Grammy-winning rockabilly guitarist Brian Setzer has delved into the worlds of bluegrass and jazz with his first all-instrumental album, Instru-MENTAL, which hit stores on Tuesday.
Among the album’s many gems, the former Stray Cats frontman jazzifies bluegrass legend Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” trades his six-string for a banjo on Earl Scruggs “Earl’s Breakdown,” and puts his own unique stamp on such 20th Century classics as Gene Austin’s “Lonesome Road” and the Tex Davis/Gene Vincent classic “Be-Bop-A-Lula.” Setzer also includes six originals, including “Go-Go Godzilla,” which is featured in the new movie Soul Surfer, co-starring country music siren Carrie Underwood.
“I didn’t start writing an instrumental record, per se,” Setzer told GuitarWorld.com. “I wrote seven songs with lyrics, and then, all of a sudden, I just took a turn and started fooling around with ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky,’ except without any vocals. I started playing melody chords and thought, ‘Wow, this is pretty cool!’ So the direction turned about halfway through my writing. I had never done an instrumental record, but I thought, well, now’s the time.”
Instru-MENTAL tracklist (all songs written by Setzer unless otherwise noted):
1. “Blue Moon of Kentucky” (Bill Monroe)
2. “Cherokee” (Ray Noble)
3. “Be-Bop-A-Lula” (Tex Davis/Gene Vincent)
4. “Earl's Breakdown” (Earl Scruggs)
5. “Far Noir East”
6. “Intermission”
7. “Go-Go Godzilla”
8. “Lonesome Road” (Gene Austin/Nathaniel Shilkret)
9. “Hillbilly Jazz Meltdown”
10. “Hot Love”
11. “Pickpocket”
Groundhog Day 207 "Hip hip hooray, it’s Ground Hog Day!" Jack is so excited for his favorite holiday and can’t wait to find out if the ground hog will see her shadow or not! But he might not find out because a scared Gertrude the Ground Hog runs into the clubhouse and nervously peeks out the window, "Are they out there yet? Are they?" Jack and the gang learn that today is Gertrude’s first Ground Hog Day as the ground hog (the one who everyone gathers around to find out if it sees its own shadow). But Gertrude can’t do it, she doesn’t want to be the center of attention, she’s too shy to face all the people and cameras! Gertrude is not going out there! What will happen to Ground Hog Day?! Jack and the Bean Stalk 208 Jack finds some magic beans, which promptly grow into a huge beanstalk, breaking through the clubhouse ceiling, straight up into the clouds. Jack and the gang climb up to investigate and find themselves at the enormous door of a beautiful kingdom high above the clouds. It is here Jack, Mary and Mel meet the Giant, who is very sad. The Giant explains that he just doesn’t know what to get his wife for her birthday. All he has given her in the past are golden eggs, and she’s had enough of them. After trying out some gift ideas, the gang decides that the Giant should give his wife the gift of song. But what song will he sing? How Mel Got His Groove Back 102 Today, the clubhouse is rocking big-time! Mel gets a little carried away with his drum solo and accidentally sends a drum flipping through the air. The drum lands right on Mel and bonks him on the head. We soon discover Mel the dog thinks he’s a cat! Jack tries to bring back Mel’s "dog-gone" memory with his favorite dog toys and treats. Luckily, our good friend Cathy stops by and teaches us a song that gets Mel’s doggie groove back! What a day! Little Bad Wolf 101 Hold on to your musical instruments. Jack, Mary and Mel get a visit from The Little Bad Wolf, the Big Bad Wolf’s brother. He huffs and puffs and blows the instruments all over the place making piles of musical messes. How can we get The Little Bad Wolf to stop blowing down the clubhouse? We can teach him how to play the perfect instrument for a wolf full of hot air. He learns how to blow a tuba! The Little Bad Wolf helps us rock the clubhouse and we all make marvelous music together. What a day!