ODE on LP by Bobby Long is the vinyl version of his wonderful CD “Ode To Thinking.” Sort of. 

I say sort of because there are some differences between the two that are not just sonic in nature. The CD is titled “Ode To Thinking”, the LP just “Ode.” There are 11 songs on the CD compared to 9 on the LP. And although there are only two numerical songs difference, there are several different songs that appear on one but not the other.  Here is the tale of the tape, so-to-speak. 

The LP has the following songs that are not on the CD:

Cold Hearted Lover Of Mine 

Kill Someone 

Hideaway 

The Songs Kids Sing 

That Little Place 

Here is the list of tracks on the album: 

Side 1: 

Ode To Thinking 

I’m Not Going Out Tonight 

Treat Me Like A Stranger 

Something Blue. Something Borrowed 

The Dark Won’t Get Darker 

Side 2: 

Pretty Little Pennies 

If You Don’t Want To Be With Me. 

From Me 

1985

For this review I want to spend more time comparing the sound, and for my views of the album in general please read my review for the CD located in our archives. 

For those who have never heard an LP or have forgotten just how much better LP playback is over digitally recorded music, here is not only a good example for you but one to which you will be able to make direct comparison, as we are not talking about content recorded decades ago which we now having to compare decades apart. Here we are on a level playing field.  The physical nature of the LP was good. The jacket, while not the heaviest stock, was not flimsy either. Same too for the weight of the vinyl, the actual LP of which did still have some processing residue left on it and should be a good reminder to everyone to clean your LPs no matter if you just took the wrapper off or not. You owe it to the records, to your cartridge and to your ears.  Once properly cleaned, I was ready to give the album my undivided attention.  I listened to the album after having refreshed my ears with the CD so I would have the aural images fresh in my mind.


Read Full review here...

The Fallout Shelter at  The Extended Play Sessions is pleased that singer-songwriter Bobby Long is returning to the studio on Sunday, May 8th. 

One of the most cerebral, pertinent songwriters we’ve seen in a while is Manchester, UK born singer/songwriter Bobby Long. Now living in NYC, Long is gearing up for a European tour supporting a new project, ‘Ode to Thinking.’  His lyrics are dark, mesmerizing, candid portraits of the human condition more in the vein of Tom Waits than say Dylan or Springsteen but he belongs in the same conversation as that lofty trio. This version of ‘Dead and Done Blues’ is from Monday Sept. 28, 2015. Click here to watch the video.  This is a unique venue with very limited seating for just 55 lucky souls; every seat is no more than 25 feet from the stage. There is also enough room to dance, if the spirit moves you!  No flash photography or professional video cameras are allowed but you may take photos during the show… just turn off your flash and silence your cameras/phones. 

We’re fortunate to have Bobby Long grace the stage and space is filling up very quickly. If you are interested in attending this event on Sunday, May 8th, there is still a small number of seats available and will be confirmed via email. Doors are at 6:00 pm with the show at 7:00 pm and you can be included by contacting them via e-mail at studioconcertseries@gmail.com. Confirmations including the address are issued on a FIRST COME basis. Once confirmed, your seat is reserved. You must email for a confirmation prior to the show.

See full story here...
 

t only 30, Bobby Long has a deep catalog of work. After three self-released albums beginning with 2009’s Dirty Pond Songs, he signed with ATO Records and began a string of releases for that label: two EPs to date, and two full-lengths. The latest of his albums is Ode to Thinking, released in 2015 on Compass Records. Now comes a vinyl version of that set, with the shortened title Ode. 

Nominally a folk-based singer/songwriter, Long has a good ear for melodies, and he moves beyond the voice-and-guitar simplicity of folk, overdubbing his vocal harmonies and adding subtle touches of other instrumentation. He applies his hoary, gruff vocals to melodic songs, and the result is shot through with a yearning sincerity. Long is British (born in Wigan, near Manchester in northern England) but little in his vocal delivery, writing style or arrangement sensibility suggests he’s anything other than an American singer/songwriter. (These days he lives in New York City.)

On the more rock-leaning tunes, keen listeners may Karl Wallinger‘s World Party, or Neil Finn‘s Crowded House; “I’m Not Going Out Tonight” has a feel halfway between those top-notch writers and a heartland Americana-flavored rock of Tom Petty or prime era John Mellencamp. Elsewhere – and mostly – he hews closer to a straighter Americana vibe, as on the sentimental “Something Blue, Something Borrowed.” The arrangement on “Th Dark Won’t Get Darker” is the sonic equivalent of the cinematic technique of backing slowly away from the camera’s subject, revealing more eith each passing frame. 

The vinyl Ode is substantially different than its similarly-named CD counterpart. Ode trims five songs off of the CD version (“Cold Hearted Lover of Mine,” “Kill Someone” and “Hideaway,” “The Songs the Kids Sing” and “That Little Place”) and adds three new songs (“Pretty Little Pennies,” “If You Don’t Want to Be with Me” and “From Me”).

Read full review here...

Magnet Magazine has released their best Singer Songwriters of 2015. Our very won Bobby Long was chosen #2 for 2015 best Singer Songwriters of 2015 with his recent release Ode To Thinking. Congratulations to Bobby and the rest of the winners.

AFFIF The 2015 Independent Film Festival recently awarded the winners of their 2015 film  festival.

And the winner is...
For Original Music for the film - See Seven States from Rock City, a film by Stephanie Jane Markham. Music from Bobby Long and Stephanie Jane Markham.

Bobby's songs In Ashes and The Dark Won't Get Darker we're featured in the film. Congratulations on the  win.

Autor hitu Let Me Sing z filmu Stmívání zazpíval v olomouckém ArtUm centru v Sokolské ulici. Podle svých slov mnohdy hrává i v "shitty bars". Místo jeho vystoupení tak pro něj (stejně jako olomoucké publikum) bylo příjemným překvapením. Vášeň a nasazení z mladého zpěváka doslova tryskaly: propotil nejenom šaty, ale také kytaru, pódium a možná i pár fanoušků z prvních řad.

English Translation

The songwriter for the song Let Me Sign from the movie Twilight sang at Olomouc art center on  Sokol street. He joked that  he "often plays the drums in "shitty bars." Instead of his normal performance. He was a pleasant surprise to the Olomouc audience. The passion and commitment of the young singer literally showed in his  sweat not only on his clothes, but also the guitar, stage and perhaps even some fans of the first series. Below are some of the photos from the performance. Please select the source link below to see all the photos from the show.

Source