Paul Burch to Release "East to West" August 15, 2006

Press release
Source: Bloodshot Records

1994. Amongst the starry-eyed Nashville songwriters that were busting ass to pawn their songs off on Garth Brooks in a town seemingly hell-bent on churning out flaccid crud for the masses, Paul Burch was branding a new territory, performing weekly at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge on Lower Broadway, the famous dive bar where way back when, one could expect guns drawn and stolen tips jars.

'East to West', Paul Burch's newest on Bloodshot Records (release date 8-15-06) is Burch's 6th release since his move to Nashville in 1994, recorded in part at Mark Knopfler’s 'British Grove Studios' in London. With backing from the WPA Ballclub and Grammy-award winners Ralph Stanley, Tim O'Brien, and Mark Knopfler himself, 'East to West' captured the first takes in the studio, all undeniably alive with a Buddy Holly-tinged fire. The disc includes a clever nod to John Peel, inspired by a night of singing and record spinning with the legend himself and a duet with Ralph Stanley, recorded at the legendary RCA Studio B in Nashville. Despite his tight schedule Knopfler became a great behind-the-scenes supporter of the project, making time to lend his axe on ‘Before The Bells’.

In the words of Paul Burch on the making of "East to West":

"There was nothing else I've ever wanted to do except to make records. But before making East to West I had the nagging feeling: "what if no one is listening?" Many of the colleagues that I had started in the business with had either stopped making records or burned out. The quirk of the music business is --the farther along you go, the less people there are to talk to about keeping at it and getting better.

Just as I was feeling most sorry for myself three unusual things happened within a months time to change my mind. The first was a short tour I did with Ralph Stanley in England with Laura Cantrell. I had never met Ralph before. But every night, Ralph would ask that a chair be put in the wings, off stage and each night he'd say "What time does the boy come on? I want to hear the boy sing" and he'd sit from my first note to my last. To me Ralph is one of the great American voices ever recorded. To have him talk to me every night and sense, without me ever having to say anything, that Iwas a turning point, was incredible. When we recorded "Little Glass of Wine" live, we had the finished take after singing together for 20minutes. He told me in confidence it was like "singing with Carter again."

Right after that tour, Laura took me along to her session with John Peel at his home. Quickly, Peel and I hit it off, talking about music, going through his library. He looked me square in the eye and said "You can'tever stop. You're born to do it." He played me on his show the following week and passed away within the next year.

Lastly came a letter from out of the blue from Mark Knopfler. Through a mutual friend, I had asked about a microphone recommendation, assuming we shared a lot of influences. Mark suddenly became my pen pal, complimenting me about my work, my writing, my voice. (I didn't now he was a fan!) Before long--with only meeting me once--he encouraged me to come to London and put all my concentration into getting a new record started at his studio. He even interrupted his vacation time (during my sessions) to drive hours back into London to cheer us on and join us for ‘Before the Bells’.

So--there you have it. The business can go to hell and it probably will but Ralph, Peel, and Mark live on. I don't know if I could have made this or any other record without them. If it only sells five copies, I know three great voices stepped forward to say "don't stop", probably because they've been there. I hope I can do the same for somebody else sometime."

See Paul Burch live:

Sat 8/12 Arlington, VA - Iota w/ Last Train Home

Sat 8/19 Nashville, TN - The Basement - CD Release Show! w/ Special Guest: Jon Langford

Sat 8/26 Crane, MO - Crane City Park - Crane Broiler Festival w/ Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys

Fri 9/1 St Louis, MO – Euclid Records

Fri 9/1 St Louis, MO – Off Broadway

Sat 9/2 Chicago, IL – Schuba’s

Friday 9/29 Springfield, IL – Underground City Tavern