PRODUCED AND MIXED BY ELIO PACE AND DARREN LOVEDAY
Brass section, background vocals & keyboards arranged by ELIO PACE.
Recorded, engineered & mastered by DARREN LOVEDAY at The Ranch, London, February-July 2001.
Additional engineering by CAM BLACKWOOD at Mill Hill Music Complex, London.
JAMES BURTON’S guitar recorded & engineered by ROB BRAZZEL at Precision Digital Audio, Louisiana, USA.
GREAT BALLS OF FIRE recorded live at Oaklands Park, Chichester, August 6th 2000.
Photography by Mark Bader
Design by Sina Capaldo at Concept Graphics
Elio Pace uses Yamaha pianos
The Elio Pace Band:
Elio Pace - Lead Vocals, Piano and Accordion
Paul Murphy - Drums
Neil Fairclough - Bass and Background Vocals
Martyn Hope - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, and Background Vocals
Darren Loeday - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Banjo and Background Vocals
Chloes Buswell - Background Vocals
Kirstie Roberts - Background Vocals
Helen York - Background Vocals
Peter Effamy - Alto, Tenor and Soprano Saxophones
Adrian Fry - Trombone
Paul Newton - Trumpet
Paul Tasker - Tenor and Baritone Saxophones
John Rockliffe - Percussion
Chris Banks - Keyboards
Pete Garden - Keyboards
I HAD two main reasons for making this album: a) every gig we have ever played, whether it be a best-mates wedding or a major corporate event, we got through word of mouth and reputation. I wanted something in ‘black and white’ – a business card, as such. And b) since making the necessary shift from playing my material to playing covers at most of these events, we have built up a huge repertoire of not only the old favourites but of great party songs you may not expect to hear. I wanted to produce an album combining the best of both. Those were two of the reasons, but I had another...
In 1993, after a stint of playing piano bars in Norway, I came to the conclusion that one of the best bits of fun this boy could have was to sing and play in a great band. And so it was with that very proviso that I called two of my best mates, MARTYN HOPE and PAUL MURPHY, to ask them if they fancied it. Thankfully they said, "Yes"! Guitar, drums, myself on piano and vocals, JOE HENSON on bass, who Paul had rightly highly-recommended, and there it was, the start of something that quite frankly has become my pride and joy... THE ELIO PACE BAND.
Since meeting them in 1987 whilst I was at music college in Leeds, Martyn and Paul had become two of my favourite musicians. Martyn, who was studying at the University, would frequently bring his guitar over to the digs to jam with one of the housemates. It was at one of these all-night jamborees that we met and over the following two years I grew to appreciate, not only what a fantastic and inspiring guitarist he was, but how I had also found a good, close friend. The same is true of Paul, who was studying at the college with me. In a highly competitive musical environment, it was his masterful simplicity that completely blew me away. As anyone who has ever played with Paul will testify, he does what all the best drummers do, just lays it down!
Augmenting the basic 4-piece by adding second keyboards, a couple of girl singers and a 3-piece brass section, we started showcasing my own material around venues in London such as The Orange, The Borderline and The Mean Fiddler. These showcases led to the release of two CDs and two guest appearances on Gloria Hunniford’s Upstaged programme for BBC Radio 2, recorded live at The Café Royal.
As with all gigging and growing bands, musicians come and go. And in 1995, Joe decided to leave the music business and was replaced by NEIL FAIRCLOUGH. I had met Neil three years earlier in 1992 when he had played fretless-bass on the recording of a song of mine, Holding You. He had come recommended by his sister Sue, also at music college with me, where she had spent the best part of two years telling me how I really should meet her brilliant brother. She was right! I sat there that afternoon with a stupid grin on my face as Neil added the most gorgeous touches to the track taking it to another level. Incidentally, after a while pursuing other interests I am glad to say that Joe "got the bug back".
1996 turned out to be a fruitful year. In March I released the first of the aforementioned CDs. Ingeniously entitled Elio Pace, it featured four of my songs that had proved rather popular wherever we played.
1996 also yielded two great surprises. Firstly and fortuitously, DARREN LOVEDAY. Talk about fate! I was setting up for a gig one Saturday night when two good ‘old’ friends of mine, Catherine White and Jon Hampshire, walked into the venue carrying their own gigging equipment. We had been at Sixth Form College together, lost contact and not seen each other for almost ten years. After picking our jaws up off the floor and realising that we had been double-booked, I was hit by déjà vu as Catherine proceeded to tell me how I really should meet her brilliant husband-to-be, Mr Loveday. She too was right! After hearing Darren play guitar I knew that I would love to have him and Martyn join forces in my band. My wish eventually came true when Darren joined us in 1998.
Secondly, CHLOE BUSWELL, who I met at a show audition for which I was playing the piano. Her sultry, raw rendition of Son Of A Preacher Man did not get her the job but that, fortunately for me, meant that I could ask her to join my band instead. That’s show business! Chloe’s voice was the perfect starting block to creating the background vocal sound I was after. It would take me another four years to complete it.
When it comes to booking a brass section, I have always gone back to the same three guys; saxophonists PETER EFFAMY and PAUL TASKER, and trombonist ADRIAN FRY. Peter, Paul and Adrian are three of my oldest and dearest friends and three of the finest musicians you or I will ever meet. We played traditional jazz together in our early teens in The Domino Set, a band that Peter and I created whilst at school together. Three years later in 1983 we reached the finals of The National Festival of Music for Youth as one of the top four jazz bands in the country. We grew up making music together and even now, many years later, I still enjoy their company, professionally and personally.
In the autumn of 1999, Martyn, Paul and I toured the UK in a Bill Kenwright Production, Thank You For The Music, a tribute to the 70’s. It was in this show that I met HELEN YORK who wooed everyone with her performances of Debbie Harry and Bonnie Tyler. I knew right away that Helen’s sexy and powerful voice was the perfect compliment to Chloe’s dark smoothness.
I was thrilled when Helen agreed to be part of a 15-piece band I was putting together for an outdoor concert taking place in Chichester in August 2000. In addition to the usual line-up, I had managed to secure the services of four other great musicians: CHRIS BANKS and PETE GARDEN, two very talented keyboard players who would take care of second and third keyboard duties; hard-working JOHN ROCKLIFFE on percussion, who I had enjoyed gigging with in the past; and PAUL NEWTON, one of those premier-league trumpeters no worthy brass section should ever be without.
Everything was in place except for the fifteenth and final piece, a sassy, funky diva with Aretha flowing through her to handle all the high harmonies. It was whilst I was struggling to fill this vacancy that Andy Coughlan, another wonderful bass-player who I had worked with, gave me KIRSTIE ROBERTS’ phone number. So, I called her. The first time I heard Kirstie sing was down a phone line in July 2000. Even through a distorting earpiece it was blatantly obvious what a naturally gifted songstress she was and she fitted the job description perfectly. Needless to say I offered her the job straight away which she accepted, thus adding the icing to the cake.
...I finally had The Elio Pace Band sounding just how I wanted it, and boy, did it sound good! Far too good, in my opinion, not to have a recording of it. And that, above all, was the main reason for making the album you are holding right now. So, from a rockin’ 6-piece to the luxury of a 15-piece band, here it is. And I hope that not only do you enjoy this album, but it leaves you with a taste of the good times and great fun The Elio Pace Band has had. Want some? COME AND GET IT!
ELIO PACE
November 2001
THANK YOU’S
I COUNT myself as very fortunate and somewhat blessed when I think about the amazing people with whom I have had the pleasure of making this album. And so I would wholeheartedly like to thank Martyn, Neil, Chloe, Adrian, Helen, Chris, John, Kirstie, Paul, Peter, Paul, Pete and of course ...Paul for your overwhelming support, tireless hard work and unfailing dedication. How much I appreciate it is impossible to convey.
A massive thank you also to Jon, Keith and Beatrice for spoiling me with your beautiful singing.
And to James Burton. It is an honour indeed to have you playing on The Wonder Of You. Hearing you strike up at the beginning of that famous solo is for me a truly priceless moment. Thank you for making a dream come true and thanks to Rob Brazzel for capturing it.
As far as the music is concerned, that leaves only one other person to thank, my co-producer, Darren. To say that I could not have done it without you is the biggest understatement. Your hours and hours of relentless enthusiasm, attentiveness and sheer passion for the whole project went far beyond the call of duty and my expectations. And all that, even before you plugged in your guitar. Working with you on this album has been one of the most fulfilling and joyous musical experiences I have had in my life. Thank you for sharing your time, talent and sausage sandwiches so generously.
But when it comes to food, I must say a huge thank you to Catherine. Wrapping up a days work only to be greeted by another fine example of your culinary skills, just goes to prove that behind every great album there is an even greater Cognitive Neuroscientist!
I would also like to thank Mike Berry, Cam Blackwood, Rachael Brown, Andy Coughlan, Paula Coyne, Pete Cuthbert, DGM Productions, Marcus Fox, Paul Hawkins, Tim Hobbs and The Hall School Wimbledon, Betty-Ann Hobden, Mark Isbister, Melli James, Sonia Jones, Sophie Langham, John Lee, James Lynch, Glen Mac, Charlie McIntosh, John McNamee, John Meany, Noel Phillips, Tom and Emma Pritchard, Nick Riggs, Alyn Ross, Andy Ross, Mark White and Roger Wilson for your contributions.
And also a big thank you to Alex and Monica Andrews, Sina Capaldo, Sophie Corbett, Lisa McGlasson, Hilary O’Neil, Damian Peckham, Wendy and Chris Shehan, Annie and Keith Wiggans and all your families, Sue Acteson, Mark Bader, Steve and Debbie Barrett, Cliff and Mary Eveland, Mary Grainger, Joe and Charlotte Henson, Christian Henson, Helen McNee and Van and Vikki Zeiler for your love and friendship.
Un abbraccio a tutti i miei parenti in Italia. Vi penso sempre. Tanti baci.
And finally my wonderful family, Mum, Dad, Giuseppina, Sandra and Neil to whom I owe so much. I love you. Thank you for everything.
I would like to dedicate this album to my parents, Umberto and Maria Pace, the greatest people I have ever known and the two best things that ever happened to me. The Wonder Of You is all yours. xxx
In memory of Dan Bruce (1976-2001)
