Track Premiere: Neal Francis "Don't Call Me No More"
KCRW DJ Anne Litt shares a track premiere from Chicago-based artist Neal Francis. His music is reminiscent of Dr. John and Leon Russell - showcasing a grasp of sound that is well beyond his years.
By Anne Litt • • 1 min readAfter discovering Chicago-based musician, Neal Francis, more than a year ago, I’ve been devouring every song he releases. His love of Dr. John, Leon Russell, boogie woogie piano run deep. But on this new track titled "Don't Call Me No More", it’s his reverence for 60’s and 70’s library music that has cemented his old soul with his musicianship.
His long journey back from addiction and his determination are paying off, as he’s shared stages recently with Black Pumas, Lee Fields and the Expressions and even the legendary Meters.
Here’s Neal on the new track:
“I was listening to a lot of KPM library music from the 60s and 70s, particularly the composers Alan Hawkshaw and Keith Mansfield. Sergio Rios, the producer of my album, is a big fan of that stuff as well. The lyrics were written the morning of the session before I went to the studio. I wasn’t feeling particularly great about myself, so I focused on what a charade I thought I was in the first section of the song. The second bit is about a lover I was seeing on and off. The situation had become toxic and I knew it had to end. So it was a plea for her to go away....and months later she did. I wish her the best.”
Listen to “Don’t Call Me No More” and stay tuned for more from this rising artist.
***KCRW Presents Neal Francis March 4 @ the Moroccan Lounge***