Songs in the Key of Rock
Encyclopedia
Songs in the Key of Rock is a studio album by former Deep Purple
, Black Sabbath
and Trapeze
vocalist/ bassist Glenn Hughes. It was his ninth solo studio album and was released in 2003 on Frontier
and Pony Canyon
records.
album Songs in the Key of Life
, was written in a ‘seventies vintage frame of mind’, according to Hughes. Although the album features some moments of funk, it has a predominant seventies inspired hard rock sound.
The album features Hughes’ regular guitarist JJ Marsh and is his last album to date to include drummer Gary Ferguson, who has played on five of Hughes solo records. Other musicians include guitarist and producer Jeff Kollman, keyboardist Ed Roth, former Santana
vocalist Alex Ligertwood
, bassist Billy Sheehan
and Red Hot Chili Peppers
drummer Chad Smith
on the track Get You Stoned.
This marked the first occasion Chad Smith
performed on one of Hughes’ albums. Smith is now Hughes’ regular drummer for his studio work.
The track Higher Places was written and a tribute to the late Led Zeppelin
drummer John Bonham
, who was a fan of Hughes’ first band Trapeze
and used to jam with them on occasion at gigs http://www.rockdetector.com/officialbio,9489.sm.
Two versions of the album were released. The European version includes the bonus track Secret Life, while the Japanese edition features a song entitled Change. Change was also included on the European version of Hughes’ 2004 live album Soulfully Live in the City of Angels
. Both these tracks are listed as track nine in their respective versions.
An unlisted short reprise of the song Higher Places is featured at the end of the album.
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
and Trapeze
Trapeze (band)
Trapeze were an English rock band formed in March 1969, by vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley , with guitarist Mel Galley, singer/bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland...
vocalist/ bassist Glenn Hughes. It was his ninth solo studio album and was released in 2003 on Frontier
Frontiers Records
Frontiers Records is an Italian record label, predominantly producing melodic rock. It was formed in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and is based in Naples, Italy.-History:...
and Pony Canyon
Pony Canyon
is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...
records.
History
Songs in the Key of Rock, which was named after the Stevie WonderStevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
album Songs in the Key of Life
Songs in the Key of Life
Songs in the Key of Life is the 13th album by American recording artist Stevie Wonder, released September 28, 1976, on Motown Records. It was the culmination of his "classic period" albums. An ambitious double LP with a 4-song bonus EP, Songs in the Key of Life became among the best-selling and...
, was written in a ‘seventies vintage frame of mind’, according to Hughes. Although the album features some moments of funk, it has a predominant seventies inspired hard rock sound.
The album features Hughes’ regular guitarist JJ Marsh and is his last album to date to include drummer Gary Ferguson, who has played on five of Hughes solo records. Other musicians include guitarist and producer Jeff Kollman, keyboardist Ed Roth, former Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
vocalist Alex Ligertwood
Alex Ligertwood
Alex Ligertwood is a Scottish singer, guitarist and drummer, best known as the lead vocalist of Santana...
, bassist Billy Sheehan
Billy Sheehan
William "Billy" Sheehan is an American bassist known for his work with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin. Sheehan has won the "Best Rock Bass Player" readers' poll from Guitar Player Magazine five times for his "lead bass" playing style...
and Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
drummer Chad Smith
Chad Smith
Chad Smith is an American musician, best known as the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot which includes Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony, former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes' backing band and...
on the track Get You Stoned.
This marked the first occasion Chad Smith
Chad Smith
Chad Smith is an American musician, best known as the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot which includes Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony, former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes' backing band and...
performed on one of Hughes’ albums. Smith is now Hughes’ regular drummer for his studio work.
The track Higher Places was written and a tribute to the late Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
drummer John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
, who was a fan of Hughes’ first band Trapeze
Trapeze (band)
Trapeze were an English rock band formed in March 1969, by vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley , with guitarist Mel Galley, singer/bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland...
and used to jam with them on occasion at gigs http://www.rockdetector.com/officialbio,9489.sm.
Two versions of the album were released. The European version includes the bonus track Secret Life, while the Japanese edition features a song entitled Change. Change was also included on the European version of Hughes’ 2004 live album Soulfully Live in the City of Angels
Soulfully Live in the City of Angels
Soulfully Live In The City Of Angels is a live album and DVD by former Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Trapeze vocalist/ bassist Glenn Hughes. It was recorded at Sound Image Studio, Hollywood on January 11 2004 in front of select group of guests...
. Both these tracks are listed as track nine in their respective versions.
An unlisted short reprise of the song Higher Places is featured at the end of the album.
Track listing
- "In My Blood" – 4:39 (Hughes, Marsh)
- "Lost in the Zone" – 4:26 (Hughes, Kollman, Marsh)
- "Gasoline" – 3:10 (Hughes, Marsh)
- "Higher Places (Song for Bonzo)" – 5:04 (Hughes, Kollman)
- "Get You Stoned" – 4:49 (Hughes, Kollman)
- "Written All Over Your Face" – 8:33 (Hughes, Marsh)
- "Standing On The Rock" – 3:46 (Hughes, Kollman)
- "Courageous" – 4:25 (Hughes)
- "Secret Life" – 3:45 (Hughes, Marsh) (European vsn only)
- "Change" – 4:35 (Hughes, Marsh) (Japanese vsn only)
- "The Truth" – 3:28 (Hughes)
- "Wherever You Go" – 5:31 (Hughes, Marsh)
- "Higher Places (reprise)" – 1:08 (Hughes, Kollman)
Performers
- Glenn Hughes – Vocals/ BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- JJ Marsh – GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Jeff Kollman – GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Gary Ferguson – DrumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s except track 5 - Ed Roth – KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Alex LigertwoodAlex LigertwoodAlex Ligertwood is a Scottish singer, guitarist and drummer, best known as the lead vocalist of Santana...
– Backing VocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Billy SheehanBilly SheehanWilliam "Billy" Sheehan is an American bassist known for his work with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin. Sheehan has won the "Best Rock Bass Player" readers' poll from Guitar Player Magazine five times for his "lead bass" playing style...
– BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on Change - Chad SmithChad SmithChad Smith is an American musician, best known as the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot which includes Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony, former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes' backing band and...
– DrumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s on track 5