- Genre:music
- Sub-genre:Recording & Reproduction
- Language:English
- Pages:80
- Paperback ISBN:9781098316945
Book details
Overview
Formed through a common musical bond by high school friends John Murphy, Gary Klebe and Jeff Murphy, SHOES was a musical pipe-dream: to form a band and land a major-label record deal, so they could record and release their music as a profession. But, coming from Zion, Illinois, a small mid-western town with no clubs or venues to see live music, the likelihood of achieving that goal seemed extremely remote.
Originally founded at the turn of the century as a religious community, Zion was a "dry" town, where alcohol, tobacco, movie theaters, gaming rooms and even dancing were illegal. Even though by the 1960's Zion had progressed to allow dancing, had a movie theater and permitted the sale and use of tobacco, alcohol was still not allowed for sale in the city limits. So, there was no live music or club scene. However, the town was within range of Chicago's AM radio transmissions and as the British Invasion dominated the airwaves, it brought rock music to Zion.
Through period photos, notes and remembrances, this book details the genesis of the band SHOES and follows them through their early years, as they chase their dream, through their shared love of music, and achieve their goal of signing with a major record label and recording music for a living. The book culminates with the documentation of recording that first professional album, "Present Tense" in England. This 40th Anniversary edition includes a new 2020 Epilogue, updating events and high-points of SHOES' career.
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With nothing more than their love of melodic, guitar-driven, rock music and the will to be in a band, three friends from a small mid-western town in Illinois; John Murphy, Gary Klebe and Jeff Murphy started their band; SHOES before any of them even knew how to play an instrument. Raised on the pop/rock inspiration of the British Invasion and Chicago's vibrant AM radio of their childhood, they not only taught themselves how to play their instruments and write songs, they also learned how to record and produce themselves, as well as manufacture and release their recordings on vinyl.
They ended up signing a major-label record deal and having videos on MTV and VH-1. Getting their start during the early days of the Do-It-Yourself, home-recording renaissance of the 1970's, SHOES went from recording in their living room to recording their major-label debut in England at the legendary Manor Studio, with Queen's production alumnus; Michael Stone as their co-producer. They eventually built and ran their own recording studio and indie record label.
With a musical career that now spans more than 40 years, this book documents the band's inception, through the process of recording that first major-label album; "Present Tense". This 40th Anniversary re-release edition includes a new Epilogue that expands on the years since that release. It's a "behind-the -music" peek at how they did it and what they went through along the way. In a testament to their common bond, they remain close friends and are still musically active, today.
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