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Alabama's Jeff Cook Releasing Album With His Allstar Goodtime Band
February 27, 2009
Alabama guitarist and fiddler Jeff Cook has recorded a new album, Ashes Won't Burn, with his Allstar Goodtime Band for digital release on March 17. "This new record will please rock, blues and soul fans alike," Cook says. However, he adds, "Country music fans can expect to hear those familiar guitar and fiddle licks from the past." Cook formed the new nine-piece band after Alabama retired from touring in 2004. "I put this group together to target the casino, fairs and festival demographics," he acknowledges. "We love playing the diversified music types." Ashes Won't Burn will be released via iTunes and includes cover versions of Free's "All Right Now," the Commodores' "Brick House" and Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." The members of Alabama were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.
TODAY'S COUNTRY MAGAZINE
Music Reviews
Band: JEFF COOK & THE ALLSTAR GOODTIME BAND
Album: Ashes Won’t Burn
Label: Self-Released
Jeff Cook is best known for his time spent with the legendary group Alabama. Since their last tour together in 2004 fans have been crying out for a reunion, but instead have got Randy Owen’s solo debut album, Teddy Gentry produced albums from the likes of Emerson Drive, and now Jeff Cook and his Allstar Goodtime Band are releasing their album “Ashes Won’t Burn.” With a soulful, blues style the minute you hit play and are introduced to title track, “Ashes Won’t Burn” you can’t help but be reminded a bit of the great Ronnie Milsap, especially in the vocals. As you dive forward into the album you get a dose of covers including the popular Beatles song “I Feel Fine,” Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” Free’s “All Right Now” and showing their vast range of influence and styles, The Commodores “Brick House.” But this album isn’t just about the covers, but rather Cook is smart enough to give the fans a taste of what they miss, that fiddle and harmonies that made Alabama so popular. Original material like “Mist of Desire,” “A Million Times Today,” and “Wonderful Waste of Time,” are all sure to keep those Alabama fans at bay for a little while. The idea for the band came from Cook with the focus being on the popular fair and casino circuits and this album is a perfect companion to what you can expect from their live show as it combines their diverse cover material in between originals and is going to be a welcome addition to music collections for those fans that miss that popular Alabama sound.
ALABAMA'S JEFF COOK FIRES UP HIS "ALLSTAR GOODTIME BAND" FOR SMOKIN' NEW ALBUM RELEASE
New Album, Ashes Won't Burn, to be Digitally Released on i-Tunes March 17
(Nashville, TN - February 26, 2009) - After retiring from the road in 2004, country supergroup Alabama left millions of their fans salivating for more of the down-home country music they had been devouring for three decades. During the group's 30-year run, the boys managed to snag 42 #1 Hits, two Grammy Awards, 23 American Music Awards, three CMA "Entertainer of the Year" Awards, ACM's "Group of the Decade," and the RIAA's "Group of the Century."
Now, five years later, Alabama lead guitarist, fiddle player and founding member Jeff Cook has cranked up his Allstar Goodtime Band (AGB) to bring fans that familiar Alabama sound as well as something new. Cook and the AGB will release Ashes Won't Burn and will be available for download on i-Tunes beginning March 17. The new album, releasing on Quest Records, isn't genre specific but rather ‘Country, Soul and Rock-n-Roll,' as Cook calls it.
"This new record will please Rock, Blues and Soul fans alike... we had a lot of fun making it... we call it ‘Funtry' music. Country music fans can expect to hear those familiar guitar and fiddle licks from the past," says Cook.
Ashes Won't Burn, will showcase previously released re-recorded cuts from Cook's days with Alabama, new cuts co-written by Cook, as well as tried-and-true classics including "Brickhouse," Knockin' on Heaven's Door," and "All Right Now."
Cook's Allstar Goodtime Band is a nine-piece group (including Cook) complete with a three-piece horn section and percussion. Prior to forming the band, Cook methodically handpicked all eight band members based on stage chemistry... a difficult task when considering the large number of musicians he has collaborated with throughout the years.
"I put this group together to target the casino, fairs and festival demographics," notes Cook on his versatile band. "We love playing the diversified music types!"
Born in Fort Payne, Alabama, Jeff Cook has been playing lead guitar and keyboard since the age of 13. In addition to his rich vocals Cook has just about done it all. Alabama signed a recording contract with RCA records in 1980, launching a career that to date has resulted in 21 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums and more than 78 million records sold. In November of 2005, Jeff and his bandmates received Country Music's highest honor, as they were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Alabama is one of the Top 20 best-selling acts of all time. In the U.S. alone, they have sold more albums than Elvis and The Beatles combined.
In 2001, Cook was named "Guitarist of the Year" by the Gibson Guitar Company.
Now with the Allstar Goodtime Band and a rejuvenated enthusiasm for performing, Jeff Cook is back on stage... singing three decades of Alabama hits plus his very own brand of "Country, Soul, & Rock n' Roll."
Track Listing:
1. Ashes Won't Burn
2. I Feel Fine
3. If I Could Just See You Now
4. Mist Of Desire
5. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
6. Brick House
7. Kissing A Fool
8. Monkey Around
9. All Right Now
10. A Million Times Today
11. Wonderful Waste Of Time
12. King Bee
***REVIEW COPIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
***JEFF COOK AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS
