The Bottom Half
Encyclopedia
The Bottom Half is a double album from progressive rock
group Umphrey's McGee
recorded during the band's 2005/2006 sessions of their previous studio effort Safety in Numbers
. The first disc contains complete songs that were initially left off the Safety in Numbers album, while the second disc features demos, outtakes, and b-sides from the sessions. Like the previous album, the artwork was created by the legendary Storm Thorgerson
. The first single from the album is "Bright Lights, Big City," written by Mother Vinegar frontman Karl Engelmann, who is also a member of Ali Baba's Tahini
with Umphrey's guitarist Jake Cinninger
.
The album was released on April 3, 2007.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group Umphrey's McGee
Umphrey's McGee
Umphrey's McGee is an American progressive rock jam band based in Chicago whose music is often referred to as "progressive improvisation", or "improg" ....
recorded during the band's 2005/2006 sessions of their previous studio effort Safety in Numbers
Safety In Numbers (Umphrey's McGee Album)
Safety In Numbers is Umphrey's McGee's fourth studio album , released on April 4, 2006. Huey Lewis and Joshua Redman both make appearances. The album contains many slower, acoustic songs and a simpler, stripped down approach with little jamming or progressive rock elements...
. The first disc contains complete songs that were initially left off the Safety in Numbers album, while the second disc features demos, outtakes, and b-sides from the sessions. Like the previous album, the artwork was created by the legendary Storm Thorgerson
Storm Thorgerson
Storm Thorgerson is an English graphic designer, known for his work for rock bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, 10cc, Dream Theater, The Mars Volta, Muse, The Cranberries, and Biffy Clyro.-Biography:...
. The first single from the album is "Bright Lights, Big City," written by Mother Vinegar frontman Karl Engelmann, who is also a member of Ali Baba's Tahini
Ali Baba's Tahini
Ali Baba's Tahini is a South Bend, Indiana quartet that incorporates everything from jazz and fusion to rock and avant garde. The band, which formed in 1997, made a name for themselves on the Midwest club circuit and began sharing gigs with an up and coming Umphrey's McGee.The original group...
with Umphrey's guitarist Jake Cinninger
Jake Cinninger
Jake Cinninger, born Jacob Alan Cinninger, December 16, 1975 in Niles, Michigan, is an American musician. He has risen to fame as one of two lead guitarists, in the Chicago-based jam band Umphrey's McGee.-History:...
.
The album was released on April 3, 2007.
Disc One
- The Bottom Half
- Bright Lights, Big City
- Great American
- Higgins Sir
- Higgins
- Memories of Home
- Atmosfarag
- Red Room
- Intentions Clear
- Home
- Divisions
Disc Two
- Words (a capella version)
- Great American / Believe the Lie
- Believe the Lie
- Time Eater
- Never Cease
- Rocker
- Ready Noodles
- Higgins (instrumental version)
- The Heart of Rock 'N' Roll
- Fresh Start
- The Browning Special
- Ocean Billy
- Intentions Clear
- What Else?
- Alex's House
- End of the Road
- Red Room Disco
- Rocco
- WWS
- The Weight Around
- Liquid
- Atmosfarag
- Words (chorus)
- Memories of Home
- Browning Family Creed
- Biscuits & Gravy
- Words (Intro)
- Words (Instrumental)
Album
| Chart | Provider(s) | Peak position |
Certification | Sales/ shipments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Top Heatseekers Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... (U.S.) |
Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... |
7 | Not certified | N/A |
| Billboard Top Independent Albums (U.S.) | 22 | |||
Personnel
- Brendan BaylissBrendan BaylissBrendan Bayliss is an American musician, the founder, a lead guitarist alongside fellow guitarist and band member Jake Cinninger, and primary vocalist for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee. He formed the band in 1997 and took its moniker from the name of a distant relative he met at a wedding...
- 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...
, vocals - Jake CinningerJake CinningerJake Cinninger, born Jacob Alan Cinninger, December 16, 1975 in Niles, Michigan, is an American musician. He has risen to fame as one of two lead guitarists, in the Chicago-based jam band Umphrey's McGee.-History:...
- 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...
, MoogMoog synthesizerMoog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
, synthesizers, vocals - Joel CumminsJoel CumminsJoel Nathan Cummins is an American musician, and founding member/keyboardist for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee....
- 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...
, vocals - Ryan StasikRyan StasikRyan Fabec Stasik is the bassist for progressive rock group Umphrey's McGee. Stasik originally hails from the Pittsburgh area, though he grew up in Portage, MI and is now based out of Chicago, IL. He is a founding member of Umphrey's McGee, having played in the group Tashi Station with guitarist...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, no vocals - Kris MyersKris MyersKris Myers, originally from Palatine, Illinois, is an American musician.He is the drummer for the Chicago-based progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee. He joined the band in 2003, replacing original drummer Mike Mirro. He first appeared on disc with Umphrey's McGee on the 2003 live album Local Band...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals - Andy FaragAndy FaragAndy Farag is the percussionist for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee. He was brought into the band by original drummer Mike Mirro in late 1998, shortly after the release of their debut album Greatest Hits Vol. III...
- percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Béla FleckBéla FleckBéla Anton Leoš Fleck is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.-Early life and career details:Fleck was born in...
- banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new... - Chris Hoffman - celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
- Joshua RedmanJoshua RedmanJoshua Redman is an American jazz saxophonist and composer who records for Nonesuch Records. He won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 1991.-Biography:...
- saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...