Greg Copeland grew up Orange County California and was a high-school friend of Jackson Browne in the 60s. Copeland co-wrote Browne’s early song “The Fairest Of The Seasons” which was on the Nina Demos and Nico’s album Chelsea Girl in 1967.
He co-wrote “Buy for Me the Rain” with Steve Noonan—a cohort of Copeland and Browne’s from those early days. This song was a huge hit by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1967, who also covered another Noonan-Copeland composition, “Tide of Love,” on their Ricochet album. Later on, Copeland co-wrote the song “Candy” (with Browne and Wally Stocker) which appears on Browne’s album Lives In The Balance (1986).
Copeland didn’t release an album of his own until 1982 with Revenge Will Come on Geffen Records. RWC was listed in Time Magazine’s “Ten Best Rock Albums 1982” (alongside Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Ry Cooder, Lou Reed). Although the debut received strong accolades, this album has never been issued on CD, or reissued on streaming services.
First released on Copeland’s 1982 debut, Copeland’s songwriting credits include “El Salvador” which Joan Baez recorded in 1989, and the song “Revenge Will Come,” which was covered by David Lindley.
After a 26 year hiatus, he went back into the studio and reemerged with his second release, Diana and James, produced by Greg Leisz on Browne’s label Inside Recordings.
Then it was another 12 years before The Tango Bar [Paraply Records] was released in 2020, essentially the same moment that the world shut down with Covid.
Now Copeland is set to release an EP, Empire State, on September 6th, on his own independent label, Franklin & Highland Recordings and internationally with Hemifrån/Paraply Records (Non-U.S. Territories).
Today Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the standout track “We the Gathered” (PRE-SAVE), a moody composition that slowly builds suspense with layers of feedback-laced guitar and rolling drums to complement Copeland’s socially-potent lyrics. Reminscent of artists like Jerry Joseph and Alejandro Escovedo, the song finds Copeland traversing territory that is both spiritual and pointed in its commentary of society. As the track builds, the guitars become more psychedelic and intense as the sprawling track careens towards its conclusion.
Greg describes the inspiration behind the tune:
“This song is a kind of hymn from about two years from now. Hymns are especially weird. I would bet that, at least in their original words, the world’s religious texts, the regional handbooks, are all pretty much alike: Just be kind. That’s about it. Don’t take more than your share, and don’t hurt anybody. Then you look around, and it’s like you’re speaking Navajo.”
LISTEN:
