Midnight Souvenirs

Album Description

Midnight Souvenirs (Verve/UMe), Peter Wolf's seventh solo album is a continuation of the singer-songwriter's distinctive and eclectic tales that brighten and interpret a world gone noir. Following in the tracks of Wolf's Sleepless, which was honored by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the "500 greatest albums of all-time," the new collection gives hope to the love-wounded and promises "there's still time for the midnight wine," even if "sometimes you heal, sometimes you're scarred." Featuring duets with country legend and national treasure Merle Haggard, the soulfully transcending dynamic award winner Shelby Lynne, and the haunting and majestic voice of Neko Case, "Midnight Souvenirs" integrates and embraces rock, R & B, blues, folk and country in a way that has distinguished Wolf's storied career. Measurable are his decades as the leader and frenzied focal figure of the J. Geils Band, with whom he showcased his talents on such hits as "Centerfold," "Freeze Frame," "Love Stinks" and "Musta Got Lost." "Midnight Souvenirs" was packed fair and square in the studio by Wolf and Kenny White, who also co-produced "Sleepless" and 1998's "Fools Parade," celebrated as one of the "50 most influential albums of the '90s" by Rolling Stone Magazine. Much like the material on those two discs, the majority of the new songs were co-written with Oscar winner Will Jennings (Eric Clapton's "Tears From Heaven," Steve Winwood's "Higher Love," and Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warens duet "Up Where We Belong"). Also contributing to the album were songwriters Angelo Petraglia and Taylor Rhodes, whose songs have been recorded by Kings of Leon and Aerosmith.

The 14 songs on the album range from the country blues of "Tragedy"--with Shelby Lynne--and the hard-rockin' "The Night Comes Down" (dedicated to the late Willy DeVille) to the bittersweet texture of "It's Too Late For Me" with Merle Haggard, and the punchline impact of vintage Philly roots R & B on "Overnight Lows." Wolf and Neko Case deliver an eternal bouquet on "The Green Fields of Summer."