Americana singer-songwriter Al Staehely has announced the vinyl release of his new album, Somewhere In West Texas, previously only released digitally. It captures a place as well as conjuring the stories embedded in the songwriting.
Al Staehely says:
This 180 gram hunk of vinyl you hold in your hands, was recorded in a funky, soulful little studio in the Far West, Texas Northern Chihuahuan Desert town of Marfa. The Magic of the almost mile high desert is all around-the landscape-the sky – the air – the people – most certainly the music.
A third generation Austinite, Staehely splits his time between Houston and the Big Bend high desert area of Far West Texas.
His album of new music, Somewhere in West Texas, recorded in Marfa, TX, features an all-star lineup of musicians, including Fran Christina (Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bonnie Raitt), Scrappy Jud Newcomb (Ian McLagan, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Patty Griffin, Slaid Cleaves) and Chris Maresh (Eric Johnson, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Wayne Shepherd).
Al Staehely found that soon after arriving in Los Angeles in 1971, he and his brother John were asked to join the band Spirit. With Al as the band’s new lead vocalist, bass player, and chief songwriter and John taking over lead guitar duties from Randy California, Spirit recorded the album, Feedback, in November of 1971. Al Staehely has been making music ever since in various forms, but is also a notable entertainment and music industry lawyer.
