Name: Gold Record
Brand: Bill Callahan

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

LP-DC-760

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2020-09-25

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Redeye

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

CD-DC-760

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2020-09-04

781484076025

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1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Bill Callahan

Genre US

Rock-Pop

Label US

Drag City

Bill Callahan, born on June 3, 1966 in Silver Spring, Maryland, is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is widely known for his work under the name Smog. With a career spanning several decades, Callahan has established himself as a respected figure in the music industry. His unique blend of folk and indie rock has garnered him a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim. Known for his introspective lyrics and distinctive baritone voice, Callahan's music resonates with listeners on a deep emotional level.
Throughout his career, Bill Callahan has released numerous albums that showcase his songwriting prowess and musical versatility. From intimate acoustic ballads to more experimental soundscapes, each album offers a glimpse into Callahan's creative mind. His ability to craft poignant narratives and explore complex themes sets him apart from other artists in the genre.
With his rich discography and captivating live performances, Bill Callahan continues to inspire both aspiring musicians and devoted fans alike. Whether you're new to his music or have been following his career since the beginning, experiencing the artistry of Bill Callahan is an unforgettable journey through the depths of human emotion.

For his first record in….uh, well, just a little over a year(!), Bill Callahan’s given us his first Gold Record. They can’t all be gold, and they’re not all six years apart either — all good! You could probably call the album Gold Records, too: all the songs have a stand-alone feel, like singles, meant for you to have a deep encounter with all of a sudden, from the start of the song to the finish. And what do you got when you have a record full of singles — and let’s face it, hit singles, at that?

From the top, it’s clear this is music with an affection for people, as Bill immediately slips easily and deeply into his characters. Among them: a limo driver, a watcher of television, a suitor, a man in a broken-down car, a reader of books, a Ry Cooder superfan, and in the closing number, a wanderer who “notices when people notice things”. The voices of the people, with their ups and downs, their loss and laughter. You can feel the love.

For Bill, preparing to tour for Shepherd In a Sheepskin Vest meant considering being away from home for long stretches of time — maybe up to a year, who knew? Feeling his oats, Bill pulled out a few sketches from over the years and touched them up. Before he knew it, he was recording them, and in the shuffle, newer songs started popping up.

It happened fast. Basics were recorded live with Matt Kinsey playing guitars, guitars, guitars and Jaime Zurverza holding it down “and then letting it go” on bass. Drums and horns were brought in for a couple songs. Spirits were high! Six out of the ten were done first take; overdubs, when needed, came equally quickly. Listening, one hears their intuitive cohesion coming together richly behind Bill’s titanic voice spread across the stereo spectrum: the gentle conversation of Bill and Matt’s guitars, the subtle percussion of the bass and drums, and odd appearances of trumpet, woodwind and synth, striking notes both decorous and discordant, sounding for all the world like the naturally occurring sound meant to accompany and express lives lived everywhere.

These are in fact songs meant for other people to sing — but until they do, Bill’s got this. He’s got a secret on this one, and before we go, we don’t mind sharing it with you: he’s figured out how to perfectly place his voice in proximity to your ear. It’s based on the distance from your heart to your brain. Simple! Why don’t more people think like this?

Gold Record

Music US

Buy Bill Callahan - Gold Record (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.