News

Eric Clapton On New Jamie Oldaker CD “Mad Dogs And Okies”

11 Aug 05

StereoVision Entertainment Inc. announced recently that “Mad Dogs and Okies”, its compilation album with new songs by Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Peter Frampton and others, goes on sale 30 August 2005. The album was co-funded by StereoVision and JamOkie Productions, and produced by Jamie Oldaker.

PRESS RELEASE:

A-LIST TEAM OF MUSICIANS TEAM UP TO PERFORM SONGS WITH AN OKLAHOMA ACCENT ON “MAD DOGS & OKIES”
“Mad Dogs & Okies,” In Stores August 30, Features Ray Benson, Bonnie Bramlett, J.J. Cale, Eric Clapton, Joe & Ellen, Peter Frampton, Vince Gill, Wiley Hunt, Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson, Steve Pryor, Willis Alan Ramsey, Tony Joe White and Zadig & Marcella

“I always liked Tulsa music for its no-compromise attitude, as if the musicians were making it just for themselves, without regard to what other people would think of it.” — Eric Clapton

“Jamie has always been one of my all-time favorite drummers. He had been talking about an ‘Okie project’ idea for a while and then I got the call that it was a reality. I am honored to be amongst such great artists paying tribute to the music of Oklahoma.” — Peter Frampton

The state of Oklahoma has a rich songwriting and performing tradition, and nowhere is that more apparent than on the down-home, roots-rocking Mad Dogs & Okies. This superb 15-song CD, in stores August 30, features a host of A-list artists, some of whom have their roots in Oklahoma, others who found inspiration in the great Mid-west state, nearly all of whom perform songs written by native “Okies.”

Take Eric Clapton, for example, who has worked and recorded extensively with Oklahoma musicians throughout his career, including Delaney and Bonnie, Leon Russell, and J.J. Cale (who wrote “After Midnight” and “Cocaine”). Vince Gill was born and raised in Norman, while Wylie Hunt grew up in Tulsa, OK. And, Taj Mahal’s first band, The Rising Sons, included a premiere Oklahoma musician.

Mad Dogs & Okies was the brain child of Tulsa-raised Jamie Oldaker. The drummer/producer is one of the most respected talents in the country/rock/blues world, with an impressive resume that includes three decades-plus recording and touring with Clapton, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, Leon Russell, and Peter Frampton. He was also a founding member of the country-rock Tulsa band, The Tractors, which scored a triple platinum hit with its 1994 self-titled debut album on Arista. But, with his premiere Concord Records CD, Oldaker emerges from the shadows, ups the ante, and delivers an amazing celebration of music from his home state.

“It all started in 2001 when I decided to record a bunch of songs written by Oklahoma natives,” says Oldaker, who serves as producer and drummer on many of the CD’s tracks. “Of course, the project originally came from a selfish standpoint because that’s where I’m from and that’s where I got started, working with Leon Russell at his Shelter Records and branching off from there. I wanted to get a bunch of my friends together and make an album like we used to years ago-go into the studio, perform the songs live, and forget the ProTools.”

Friends along for the Mad Dogs and Okie ride, a recording three years in the making, include Clapton, Gill, Frampton, J.J. Cale, Willie Nelson, Taj Mahal, Tony Joe White, Willis Alan Ramsey, and Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson. The disc also spotlights lesser-known Oklahoma artists such as the duo Joe & Ellen, Wylie Hunt, Steve Pryor, and Zadig & Marcella.

“There are some great stories behind all these songs and how they are related to Oklahoma,” says Oldaker. “The CD covers a lot of different genres and was a great project to work on.” As for the title, the producer laughs and says, “When I was living in Tulsa I saw Joe Cocker’s early 1970s Mad Dogs and Englishmen revue. When I was trying to figure out what to call this album a friend suggested Mad Dog & Okies. So, I looked up the definition of ‘Mad Dogs’ and it was the chosen name of a band of rebellious artists in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s who partied and wrote songs in an identifiably outlaw manner.” He laughs again and says, “Well, that sure sounds like all the people involved in this project!”

Track List:
01. Vince Gill – Wait Til Your Daddy Gets Home
02. Eric Clapton – Positively
03. Taj Mahal – Don’t Let Your Feet Git Cold
04. Willis Alan Ramsey – Sympathy For A Train
05. Zadig & Marcella – Promises
06. Tony Joe White – Magnolia
07. Bonnie Bramlett – Make Your Move
08. Wylie Hunt – Shotgun Shack
09. Peter Frampton – Sending Me Angels
10. Ray Benson – Time To Boogie
11. Steve Pryor – Can’t Find My Way Home
12. Taj Mahal – Stagger Lee
13. J.J. Cale – Daylight
14. Joe & Ellen – Song For You
15. Willie Nelson & J.J. Cale – Motormouth
16. Bonnie Bramlett – Make Your Move Revisited

The Mad Dogs & Okies
Ray Benson:
A frequent guest of the historic Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. Over the years, he’s has played with several Tulsa musicians

Bonnie Bramlett:
The Bonnie of Delaney and Bonnie

J.J. Cale:
One of Oklahoma’s most influential and best-known musicians (born in Oklahoma City and raised in Tulsa). As a teenager, he started playing with Leon Russell before moving to Nashville. He returned in his 20s to join Shelter Records

Eric Clapton:
Has worked and recorded extensively with Oklahoma musicians throughout his career, including Delaney and Bonnie, Leon Russell, and J.J. Cale (who wrote “After Midnight” and “Cocaine”)

Peter Frampton:
Heard Jamie Oldaker playing while he was in The Bahamas. He found him out and asked him to join his band

Vince Gill:
Born and raised in Oklahoma, a native “Okie”

Wylie Hunt:
A Good Old Country Boy from Tulsa, OK

Joe & Ellen:
A brother / sister duo, born and raised in Tulsa

Taj Mahal:
His first band, The Rising Sons, included Oklahoma’s own Jesse Ed Davis

Willie Nelson:
Deeply rooted in Texas and Oklahoma, working with an endless list of “Okies” throughout his career

Steve Pryor:
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma

Willis Ann Ramsey:
An honorary “Okie” who started his career with Shelter Records, based in Tulsa, OK, and co-owned by Leon Russell and Denny Cordell.

Tony Joe White:
Born in Louisiana, his influences are steadfastly Southern, including J.J. Cale

Zadig & Marcella:
Richard “Zadig” Feldman is an Oklahoma native (he wrote “Promises,” which Clapton recorded on his Backless CD). Marcella Detroit, born Marcy Levy (formerly of Shakespeare’s Sister), was a back-up singer for Clapton in the 1970s and co-wrote “Lay Down Sally” with him.