BILL LLOYD (Nashville, TN)

Along with Big Stir Records' partnership with the mighty SPYDERPOP RECORDS of Texas comes a Nashville twist: the label's ongoing association, and two fine album releases, with cross-genre legend BILL LLOYD.
Bill Lloyd has certainly covered a lot of ground since his first pop-rock solo album Feeling the Elephant in 1986. He took a stylistic turn and enjoyed mainstream success in the alt-country duo Foster & Lloyd. As a recording artist, Lloyd has continued to win acclaim for his solo projects showcasing his melodic power pop and lyrical song craft. Bill's widely praised 2018 SpyderPop release Working the Long Game was his ninth full-length solo album and his second for label, following the success of his cover song collection Lloyd-ering in 2016. It found him returning with a clutch of originals that easily stand with the classics of the genre.
Lloyd has a fan base following his solo records, but is also a songwriter, musician and producer who's truly “worked the long game” in Nashville for over 30 years. Aside from his best-known output in Foster & Lloyd, he's also worked for RCA Records, The Country Music Hall of Fame and the musical director for the First Amendment Center’s Freedom Sings program. As a guitarist and singer, he’s made guest appearances on records by Ray Davies of The Kinks, Glenn Tilbrook from Squeeze, Marshall Crenshaw, Buck Owens & Ringo Starr, Steve Earle, Steppenwolf and many more. As a producer, Lloyd has worked with the legendary Carl Perkins, Sweethearts of the Rodeo and others. Lloyd is also an award winning songwriter whose cuts have been recorded by artist ranging from Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride to Cheap Trick, Hootie and the Blowfish, Poco and many more.
On Working the Long Game, Lloyd teamed with an impressive list of co-writers and returned to the retro-power-pop sound he’s been known for. For the music fans who still read liner notes and know the names of the songwriters and players, this album features a treasure trove of collaborative writing and musical interplay. “The co-writers like Graham Gouldman (10cc), Freedy Johnston, Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick), Aaron Lee Tasjan, Buddy Mondlock and Scot Sax (Wanderlust) are all great record-makers on their own and it was great to get to work with them all. Tom Petersson adding his bass to the track of 'Yesterday' definitely took it up a notch or five.”
The song “Merch Table” may provide the best insight for the overall theme of the album. “You’re asking me, Why do you still do this? I thought by now you woulda had your fill. There’s a thing that happens in the moment... when it’s real.” With a digital relaunch of Working The Long Game slated for early Autumn, and with it the arrival of the vinyl and CD editions in Big Stir Records' web store, you'll be able to drop the needle yourself., and we're sure you’ll feel it, too. May Bill Lloyd continue working the game as long as it takes... he's as good now as he ever has been.
BIG STIR RECORDS and SPYDERPOP RECORDS are proud to announce the third in their ongoing series of album relaunches: BILL LLOYD's WORKING THE LONG GAME, out September 24 on vinyl LP, CD, and streaming on all digital platforms. The new release of the acclaimed album from Nashville's multi-genre and multitalented singer-songwriter is preceded by a
BIG STIR RECORDS and SPYDERPOP RECORDS are proud to announce the third in their ongoing series of album relaunches: BILL LLOYD's WORKING THE LONG GAME, out September 24 on vinyl LP, CD, and streaming on all digital platforms. The new release of the acclaimed album from Nashville's multi-genre and multitalented singer-songwriter is preceded by a freshly-issued digital single drawn from the record, “Satellite” b/w “Yesterday,” and is available for pre-order at www.bigstirrecords.com/store, www.bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com and everywhere now. The record joins recent relaunches from LANNIE FLOWERS and DANNY WILKERSON in bringing the music of SpyderPop Records to the airwaves, record stores, and ears of new fans worldwide.
WORKING THE LONG GAME is Bill Lloyd's ninth solo release since his first pop-rock solo album, Feeling the Elephant in 1986, with much creative ground covered in the years between. It hasn't all been power pop – Bill is probably most familiar to mainstream audiences for his success in the alt-country duo, Foster & Lloyd – but one listen to the two tracks on the new single reveals that this is a top-flight guitar pop record through and through. “Satellite” and “Yesterday” both bristle with energized, jangly guitars, layers of pristine harmonies, and Lloyd's gift for melodic and lyrical songcraft.
There's also the classic AM-ready bounce of the title track, and the Stonesy “Interrupted” with its wry takedown of the hectic pace of the digital age. And the gorgeous balladry of “Shining.” And “Go-To Girl”, a shuffle worthy of Buddy Holly, and more... twelve tracks of should-be hits. It's no wonder that the album was hailed upon its original release as a high-water mark even among Bill's beloved catalog.
On Working the Long Game, Lloyd teams up with an impressive list of co-writers, and the partnerships dovetail beautifully with his own considerable talents. For the music fans who still read liner notes and know the names of the songwriters and players, this album features a treasure trove of collaborative writing and musical interplay. “The co-writers like Graham Gouldman (10CC), Freedy Johnston, Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick), Aaron Lee Tasjan, Buddy Mondlock and Scot Sax (Wanderlust) are all great record-makers on their own and it was great to get to work with them all,” says Bill. “Tom Petersson adding his bass to the track of 'Yesterday' definitely took it up a notch or five.”
As for the “long game” of the title, the song “Merch Table” may provide the best insight for the overall theme of the album. “You’re asking me, Why do you still do this? I thought by now you woulda’ had your fill. There’s a thing that happens in the moment... when it’s real.” With the global relaunch of Working The Long Game, you'll be able to drop the needle yourself and feel it, too.
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Satellite 3:160:00/3:16
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0:00/3:17
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Make That Face 2:240:00/2:24
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What Time Won't Heal 3:470:00/3:47
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Wake up Call 2:370:00/2:37
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0:00/2:54
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Go-to-Girl 2:340:00/2:34
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Yesterday 2:450:00/2:45
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Interrupted 3:030:00/3:03
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Merch Table 3:100:00/3:10
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Miracle Mile 3:470:00/3:47
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Shining 4:130:00/4:13