Tracks:
- Flying
- Carry Me To You
- Chainsaw Blues
- Your Love
- Shadows
- The Road Ahead
- The Story of Vicky And Dan
- You Are In Heaven
- Come Back Baby
- MP3
- Black Sun
All songs written by Steve Louw.
Listen to an MP3 of MP3.
Musicians:
- Steve Louw: vocals, acoustic guitar
- Anton Fig: drums, percussion
- Keith Lentin: bass, harmonica, acoustic guitar on track 9
- Blondie Chaplin: guitars, vocals
- Pat Thrall: guitars
- Adam Holzman: keyboards
Reviews:
MP3 by STEVE LOUW & BIG SKY
Seems we have a new theme song at SAmp3.com! It is called 'MP3', and it is by Steve Louw. 'MP3' is one of the songs on 'Beyond The Blue', the just-released fourth studio album by Steve Louw and Big Sky.
'MP3' offers Steve Louw's view on this new way of promoting music online. 'Beyond The Blue' has 11 songs including 'Flying', 'Chainsaw Blues', 'The Road Ahead' and 'The Story Of Vicky And Dan', and features drummer Anton Fig (ex-Hammak, ex-Spider, currently with Paul Schafer's house band on the David Letterman Show in the USA), Keith Lentin (ex-Alpha Set, ex-Hammak, ex-Spider, bass), Blondie Chaplin (ex-Flames, ex-Beach Boys, ex-Rolling Stones, guitar, backing vocals), Pat Thrall (ex-Asia, ex-Meatloaf, ex-Hughes/Thrall, guitar), Adam Holzman (ex-Miles Davis, ex-Chaka Khan, piano and keyboards), and Steve Louw on acoustic guitar and vocals. 'Beyond The Blue' was produced and mixed by Kevin Shirley at Hit Factory in New York City.
Here's an extract from the lyrics of the song 'MP3':
"The MP3 means a lot to me,
I'm back on my feet,
I'm not down on my knees;
The MP3 means a lot to me,
You get your tunes,
I get my royalties."
SAmp3.com is about promoting and marketing SA music online to encourage sales of CDs in South Africa and internationally. Many SA labels and artists already understand this, and SAmp3.com is getting flooded with songs from new, unsigned, and unheard artists, as well as old campaigners like Steve Louw, Koos Kombuis, Roger Lucey, Piet Botha, Sons Of Trout and Anton Goosen.
Big Sky's new track, 'MP3', is available to download here by kind permission of Steve Louw.
-- Stephen Segerman & Brian Currin, 14 September 2002
"An impressive effort from Louw, one of this country's best and most confident song writers, … marries the sounds of early U2, Tom Petty and Rodger Waters with the strains of Louw's acoustic guitar … This fine album is proudly South Africa."
MAIL & GUARDIAN
Review of Big Sky's latest release Beyond the Blue
Beyond the Blue sal Steve Louw & Big Sky se aanhangers ook gelukig maak.
Theunis Engelbrecht
RAPPORT
Louw is onmiskenbaar en onteenseglik in oorspronklike, begaafde en produktiewe rockliedjieskrywer wat deur die jare al outentieke radiotreffers soos "One cut with a knife" en "Strange room" ingeryg het.
Gabriel Bothma
DIE BURGER
Big Sky - still a favourite of mine. Steve and co went Slow Dancing with my listeners.
Leigh Barrett
KRVM radio station in Oregon USA
Big Sky … an exceptional live act with an arsenal of renowned musicians sharing the stage.
Christina Kennedy
THE CITIZEN Spotlight
Needing little introduction, Big Sky is a local music legend, and they are still pulling out all the top-notch stops.
TOP FORTY
Steve Louw is a world-class talent … a true national treasure.
CAPE REVIEW
Big Sky's songs capture the unique imagery and retell it in a rock 'n roll, jeans, cowboy boots way.
THE CAPE TIMES
Beyond The Blue
Steve Louw & Big Sky are well known names in the area of South
African contemporary rock. Steve debuted in 1984 with All
Night Radio's "The Heart's The Best Part", an album overseen
by E- Streeter and Springsteen sidekick, Steven van
Zandt.
In April 2002 Steve arrived in New York City to
complete recording on his 7th album.
As usual an
impressive ensemble of musicians we're gathered to meet with
producer Kevin Shirley (Louws old sidekick) and before anyone
even realised it , Steve Louw & Big Sky had begun work on
their next album "Beyond The Blue".
A few weeks later
'Beyond The Blue' was created and ready to return
home....
Described by Steve as a "Black & Blue rock
album", this record carries a character of it's own, moving
through layers of laid back blues rock through to more upbeat
contemporary and folky storytellers.
'Beyond The
Blue''s introductory track "Flying" begins the album from a
point of depth and reflection, the lyrics (although clearly of
deep personal meaning to the writer) carry relevance for all
of us. This flavour is continued into "Carry Me To You" a
serene track, lyrically offering a hopeful return to one's
lost love.
"Chainsaw Blue's" moves the album into
Blues Rock with the warm presence of a character filled lead
guitar accompanying the quirky lead vocal. "Your Love" a
sentimental ballad brings us back to a straight blues sound,
the smoothness of this track is hypnotic and allows the
listener an insight into the heart of Steve Louw.
Next
up is "Shadows" a track initially draped in ambience, that
grows into a determined yet tragic love story. "The Road
Ahead" the album's first radio single is next up, a more
typical Steve Louw track, this song echoes the determination
of the artist, symbolising strength through Rock n Roll
("She's still young we're getting old ...").
"The Story
of Vicky and Dan" brings the album's storytelling aspect to a
head with the charming story of a young couple getting
together in the romantic, poverty stricken world of the artist
and musician - does it have a happy ending ?? - you'll have to
listen for yourself. Steve confesses that this track was
actually inspired by the story of Charlize Theron and her rise
to stardom from Jo'burgs East Rand to Hollywood.
"You
Are In Heaven" a beautiful lullaby about a loved one lost, the
emotions conveyed in this track are illustrated in a way all
of us will well appreciate when we face a similarly bitter
day.
"Come Back Baby" echoes the final section of the
record, with a Steve Louw typical blues guitar and vocal hook,
Blondie Chaplin features prominently on backing vocals, adding
to the melodrama of a man's love and loss.
Next is
"MP3", an upbeat folky sounding construction of a modern
themed story about a broke musician associating himself with
the newer wider world of the modern record industry. The song
actually gives some rather good advice for young muso's
starting out .. - what is that advice ?? buy the record ...!!
And finally into "Black Sun" almost a blues standard,
and an appropriate ending to an album tainted with emotion and
carried by the song writing skill of one of the strongest
musical heads in South African rock.
"Beyond The Blue"
has been constructed to be a quality product for quality
people, produced by Kevin Shirley in New York City and
featuring amongst the best in former South African blues rock
musicianship and technology. Buy it, listen to it, be inspired
by it .....
Reprinted from: SA Sounds
