Paul Pena: Vinyl LP

Pre-Order Item. Release Date Subject to Change.
Label: Different Strokes for Different Folks
Release Date: 15th May

Proper reissue gold this, a holy grail available to you as Paul Pena's legendary eponymous 1972 album gets it's first ever vinyl re-issuing. Prime swampy country funk that hits on a cool drawling croon and then a Meters'esque New Orleans funk that refuses to quit and then hops into Little Feat territory the next and then into Terry Callier soulful folk. I'm picking this up and placing it next to the turntable for those deep evening listenings. 

Different Strokes For Different Folks are delighted to release the first ever
vinyl reissue of Paul Pena's sought-after self-titled album, first released in
1972

Incorporating a range of influences and genres, the album is an astonishing blend of
strident bluesy funk, mid-tempo piano ballads, revolutionary soul and acoustic gospel
hymns, all held together by Pena's deep, rich vocals and high- class songwriting.
Opener, 'Woke Up This Morning' flips the well-worn blues expression into an uplifting,
country soul anthem and it's immediately followed by the dirty funk of 'I'm Gonna
Make It Alright' which comes on like a prime-time Meters. 'The River' shifts down a
gear, locking down a mid tempo piano ballad in the vein of 'Exile'-era Stones. Throw in
the politicised soul of 'Something To Make You Happy' and the gorgeous, string laden
gospel of 'Lullaby' and you have a record that truly and authentically lives and
breathes a variety of genres to stunning effect.
Born in Massachusetts in 1950 and blind due to congenital glaucoma by the age of
20, Pena moved to San Francisco in 1971 having become an established performer,
guitarist and songwriter. Later in the decade his song 'Jet Airliner' became a huge hit
for Steve Miller Band and he regularly played live with legends such as John Lee
Hooker, and B.B King. He also taught himself Tuvan throat singing to such as degree
he was invited to the country to perform at an international symposium and contest; a
pilgrimage that was brought to life in the Oscar nominated documentary, 'Genghis
Blues' in 1999. It was then, shortly after his move West Coast, that he recorded this,
his debut and self-titled record.
Reissued for the first ever time on vinyl, Different Strokes For Different Folks is
delighted to release another highly sought after classic. For fans of Curtis Mayfield,
Terry Callier and Bill Withers, 'Paul Pena' is a true classic album neglected for
decades.