Description
Luke is evidence that Steve Lukather has come full circle. The album opens with the straight-ahead rock tune, "Real Truth," setting the tone and theme for the entire program. Experimentation with harmonica and pedal-steel guitar on the almost Dylanesque "Hate Everything About You" shows a more folk side of him. From the bluesy "Tears Of My Own Shame" to the funky flavor of "Always Be There For Me," Luke leads you through a diverse array of sounds and emotions. The album ends with a nice surprise, new versions of two cover tunes, Stephen Still's "Bluebird" and Jeff Beck's "The Pump." The twelve songs that comprise this incredible release paint a picture of a man with a powerful instinct for survival, while he maintains a healthy dose of humor and love for life.
Tracks
1) The Real Truth
2) Broken Machine
3) Tears Of My Own Shame
4) Love The Things You Hate
5) Hate Everything About U
6) Reservations To Live (The Way It Is)
7) Don't Hang Me On
8) Always Be There For Me
9) Open Your Heart
10) Bag O' Tales
11) Blue Bird
12) The Pump
Artist Profile
Steve Lukather, world class guitar player, singer and songwriter offers his first domestic release for Miramar Recordings, appropriately titled Luke. In the words of the artist himself, the music is a bit of a departure from his previous work, culminating all the different facets of an artist who has matured as a musician, producer, songwriter and person. All of the tracks on Luke were recorded live, with the exception of vocals and few other oddities, in an attempt to keep the approach real and honest. Interestingly, the writing and recording for this album also coincided with Steve writing and producing a Jeff Beck release.
Born in 1957 in Los Angeles, Steve Lukather has been a force in the music industry for twenty-two years. Luke, as his friends call him, began playing the six string at the young age of seven. Within two years, he was handling blues scales and Clapton and Hendrix solos well enough to play with others twice his age. By the age of eleven, Lukather was already earning money with his talent, performing on the party circuit around L.A. It was in the halls of Grant High School that Steve met the musicians that eventually led to the formation of Toto, which have sold an estimated 20 million copies worldwide. Outside of Toto, Steve Lukather has added his trademark licks to countless recordings from a diverse musical spectrum.
"I have been very fortunate to work with just about all the heroes that I've ever had, in a live setting or in a recording studio. I've worked with Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Elton John, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Don Henley -- a very eclectic bunch."
Credits
�1997 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
Performers
Maxi Anderson: Vocals (Background)
Gregg Bissonette: Drums, Percussion
Jim Cox: Fender Rhodes, Organ (Hammond), Wurlitzer
Steve Lukather: Guitar(Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Mellotron, Organ(Hammond), Vocals, Vocals (Background), Wurlitzer
Jay Dee Maness: Pedal Steel Guitar
David Paich: Wurlitzer Piano Palladino: Bass
John Pierce: Bass
Alfie Silas: Vocals (Background)
Philip Soussan: Bass, Vocals (Background)
Brett Tuggle: Keyboards
Production Credits
Doug Brown: Creative Director
Tom Fletcher: Arranger, Engineer, Producer
Antia Heilig: Production Coordination
Steve Lukather: Arranger, Main Performer, Producer
Steve Marcusson: Mastering
David Nottingham: Engineer
Elliot Scheiner: Mixing
Eric Scott: Art Direction
Bill Smith: Engineer