual outlets.

I’m very happy with the new record.

Here’s what some other people are saying about it:

• "In my sexy opinion young Dean is the Johnny Cash of Scotland so we should treat him with respect. Normal Johnny was quite hard. Imagine if he had been from Scotland, he'd've been a menace. For gods sake buy this record before he re-offends" - Russell Brand (BBC Radio 2)
• “An infectious collection of songs; a boisterous, rootsy record with a wistful heart” - Gretchen Peters
• “To me, with the title track "Whisky Hearts" and the poignant "Man From Leith" in particular, both inspired by his native Edinburgh, Dean has captured that longstanding Scottish love affair with classic American songwriting, but given it his own undeniably Scottish heart. It's classy stuff” - Karine Polwart
• “Dean Owens is a very strong voice in the current resurgence of country rock/americana. His style of singing is powerful and right on target" - Al Perkins (Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons)
• "Dean Owens brings his large talent and the Scots ballad tradition over to Tennessee and emerges with a record full of fine tales, lovely singin' and a warm inviting sound. Check it out!" - JD Foster (Producer/musician - Calexico, Richmond Fontaine, Willy Mason, Patty Griffin)
• “I really love this new album! It's "fresh" but classic Dean Owens. When I hear his melodies, I can't resist singing along. I'm sure I'm not alone on that one” - Suzy Bogguss
• “I love this record.  Soulful, mournful, well written and catchy as all hell.  Dean's outdone himself” - Will Kimbrough
• “Dean is a truly fantastic performer and songwriter and I reckon with this new album he has created a classic marriage of compelling vocal takes, songs that resonate with the depth of life in Scotland’s capital city and the unmistakable sound and feel of a classic Americana record. I just wish it was being released on my label”! – Donald Shaw (Vertical Records & Artistic Director – Celtic Connections)
• “Dean Owens has soul” – Eddi Reader

These are very kind comments from some great people in the business.

To coincide with the release of the album there is also an EP.

For any new mailing listee’s who don’t know much about who’s on the album etc… It was recorded out in Nashville with some of my favourite musicians/friends out there. I went out there with my good friend and bass player on my previous solo albums Kevin McGuire and we were joined on the sessions by guitarist and singer/songwriter Will Kimbrough (check out his new album Americanitis), keyboard player Jen Gunderman (The Jayhawks), Paul Deakin and Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks), the legendary Al Perkins on pedal steel and dobro, singer/songwriter Thad Cockrell on harmonies and the wonderful Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck) on sax.

As you can see it’s quite a line up of musicians and I’m thrilled to have them on this record.

Whisky Hearts was produced by myself and Elijah (Lij) Shaw and engineered by Lij and Brian Carter. It was recorded mostly live onto tape using vintage equipment and has a lovely warm analogue vibe to it.

All the paintings used in the album artwork are by the artist Barbara Carter (Brian’s mum). There are some contact details for her up on the website.

There will be a section up soon on the website with the background stories on all the album tracks.

Apologies for not being on tour this month as mentioned in my previous newsletter, but due to the album coming out a little bit later than expected and musicians’ availability etc I won’t be touring as such at the moment , but will be doing radio sessions and interviews up and down the country, plus the occasional show here and there throughout the summer. A “Dean Owens and The Whisky Hearts” tour is being scheduled for September. Details of this tour will appear on my website www.deanowens.com and my Myspace site www.myspace.com/deanowenspace.

You can also contact Davie Gardner at Atlantic Edge Music if you have any enquires or suggestions of places to play- davie.gardner@btinternet.com.

I will be doing a solo set at “A Taste Of Edinburgh” during The Meadows Festival in Edinburgh on Saturday the 9th of June at noon.

Remember if you’d like to see me playing solo out in the sunshine of Crete I’m doing two poolside shows at the Artemis Apartments near Chania in Crete on Saturday 28th of July and Saturday the 4th of August. Visit www.akrotirivillas.com for details.

That’s about it for now.

I hope you manage to find a copy of Whisky Hearts ok. If you have any trouble obtaining a copy please let me or Davie at Atlantic Edge know about it.

I’d also love to know what you think of the record.

Here’s to a long hot summer.

Take it easy, but take it!

Dean