Frogtoon Music

Necessary Illusion (Album) by Rick Shaffer

Artist Biography For Rick Shaffer

Rick Shaffer Is A Founding Member Of The Philadelphia Band The Reds Whose First Album On A&M Self Entitled THE REDS Was Produced By David Kershenbaum. It Highlighted The Band's Impressive Sound — A Blend Of Rick Shaffer's Guitar And Bruce Cohen's Keyboards Into An Interestingly Textured Drone Short Guitar And Keyboard Figures Rising Then Disappearing Back Into The Drone While Shaffer's Voice Provides The Punch And Definition For Their Overall Sound. The Album Was Supported With Live Appearances With The Police Joe Jackson Blondie The Ramones The Psychedelic Furs And Public Image. An EP Green With Envy Followed Featuring The Doors Song "Break On Through " Which Suggests Some Of The Band's Roots. Universal Music Digitally Re-Released The Reds And Green With Envy August 2012. After Leaving A&M The Reds Went Forward With Two Indie Albums STRONGER SILENCE And FATAL SLIDE Stony Plain That Continued The Reds Sound Receiving Critical Acclaim Internationally. They Next Recorded A Tense And Powerful Album For Sire/WB Entitled SHAKE APPEAL Digitally Re-Released By Warner Music April 2013 Produced By Mike Thorne Blur Soft Cell Wire . This Forcible Record Led The Band To Work With Director/producer Michael Mann. Mann Incorporated Numerous Songs By The Reds Into Episodes Of Miami Vice Then Hired Shaffer And Cohen To Write Songs And Score For Two Motion Pictures Band Of The Hand Tri-Star And Manhunter De Laurentiis Based On The Novel "Red Dragon." Soundtrack Albums From Both Films Were Released On MCA A Manhunter CD With An Added Reds Track “Jogger’s Stakeout ” Was Released In 2010 By Intrada Records Followed By Universal Music Digitally Releasing Both Albums In 2012. In 1992 The Reds Next Album CRY TOMORROW Tarock Reunited Them With British Producer Mike Thorne. It Captures The Driving Intensity Of Earlier Albums And The Ambient Atmospheric Feel From Their Film Scores Resulting In A Stark Surreal Album With A Sense Of Mood And Mystery. The Pulsing Opening Track "Terror In My Heart " Was Featured In The Film "Nightmare On Elm Street 2" New Line Directed By Jack Sholder. Along With A Searing Non-Stop Groove Of The Stones' "Gimme Shelter " The Introduction Of Various Percussive Elements And A Diversity Of Background Vocals All Create An Experimental And Manic Energy That Reaches Inside Your Head And Won't Let Go. In 2004 Shaffer Wrote And Recorded "Looking For Right " For Director Michael Mann’s Film "Collateral." In 2007 FUGITIVES FROM THE LAUGHING HOUSE Was Written And Produced By The Reds It’s A Straight Forward Raw Nerve Reflection Of Life In America. The Reds 2009 Release EARLY NOTHING Was Also Written And Produced By Shaffer And Cohen. The Album Has A Hypnotic Quality That Leaves The Listener Free To Let Their Subconscious Play Itself Out No Matter Where It Goes While Maintaining The Simplicity Of The Moment. The Reds Shamans Of Dark Brooding Loud Rock Continued To Explore And Define Their Sound. Rick Shaffer’s 2010 First Solo Album NECESSARY ILLUSION Tarock Is A Ten Song Neo-Sixties Garage Blues Excursion With A Joe Meek And Excello Records Production Style. The Album’s Sonic Signature Is A Raw Swirl Of Distorted Guitar Atmospheric Percussion Stark Droning Hill Country Blues In A Mix Of “Excello Records” Style Reverb. Shaffer’s 2011 Second Solo Venture HIDDEN CHARMS Tarock Has A Sonic Blueprint Of Proto–garage Rock/blues Distorted Guitar With Melodies Buried Beneath A Mash-Up Of Unadulterated Garage Vibe. Inspired By Link Wray’s Swan Singles Collection Early Stones And Heavy Doses Of Mississippi Hill Country Blues Bop The Basic Track Sound Is A Simple But Steady Primitive Hypnotic Beat And Percussion Ultra Distorted Guitar And Aggressive Raw Vocals With Intense Personal Lyric Content. British Director Peter McAdam Created A Video Of “Buy And Sell ” Shot On Location In The UK. In 2012 Shaffer’s Next Solo Album IDIOT FLATS Tarock Is Built On A Garage/blues Framework Mississippi Hill Country Rhythms A Garage/blues Framework And A Mash-Up Of A ‘60’s Psychobilly/R&B Sounds. Idiot Flats’ Lyrical And Vocal Tone Takes On The Packaged Commercialized Plague Asking The Listener To Live Free In The Moment Instead Of In The Past Or The Future. Shaffer’s 2013 Release STACKED DECK Tarock Continues The "sonic Minimalist” Blueprint Of His Previous Solo Albums. The Sound Combines Hard Fuzz Guitar Driven Garage-Blues A Blues Edged Two Step Lazy Insistent Rolling Beat New Colors In The Harmonica And Spoons Style Percussion Along With An Unadorned And Unaffected Blues Narrative. Shaffer’s Latest 2014 Album Release MISADVENTURE Has Him Back In The Garage Again With Some Of His Best Songs Performance And Production To Date. The Ragged Edges Room Echo Distortion Great Hooks And Underlying Menace Are Right In Place For Some Compelling Tension And Adrenaline Drenched Garage Blues. In May 2014 Shaffer Released A Bonus Single LINK Focusing His Talent Beyond His Five Garage Rock Solo Albums To Boost The Garage Rock Genre With A Link Wray And Swamp Blues Inspired Instrumental. RELEASES BY RICK SHAFFER 2014 • LINK SINGLE RELEASE TAROCK MUSIC USA 2014 • Misadventure TAROCK MUSIC USA #TM-D10
2013 • STACKED DECK TAROCK MUSIC USA #TM-D9
2012 • IDIOT FLATS TAROCK MUSIC USA #TM-D8
2011 • HIDDEN CHARMS TAROCK MUSIC USA #TM-D6
2010 • NECESSARY ILLUSION TAROCK MUSIC USA #TM-D5 RELEASES BY THE REDS 2009 • EARLY NOTHING TAROCK MUSIC USA #TM-D3
2007 • FUGITIVES FROM THE LAUGHING HOUSE TAROCK MUSIC USA #TM-D2
2001 • CRY TOMORROW STEREO SOCIETY USA #SS004
1992 • CRY TOMORROW TAROCK MUSIC USA #TM-D1
1986 • MANHUNTER FILM SOUNDTRACK MCA USA #6182
1986 • BAND OF THE HAND FILM SOUNDTRACK MCA USA #6167
1986 • WAITING FOR YOU SINGLE MUSIC ACTION FRANCE # N/A
1985 • SHAKE APPEAL MUSIC ACTION FRANCE #MAP9009
1984 • SHAKE APPEAL SIRE/WARNER BROS USA #21-04261
1983 • FATAL SLIDE HELTER SKELTER ITALY #HS93CD26
1982 • FATAL SLIDE STONY PLAIN/RCA USA & CANADA #SPL1048
1981 • STRONGER SILENCE HELTER SKELTER ITALY #HS93CD26
1981 • STRONGER SILENCE STONY PLAIN/RCA USA & CANADA #SPL1037
1981 • STRONGER SILENCE KINGDOM UK #KVL9005
1981 • THE REDS EP AMBITION USA #AM1981
1980 • PROPAGANDA A&M USA #SP4786
1979 • GREEN WITH ENVY THE REDS EP A&M USA #SP3301
1979 • WHATCHA′ DOIN' TO ME SINGLE A&M #N/A
1979 • WHATCHA′ DOIN' TO ME GREEN VINYL A&M UK #N/A
1979 • JOEY & VICTIMS SINGLE A&M USA #SP3178
1979 • THE REDS GREEN VINYL A&M USA #SP4772
1979 • SELF REDUCTION / VICTIMS SINGLE EKE USA #N/A
1977 • JOEY & AUTOMATIC BOY SINGLE GO GO USA #0001
1971 • JUST THE BEGINNING • RICK SHAFFER & FREIGHT TRAIN FLY BY NIGHT USA #N/A
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Frogtoon Music Album Info: Necessary Illusion

“Necessary Illusion ” A Neo 60’s Fusion Of Garage Blues/rock Is The First Solo Album By The Reds Founding Member And Guitarist And Songwriter Rick Shaffer. Necessary Illusion’s Sonic Signature Is Raw Distorted Guitars Atmospheric Percussion Stark Droning Hill Country Blues In A Swirl Of “Excello Records” Style Reverb. The Lyrics Echo The Traditional Elements Of Tragedy Betrayal Perseverance And Redemption The Cornerstones Of The Blues. Blues Greats Like Lightnin’ Slim Slim Harpo Jessie Mae Hemphill Junior Kimbrough R.L. Burnside Along With The Early Blues/rock Styles Of The Sonics The Yardbirds And Early Rolling Stones All Combine To Create A Mix Of Influence On Shaffer’s Style. The Production Combines Raw Sound With A Vital Presence Living In The World Of Swamp/hill Country Blues And The Garage Rock Aesthetic Of The Mid-60’s. Shaffer’s Idea Was To Combine And Manipulate The Sound Structures Of These Basic Sounds With Joe Meek’s Signature Production Approach To Maintain A Primitive Quality. The Heart Of The Sound Is Delivered In The Opening Track ”Lucky Day ” Where Bad Luck And Fate Take An Altered Metallic Stomp Thumping Drum Percussion With A Dark Bluesy Vocal Framed In Slashing Guitar Leads. The Title Track “Necessary Illusion ” Is A Combination Of Tremolo Fuzz And Reverb Abound Could Have Been A Great Mid-60’s Regional Hit. The Hypnotic Wash Of The Tremolo Fuzztone And Riff Driving Chorus Comes Through To Serve Up The Goods With A Nod To Noam Chomsky. “Gettin’ Deeper ” Is A Twang Riff-Rocker With The Garage Rock Aesthetic Of The Sonics And Yardbirds. The Edgy Slashing Guitar Middle And Hook Are Pure Garage Magic. “If You’re Gonna Play Where The Big Boy Stays . . . It’s “Gettin’ Deeper.” On “No Other Way ” The Opening Guitar Figure Pays Homage To Albert “The Iceman” Collins With A Rhythm Section That Feels Like Being Hit In The Back Of The Head With A Brick. Bluesy Vocals Compliment A Rolling Rave-Up Middle Section. “Open Your Eyes ” Has Laidback Fuzztone With Heavy Reverb Drenched Guitars In A Dark Deep Blues Atmospheric Groove. Trippy Background Vocals Compliment “West Side Soul” Guitar Breaks. “Two Weeks ” Was Inspired By The Film “Two Weeks In Another Town” By Vicente Minelli. Like The Film The Song Is A Brutal Landscape Of Misrepresentation Betrayal And Redemption. A Fuzztone Wall Of Sound And Jangle Guitars Provide Tonal Mayhem. Label This One An Under Three Minute Head Banger. “Burnin’ Hell” Has A Hill Country Blues Groove Thumping Bass Line Smacked Rockabilly Rhythm Guitar Shakin’ And Swingin’ Percussion With Piercing Tremolo Lead Fills. Super-Sustained Backwards Guitar With Psychedelic Tendencies On The Prowl Are Held Together With A Dominating Jaggeresque Vocal. “Can’t Go On ” Is A Hyped-Up Beat Rocker. With A Monster Arrows ”Blues Theme” Fuzz Guitar Figure A Contrasting Chiming Beat Era Guitar And Bouncing Rhythm Section. A “Mickie Most” Production Approach Surfaces On This Track. “Shakin’ Hips ” Has A Chugging Fuzzed-Out Shuffle Jah Wobble Bottom Heavy Bass Shakin’ Reverb Maracas And A “Tonebender” Guitar Solo. It’s A Slab Of ”Heavy Psych-Blues.“ The Final Track “Why Do You ” Musically Incorporates A Captain Beefheart “Mirror Man” Slide Guitar Treatment Accompanied By A Syncopated Fuzz-Funk Wall And Wailing Sustained Guitar Notes With A Slow-Burn Mo Tucker/Excello Records Percussion Groove. The Track Is Stripped Down To Drive Home It’s Primal Essence Delivered By A Caustic Vocal Growl. Shaffer’s Three Decades Of Work Include His First Band Early 70’s Psych-Blues Freight Train The Reds Dark Atmospheric Albums TV/feature Film Work With Director/producer Michael Mann And Numerous Indie Directors. In Addition To His Unique Guitar Contribution To Albums By Marianne Faithful Marc Almond Peter Murphy Hilly Krystal And Sarah Jane Morris And Collaboration With Veteran Record Producers David Kershenbaum And Britain’s Mike Thorne Clearly Shine Through On His First Solo Venture. With “Necessary Illusion” Rick Shaffer Has Brought His Background To The Forefront • To Read Reviews Of This Album Visit TarockMusic.Com Then Hover On The 2010 NECESSARY ILLUSION LINER NOTES Tab To See The Review Sub-Tabs.

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