DT: MAY 31, 2023

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK/SRO PR

Jeff Larson; Photo credit: Patrick Fore

JEFF LARSON
TO RELEASE FIRST SOLO FULL-LENGTH ALBUM IN A DECADE,
TENTATIVELY TITLED ‘ADOBE HOME,’
THIS FALL (2023) ON THE NASHVILLE-BASED MELODY PLACE LABEL

THE ALBUM WILL ARRIVE ON THE HEELS OF
‘IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN,’
HIS ACCLAIMED SIX-SONG TRIBUTE EP
TO THE LATE ICONIC SINGER AND SONGWRITER TIM HARDIN,

“…striking new EP…stellar selections…Larson does an admirable job of carrying…[Hardin’s] credentials forward.”
–Lee Zimmerman, AMERICAN SONGWRITER, May/June 2023

JEFF LARSON will release his first solo full-length album in a decade, the tentatively titled ADOBE HOME, this fall (2023) via Nashville-based label Melody Place on the heels of IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, his acclaimed six-song tribute EP to the late iconic singer and songwriter Tim Hardin. Read the pull quotes below about the EP, produced by Gerry Beckley of America, from a variety of media outlets including Music Connection (“…does an exceptional job shedding new light on classic material from legendary troubadour Tim Hardin), Americana Highways (“…interprets with class”), and Rock and Roll Globe (“…give his stunning take on a Tim Hardin standard [‘If I Were A Carpenter’] a listen”).

LARSON is a veteran singer-songwriter from the San Francisco Bay area now living in Southern California. For the melodically sparkling and CA-themed ADOBE HOME, LARSON recorded 12 new songs that he produced with Gerry Beckley. LARSON wrote seven of the tunes; two with legendary songwriter Jack Tempchin (the Eagles’ “Peaceful Easy Feeling”); and one with Beckley, who contributes one original. It’s an album with subject matter that touches on people, places, and things with styles ranging from Americana, folk-rock, power pop, and some jazz elements. The exact release date is TBA.

“This project started in 2020 when I just moved to the San Diego area,” says LARSON. “Exploring and learning about my new surroundings influenced several songs, starting with ‘Adobe Home,’ ‘This Summer,’ and ‘Better Part of the Morning.’  I’ve continued my ongoing collaboration with co-producer and friend, Gerry Beckley,” he adds. “We help each other as sounding boards on the production side, we co-wrote one song, and he plays bass and keyboards throughout the album.  I also became friends with Jack Tempchin, who is a neighbor. Along with producing a record for Jack, we co-wrote a couple of songs for this album. I think it captures the time it was written and the emotions I went through.”

On IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, LARSON’s are warm, distinctive, and beautifully evocative, as especially underlined by his performance on “Reason To Believe.” Watch the video HERE.

IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN was produced, arranged and mixed by Beckley and features “Reason to Believe,” It’ll Never Happen Again,” “If I Were A Carpenter,” Don’t Make Promises,” “Misty Roses,” and “How Can We Hang On To A Dream.” LARSON (on lead vocals and acoustic guitar) is musically joined by Beckley (piano, acoustic and electric guitars, organ, accordion, strings bass, drums) and an array of fine musicians including Joachim Cooder (electric mbira, drums, percussion) and Matt Combs (mandola, fiddle). The EP was recorded at studios in Sydney, Australia and Southern California. LARSON has also shared below a song-by-song comments about each track on the EP. He recently shared his song-by-song comments about the EP. Read them HERE.

JEFF LARSON
‘IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN’
CRITICS QUOTE SHEET

“…striking new EP…stellar selections…Larson does an admirable job of carrying…[Hardin’s] credentials forward.”
–Lee Zimmerman, AMERICAN SONGWRITER, May/June 2023

“Singer-songwriter Jeff Larson does an exceptional job shedding new light on classic material from legendary troubadour Tim Hardin. Everyone from Rod Stewart and Bob Seger to Johnny Cash have covered Hardin’s catalog. And Larson is right up there with the best of them. He stridently captures the honest and conflicting sentiment of ‘Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep,’ and his take on ‘Misty Roses’ is dreamy and wistful. ‘How Can We Hang On To a Dream’ has an engaging baroque feel.”
–Eric Harabadian, MUSIC CONNECTION, 2/28/23

“Singer-songwriter Jeff Larson has teamed with producer Gerry Beckley of America for this exquisite tribute to the late Tim Hardin.  Its six songs encompass such Hardin classics as “Reason to Believe,” ‘If I Were a Carpenter,’ ‘Misty Roses,’ and the title track.  Larson handles lead vocals and acoustic guitar while Beckley, Joachim Cooder, and Matt Combs have joined him to provide the wide-ranging instrumentation.  It’ll Never Happen Again reinterprets Hardin’s timeless and personal songs with grace and elegance, with one veteran singer-songwriter paying subtle and deeply-felt tribute to another.”
—THE SECOND DISC, 2/23/23

“It [the EP] provides some revitalized versions of covers of some of the late Tim Hardin’s best songs…Jeff Larson is a capable artist who interprets with class…Jeff has provided a fascinating document & judging from a few (‘Don’t Make Promises’) he really excels with these songs.”
–John Apice, AMERICANA HIGHWAYS, 4/4/23

“…give his stunning take on a Tim Hardin standard [‘If I Were A Carpenter’] a listen.”
–Ron Hart, ROCK AND ROLL GLOBE, 3/8/23

“..It’ll Never Happen Again, subtitled A Tim Hardin Tribute, is a stellar example of the power that Hardin’s music still has on today’s music scene…Jeff’s vocals and acoustic guitars are in fine form throughout. With multiple albums to his credit, Jeff Larson adds to his notable legacy with this short, but sweet tribute to the late, great Tim Hardin.”
–Robert Silverstein, ROOTS MUSIC REPORT, 3/21/23

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ABOUT JEFF LARSON:

JEFF LARSON is a veteran singer-songwriter from the San Francisco Bay area. Musically, Jeff got his start under the wing of producer Elliot Mazer (Neil Young, The Band) playing in clubs and venues throughout the Bay area. As a native Californian, the influences are obviously present and reach from the golden era of L.A.’s Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter scene to the Bay area’s musical heritage and the tension between the two. While remaining a solo artist, he’s collaborated with Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America, Chicago’s Robert Lamm, John Blakeley of The Sandals, and Eagles songwriter Jack Tempchin, among others. His prolific body of work created over the years has been released by various means and labels with licensing opportunities with JVC Victor Japan, Universal / Rhino, BMG and others from The Netherlands to Japan. “Larson’s earnest vocals and unwaveringly engaging folk-rock-country songs have an alluring feel,” wrote the San Jose Mercury News in 2011 about his album The World Over. “Larson’s warm, wonderful songs will grab you immediately and just get better with each subsequent listening. Every one of the 10 numbers here proves to be an individual gem.”

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY

For press inquiries regarding JEFF LARSON, contact:

SRO PR
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com

###

DT: MARCH 16, 2023

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK/SRO PR

JEFF LARSON
TO RELEASE ‘IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN,’
HIS SIX-SONG TRIBUTE EP
TO THE LATE ICONIC SINGER AND SONGWRITER TIM HARDIN,
TOMORROW, MARCH 17

THE VETERAN SINGER AND SONGWRITER ALSO
SHARES SONG-BY-SONG COMMENTS ABOUT EACH TRACK

“‘It’ll Never Happen Again’ reinterprets Hardin’s timeless and personal songs with grace and elegance, with one veteran singer-songwriter paying subtle and deeply-felt tribute to another.”
—THE SECOND DISC, 2/23/23

JEFF LARSON—the veteran singer-songwriter from the San Francisco Bay area now living in Southern California—tomorrow (March 17) will release IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, his six-song tribute EP to the late iconic singer and songwriter Tim Hardin. The EP, featuring all Hardin originals, was produced by Gerry Beckley of America and is LARSON’s first release on Nashville-based label Melody Place. LARSON has also shared below a song-by-song comments about each track on the EP.

The latest and second single “If I Were A Carpenter” was premiered by Rock And Roll Globe which told readers to “…give his stunning take on a Tim Hardin standard a listen.”

Watch the video for the album’s first single “Reason To Believe,” featuring a performance by LARSON that’s combined with archival imagery of Hardin, HERE.

IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN was produced, arranged and mixed by Beckley and features “Reason to Believe,” It’ll Never Happen Again,” “If I Were A Carpenter,” Don’t Make Promises,” “Misty Roses,” and “How Can We Hang On To A Dream.” LARSON (on lead vocals and acoustic guitar) is musically joined by Beckley (piano, acoustic and electric guitars, organ, accordion, strings bass, drums) and an array of fine musicians including Joachim Cooder (electric mbira, drums, percussion) and Matt Combs (mandola, fiddle). The EP was recorded at studios in Sydney, Australia and Southern California.

LARSON is now working on his next solo album, his first since 2014. It’s due in the fall of 2023.

JEFF LARSON
SONG-BY-SONG COMMENTS:
‘IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN’

1. Reason To Believe

When selecting songs for the EP, it was hard not to cover some obvious ones.  Reason to Believe, like other Tim Hardin songs, is more well known as recordings by other artists, in this case, Rod Stewart’s 1993 version.  It’s a song that is “in the air” and familiar to many.  I think the goal in covering a song like this is just to associate the lyric to a relationship I had experienced and go from there.

2. It’ll Never Happen Again

As I mentioned, Gerry produced the EP and this was the first song he suggested I cover.  Six months had passed before I sang the song.  I had done an acoustic demo and played around with various mics, but didn’t really get too far in.  One evening I was working with an old Telefunken tube mic and that’s when it felt right – right up close. From there it was like many of these songs in that it took only a handful of takes to lock in.  Without being trite, it has to come from the heart – you have to get yourself “there” and hope it comes through.  Like most of the songs on the EP, it’s a very direct and honest human emotion, and I did get lost in it …  “always the rain around my eyes” … It’s just a beautiful piece of songwriting.  I love the production approach Gerry did on the track.

3. If I Were A Carpenter

Best known as a cover by Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash & June Carter, and others, it has some great imagery. I thought it would be perceived as a little outdated, but I was wrong. Insecurity of the man, in this case, to be worthy of the Lady. It’s a relationship and an honorable song that way. Joachim Cooder added his touch on drums, percussion, and electric mbira, and Brian Eichelberger of the Beach Boys band helped with harmonies.

4. Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep

This is a little anthem and self-explanatory. I love the fact that he could do these types of songs short and to the point and cover so much ground. They stick with you like an anthem, and to me, it works well as a song and message in this EP song cycle. It has been said, Tim Hardin never overstayed his welcome with his songs. This one is the perfect example of that.

5. Misty Roses

I shamefully did not have much experience in hearing this song before we started this project. It’s really a standard and was not hard to attach myself to it. I think this was just one or two takes on the lead vocal and I only remember closing my eyes and singing in my own space.

6. How Can We Hang On to a Dream

This was the last song approached and is basically me and an acoustic guitar trying to get the essence of the song down in a sparse way. There’s some slight embellishment as it carries on, but the thought was to end the EP with a quiet reflection. The song has a sense of despair throughout, but it’s a relatable emotion in the life of a relationship.

ABOUT JEFF LARSON:

JEFF LARSON is a veteran singer-songwriter from the San Francisco Bay area. Musically, Jeff got his start under the wing of producer Elliot Mazer (Neil Young, The Band) playing in clubs and venues throughout the Bay area. As a native Californian, the influences are obviously present and reach from the golden era of L.A.’s Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter scene to the Bay area’s musical heritage and the tension between the two. While remaining a solo artist, he’s collaborated with Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America, Chicago’s Robert Lamm, John Blakeley of The Sandals, and Eagles songwriter Jack Tempchin, among others. His prolific body of work created over the years has been released by various means and labels with licensing opportunities with JVC Victor Japan, Universal / Rhino, BMG and others from The Netherlands to Japan. “Larson’s earnest vocals and unwaveringly engaging folk-rock-country songs have an alluring feel,” wrote the San Jose Mercury News in 2011 about his album The World Over. “Larson’s warm, wonderful songs will grab you immediately and just get better with each subsequent listening. Every one of the 10 numbers here proves to be an individual gem.”

Jeff Larson; Photo credit: Patrick Fore

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY

For press inquiries regarding JEFF LARSON, contact:
SRO PR
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com

DT: FEBRUARY 8, 2023

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK/SRO PR

VETERAN SINGER AND SONGWRITER
JEFF LARSON
TODAY UNVEILS THE VIDEO FOR “REASON TO BELIEVE,”
THE LEAD SINGLE FROM
‘IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN,’
LARSON’S SIX-SONG TRIBUTE EP TO THE LATE ICONIC SINGER AND SONGWRITER TIM HARDIN,
OUT MARCH 17
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

JEFF LARSON—the veteran singer-songwriter from the San Francisco Bay area now living in Southern California—has today (February 8) unveiled the video for “Reason To Believe.” It’s the newly released lead single from IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, his six-song tribute EP to the late iconic singer and songwriter Tim Hardin. The EP, featuring all Hardin originals, was produced by Gerry Beckley of America and is due out March 17 as the first release on new Nashville-based label Melody Place. Watch the Tom Bevins-directed video, featuring a performance by LARSON that’s combined with archival imagery of Hardin, HERE, and listen to “Reason To Believe” HERE.

“When selecting songs for the EP,” explains LARSON, it was hard not to cover some obvious ones.  ‘Reason to Believe,’ like other Tim Hardin songs, is more well-known as recordings by other artists, in this case, Rod Stewart’s 1993 version.  It’s a song that is “in the air” and familiar to many.  I think the goal in covering a song like this is just to associate the lyric to a relationship I had experienced and go from there.”

IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN was produced, arranged and mixed by Beckley and features the above-mentioned single “Reason to Believe,” It’ll Never Happen Again,” “If I Were A Carpenter,” Don’t Make Promises,” “Misty Roses,” and “How Can We Hang On To A Dream.” LARSON (on lead vocals and acoustic guitar) is musically joined by Beckley (piano, acoustic and electric guitars, organ, accordion, strings bass, drums) and an array of fine musicians including Joachim Cooder (electric mbira, drums, percussion) and Matt Combs (mandola, fiddle). The EP was recorded at studios in Sydney, Australia and Southern California.

“Tim Hardin’s work deserves all the attention that comes around,” asserts LARSON. “This EP scratches the surface. There are others I could see approaching at some point: ‘Part of the Wind,’ ‘Black Sheep Boy,’ ‘Speak Like a Child,’ etc. A troubled soul with words that are often brutally honest, heartfelt with longing, and music full of engaging melodies.”

LARSON says the project started with the song “It’ll Never Happen Again,” a cover suggested by Beckley in late 2021.  “We work together often, but mostly on our own individual songs.  This cover worked out well for both of us.  Over the years, there have been many songwriters whom I’ve dug into their body of work. For whatever reason, Tim Hardin wasn’t one of them until we decided to explore a more focused project.  At the outset, it was obvious that something had clicked in singing and playing his music.  Why certain songs work and draw you in is a bit of a mystery, but I feel there is a connection between the melancholy of my voice and his. That and some of the subject matter and mood of his songs.

“As I have since explored Hardin’s catalog, the variety of music genres he covers is also something I admire.  I’m not a purist by any stretch.  There is a sound I cling to more than others, but it ranges at times.  By all accounts, Tim Hardin was hard to define that way–I suppose he is best known as a folk artist, but he could easily drift into Jazz, Blues, County, etc.  That’s refreshing and relatable to my own work.”

LARSON is now working on his next solo album, his first since 2014. It’s due in the fall of 2023.

The from IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN track listing is:

1. Reason To Believe
2. It’ll Never Happen Again
3. If I Were A Carpenter
4. Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep
5. Misty Roses
6. How Can We Hang On to a Dream

ABOUT JEFF LARSON:

JEFF LARSON is a veteran singer-songwriter from the San Francisco Bay area. Musically, Jeff got his start under the wing of producer Elliot Mazer (Neil Young, The Band) playing in clubs and venues throughout the Bay area. As a native Californian, the influences are obviously present and reach from the golden era of L.A.’s Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter scene to the Bay area’s musical heritage and the tension between the two. While remaining a solo artist, he’s collaborated with Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America, Chicago’s Robert Lamm, John Blakeley of The Sandals, and Eagles songwriter Jack Tempchin, among others. His prolific body of work created over the years has been released by various means and labels with licensing opportunities with JVC Victor Japan, Universal / Rhino, BMG and others from The Netherlands to Japan. “Larson’s earnest vocals and unwaveringly engaging folk-rock-country songs have an alluring feel,” wrote the San Jose Mercury News in 2011 about his album The World Over. “Larson’s warm, wonderful songs will grab you immediately and just get better with each subsequent listening. Every one of the 10 numbers here proves to be an individual gem.”

Jeff Larson; Photo credit: Patrick Fore

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY

For press inquiries regarding JEFF LARSON, contact:

SRO PR
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com

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