Vinyl kings

"We Are All One" 
Vinyl Kings 
The Big New Life project continues: 

The Vinyl Kings are pleased to announce the release of "We Are All One"—the band of Nashville veteran players and producers' final song in the year-long project, Big New Life. Though long in the works, it wasn't certain the song, an intriguing and powerful alloy of rap and anthem, was going to be completed in time to make the cut. 

"I remember Jim having an idea about doing a song like "Give Peace a Chance," says Josh Leo, co-writer of the song with VK bandmate Jim Photoglo, "and he was already 50 yards down the field when he presented it to me."

Like the 1969 Plastic Ono Band anti-war classic, it was the urgency of the message that demanded the completion and inclusion of "One."

"We began the song early on, but it had no bridge," explains Photoglo, "so it sat incomplete while we worked on the others. We finally figured out how to bridge the two keys, and solidify the message of the song. In the final analysis, we knew the message was too important to leave off the project, and right on time."

When Big New Life was first announced, Vinyl Kings founding member Larry Lee described it this way: "We really want to do something positive. Something with a promise of better things to come. All revolving around love."

And in the end, the Vinyl Kings once again draw on the power of poetry combined with a commitment to social commentary and moral compass prevalent in the music of their youth

"I believe 'We Are All One' has a life all its own," says VK co-founder Harry Stinson. "Isn’t it time we finally realized this deep truth about the human race?"

"It may be the most thought provoking song of the lot," adds Lee, "and these are definitely times worthy of deep thought."

Joni Mitchell said it like this: "We are stardust; we are golden …"

Listen now as the Vinyl Kings—the coolest collection of Nashville cats we know—put their indelible spin on it. 

We Are All One
Written by Josh Leo, Jim Photoglo

I’m tired of all the separation
Classifistic segregation
No amount of reparation
Battlefield incarceration
Elevated hatred
Killing of the sacred
Can’t you hear the Walrus call?

We are all one under the skin
We are all one under the skin
… 

Members of the band—Photoglo, Stinson, Lee, Leo, and Rhodes—have individually produced, written songs for, played on recordings by, or toured with such artists as Bob Dylan, Elton John, Neil Young, Carole King, Sting, Shania Twain, Vince Gill, Steve Winwood, Tina Turner, Mark Knopfler, Dan Fogelberg, Glenn Frey,  and so many more.

The Vinyl Kings' first album, the 2002 A Little Trip—a nod to The Beatles who inspired each of the VKs to pursue a life in music—received rave reviews and developed somewhat of a cult following. After all, it's a little hard to buy the concept of an album of Beatles-esque music, but Beatles fans who found it loved it. Intensely.

"The genius of the record is that the Kings managed to create an album of original tunes echoing the evolving sound and feel of the Beatles—neither impression, nor caricature, but a pure, loving homage," writes Dale McCurry, from his review of A Little Trip for NoteWorthy Music.

For information and interviews, please contact the Vinyl Kings at pr@vinylkingsband.com.