November 23, 2024

Skylight Webzine

Online since 2000

PLAYER to come back with a new EP and album


Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the signing of PLAYER to the label for the release of a yet untitled new album.   Best remembered for “Baby Come Back,” a song which topped the US single charts in 1978, Player original lineup included Peter Beckett (guitarist, lead vocalist), J.C. Crowley (guitarist, vocalist), Ronn Moss (bassist, vocalist) and John Friesen (drummer). After extensively playing the club scene in Southern California, Player began to develop a very distinctive edgy, yet very melodic rock style, and was signed by Robert Stigwood to his legendary RSO Records, home to The BeeGees, Eric Clapton, “Saturday Night Fever”, and “Grease”.
Among several notable accolades, Player was named Billboard’s Best New Singles Artist of 1978. Eric Clapton became so impressed with Player that he invited them to be the special guest on his 1978 North American tour. They also performed with Heart, Boz Scaggs, Kenny Loggins and Gino Vannelli to name a few.

Player went on to release four albums during their active touring years until 1982. Moss left in 1981 to pursue an acting career, and has starred for the past 25 years on the daytime soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful”. JC Crowley pursued a career in country Music, while Beckett continued writing for other artists and movie soundtracks. He also did an eight year stint with Little River Band starting in 1990, while releasing an acclaimed solo cd ‘Beckett’ in 1991.

Beckett got back together with Ronn Moss in 1995, and recorded Player’s fifth album, “Lost in Reality” and toured the United States. Since then, Peter has produced, written and played on two solo CDs for Ronn Moss and composed music for “The Bold And The Beautiful”. Player restarted working on new songs and touring together in 2010. The new lineup features again original members Peter Beckett and Ronn Moss together with Rob Math (guitars), Johnny English (keyboards) and Craig Pilo (drums).

“Player has not released a cd for over 10 yrs. It’s great to actually be creating in the studio for the band once again, as opposed to our many other projects”, says Peter Beckett. “The new album will feature Player’s three part harmony very prominently and include the usual blend of rock and big melodies”.

Ronn Moss adds: “It’s been quite a while since our last record release. Feels great to finally be making new music. I’d say the “stuff of life” has played an integral part of influencing all non-musical activities the last several years. Personal endeavours, other work related ventures, and just being downright lazy, have all played a part in why we haven’t done this sooner than now. But in “now’s” defense, sometimes one has to wait until “now” happens before you can actually be there.”

As a special appetizer to the new release, and in connection with a promotional trip in Italy where Peter and Ronn will appear on several major radio and TV shows in the first week of May, Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the worldwide digital release only of a 3-songs EP entitled “My Addiction” on April 30th.

The EP will also include, along with the title track, “Too Many Reasons” and a new recording of “Baby Come Back” and sets the pace for the new album’s release which is planned for the second half of 2012.

“My Addiction  – as well as “Too Many Reasons” – came from co-writing sessions between Beckett and Steve Plunkett. “ I have written tons of songs with “Plunk” over the last 20 years and will continue to do so. We sifted through our joint efforts to see what would fit Player” tells Peter. “Addiction” seemed to be a great choice. This song title was actually stolen from one of our other songs. The other song was actually about addiction. This one is a love song and a lot easier to listen to.

You can order / preorder “My Addiction” now on iTunes following this link:
http://itunes.apple.com/it/preorder/addiction-single/id519148672

“My Addiction” sample can be listened following this link:
http://www.frontiers.it/m/uploads/audios/player-myaddiction-sample.mp3

The EP can also be purchased via Amazon worldwide, eMusic and all other digital retailers all over the world.     The song “My Addiction” can be streamed in full on the Frontiers Records webradio: www.frontiers.it/webradio

Sources: www.player-theband.com /  www.frontiers.it