SHOES News
Japanese Release of Double Exposure slated for March 26th, 2008!
Air Mail Recordings in Japan and Black Vinyl Records have recently done a deal to begin releasing SHOES CDs in Japan! The first release slated is Double Exposure
and it is due out on March 26th, 2008! Reportedly, the Japanese version will also include lyrics. There has also been talk of a possible tour of Japan at some point in the future.
We're very happy to begin our assocciation with Air Mail Recordings and look forward to a long and exciting future working together!
We will keep you posted on further developments and releases.
SHOES on Chicago's WGN TV!
Prior to SHOES' August 10th, 2007 gig at Chicago's Millennium Park, SHOES appeared on WGN TV's Noon Show that afternoon and roamed the studios.
These historic studios hosted the famed Bozo Show of the 1960s and '70s as well as countless other historic shows. Here're a few snaps from their stop there;
SHOES to play at Chicago's Millennium Park and on ABC and WGN TV!
For the first time in over 4 years SHOES will perform in Chicago! On Friday, August 10th SHOES will play at Millennium Park for Chicago's
"Great Performers of Illinois Festival". It is scheduled to be a 1-hour show on Stage 1 in Wrigley Square at 5:00pm. If you're in town, c'mon by!
As a run-up to the Millennium Park show, SHOES will be appearing on ABC TV's Mid Day show in Chicago at 11am on Aug. 8th and again on WGN TV's Noon Show on Aug. 10th.
SHOES recently completed a NEW recording of a Cheap Trick cover song, "If You Want My Love You Got It" for an upcoming benefit/tribute CD due out on Fastlane Records
in late summer. Proceeds go to The American Cancer Society. This recording marks the first new SHOES recording in over 12 years and the first ever, since the sale of their
commercial studio, Short Order Recorder in April of 2004! Recording at both Gary and Jeff's home studios, it heralds a return to SHOES' roots of home recording and
may prove to be the harbinger of future projects. Stay tuned...
SHOES have also contributed a song to Jeremy Morris of JAM Recordings for their "Sweet Relief", 3-disc set. Jeremy put it together to aid the victims of hurricane Katrina
and we applaud his efforts and this fine compilation of great pop songs of artists from around the world. The SHOES song "A Voice Inside Me" from the "Double Exposure" CD
was contributed as well as an alternate mix of "Never Let You Go" from Jeff Murphy's solo CD, "Cantilever".
New SHOES release is FINALLY here!
The new, 2-disc set by Shoes entitled, "Double Exposure" has finally arrived! This 30-song collection is compiled from the
original, 8-track demos that were instrumental in getting the band signed to Elektra Records and eventually became the foundation for
the "Present Tense" and "Tongue Twister" albums. Recorded in their basement studio from 1978 to 1980, these demos provide a unique glimpse
into the genesis of some of the band's most endearing songs. Place your order now!
New Releases by Jeff Murphy NOW available!
The new solo album by Jeff Murphy, "Cantilever" is finally available! After almost 3 years of work, the new CD officially hit the streets
just after the new year on January 2nd, 2007. Returning to his roots of home-recording and self-production, the 11-song CD is the first solo
release by a Shoe but continues the melodic, power pop tradition of Shoes' earlier works. Inspired by such classic discs as the first McCartney album,
Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything and Emitt Rhodes' LPs, "Cantilever" was self-recorded in his home studio and Jeff plays all the instruments.
You can read more about it (and access lyrics) by going to; Cantilever
The new book!
A new book entitled, "Birth of A Band, The Record Deal and the Making of "Present Tense" written by Jeff Murphy went on sale December 1st, 2006
and quickly sold out of it's first printing! It chronicles the band's origin and experiences in those early years with over 60 full-color photos
and includes a "behind the scenes" peek at how the band signed their major label deal and recorded their debut album, "Present Tense" while in England.
It features personal photos from the studio sessions and exploits as well as anecdotes and personal recollections.
You can order this 70 page, 8-1/2" x 11" book by going to the "Ordering Info" page on this website.
SHOES Videos on VH-1 Classics!
On August 1, 2006 MTV celebrated it's 25th Anniversary by re-playing the videos of the first 24 hours of the original MTV broadcast.
This included 4 Shoes videos from the Present Tense album; "Too Late", "Tomorrow Night", "Cruel You"' and "In My Arms Again"!
The videos ran twice each in that 24-hour period and the best news is that VH-1 Classics has continued to play the videos in their
normal rotation since the August 1st broadcast. So contact VH-1 and tell them to, "Put some Shoes on!"
Now you can hear sound samples of SHOES songs on-line!
Black Vinyl Records, in conjunction with CD Baby, has made available 2 minute sound samples of almost every SHOES song.
Additionally, SHOES' catalog is NOW available for digital downloads! This means that sites like
iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, Sony Music On-line, etc. NOW have SHOES music as downloadable MP3 files. Check your favorite music server!
For more info go to:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shoes5 for Propeller
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shoes6 for Fret Buzz
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shoes4 for Stolen Wishes
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shoes3 for Silhouette
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shoes2 for Boomerang
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shoes1 for Black Vinyl Shoes
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shoes7 for Present Tense/Tongue Twister
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shoes8 for Shoes Best
In other news;
Jeff recently filmed an interview with notable author Greg Herriges and film maker Tom Knoff for an upcoming rock documentary entitled, "Player: A Rock and Roll Dream".
In addition to the recent interview snippets with Jeff, footage from the original "Tomorrow Night" video is featured. It also includes interviews with notable
Chicago-area musicians and radio and press personalities including The Red Walls, Shadows of Knight, Cryan Shames, Bob Stroud, Clark Weber,
Greg Kot, Moira McCormick, and others. It was premiered at the Apple store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago on Feb. 9th, 2006 and is slated for a full press release in May.
We'll give you more details as they become available.
On December 3th of 2005 all 3 members of Shoes showed up at a benefit in a small club in Racine, WI to support research on Von Willebrand's disease. Jeff did 3 songs backed
by Phil Angotti and The Idea; "Two Of Us", "I'll Be Back" and "You Can't Do That". Jeff's wife Lori and their friend, Carol Pilger supplied backing vocals. John joined in on
"You Can't Do That" playing a bucket in lieu of the required (yet unavailable) cowbell. Gary egged them on from the sidelines as he witnessed the proceedings.
As it was also Jeff's birthday, the girls presented him with a small cake and sang
"Happy Birthday, Mr. President" during it's presentation, after their short set.
To see more pictures from the show visit; http://garethglynn.smugmug.com/gallery/1018173/8/47236237
Jeff was also contacted by pop guru, Jeremy Morris of JAM Records http://www.jamrecordings.com
about the possibility of including a song from Cantilever on "Sweet Relief", a double-CD
compilation and DVD of great pop music to benefit the victims of hurricane Katrina due out later in 2006.
Jordan Oakes (of Yellow Pills fanzine fame) in conjunction with Tom Lust and Ken Shipley has put together a "power-pop"
CD compilation called "Yellow Pills Prefill" and it includes the little known 1978 SHOES recording of "Like I Told You".
This is a 2-disc set of rarely heard and hard to find songs from the power pop movement and features songs and singles released
between 1978-1982. It includes extensive notes from Jordan and they spared no expense in the elaborate packaging.
It's available on The Numero Group website. Contact them at; www.numerogroup.com
Varese Sarabande Records has also put together a pop CD compilation called,
"20 Greats From the Golden Decade of Power Pop" which was released on July 19th, 2005.
It includes "Too Late" by SHOES as well as these other artists;
Cheap Trick, Big Star, Badfinger, Nick Lowe, The Records, 20/20, Todd Rundgren,
The Spongetones and many others! Liner notes by Jordan Oakes. What a GREAT compilation! Check it out...
Work continues on the SHOES DVD which looks to include all 7 "official" SHOES videos; "Too Late", "Tomorrow Night",
"In My Arms Again", "Cruel You", "In Her Shadow", "When Push Comes To Shove" and "Feel The Way That I Do", interviews
and even some concert footage! No release date is available, yet.
In August of 2005 John and Jeff played a 1-off, acoustic gig made up of some of their favorite Beatle songs as well as tunes by
The Everly Brothers, Tom Petty
and even a couple of Shoes tunes. Friend and guitarist extraordinaire, Tom Rutledge sat in on lead guitar to round things out.
Gary came by to lend support and a splendid time was had by all!
Perhaps this will lead to more live gigs?!
Kelley Ryan (Astropuppies) who first appeared on the Yuletunes Christmas compilation, recently collaborated with Jeff
by contributing a lead vocal to an alternate mix of the new song entitled, Some Day Soon. "The song is a wistful,
lullabye that I always envisioned with a female vocal. Kelley was in Ireland preparing for the release
of her new Astropuppies CD, "Sugar Beat". We emailed each other and she recorded her vocal there and then sent the track back to me
where I mixed it at my home studio...I just love technology!"
Read more about Kelley at; www.astropuppees.com
We will keep you posted on the progress of this and any other upcoming releases.