High Praise for Johnny Nicholas Presents Moon and the Stars: A Tribute to Moon Mullican, on Valcour Records
Two-Volume Set on Vinyl and CD Features Nicholas, Along with Marcia Ball, Linda Gail Lewis, Earl P Ball, Augie Meyers, Peter Rowan, Steve Riley, Los Texmaniacs and Many More!
AUSTIN, TX – The reviews are coming in fast and furious, all praising the new Johnny Nicholas Presents Moon and the Stars: A Tribute to Moon Mullican on Valcour Records. Here’s a sampling.
“What a totally intriguing tribute album to someone who was overwhelmingly influential in his time, and continues to draw new devotees to this day. When it’s time to reach for the past in brand new grooviness, this is where to reach. To hear music meant for the spirit and backbone, here are brand new renditions of songs meant to set fire to the soul. Play it again! – Bill Bentley, Americana Highways
“Leave it to Johnny Nicholas to rush to the rescue with his melting pot of rhythms and know-how. Nicholas’ two volumes (ten songs each) of his Tribute to Moon Mullican cover all the bases necessary to present a vivid, fascinating audio bio of Mullican. These are truly heartfelt performances by a cast of seasoned, colorful, and sympathetic musicians and singers. The songs glisten with personality, and they’re anchored by an all-star Lone Star sextet that includes Austin luminaries Floyd Domino on piano and Scrappy Judd Newcomb on guitar. Asleep at the Wheel fiddler Katie Shore cooks up storms in them. In a world full of uncertainties, count on Johnny Nicholas’ Tribute to Moon Mullican to shine brightly in a variety of lights, igniting exhilaration all the way.” – Tom Clarke, Making a Scene
“Performance, presentation and material all rate five stars; an excellent tribute complete with superb, concise liner notes from Ben Sandmel.” – William Wirtz, Living Blues
“Co-producers Joel Savoy and Johnny Nicholas have put together a raucous double album set (on one CD) with an eye-popping roster of window-rattling rockers, bluesers, Cajuns, and honky-tonkers. Reaching out to artist friends for a Mullican tribute, he found a cadre of fans ready to re-rock the originals that had become a set-list staple for roots rockers. Moon and the Stars is a comprehensive overview of Mullican’s catalog, a deep well you’ll want to drop your bucket in over and over, dredging up pails full of memories to rock your world.” – Grant Britt, No Depression
“It’s a multi-artist celebration of a performer who was both a member of the Grand Ole Opry and a precursor of rock-and-roll – he was a huge influence on, for one, Jerry Lee Lewis, who covered Mullican’s ‘I’ll Sail My Ship Alone,’ one of the Moon shots that, like ‘Pipeliner Blues’ and ‘Seven Nights to Rock,’ are better known than the man himself. Nicholas put together a stellar, Texas-Louisiana-centric cast of younger and older artists, including himself, who highlight the wide range of Mullican’s repertoire, while the inclusion of female performers helps bring a new dimension to the music.”
– Nick Cristiano, Rock and Blues Muse
“Whether it’s Lewis ripping it up on the 88’s on ‘I’ll Sail My Ship Alone’ or Riley leading the brigade on ‘Seven Nights to Rock’ on Cajun accordion, it’s just a delightful treasure trove that’ll be impossible to top. Even though the New Year is barely here, Nicholas’ participatory Mullican tribute could easily be the best of 2023 when it comes to western swing and retro honky tonk music. “- Dan Willging, OffBeat
“As journalist Ben Sandmel says in his liner notes, ‘if you haven’t heard of Moon Mullican, you’ve either heard his music or felt his influence. And he has lots of fans among musicians, including Johnny Nicholas, who co-produced this terrific Moon and the Stars.” – Jeff Burger, The Aquarian
This two-volume set of this brand new tribute to Moon comes straight from the Louisiana bayous and the Texas Hill Country, presented by Valcour Records’ recording artist and former Asleep at the Wheel frontman Johnny Nicholas, along with an all-star cast paying homage to this rather unsung hero of American Roots music.
“Considering the scope of Moon Mullican’s repertoire and his enormous talents and legacy, he remains today grossly under-recognized and under-appreciated,” says Johnny Nicholas. “This project was a labor of love and represents a wish by all of us involved to honor one of our heroes and bring some long overdue recognition to the ‘King of the Honky Tonk Piano Players.’ On every track, I asked each artist to put their own stamp of originality upon the songs and the arrangements. As you would expect with veteran artists and roots music legends like Marcia Ball, Linda Gail Lewis, Augie Meyers, Peter Rowan, Steve Riley, Earl P Ball, Los Texmaniacs, Floyd Domino, and Danny Levin, this was accomplished in spades. However, the arrangements and performances by the lesser- known younger artists like Katie Shore, Tif Lamson, Emily Gimble and Kelli Jones are as powerful and compelling in their originality and performance as any on the record. The superb backing by Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Rusty Blake, Chris Maresh, Greg Piccolo, Joel Savoy and Trey Boudreaux cannot go without mention.”
Quotes About Moon Mullican
“Moon Mullican was a great friend and a wonderful music man!!!! Last time I saw him I gave him and Roy Orbison 50 dollars.” – Jerry Lee Lewis, May, 2022
“I learned about Moon from my brother Jerry Lee Lewis. ‘I’ll Sail My Ship Alone’ is one of my favorite recordings by my brother. I enjoyed recording the song myself with these amazing musicians in Louisiana.” – Linda Gail Lewis
“Moon Mullican was the link between the down home Louisiana I grew up with and the Western Swing I came to love in Texas. Moon erased that borderline and made it one big Gulf Coast party sound.” – Marcia Ball
“Moon’s music was a big inspiration to me as a young piano student—always made me want to dance. So happy to be a part of this tribute.” – Earl P Ball
“If you forget then you forgot, and if you forgot you can forget it. I never forgot Moon Mullican from when I heard him as a little boy in the ‘50s.” – Augie Meyers
“Moon is a character beyond the grave. Not only was he extremely prolific, his music and cleverness stand the test of time and remain relevant to this day.” – Katie Shore
“On top of Moon’s great piano playing, I appreciate so much the concise eloquence of his lyrics, and I think all of the songs we chose to revisit and record really showcase that in a beautiful way.”– Kelli Jones
“I used to sit on Moon’s lap when I was a little girl and he taught me how to play the piano. He was one of the greatest players and showmen I ever saw or heard and I worshipped him!” – Carol Fran
Moon and the Stars Album Tracks
Volume One
Side A:
1. Good Deal Lucille – featuring Earl P Ball
2. When Love Dies – featuring Kelli Jones and Tif Lamson
3. Moonshine Polka – featuring Los Texmaniacs
4. I’m Waiting For Ships That Never Come In – featuring Peter Rowan
5. Big Big City – featuring Johnny Nicholas
Side B:
6. I’ll Sail My Ship Alone – featuring Linda Gail Lewis
7. You Don’t Have to be a Baby to Cry – featuring Johnny Nicholas
8. There’s a Little Bit of Heaven – featuring Katie Shore
9. So Long – featuring Kelli Jones
10. Make Friends – featuring Johnny Nicholas
Volume Two
Side A:
1. Good Times Gonna Roll Again – featuring Marcia Ball
2. Leaving You with a Worried Mind – featuring Emily Gimble
3. What Have I Done – featuring Katie Shore
4. I Was Sorta Wonderin – featuring Tif Lamson and Johnny Nicholas
5. All I Need is You – featuring Johnny Nicholas
Side B:
6. Pipeliner Blues – featuring Augie Meyers
7. Downstream – featuring Peter Rowan
8. Seven Nights to Rock – featuring Steve Riley
9. Bottom of the Glass – featuring Tif Lamson
10. Don’t Ever Take My Picture Down – featuring Johnny Nicholas
Hi-res Cover: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Hi-Res-CD-Cover-scaled.jpeg
Hi-res Moon Mullican Photo by Getty Images used with permission: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Moon-Mullican-Hi-Res-Photo-scaled.jpg
