Greg Tropper is a throwback artist. Like those throwback jerseys the NFL is peddling, Greg Trooper’s music is a mix of the classic sounds from the past and a modern sensibility. His mix of folk, blues, and soul make his music nearly unclassifiable.

Greg’s “new” record was recorded in 1995 and produced by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel. It never saw the light of day for whatever reason and now it is available as a pre-order digital download from Greg Trooper here. Here’s one of the blue eyed soul numbers from the new album The Williamsburg Affair.

Stronger All The Time

“When I was seventeen my Dad brought me home John Prine’s first album and it became my private religion for a while. I learned to play the guitar by learning his songs, and my Dad and I still play them around the table after supper. They’ve kept me company for years, in hotel rooms and foreign countries, on stage and away from it, telling the truth in beautiful and unexpected ways. This is a record I always wanted to make.”

The quote above reflect Jeffrey Foucult’s feelings on John Prine and form the basis for his new Prine cover record, but they could probably be the feelings of anyone who has heard Prine’s songs. I imagine that every Prine fan has a story about how his records or songs affecting them or changed them in one way or another.

These songs were recorded with friends (David Goodrich, Mark Erelli, Kris Delmhorst, Peter Mulvey) in the president’s office of an old bank. They’re lofi folk songs performed with an ease and relaxed manner that is uncommon in this age of studio trickery. Shoot The Moon Right Between The Eyes came out Feb. 17 on Signature Sounds. Order it here.

The Late John Garfield Blues
Billy the Bum