Kittyfriends! In order to escape, at least partially, the dark clutches of corporate social network dystopian hellfire, Berkeley Cat Records has launched an old school, low tech, super-simple no frills DIY EMAIL list! Remember email lists? Remember email? When the world was innocent, and young. You are at liberty to paw your way in through the cat door on your right (or if you’re on a smart-thingy, you will likely have to scroll down). This will give us a way to contact interested cats directly, unencumbered by the nefarious whim of diabolical algorithms which are destroying hoomans’ brains. Now, that’s sorted! Welcome, hello.
It’s Catursunday. And the Russ Ellis CD album is now available for sale thru our wonderful Bandcamp, campers. It’s the whole “Songs From The Garden” LP plus the Oom Chugga Challenge remixes, in a fab “eco-pack” designed by Katie Hawkinson with cover art by young Dex Ellis. A heartfelt Berkeley Cat thanks to all the marvelous musicians and singers who created this unique record album, and everyone who picked it up and gave ‘er a spin online. Did I say “record album?” I did. It’s all online for listening, and you can still download it for free, and now if ya like, you may procure one of the 300 physical units (did I say “units?” I did) in all of existence, in time for the holidays! That is all 😽
We are delighted to find this article in KQED’s site: Russ Ellis Cut His First Album at Age 85, and It’s A Bop
It’s a Bop. It is most definitely a Bop.
Today, 9:40 AM, catch Russ Ellis interviewed live on KQED Forum!
88.5 FM in the Bay Area, or online at NPR.org. (UPDATE 8-28-2021: The audio is there too, now. Give it whirl)
Here’s the paper copy of the Sunday Times I managed to find yesterday.
And the article remains online, presumably until the cows come home. That’s a long time, presumably. Go Russ!
Been a meow-filled week or three over in Berkeley Cat Records international HQ (not an actual place)
Items:
Russ Ellis featured in the New York Times
(wait.. what?!)
Yes Gwendoline, the little paper in New York.
We are delighted, flabbergasted, and pleased.
It’s part of their It’s Never Too Late series,
and you can find this wonderful article by Chris Colin here.
Really an inspiring interview, and the comments are a fun read too.
FAVES new single Never Ending is live in streaming services! And Bandcamp! And here’s a cool video of the guys recording the song.
Matte Martin has a new album coming out in like, minutes! Here’s a fun video preview of what he’s been cooking up for us.
Eric Din has released a new song called Fear Of Everything which is about fear of (wait for it..) everything! Din created this with Jay Lane and Dave Shul, and he’s so excited about it he’s started talking about himself in the 3rd person again. We are concerned. The song is here.
Comeback Pete is on the comeback trail with a massive remix of “Mankind” by the aforementioned Eric Din. A footnote (pun accepted) – Larry Lynch of FAVES added the live acoustic kick drum track to this. With his foot. I note.. ba da ping, I’ll be here all week. Save the planet.
We’ve submitted the RSS feed for Berkeley Cat Records PodCats to Apple for world-wide kittypod foistribution. We’ve also upgraded our Simplecast account so now I can embed the show here and not just individual episodes. Shocking progress. We like to embed because cats like beds and are often embedded in guitar cases, boxes and other cozy spaces which were obviously created for us to embed in. Here’s a pic of The Great Cat Burley, co-founder of Berkeley Cat Records, proving the Theory Of Spontaneous Open Guitar Case Cat Generation (TOSOGCCG) for which we await our Nobel.
Now let’s try the embedpodding..
W00t! It works! We are amazed. Our PodCats is the worlds greatest PodCats in that it is the only one.
Simplecats (oops) Simplecast! makes distribution very easy (simple, if you will) and we at BCR World Corporate Headquarters (my bedroom) have decided to try many, purrhaps even all of them. Click the play button above and give ‘er a whirl! It’ll play the most recent episode and run back thru time like sci-fi magic. So fancy.
We have a very special treat for you today on Russ Ellis’ BIRTHDAY!!
A brand new amazing video set to the Russ Ellis track, LAMENT.
Here’s video producer Jason Martineau’s notes:
When Russ first approached me with the idea of creating a video of fractals and computer-generated visuals to accompany his audio track, I eagerly seized upon the opportunity. Using his iconic image by photographer Judy Dater, I built a visual narrative of mathematically generated clips utilizing 10+ different applications, then composited and animated them to follow the music. Russ provided invaluable creative input along the way. I’m very happy with the result, and indeed honored to have been asked to contribute in this way. In a sense, it’s not much different than if he had sent me an original melody and asked me to come up with a chord progression for it. So, this is my “visual harmonization” for Russ’s “Lament”
Here’s Russ’s notes:
Fans of the audio version of “Lament” will be aware of its origins from its liner notes on Songs From The Garden. As soon as it was completed, I imagined it with images. Several years ago, Jason Martineau introduced me to fractals, The Mandelbrot Set, etc., so, last year, I asked him to entertain the prospect of adding fractals to Lament. He agreed. I am very happy with the results. Hang with it a couple of times. There’s stuff to get into.
You can also view this directly on YouTube if you like, and you may share it to your heart’s content. We suggest you view it full-screen, at high-res.
Enjoy! And please join me and all the Berkeley Cats in wishing Russ Ellis a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! And many more. Much love,
We are SO very proud to welcome FAVES to our humble Berkeley Cat home!
The band features these living legends:
Larry Lynch – drums and vocals
Robbie Dunbar – guitars
Jimmy Jet Spalding – bass
David Tashinian – keyboards
Here’s their cover of Greg Kihn’s 1978 single, “Remember,” captured at 25th Street Recording in Oakland. Larry Lynch, who sings this version, also played drums on the original with Greg Kihn Band back the day! Exclusively on YouTube right now, coming out soon in the streaming services, Berkeley Cat Records is thrilled to present, FAVES, with Remember.
