SONG PREMIERE: ‘I Need a Woman’ by Ed Randazzo and Bret Alexander
Blues singer/songwriter Ed Randazzo just finished recording his latest album this month, and while it’s not due out until the fall, he couldn’t wait to share the first single. We were happy to oblige by premiering “I Need a Woman” right here on nepascene.com.
The 36-year-old Wyoming resident has been writing and recording a mix of blues, folk, and gospel music in collaboration with Bret Alexander (Gentleman East, The Badlees) for nearly seven years. They began demoing Randazzo’s new record, “If You Don’t Bring Me Joy (Be on Your Way),” at Alexander’s Saturation Acres Recording Studio in Dupont in October 2014 and started recording in early 2015, wrapping in June.
“It was a quick six months. The whole thing just happened!” Randazzo told NEPA Scene.
“I think ‘I Need a Woman’ is a fitting introduction to the new stuff. I’m having trouble keeping these songs to myself. This is just a taste of what’s coming this fall.”
His inspiration for this song? The “High Priestess of Soul,” Nina Simone.
“‘I Need a Woman’ is pretty straightforward. It’s one of the older songs from this bunch. I wrote it right after my second record was released back in February 2012. I remember sipping Sambuca and listening to Nina Simone. The hook came and the rest just fell into place,” he explained.
“There’s nothing deep and dark about it. I was just trying to keep warm on a really cold night.”
Alexander produced “If You Don’t Bring Me Joy (Be on Your Way)” and is also the principal instrumentalist on the album, sharing writing and arrangement credits on the six original tracks with Randazzo. Tom Smallcomb, formerly of the New York Times Band, is the sole percussionist, and they recorded as a trio with the addition of a few select guest players throughout the record. An official release date has not been announced yet.
Randazzo’s previous releases, 2012’s “Show and Tell” and 2009’s “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean,” are available now at edrandazzomusic.com.
Photo by Jason Riedmiller Photography
