Berkeley Cat Records – Page 6 – We're from Berkeley. We are cats. We make records.

Matte Martin Paints A Self-Portrait!

Berkeley Cat Records is gleeful to announce the release of Matte Martin’s new Self-Portrait EP. A portrait of the artist as a young self, if you will. In Matte’s own words:

This is my first foray into a style I’ve been working on for the past year, combining traditional pop, my off-kilter rock style, and romantic classical music. It is a mix Frank Sinatra and Tears for Fears, with a little Wagner on top.

And as I shared in a recent mewsletter,

Harkening back to a time when people were nice to each other, Matte Martin’s latest offering, “SELF-PORTRAIT,” finds our young troubadour unmistakably in love. Remember love? It still happens to people. Musically expanding his palette to include lush string and horn arrangements, but still deeply committed to The Electric Guitar and rock band sensibilities, Martin plants his flag on a mountain of gentle cinematic beauty, built of both original and cover songs, which we are thrilled and proud to share with you now.

And it’s true. And here it is, via our beloved Bandcamp:

<a href="https://mattemartin.bandcamp.com/album/self-portrait">Self-Portrait by Matte Martin</a>

We do hope you enjoy, and stay warm and don’t get soggy in all this muck!

-Eric Din
Berkeley Cat Records Cat Herder In Chief

Julie Gordon Shearer

Berkeley Cat Records is honored to share Julie Gordon Shearer’s 3 full-length albums – Selected Songs from Mama Don’t Allow, Alive in Song, and When Now Is Then, and the single, From Where I Stand.

<a href="https://juliegordonshearer.bandcamp.com/album/when-now-is-then">When Now Is Then by Julie Gordon Shearer</a>

Julie Shearer departed this mortal world in August of last year. We invite you to download the remembrances and photos in this lovely PDF. There are also some tributes and memories online, including here and here.

Julie was also the long-time partner of Russ Ellis, and there are several songs he wrote for her, on his recent album Songs From The Garden.

Russ and other family members and friends are hosting a memorial service at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Always in our hearts,

Julie Gordon Shearer, 1940-2022

Safe Pair Of Hands Nonuffya Bizznis And The Private Dancers

We are THRILLED beyond words to BELATEDLY place this marvelous single on the BCR website. Came out to the streaming serviceseseses some months ago and apparently, we napped on it here in BCR international space station. Play it! Share it! Embed it! Blog it! What is more, cheers. WHO is this mystery artist, you may wonder? Well, it’s.. Nonuffya Bizznis!! Enjoy 🙂

Safe Pair Of Hands by Nonuffya Bizznis And The Private Dancers

Christmas Songs?! In Berkeley!?

Why yes, Catalonia, a shiny new Xmas track from Matte Martin is under the tree ready for you to paw and chase about. We at BCR International Head-Living-Room are basking in the glorious Solstice morning as we share, without further ado, the first Christmas or “Holiday” themed Berkeley Cat Record in EVER!! That’s like, a long time – since Caesar thumped the elves, or whatever happened – in the amazing year 4 BCR (four years after the birth of Berkeley Cat Records), MErrrrY Christmaaaas, Happy ALL the holidays, yay, presents, yummy kitty treats and warm winter beverages to ye near and far, in short, CHEERS!! Thank you, Matte, for this splendid version, just in the St. Nick of time. And nice suit, btw. 🙂

<a href="https://mattemartin.bandcamp.com/track/have-yourself-a-merry-little-christmas">Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Matte Martin</a>

In the words of the Maestro hisself:

My first official cover, first Christmas song, and the first song in a new style that I’ll be exploring over the next year or so, combining traditional pop, my off-kilter rock style, and romantic classical music.
– Matte Martin

Matte Martin: piano, drums, upright bass, vocals, keyboards and programming.
Vince Mazzella: guitar.

Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane.

Cover art illustration by Matte Martin.
Designed by Matte Martin and Summer Swann.

But wait wait wait! More presents! Moar!!! A video (WHAT!?!) Why yes, Baroness. Santa’s feeling groovy and generous.

Amazing, no? Much love from all of us (including the cows!), and a splendid New Year to you and yours,

Eric Din
Berkeley Cat Records Cat-Herder In Chief

Berkeley Cat Holiday CD Bundle!

Incredibly, Berkeley Cat Records has made two actual CDs. Against all reason, we made nice physical packages with beautiful artwork for Russ Ellis’ Songs From The Garden and Eric Din’s Street Party.

For a wee limited time, you can order ’em BOTH for the amazing price of $18, all-in including shipping in the US. (For international shipping we’ll have to charge a wee bit, send a note with your order and we’ll work it out)
For added fun, you’ll also get access to these albums on Bandcamp so you may listen to them wherever you may roam, and we know, cats do roam.

Read about Russ Ellis and his album in the New York Times or check out his fab interview on KQED. Read about Eric Din and his album on Brooklyn Vegan. View some photos of these fab items below. Order the Berkeley Cat Records Holiday CD Bundle with this convenient space age button:

With a Little Help From My Friends by Dave Seabury and Heavy Friends

We are very proud to foist Dave Seabury’s second full-length album,
With a Little Help From My Friends, on Berkeley Cat Records. It’s a unique collection of collaborations which Dave has created with some of his friends, including his brother and fellow Psycotic Pineapple, John Seabury. There’s even one with Berkeley Cat Records Cat Herder in Chief, Eric Din. Here’s more about the album, from Dave himself:

I’ve always felt a certain level of confidence in my ability to compose a solid music track. That said, I’ve not yet developed the skill that one requires to craft words together into a song. But I’ve always felt that my instrumental tracks could be transformed into good songs.

A number of years ago I began asking some of my talented singer/songwriter friends if they might consider taking my tracks and setting lyrics to them. To my delight, 8 artists responded to my invitation.

It’s been a slow, yet deeply rewarding process, often more than a bit challenging for my collaborators, who usually compose from the ground up, writing lyrics and music simultaneously, rather than trying to squeeze lyrics into a somewhat rigid pre-arranged format.

I’m proud of the results, and now pleased to share with you the results of my collaborations with my friends Bruno Coon, The Late Great J.D. Buhl (R.I.P.), Jeff Crump, Eric Din, Helen Holt, Max McMillan, Jon Otis, Theresa Sawi, my brother John Seabury, and Jon Strider.

The cover art, which fittingly, shows us some of these cats in the wild: