James Lee Stanley - freelance human being

Monday, January 30th, 2012 1:42 PM PST

Happy New Year

Hey kids, just back from Montana where I played the MPAC conference with my pal, John Batdorf, and prior to that, several weeks of touring with Cliff Eberhardt before Christmas and then for two weeks of this new year. Folks are loving the CD, All Wood and Doors and they are also coming in large enthusiastic crowds to hear us do it live. I hope that we see you in the coming shows this year. Up for February is me finally finishing the musical, Feb 7th at Rusty's on the Santa Monica Pier at the Neil Young tribute show and attending the Folk Alliance International Conference in Memphis, Feb 22 - Feb 25. Check it out on the web at www.FolkAlliance.org More to come. and thanks for being in my corner.

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 1:36 PM PDT

James Lee & Cliff Eberhardt chosen for Main Stage Showcase at the North East Folk Alliance

Cliff and I will be doing our All Wood and Doors show for NERFA on November 12th, followed by a string of dates in NY. Then after Thanksgiving we'll be doing another string of dates in California and Arizona. Hope we see you all at at least one of the dates.

Friday, September 2nd, 2011 11:27 AM PDT

Costa Rica Update

Anything worth doing is worth doing again! For the second straight year, we stage a Musical Getaway to exotic Costa Rica for 8 days, 7 nights of music, sun and fun, February 25 - March 3, 2011. This year Dan will be sharing the week with his old friend me, James Lee Stanley, to share the stage. Last year's trip was landmark, and though the group was small, we had a large time. And a bigger crowd will just mean biger fun. Booking will begin soon, so visit the Musical Getaways website (still under construction) for early details, and e-mail Phil Ciganer at info@musicalgetaways.com to request pricing and itinerary info. You will end up being happy for the rest of your life. gee, imagine...

Friday, August 5th, 2011 12:57 PM PDT

Dan Navarro and James Lee Stanley Invite YOU to Costa Rica

Hey Kids,
Dan and I will be spending a week in beautiful Costa Rica with 50 of our closest friends and one of them could be you. Check out the site and see if you want to spend a week (February 25th thru March 3rd) with us down there, eating, drinking, dancing and singing our yanqui buns off. here's the info on the site:

www.musicalgetaways.com/

I hope that we see you there. Make your reservations early.

James Lee

Monday, May 23rd, 2011 12:30 PM PDT

Beachwood Recordings Presents All Wood and Doors / James Lee Stanley & Cliff Eberhardt

At the suggestion of John Densmore of the Doors, veteran composers / vocalists / musicians James Lee Stanley and Cliff Eberhardt took songs that are practically hard wired into our collective pop culture consciousness and put a uniquely fresh spin on them creating the remarkable All Wood and Doors.

Following on the heels of the critically acclaimed All Wood and Stones by James Lee Stanley and John Batdorf, (vintage Rolling Stones masterpieces composed by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and reinvented by Batdorf & Stanley), All Wood and Doors is the inevitable next step. And it’s not too early to begin using the word masterpiece.

Pouring through the evocative catalog of the seminal rock group, The Doors, Stanley & Eberhardt have maintained all of the Doors mystique, while at the same time bringing something completely new to all these classic songs.

Cliff Eberhardt and James Lee Stanley are wonderful singers and musicians, with unique mastery of their instruments.   This recording, All Wood and Doors, is twelve of their favorite Doors songs.   The songs’ timelessness is enhanced by the funk and elegance of these new arrangements and re-interpretations.

The CD features crystal clear, atmospheric acoustic renderings and the songs are the true stars of this recording.   Never before have you heard Classic Doors songs performed like this.

The arrangements are focused on Eberhardt’s raspy tenor and Stanley’s dulcet baritone, combined with the incredible magic of their acoustic guitar interplay.   It’s almost as if the songs are somehow brand new and while completely familiar.

But what adds a truly remarkable spin to the recording is the endorsement and contribution of the Doors original drummer, John Densmore, who was part of this project based upon his fondness for the All Wood and Stones CD.

It was John who initially suggested the project when he told James Lee that if James ever did to the Doors songs what he did to the Stones songs, then John wanted to be a part of the recording.   John Densmore was the true impetus that created All Wood and Doors.

Then to the astonished joy of Cliff and James Lee, Robby Krieger, original Doors guitarist, emailed James Lee, expressing his admiration for All Wood and Stones and volunteering to play guitar on All Wood and Doors.   This was simply the icing on the cake.   Even now, everyone at Beachwood Recordings is still amazed at this generous endorsement of the CD by both Robby and John.

And to add further to an already remarkable recording, there is this all star line up of the highly regarded guests musicians:   Timothy B Schmit (the Eagles), Peter Tork (the Monkees), Paul Barrere (Little Feat), Laurence Juber (Paul McCartney & Wings), Scott Breadman (the Rippingtons, Lindsey Buckingham), the truly remarkable Chad Watson (David Arkenstone, Janis Ian) and, of course, John Densmore (the Doors), Robby Krieger (the Doors).

The songs are:   Break On Thru; Touch Me; Strange Days; Love Me Two Times; Crystal Ship; People Are Strange; Soul Kitchen; Riders On The Storm; Take It As It Comes; Moonlight Drive; Light My Fire; and The End.

Put this CD in your player or your Ipod , sit back and prepare to experience the absolute joy of your new favorite recording --

All Wood and Doors by Cliff Eberhardt and James Lee Stanley

Friday, March 4th, 2011 2:15 PM PST

Backstage At The Resurrection

Hey kids, the new cd, Backstage At The Resurrection is officially released as of February 14, 2011. It's different than the others, but you should be use to that by now. It's only happened every time. But I think you'll love it.
Just click on the tab at the left and you can read all about the cd, the players, etc and you can HEAR every song in its entirety, tho not with the joy and clarity of a physical CD.
The album sounds fantastic and all of the usual zeitgeist renegades are there with me, including the inimitable Paul Barrere of Little Feat. Some how his name is not listed on the actual CD cover tho that is being rectified as you read this.
Cannot wait to get your response to Backstage At The Resurrection. . Thanks for being there and for reading this far, and as a reward for reading this far, here's a link to preview the All Wood and Doors CD that I did with Cliff Eberhardt. Official release date, May 24th. Check it out:
www.allwoodanddoors.com

Friday, August 14th, 2009 12:23 PM PDT

James Lee Stanley Adds Five Albums to the Album Rack At Left

Beachwood Recordings is delighted to announce that James Lee Stanley is back in the studio recording songs for what he describes as his "last" album. We don't know whether to believe him or not, but we can say that the songs are brilliant and as usual, different from his previous CD's. James continues to grow and evolve as an artist and we've heard his live shows are even more entertaining than ever. Expect the new album, "Backstage at the Resurrection" in the fall.

Stephen Chandler, Only Friend of the Artist Known As James Lee Stanley And Beachwood Recording's Multi hatted Manager .

Hey kids, James Lee here again. I just put out the two disk live CD, Live In Tehachapi and it is a limited run. If you'd like one, please reserve it now. Just got to paypal and send me (james@jamesleestanley.com) $25 for the two disks and $5 for s&h and we'll send it right out. We also now have a limited run of my first three CD's from the 70's, just click on the album to see the songs and they are $25 each or $60 for the set and that includes s&h... and now back to our regular sponsor...

Monday, March 23rd, 2009 12:21 AM PDT

REMIXED and REMASTERED
NEW TRACES of the OLD ROAD

Available Now

I wanted to commemorate our last day of innocence, 9/10/01 both with the song, Last Day of Summer, and with this release date of New Traces of the Old Road.

Response to the new version has been fantastic. I can't wait for you all to hear this baby.

By the way, the New Traces of the Old Road will not be available as a download, only the older version, for now. You can only get New Traces of the Old Road as a CD.

Details regarding the changes in the CD can be found in the "a word from James" section.

MP3 and IPOD Alerts!
i want to, just as a reminder, let you know that not only can you get my CD's as MP3 files, but now you can get any one song from any of my 21 CD's, so you can turn any of your friends on to what i do for the modest sum of $.99. Perfect IPOD gifts.

Go to ITunes or any of the other reputable download sites, they all have all my music. The CD's or the indiviual songs are all available. Gee, what a guy!

A Word from James:
The Datamusicata Blog is going crazy, and we've crested 550,000 hits, that's hits, not robots. It's amazing. Please check it out.

For those of you who are unaware of it, it's a free artist resource site that I've created to give back to the community everything that I have learned in forty years on the road...and can still remember. Here's the url: www.datamusicata.com I also have guest columnists, so there is always something interesting and informative and there are always the fun fotos, either of some non sequitur or someone famous, or of me and my cronies.

I've been working on the musical for years and I amnow in the fifth draft of the libretto and am remixing all the songs and have been presenting to a few close friends in the biz to get their reactions and to see what needs work. So far the reaction has been amazing. I might be the new Lionel Bart (The Music Man)

As for the latest CD, I spoke about it last month, but I'm leaving the post up as it has lots of info that you might be interested in. Here's the skinny:

The Live in Tehachapi Two Disk CD now available

The first three recordings I ever did are now available.

New Traces of the Old Road is now available as of September 11, 2008. This is the only version of this CD available, so there is no confusion here at Beachwood. When you order Traces or New Traces, what you get is New Traces. Just click on the cover--the one with the old cement bridge, just to the left and down from right here.

Regarding what has happened to the CD, I have fixed everything that was really bothering me about it in its original form; literally re recording parts of and remixing eight of the eleven tracks. I am happy with it, tho I know that I could remix forever, and i've discovered that there were a few things I let slide. It started out with me wanting to change the order a little. I decided that the album worked better if the whole thing started with the rain and thunder, then went into Last Day of Summer, followed by Dylan's Just Like Thom Thumb's Blues coming out of the sounds of the storm ("...when you're lost in the rain in juarez..."). Then I realized that there were things I didn't really like about the mix of Last Day, so I rerecorded some vocal things that were bothering me and then replaced the electric bass with an acoustic bass and then remixed the song. At that point, I thought, well, I've come this far, I think I will just fix anything else that is bothering me. So I then rerecorded vocals, and guitars and percussion for One Heart Falling, Most Likely You Go Your Way, I'll Go Mine, Stolen Season, Long Way From Home, Stop This Rain, and Anywhere Love Goes. I remixed everything accept Just Let It Go, Too Many People and Thom Thumb's Blues and I remastered the entire CD. It may sound crazy, but I had to do it and now I love the CD. I am resending it to radio and the press, and I am very anxious to get your feedback on the changes.

I am working on the musical. Just rerecording parts of the opening number and I have written the libretto, the second draft of which is now finished. The whole piece is coming along and sounds great. I can't wait for you all to hear it.

All Wood and Stones has been getting a lot of airplay in Europe thanks to Peter Holmstedt and Hemisfran in Sweden. Great Britain, Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Luxemborg, Ireland, Italy and Spain are all broadcasting the music. Very Fun for John and I, who are now thinking about doing another CD together.

Hope to see you there or...at one of my concerts. ..and o before i forget...

Have a great fall,

James Lee Stanley

TO HEAR SONG CLIPS FROM THE ETERNAL CONTRADICTION, JUST CLICK ON THE BOLD TITLE BELOW:

"the eternal contradiction" (a tip of the hat to the inner turmoil that comes with living in these bodies). i've been getting some incredible reviews on this one, i hope that you will take some of your time to check it out. if you glance to your left, you'll see the cover.

If you want to know all about the recording process, the instruments, etc and the lyrics to the songs and the inspiration for them, just click on the eternal contradiciton link below the album cover.

the songs on the eternal contradiction are:

this fleeting moment, let the tree fall; mary january; here we are; street where mercy died; world we left behind; on the bus?; change; the loner; nothing to keep you on my mind; and it's all in the game.

scott breadman did the percussion and ken lyon did most of the bass (colin cameron did bass on let the tree fall and i did bass on this fleeting moment, nothing, and here we are). batdorf and i did some background vocals on "here we are" and "the loner". the soloists include Mark Rodney, Corky Siegel, Peter Tork and Bradley Vines. Lisa Turner did some great background vocals on Let the Tree Fall. it's a beautiful recording.

on the equipment side, i highly recommend these incredible elixir strings. i love them. they sound great and they last and last and are also really easy to play...and no squeaking. very cool.

remember Tom Dundee and go to his page on myspace. he was my dearest friend. i still ache to think of his passing.

i'll be touring as much as i possibly can over the next year. hope that i get to see you up close and sing for you live.

all the best and happy new year,

james lee

TO HEAR ALL WOOD AND STONES, PLEASE LOG ON TO www.allwoodandstones.com

USA Today Wednesday, Nov 4 in the LIFE section reviewed All Wood and Stones. Here's what they had to say:

Singer/guitar/composers John Batdorf & James Lee Stanley stripped down Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby?, Under My Thumb and nine other Rolling Stones tunes into acoustic skeletons, confounding logic by rendering a subdued version of Let's Spend the Night Together with former Monkee Peter Tork on guitar into a stirring affair. Batdorf & Stanley have turned the rock grooves inside out, adopted stylish arrangements and made no attempt to ape the originials, unveiling the elegance of the melodies and allowing radically new interpretations of songs long tattooed in boomer DNA. Paint it fresh -Edna Gundersen

As for All Wood and Stones, you may also order it at the site with your favorite credit card or just send us a check payable to James Lee Stanley. i can't wait to hear what you think of the tunes. please do check the site out and talk to me. i think the songs are great and we've tried to do the stones proud.

thanks to mike marrone and xm radio and especially Deep Tracks, barnes newberry and wumb and now arden at kpig, and now wcsx in ann arbor, and wcoo in charleston, sc.

hope to play for you all in the coming year. dates are starting to come in and i'm going out there, both solo and with john, so check in as often as you can..

CHECK OUT: www.allwoodandstones.com

A Sad Word from James on Oct 3rd, 2005:
dear friends in the folk community,
hamliton camp passed away last night. evidently from a heart attack. for those of you who knew him, this is a profound loss. for those who didn't, hamilton was there as the great folk scare began. judy collins opened for hamilton and his partner bob camp at the gate of horn in chicago.

there is also a recording of one of their concerts there. it is called gibson and camp at the gate of horn. since that time in the early sixties, he wrote, performed and toured as well as evolving into a fine actor, whose work could be seen in beatty's heaven can wait amongst countless others. he was also a guest twice on the tv series mash.

we had been friends since we performed together at the earl of old town in chicago in the mid seventies, he with the skymonters and me solo.

last summer he called and asked me to produce a recording of him that was dedicated to his lovely wife rasjada who had passed away over two years ago. he came in, utterly prepared and performed the songs with so much heart, i suggested that we record him live, voice and guitar and then have the other musicians simply play afterwards and just serve his performances. both he and his son ray told me that no one had ever captured him so spot on. only this past friday, hamilton and i just finished the cover art and copy for the album beachwood recordings will be releasing the cd in november. it is called sweet joy. i think he was just staying here to finish this recording for rashada and then, when he knew it was all done, he slipped away.

he was a wonderfully funny, charming and talented man and one of my dearest friends. the world is a poorer place without him in it.

you can post me here if you want to send an email to his family. he is survived by a wonderful group of children and grandchildren. he was a blessed man.

For those who are interested in obtaining Hamilton's last CD, here is the info:

Hamilton Camp / Sweet Joy Songs:

Song of the Wandering Angus
Long Train
2:19
Nothin’ But the Blues
New Beginnings
Highway Man
Sittin on a Roof Top
Celts/Go No More A Rovin’
Pride of Man
Ring Them Bells
Sweet Joy
Windsong

Musicians: Hamilton Camp, Paul Barrere, Ken Lyon and James Lee Stanley

The CD is available from the Store page .



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