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Frank Lee Sprague on WFMU

Michael Shelly interviews Frank Lee Sprague live on WFMU Saturday 11:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time!

Tune in and turn on to the rock of Frank Lee Sprague!

Michael Shelley
Saturdays 10am-1pm
91.1 fm in the New York City area,  90.1 fm in the Hudson Valley
www.wfmu.org/michael

Party on

NPR gets hip, again!!!
Mood:  party time!

NPR's show "All Songs Considered" hosted by Bob Boilen features a song from Frank's new LP "Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols arranged as Traditional Rock Songs" on it's show December 13th 2007!!!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17173498

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" with Randy Fuller and Chris Sprague!

Rockin' the airwaves, once again!

New LP of Christmas Carols arranged as Rock Songs!
Mood:  a-ok

Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols Arranged as Traditional Rock Songs!

 

Peek in the stocking or rummage under the tree for a spectacularly fab package of Christmas cheer.  Joy to the world!  The always hard working and dedicated Frank Lee Sprague returns with his latest yuletide classic, Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols Arranged as Traditional Rock Songs!   What do some of the most cherished Christmas carols of all time have in common with rock ‘n’ roll?  Only a year after his highly regarded Merry Merseybeat Christmas, Frank Lee Sprague went back into the recording studio aiming to find out.  What emerged was a song selection both spiritual and playful, a celebratory homage to some of Frank’s favorite music and musical styles.  Listen closely for snatches of familiar songs, from “Thank You Girl” by the Beatles, to “Mr. Tambourine Man” as done by the Byrds, from “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis, to “Love Reign O’er Me” by the Who.

 

The album opens with the lovely and timeless “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring,” by Johann Sebastian Bach, ingeniously rearranged as an instrumental in the style of the Ventures.  There are several other instrumental standouts here, including an intense,  pounding “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” in which Frank manages to quote from Dick Dale’s “Miserlou,” and the Chantays’ “Pipeline,” while ending with the brooding coda from Bobby Fuller’s “The Chase.” 

 

Noted for his mastery of British Invasion styles, Frank pays tribute to the Liverpool beat of the Swinging Bluejeans on “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem,” the intricate harmonies of the Hollies on “Away in a Manger,” and even takes us for a romp with the Beatles via the “Hard Day’s Night” style “O Christmas Tree.”

 

“Jingle Bells” will never quite sound the same once you hear Frank’s frantically rocking reinvention of “Jingle Bells” as a piano pumping Jerry Lee Lewis stomper straight out of Sun Records.  “O Come All Ye Faithful” captures some ringing Byrdsian 12 string electric guitar magic along with a chorus straight out of “Turn Turn Turn.”  Special guest Randy Fuller of the Bobby Fuller Four joins Frank for a rollicking “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” arranged to sound like Bobby Fuller’s 1966 hit version of Buddy Holly’s “Love’s Made a Fool of You.”

 

Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols Arranged as Traditional Rock Songs! closes with a surf instrumental interpretation of Handel’s “The Messiah.” This remarkable version is a stunning example of Frank’s ability to pay respectful tribute to a familiar melody, while creating a fresh and original arrangement.  “The Messiah” quotes from “Mr. Moto” by the Belairs, and demonstrates once again Frank’s fluid, brilliant lead guitar playing. Throughout, Chris Sprague's incredible drumming adds to the musical brilliance of this milestone L.P.

  

Frank Lee Sprague loves Christmas.  Frank Lee Sprague loves rock ‘n’ roll.  Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols Arranged as Traditional Rock Songs! is a delicious and delectable taste of both – untie the ribbon, rip open the paper and please open this package first.

 

Known for his unparalleled ability to synthesize authentic rock ‘n’ roll styles into his own West Texas imprint, Frank Lee Sprague’s work has wowed reviewers in Rolling Stone, Playboy, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and many other magazines and newspapers.  He has appeared on CBS nationwide television and National Public Radio, and performed live around the world, including several successful tours of Japan.  Over the last few years, this charismatic songwriter and musician has recorded and released the critically acclaimed albums, Merseybeat, Cavern, Merry Merseybeat Christmas and Fulton Avenue, while also revered by fans for his long-time work as leader of the fabulous rock ‘n’ roll duo, the Sprague Brothers. 

 Available now at www.amazon.com  www.cdbaby.com  and  www.frankleesprague.com

2 new LP's in October 2007
Mood:  a-ok

Frank's LP from last year "Merry Merseybeat Christmas" is being released in an all-instro version this month!

Next up from the "Master of Merseybeat"; an all new album of classic Christmas songs in rock style, also out this month!

Drums on both releases by Chris Sprague!

Merry MERSEYBEAT Christmas indeed!

Big news for January/February!
Mood:  a-ok
 

Frank Lee Sprague interview online!
Mood:  bright

NEW! 3rd Merseybeat LP released!!!
Mood:  special

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New album by Frank Lee Sprague is all new/original/Merseybeat/Christmas songs! 

 

Beginning in 1963, the Beatles recorded an annual Christmas record for their fans, but they never released an entire album of Christmas songs, nor did any other Liverpool or British Invasion group.  With Merry Merseybeat Christmas, Frank Lee Sprague makes up for lost time with a cornucopia of self-penned, harmony-filled gems.  From start to finish, the album brims with shimmering melodies and richly textured singing, a heartfelt tribute to both Christmas and the well-loved Merseybeat sound, a style Frank mastered on his popular, widely acclaimed albums, Merseybeat and Cavern.

 

Creative inspiration comes in many forms, sometimes striking with the lightning speed of a southbound express train.  That’s what happened to Frank Lee Sprague when song after song came to him until, incredibly, within only one day he had composed a stocking-full of Christmas songs.

 

Merry Merseybeat Christmas begins with “She Gave Me Loneliness for Christmas,” a lament for lost love.  The song features a haunting melody threaded with mournful harmonica.  But we don’t stay in that groove for long.  With the mid-tempo title song, “Merry Merseybeat Christmas,” Frank sings that “love is still the word,” and we hear in his music a paean to both Christmas and the music he cherishes.

 

Imagine the Beatles on stage for hours and hours at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany.  It’s Christmas and they miss home and family.  “Rock on, lads,” roars John, launching into Frank’s “Christmas Time,” bringing yuletide cheer and high spirits to lonely fans and fellow Beatles alike. 

 

As is true with any Frank Lee Sprague album, Merry Merseybeat Christmas includes a generous helping of beautiful ballads.  There’s the upbeat,” My Love Will Grow,” with its winsome melody and surprising key changes.  “Fall in Love on Christmas” is a moving, spiritual commentary about love in a special time of year.  Picture a young Brian Wilson sitting in with Tottenham’s Dave Clark Five and listen to the wistful and yearning, “Don’t Cry on Christmas.”

 

Merry Merseybeat Christmas ebbs and flows with the grace of a symphony, eventually reaching its zenith with three remarkable songs.  “Peace on Earth” is a stunning Lennonesque rocker, warning us against war and hate while telling the story of Christ’s birth, in homage to “peace on earth, good will to men.”  Spiritual and tender, “The Third Day” infuses an ethereal glow to its unusual and highly effective vocal arrangement.  The song reminds us that there is far greater meaning to Christmas than tinsel, ornaments and colorful packages.  No Frank Lee Sprague album would be complete without a top 40 hit sound melody, and “Christmas Carol” fills the bill.  The memorable guitar line, the warm, Beatles ‘65 sound, and the sunny lyrics send us home feeling we’ve truly had a Merry Merseybeat Christmas.

 

Known for his unparalleled ability to synthesize authentic rock ‘n’ roll styles into his own West Texas imprint, Frank Lee Sprague’s work has wowed reviewers in Rolling Stone, Playboy, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and many other magazines and newspapers.  He has appeared on CBS nationwide television and National Public Radio, and performed live around the world, including several successful tours of Japan.  Over the last few years, this charismatic songwriter and musician has recorded and released the critically acclaimed albums, Merseybeat, Cavern, and Fulton Avenue, while also revered by fans for his long-time work as leader of the fabulous rock ‘n’ roll duo, the Sprague Brothers. 

  

 

FLS on WFMU
Mood:  cheeky

http://www.wfmu.org/ssaudionet.shtml

Check out the webcast at the above address on Saturday December 16th at 11:25 AM on WFMU FM!!!

Frank Lee Sprague will be telling all in a National interview conducted by Michael Shelly!

Trains
Mood:  happy
I'm on a railroad train, I hear the whistle blow the note: F# You hear the whistle blow a clear low C. The whistle actually blows F#.
Coming toward you, you hear a high E, but the whistle is actually blowing F#.
This is not true of time dilation. You would hear the low C going both ways. This indicates a true paradox.
The whistle changes pitch because of its relative speed to you.
It dilates going away, and it contracts coming back, all the while blowing a clear F#.
My Suggestion:
Time-dilation occurs because of my relative speed to the railroad tracks. You hear what the railroad tracks hear in time-dilation. This way, the whistle always blows an F#, but you always hear a low C.
Deep in the well of gravity, there's more railroad track around your clock.