Steve Mayone pays homage to Paul McCartney’s 1970 album McCartney with his new release Mayone.
Recorded in Brooklyn during the initial months of the worldwide pandemic, Steve follows the arc of the original to create an album all his own.
Described as a “master songsmith” by AmericanaUK, his new album does not disappoint.
Steve Mayone has created an album of material that’s totally original, while cleverly referencing and emulating McCartney’s 'McCartney'. 'Mayone' is a 2020 classic; let’s hope it lasts as long as 'McCartney'
musicriot uk
Like McCartney 50 years before, Mayone experiments with styles and ideas and makes a fascinating album.
Country Music People
This is an enjoyable album for fans of melodic American rock… Mayone’s musical skills are impressive… great musicianship, likeable tunes, and a likable album (and try not toe-tapping to Happy Alcoholidays).
Congleton Chronicle
An amazingly beautiful album. Mayone is a master songwriter but also a virtuoso musician and arranger... a small masterpiece here.
Moors Magazine UK
Switching easily from roots Americana to well crafted power pop to country ballads... it's a tuneful, personal album. A form of therapy in an uncertain world, he's left a legacy.
Spirit of Progressive Rock UK
In 1993 Liz Phair released Exile In Guyville her song-by-song reply to The Rolling Stones’ 1972 album Exile On Main Street. Phair sequenced her songs in an attempt to match the pacing of the Stones album. In a similar way I made my own response/tribute to a personal favorite — Paul McCartney’s 1970 album McCartney. The McCartney album was a source of inspiration and a springboard for new ideas. Like his approach, I embraced the haphazard alchemy of painting with sound.
Paul’s first solo release was an escape for him, a way to reconnect to his creativity. He recorded it (mostly) at home, playing all of the instruments. It was his refuge from the chaos of the outside world and he approached the making of the album as an experiment. He said the making of the album was “very necessary at that time, cause otherwise, I wouldn’t have anywhere to go to get away from the turmoil.” In those solo sessions, it became clear to Paul that treating his music as therapy was yielding positive results: “it’s a bit like after an operation, where you want to rest but you’ve got to push it.” (from Man On The Run by Tom Doyle).
In March 2020 Matt Keating and I were beginning to mix the debut album for our band Bastards Of Fine Arts, but the project was put on hold due to the pandemic. My wife and I were isolated at home with two young kids. My studio was my refuge from the madness of the world. It was not in the plans for me to make a solo album that would be released before our debut album, but I had a sense of urgency. What if I was next to get sick? Would this be the last thing I make?
I wanted to leave something behind that I would be proud of. Just in case.
— Steve Mayone, Brooklyn NY, September 2020
Steve Mayone: vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, lap steel, bass, drums, percussion.
Yuval Lion: drums on Like You’ve Never Been Away
Andy Plaisted: drums on Stuff and Sweet Little Anchor
Steve Sadler: guitar and synth on Underwater Cave
Billy Beard: big drum on Underwater Cave
Airport Goodbyes:
Tauras Biskis – drums
James Rohr – piano, organ
Jef Charland – upright bass
Mike Castellana – guitar
Martha Bourne – lap steel
Steve Mayone – vocals, ukulele, guitar, drums
Dedicated to Adam Schlesinger (1967-2020)
Recorded and mixed at Proof Box Studios (Brooklyn, NY)
Mastered by Brandon Wilde at Studio 76 (Brooklyn, NY)
Cover photo by Suzanne Cope
Layout and design by Sarah Beth Wiley (sbwsdesign.com)
Click here to view full Album Booklet
