Horton Records is pleased to announce the August 28th release of Back To Paradise: A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music.
In February 2020, a group of notable Tulsa musicians traveled to Leon Russell’s famed Paradise Studio at Grand Lake in Oklahoma to record the first album tracked there since 1978. Some of the biggest names in the industry recorded at Paradise Studio; Leon Russell, Bob Seger, and Freddie King, while even more musicians and creatives escaped to fellowship at this Okie oasis.
Tulsan Rick Huskey spent the last 30 years preserving and restoring the space, honoring its history while preparing for a new chapter. Upon entering the studio for the first time, the new crop of musicians couldn’t help but feel that the vibe was still alive. Musician Jesse Aycock felt that “Walking into the studio for the first time was like walking into a time capsule. The good energy that once filled the room was left floating in the air. All that we had to do was breathe it in. Historically, players from this part of Oklahoma seem to have a different approach to music, the same way that Muscle Shoals, Memphis Chicago, Detroit, Austin and Nashville are known for having a sound. I think Leon and J.J tapped into a unique pulse in this area and I would like to think that it’s still vibrating today.”
Seventeen tracks written by Tulsa’s finest were recorded over the course of four days – mostly live, with very few overdubs, and produced by Jason Weinheimer & Them Tulsa Boys. A total of 20 Tulsa musicians participated in the recording and the core band consisted of Paul Benjaman, Jesse Aycock, Grammy nominee John Fullbright, Paddy Ryan, and Aaron Boehler. About the process, Paul Benjaman stated that “Decisions on how to build the songs were quick and effortless. The language that these musicians have developed over the years from playing live together paid off in knowing what to do instinctively. Unpacking each song, finding the magic that made it work, and leaving space for each person to contribute was a natural process that led to 10+ hour days of music with friends.”
Today Glide is excited to premiere a video of the recording of “I Yike It,” a song originally written by Tommy Lokey and released in 1974 on the album Magician’s Holiday by The Gap Band on Shelter Records. The band’s name was derived from three streets – Greenwood, Archer and Pine – in Tulsa’s historic Black Wall Street area, where the band used to hang out. The Gap Band was comprised of the multi-instrumentalist Wilson brothers, Charlie, Robert, Ronnie, who honed their musical skills in their father’s church. This updated version is heavy on the funk and soul with this, party-ready grooves, bright horns, the unexpected touch of a twangy pedal steel guitar, and danceable harmonies from Charlie Redd and Briana Wright. Guitarist Chris Combs arranged this interpretation of the whole song, mapping it out and putting all of the parts together. Besides being really damn funky, the song is a testament to the diverse and eclectic styles that formed the so-called “Tulsa sound,” which truly stretches beyond JJ Cale.
Chris Combs describes the process and inspiration behind recording this song:
“My dad is a big Gap Band fan and Magician’s Holiday was an important piece of his record collection. When asked to work up an arrangement for “I Yike It”, it blew my mind all over again. We based the arrangement on the original and took some creative liberties with a few sections. We recorded the take live with everything but the horns. Tulsa musicians are the best. We have a rare cross-section of people who are highly talented, kind, unique, hard working, and supportive. The Tulsa music lineage is deep and this record showcases the diversity and depth of our town.”
Singer Briana Wright adds:
“When I first found out which song on the project I’d be working on, the first person I told was my dad. The GAP Band has been on heavy rotation in our house for as long as I can remember.”
Singer Charlie Redd also weighs in:
“I have always been a huge fan of The Gap Band, and they are one of the reasons that I’m proud to be a part of the Tulsa Music scene. It always blows my mind when my white friends educate me on new soul music that I’ve never heard before, such as the song “I Yike It.'”
WATCH:
