Music
Press
Guilty - of intelligently written & commercially challenging music”
- Richard Sweret (Arista /BMG Records)
“Classy and thoughtful”
- Jim Walsh (St Paul Pioneer Press)
“A vanguard of excellence in the sea of musical mediocrity”
- Doc Bowman (Palm Springs Music Magazine & Entertainment Guide)
"A beautifully executed and valuable country-rock adventure. Roger Johnson is a great singer with a beautiful rich voice, similar to western soul of Raul Malo of the Mavericks. It is amazing that Johnson is a heretofore unexploited talent whose Stag Cotillion album comes across like a compilation from a country-rock veteran."
- John Gjaltema (AltCountryNL)
"Stag Cotillion - strange title I thought...but this pair of albums from Roger Johnson turned out to be a wonderful surprise. The album is in two volumes encompassing a total of 25 tracks and running at around a 100 minutes. Thematically it's a roller coaster ride, taking on the ups and downs of relationships through the artist's experiences growing from boy to man. In the days of single track downloads, it's a brave effort to release something of this breadth. Does it work? In a word, yes!
"The tracks gel together as a complete work but equally there are many individually memorable songs on both volumes. Roger Johnson is possessed of a wonderfully rich and layered voice (echo's of Roy Orbison). Add to the mix some great harmonies and vocals from Emmaline Muchmore, then put it together with some excellent song writing, a choice set of collaborative musicians and control over the production and the end result is one (sorry, two) great albums. This is a real labour of love and deserving of attention...
"Some highlights of the twenty five song collection: from Volume One, the mystery and allure of the older woman in Counterfeit Heart through to Jokers Are Wild on Volume Two, where the roles are reversed - the older man and his young muse. A Person of Interest a socio-political commentary that could have being lifted from a recent Rodney Crowell album, there's classic country rock in Airstream, and humour Français in Chateau Bimbeaux. Throw in a cover - Hot Burrito #2 and close the opus out with a Bacharach/David composition The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. There is something for everyone over the two volumes." - Beat Surrender
Roger Johnson has re-captured a country influenced rock sound that so many of us grew up with. For those who miss the classic sound of bands like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, or Buffalo Springfield, Roger has created an updated version of this great style of music. There is no shortage of excellent musicians, and the production is first rate. This is a "must have" album for any collection.
- Greg Knowles, Ph.D. - Record Producer; Music Faculty, The Juilliard School
Discography
LP "Stag Cotillion, Volumes One & Two". A two CD set containing 25 songs and 100 minutes of music. It includes the singles "Counterfeit Heart" and Chateau Bimbeaux" both of which have received airplay in the United States and The Netherlands.
Photos
Bio
Growing up under the musical influence of the Beatles, Byrds, Flying Burrito Bros and Eagles, Roger Johnson’s songwriting reflects a highly sophisticated take on life and affairs of the heart. Co-produced by Johnson and Dik Shopteau, the album, "Stag Cotillion", is comprised of two CDs containing 25 songs and 100 minutes of music. Along with the above-mentioned artists, listeners may also hear echoes of Roy Orbison, as well as shades of Chris Isaak and Dwight Yoakam. All influences aside, however, there's no question that Johnson’s music is fresh, new and distinctively his own. Although each track stands on it’s own merits, "Stag Cotillion" has a story arc that follows one man’s journey from the innocence of youth to the wisdom of maturity. Johnson's vocals are evocative, poignant and very malleable. He has the unique ability to subtly alter his voice in order to best tell the story contained within each of his compositions. With decades of professional music experience under his belt, Roger has developed the “big ears” required of a successful record producer. He has performed with alt-country singer-songwriter, Kim Richey, Tex-Mex rockabilly darling, Rosie Flores, and Nashville’s Jann Browne, as well as with Adam Durwitz (Counting Crows) and David Lowry of Cracker. Johnson has won three developing songwriter awards from ASCAP and has appeared on-stage in Los Angeles as a guest of legendary music producer, Nik Venet, at his “Campfire Conspiracy Songwriters Showcase”.
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