Crown Eric Gales

• 1 Death of Me 04:35
• 2 The Storm  06:15
• 3 Had to Dip 00:30
• 4 I Want My Crown 04:19
• 5 Stand Up 04:50
• 6 Survivor 05:38
• 7 You Don't Know the Blues 04:34
• 8 Rattlin' Change 01:03
• 9 Too Close To The Fire 07:07
• 10 Put That Back 03:47
• 11 Take Me Just As I Am 03:03
• 12 Cupcakin' 00:45
• 13 Let Me Start with This 02:49
• 14 I Found Her 06:44
• 15 My Own Best Friend 04:59
• 16 I Gotta Go 03:36
• Total Runtime 01:04:34

Info for Crown

Eric Gales is a blues firebrand. Over 30 years and 18 albums, his passion for the music and his boundless desire to keep it vital has never waned, even when his own light dimmed due to his substance struggles. Five years sober, creatively rejuvenated, and sagely insightful, Eric is ready for the fight of his career. Aptly, he calls his masterful new album "Crown".

The songs are delivered with clarity and feature Eric's personal experiences and hope for positive change. In addition, the 16-track collection boasts his finest singing, songwriting, and his signature guitar playing that burns throughout.

Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, this is Eric at his most boldly vulnerable, uncompromisingly political, and unflinchingly confident.

"The great accomplishment of Crown lies in its unique collection of songs and especially sounds. Eric Gales writes music that pulls in various styles and blends them in such a way that would handcuff other artists. Shifting from metal-tinged blues into a rap-driven verse, delivering a capella intros, or his seamless use of eccentric guitar sounds are things that Gales can do that many other talented artists can’t. On Crown, every song has the ability to stand on its own merit, and as a through-composed album it performs even better. It may be Gales’ best effort to date." (Willie Witten, bluesrockreview.com)

Eric Gales, vocals, guitar
Joe Bonamassa, guitar
Josh Smith, guitar
Michael Rhodes, bass
Greg Morrow, drums
Lemar Carter, drums
J.D. Simo, rhythm guitar
David Cohen, accordion
Jade McCrae, backing vocals

Eric Gales
grew up in a musical family with four brothers, two of them who learned to play the guitar upside down and left handed in the same fashion that Eric does. Eric’s brother Eugene Gales played bass in the Eric Gales Band and his brother Little Jimmy King had a thriving career as a blues artist before his untimely death. Eric released his first record at Age 16 for Elektra records to an amazing response from the media and music fans around the globe. Guitar World Magazine’s Reader’s Poll named Eric as “Best New Talent,” in 1991. After recording a second record for Elektra, all three brothers teamed up for The Gales Bros. “Left Hand Brand” which was recorded for the House of Blues label in 1996.

Through the years, it would not be unusual to look out in the audience and see artists like Carlos Santana, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, B. B. King, and Eric Clapton, looking on with interest as Eric took his God-given talent and worked crowd after crowd into a frenzy. The new Millennium presented new opportunities for Eric and he was signed to a deal with Nightbird Records which was affiliated with the Hendrix family and distributed through MCA/Universal. Under this deal, Eric recorded the critically acclaimed record “That’s What I Am” in 2001 and hit the road, mesmerizing fans around the world with his uncanny connection to his guitar. In 2006 Eric recorded the critically acclaimed CD “Crystal Vision” for Blues Bureau and set the stage for his incredible Blues Bureau follow-up, “The Psychedelic Underground.” in 2007. Eric followed sharply in 2008 with "The Story of my Life" and in 2010 hit a new stride altogether with the incredibly successful album "Relentless". That album combined with his latest studio album "Transformation" released in 2011 set the stage for his upcoming Double Live Album/DVD due in October of 2012.

As both an African-American left-handed guitarist of extraordinary ability and an expressive vocalist, it is natural for people to compare Eric to Hendrix but Eric has developed a unique hybrid blues/rock sound that also draws upon influences as diverse as Albert King and Eric Johnson. A unique amalgam of styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre."

This album contains no booklet.