James Lee Stanley
Encyclopedia
James Lee Stanley is an American
folk
singer-songwriter
.
of Italian, German, Cherokee Indian, Scotch/Irish and English heritage. He said in a 2002 interview that as a child he was "shy, bright, blessed ... strict father gentle mother ... three beautiful sisters ... parents still married, Dad came home every night and kissed mom full on the lips." Stanley's uncle taught him to play the ukulele
at an early age, and at sixteen he got his first recording contract and in 1970 did his first los angeles recording session through his friend Cass Elliot
of The Mamas & the Papas
. Stanley and Elliott remained friends until her death. About his early attempts at songwriting, Stanley said "The Producer told me to write songs, so I did. They were terrible."
Stanley spent time in the United States Air Force
during the late 1960s as a Chinese linguist and 1969-1972 studied music at Los Angeles City College and Cal State-Northridge. Upon graduation, Stanley began working as a songwriter for producer Bones Howe
, a relationship which led Stanley to a recording contract with Wooden Nickel Records
, a Chicago label distributed by RCA
.
at McCabe's Guitar Shop
in Santa Monica. Though Stanley had a ten album contract, he was unhappy with the promotion offered by the label. "Publicity campaign?", Stanley said. "They made three T-shirts, one for me, one for the president of Wooden Nickel and one for his wife. And there was one group ad with Tower Records
L.A. in which my album was included. So far as I know, that was it." Critically, Stanley fared much better. "I received nothing but brilliant reviews. I remember Billboard Magazine, then the biggest music/showbiz mag in the world, choosing only a few albums to spotlight the week I put out Three's the Charm: Queen
's Night at the Opera
, Loggins and Messina
's Sittin In /Ten Years After
with Alvin Lee
/ and Three's the Charm."
After a positive critical reception for Three's the Charm and little support from Wooden Nickel, Stanley asked to be released from his contract which still had seven albums to go. The label agreed. Six years later, Stanley recorded Midnight Radio (1980) for Regency Records
. A compilation album of Stanley's earlier recordings titled Eclipse (1982) was released by Jollye Roger. Stanley then recorded Racing the Moon (1984) for Takoma
. Stanley then made the decision to start his own label Beachwood Recordings. Stanley said, "I wanted to make a recording of music and comedy and all the labels said: 'Choose one or the other.' So I chose to start my own label and do just what I do." All of Stanley's recordings since 1988's Live have been on Beachwood.
, Bonnie Raitt
, Robin Williams
, Nicolette Larson
and Bill Cosby
. Since 1990 Stanley has also been working on a musical titled Straight From The Heart, the story of two women and their relationship. In recent years Stanley has collaborated on "two man band" projects with Peter Tork
, Michael Smith
, John Batdorf and Cliff Eberhardt
. He also blogs regularly giving tips on everything he has learned in fifty years of performing, playing, touring, composing and houseguesting at: www.datamusicata.com.
"Wishing Well" / "This Could Be Goodbye" (1973)
"Afternoon Rain" / "Lydia" (1974)
"Plenty of Reason (For Going)" / "Windmill" (1974)
"Midnight Radio" (1980)
"Same Olde Samba" / "The Dancer" (1989)
James Lee Stanley,Too (1973)
Three’s The Charm (1974)
Midnight Radio (1980)
Eclipse (1982)
Racing the Moon (1984)
James Lee Stanley/Live (1985) rereleased on Beachwood with national distribution by Capitol Records in 1998
Simpatico (1989)
Ripe Four Distraction (1991)
The Envoy (1993)
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993)
Two Man Band with Peter Tork (1996)
Domino Harvest (1997)
Freelance Human Being (1998), One of the Top 200 CD's of All Time - FI Magazine, (March 1999)
Once Again with Peter Tork (2001)
Beachwood Christmas CD - 2001 (2001)
Two Man Band Two with Michael Smith (2002)
Beachwood Christmas CD - 2002 (2002)
Traces Of The Old Road (2003)
A Beachwood Christmas - 2003 (2003)
All Wood And Stones with John Batdorf (2005)
Live / Backstage @ The Coffee Gallery – Peter Tork & James Lee Stanley (2006)
Eternal Contradiction (2007)
New Traces of the Old Road (2008)
Live in Tehachapi, Vol. 1-2 (2009)
Backstage at the Resurrection (2011)
All Wood and Doors with Cliff Eberhardt (2011)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
.
Biography
Stanley was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
of Italian, German, Cherokee Indian, Scotch/Irish and English heritage. He said in a 2002 interview that as a child he was "shy, bright, blessed ... strict father gentle mother ... three beautiful sisters ... parents still married, Dad came home every night and kissed mom full on the lips." Stanley's uncle taught him to play the ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
at an early age, and at sixteen he got his first recording contract and in 1970 did his first los angeles recording session through his friend Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot , born Ellen Naomi Cohen and also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. Elliot was found dead in her room in London, England, from an apparent heart attack after two weeks of sold-out...
of The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
. Stanley and Elliott remained friends until her death. About his early attempts at songwriting, Stanley said "The Producer told me to write songs, so I did. They were terrible."
Stanley spent time in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
during the late 1960s as a Chinese linguist and 1969-1972 studied music at Los Angeles City College and Cal State-Northridge. Upon graduation, Stanley began working as a songwriter for producer Bones Howe
Bones Howe
Dayton Burr "Bones" Howe is a Grammy-award-winning record producer and recording engineer associated with 1960s and 1970s hits, mostly of the sunshine pop genre, including most of the hits of The 5th Dimension and The Association, as well as music supervision of several films...
, a relationship which led Stanley to a recording contract with Wooden Nickel Records
Wooden Nickel Records
Wooden Nickel Records was an American independent record label started in 1971 by Bill Traut, Jim Golden and Jerry Weintraub as a successor to Dunwich Records. Most of Wooden Nickel's releases were by acts based in the Chicago area, including the Siegel-Schwall Band, Megan McDonough and Styx. The...
, a Chicago label distributed by RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
.
Wooden Nickel to Beachwood Records
Stanley's first self-titled album on Wooden Nickel was released January 23, 1973 and one month later he had his first booking as a recording artist, opening for Les PaulLes Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
at McCabe's Guitar Shop
McCabe's Guitar Shop
McCabe's Guitar Shop is a musical instrument store and live music venue on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, California. Opened in 1958, McCabe's specializes in acoustic and folk instruments, including guitars, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, fiddles, psaltries, bouzoukis, sitars, ouds, and ethnic...
in Santa Monica. Though Stanley had a ten album contract, he was unhappy with the promotion offered by the label. "Publicity campaign?", Stanley said. "They made three T-shirts, one for me, one for the president of Wooden Nickel and one for his wife. And there was one group ad with Tower Records
Tower Records
Tower Records was a retail music chain that was based in Sacramento, California. It currently exists as an international franchise and an online music store....
L.A. in which my album was included. So far as I know, that was it." Critically, Stanley fared much better. "I received nothing but brilliant reviews. I remember Billboard Magazine, then the biggest music/showbiz mag in the world, choosing only a few albums to spotlight the week I put out Three's the Charm: Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's Night at the Opera
A Night at the Opera (Queen album)
A Night at the Opera is the fourth studio album by the British rock group Queen, released in November 1975. Co-produced by Roy Thomas Baker and Queen, A Night at the Opera was, at the time of its release, the most expensive album ever recorded...
, Loggins and Messina
Loggins and Messina
Loggins and Messina are an American rock-pop duo consisting of Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina who achieved their success in the early to mid 1970s...
's Sittin In /Ten Years After
Ten Years After
Ten Years After is an English blues-rock band, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Between 1968 and 1973, Ten Years After scored eight Top 40 albums on the UK Albums Chart...
with Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee is an English rock guitarist and singer. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and with Leo Lyons formed the core of the band Ten Years After in 1960...
/ and Three's the Charm."
After a positive critical reception for Three's the Charm and little support from Wooden Nickel, Stanley asked to be released from his contract which still had seven albums to go. The label agreed. Six years later, Stanley recorded Midnight Radio (1980) for Regency Records
Regency Records
Regency Records is a record label founded by Georgia record producer and TV/Radiosyndicator Johnny Carter and North Georgia disc jockey Lamar Gravitt in 1965...
. A compilation album of Stanley's earlier recordings titled Eclipse (1982) was released by Jollye Roger. Stanley then recorded Racing the Moon (1984) for Takoma
Takoma
Takoma may mean:*Takoma Park, Maryland, a city located in Montgomery County, Maryland*Takoma, Washington, DC, a neighborhood in Washington, DC*Takoma , a stop on the Red Line of the Washington Metro subway system...
. Stanley then made the decision to start his own label Beachwood Recordings. Stanley said, "I wanted to make a recording of music and comedy and all the labels said: 'Choose one or the other.' So I chose to start my own label and do just what I do." All of Stanley's recordings since 1988's Live have been on Beachwood.
Current era
Stanley tours regularly, performing up to three hundred dates each year. He has performed with such diverse acts as Steven WrightSteven Wright
Steven Alexander Wright is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is known for his distinctly lethargic voice and slow, deadpan delivery of ironic, philosophical and sometimes nonsensical jokes and one-liners with contrived situations.-Early life and career:Wright was born in Mount Auburn...
, Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
, Nicolette Larson
Nicolette Larson
Nicolette Larson was an American pop singer. She is perhaps best known for her work in the late 1970s with Neil Young, as well as her 1978 cover of Young's "Lotta Love". The song, her debut single, was a Number One Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks hit and #8 pop hit that year...
and Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
. Since 1990 Stanley has also been working on a musical titled Straight From The Heart, the story of two women and their relationship. In recent years Stanley has collaborated on "two man band" projects with Peter Tork
Peter Tork
Peter Tork is an American musician and actor, best known as a member of The Monkees.-Early life:Tork was born Peter Halsten Thorkelson in Washington, D.C.. Although he was born in 1942, many news articles report him as born in 1944 in New York City as this was the date and place given on early...
, Michael Smith
Michael Peter Smith
Michael Peter Smith is a Chicago, U.S.-based singer-songwriter. Rolling Stone Magazine once called him "The greatest songwriter in the English language"...
, John Batdorf and Cliff Eberhardt
Cliff Eberhardt
Cliff Eberhardt is an American folk singer-songwriter. He is a founding member of the Fast Folk Music Cooperative in New York City. Eberhardt joined Red House Records in 1997 and has recorded five albums for the label, the most recent in 2009, 500 Miles: The Blue Rock Sessions...
. He also blogs regularly giving tips on everything he has learned in fifty years of performing, playing, touring, composing and houseguesting at: www.datamusicata.com.
Singles
"Every Minute" / "I Knead You" (1973)"Wishing Well" / "This Could Be Goodbye" (1973)
"Afternoon Rain" / "Lydia" (1974)
"Plenty of Reason (For Going)" / "Windmill" (1974)
"Midnight Radio" (1980)
"Same Olde Samba" / "The Dancer" (1989)
Albums
James Lee Stanley (1973)James Lee Stanley,Too (1973)
Three’s The Charm (1974)
Midnight Radio (1980)
Eclipse (1982)
Racing the Moon (1984)
James Lee Stanley/Live (1985) rereleased on Beachwood with national distribution by Capitol Records in 1998
Simpatico (1989)
Compact discs
Simpatico (1989)Ripe Four Distraction (1991)
The Envoy (1993)
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993)
Two Man Band with Peter Tork (1996)
Domino Harvest (1997)
Freelance Human Being (1998), One of the Top 200 CD's of All Time - FI Magazine, (March 1999)
Once Again with Peter Tork (2001)
Beachwood Christmas CD - 2001 (2001)
Two Man Band Two with Michael Smith (2002)
Beachwood Christmas CD - 2002 (2002)
Traces Of The Old Road (2003)
A Beachwood Christmas - 2003 (2003)
All Wood And Stones with John Batdorf (2005)
Live / Backstage @ The Coffee Gallery – Peter Tork & James Lee Stanley (2006)
Eternal Contradiction (2007)
New Traces of the Old Road (2008)
Live in Tehachapi, Vol. 1-2 (2009)
Backstage at the Resurrection (2011)
All Wood and Doors with Cliff Eberhardt (2011)