''Release'' is the second solo album by guitarist and singer-songwriter

Damon Johnson Damon Rogers Johnson (born July 13, 1964) is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, currently a solo artist, a member of Brother Cane and guitarist in Lynyrd Skynyrd. In the 1990s he co-founded Brother Cane, and later joined Alice Coope ...

, who has been a member of

Brother Cane Brother Cane is an American rock band that released three albums in the 1990s. Formed in Alabama in 1990 by singer and guitarist Damon Johnson and bassist Glenn Maxey, the line-up was completed by guitarist Roman Glick and drummer Scott Colli ...

, Slave to the System,

Whiskey Falls Whiskey Falls was an American country music group composed of Seven Williams (lead vocals, guitar), Wally Brandt (guitar, vocals) Damon Johnson (guitar, vocals), and Buck Johnson (lead vocals, mandolin, guitar, keyboards). Seven Williams and Wa ...

Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...

's band,

Black Star Riders Black Star Riders is a hard rock band formed in December 2012. The band began when members of the 2011–2012 line-up of Thin Lizzy decided to record new material, but chose not to release it under the Thin Lizzy name. While Thin Lizzy continues ...

, and

Thin Lizzy Thin Lizzy are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. The band initially consisted of bass guitarist, lead vocalist and principal songwriter Phil Lynott, drummer Brian Downey, guitarist Eric Bell and organist Eric Wrixon although Wr ...

. Mostly acoustic, this album was recorded while Johnson was with Alice Cooper, who features on one track, a cover of "Generation Landslide" from Cooper's 1973 album ''

Billion Dollar Babies ''Billion Dollar Babies'' is the sixth studio album by American rock band Alice Cooper, released on February 27, 1973 The album became the best selling Alice Cooper record at the time of its release, hitting number one on the album charts in the ...

''.

Songs and contributors

''Release'' includes Johnson's own version of " Just Feel Better", which had been recorded in 2004 by

Santana Santana may refer to: Transportation * Volkswagen Santana, an automobile * Santana Cycles, manufacturer of tandem bicycles * Santana Motors, a former Spanish automobile manufacturer * Sailboat designs by W. D. Schock Corp ** Santana 20 ** Santan ...

with

Steven Tyler Steven Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948), known professionally as Steven Tyler, is an American singer and songwriter. Tyler is best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the keyboards, h ...

on vocals. Johnson stated, "It was without a doubt an honor to have them record it. Mine is more of the original intent." The album also features " Everyday", which had been recorded in 2001 by

Stevie Nicks Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasing the album ...

for her album ''

Trouble in Shangri-La ''Trouble in Shangri-La'' is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks. Released on May 1, 2001, it was her first solo studio album since 1994's '' Street Angel''. The album debuted at number five on the ''Billboard'' 2 ...

''. Other tracks include "Hard Act to Follow", originally recorded by Brother Cane for their first album. Johnson's co-composers for ''Release'' include

Kelly Gray Kelly Gray (born April 7, 1981, in Palo Alto, California) is a former American soccer player. He does commentary for San Jose Earthquakes games on Comcast Sports Net Bay Area Career College Gray played Striker (association football), forward a ...

(

Queensrÿche Queensrÿche () is an American progressive metal band. It formed in 1982 in Bellevue, Washington, out of the local band the Mob. The band has released 16 studio albums, one Extended play, EP, and several DVDs, and continues to tour and record ...

and Slave to the System), Milton Davis, and ex-

Joan Jett Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin; September 22, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actress. Often referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music#J, Godmother of Punk", she is regarded as a Pop icon, rock icon and ...

guitarist

Ricky Byrd Ricky Byrd (born Richard Scott Bird; October 20, 1956) is a rock and roll guitar player, singer, songwriter and producer. He spent over a decade as a member of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, where he contributed music and background vocals to tw ...

. The album also features vocals from Johnson's daughter, Sarah Marlo Johnson, including the duet "Better Days Will Come at Last", which had previously been recorded by Whiskey Falls for their first album. She also sings lead vocal on a

Shelby Lynne Shelby Lynne (born Shelby Lynn Moorer, October 22, 1968) is an American singer and songwriter and the older sister of singer-songwriter Allison Moorer. The success of her pop rock album '' I Am Shelby Lynne'' (1999) led to her winning the Grammy A ...

cover, "Where I'm From", from the album '' I Am Shelby Lynne''.Damon Johnson, ''Release'', sleeve notes.

Track listing

#"Release (Hard Rain Comin')" (

, Milton Davis) – 4:04 #"Pontiac" (CS Brewer, Johnson) – 4:21 #" Everyday" (Johnson,

John Shanks John Matthew Shanks (born December 18, 1964) is an American songwriter, record producer and guitarist. He has been a longtime session and touring member of the rock band Bon Jovi. Early life and education Shanks was born in New York City and m ...

) – 3:58 #"Dayton, Ohio" (Johnson,

) – 3:37 #" Just Feel Better" (Buck Johnson, Jamie Houston, Johnson) – 3:44 #"Leave It All Behind" (Johnson) – 4:41 #"Because Our Love's That Strong" (

, Johnson) – 3:37 #"Better Days Will Come at Last" (Johnson) – 3:42 #"Generation Landslide" (

, Michael Bruce,

Dennis Dunaway Dennis Dunaway (born December 9, 1946, in Cottage Grove, Oregon) is an American musician, best known as the original bass guitarist for the rock band Alice Cooper. He co-wrote some of the band's most notable songs, including "I'm Eighteen" and ...

, Neal Smith,

Glen Buxton Glen Edward Buxton (November 10, 1947 – October 19, 1997) was an American guitarist who played lead guitar for the rock band Alice Cooper. In 2003, ''Rolling Stone'' magazine ranked him number 90 on its list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of ...

) – 4:42 #"She's All That (And More)" (Byrd, Johnson) – 2:31 #"Satellites" (Johnson) – 4:07 #"Jolene" (

Ray LaMontagne Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne (; born June 18, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. LaMontagne has released nine studio albums: '' Trouble'', ''Till the Sun Turns Black'', '' Gossip in the Grain'', '' God Willin' & the Creek Don ...

) – 3:57 #"Hard Act to Follow" (Johnson,

Marti Frederiksen Martin Harold "Marti" Frederiksen (born July 1, 1962) is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. He writes and produces music primarily in rock, country, and pop. He is best known for his work with many artists and bands incl ...

) – 4:20 #"Where I'm From" (

Bill Bottrell William Allen Bottrell (born October 27, 1952) is an American record producer and songwriter. He is perhaps best known for his production and uncredited guest appearance on Michael Jackson's 1991 single "Black or White", which peaked the ''Bill ...

) – 4:11

Personnel

– vocals, guitar, bass guitar,

dobro Dobro () is an American brand of resonator guitars owned by Gibson and manufactured by its subsidiary Epiphone. The term "dobro" is also used as a generic term for any wood-bodied, single-cone resonator guitar. The Dobro was originally a gui ...

*Sarah Marlo Johnson – vocals *

– vocals, harmonica on track 9 *Buck Johnson – backing vocals, keyboards, string arrangements *Gene Pledger – percussion *Gary McKinney – drums, programming *Produced by Damon Johnson *Mixed by

*Engineered by Gary McKinney *Recorded and mixed at Kensington Road Studios, Birmingham, Alabama, in Spring 2010 *Cover concept, art direction and photography – Stephen Jensen

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Release 2010 albums Damon Johnson albums