LISTEN: “IF I COULD ONLY BE SURE”
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, San Diego’s “Best Live Band,” The Sully Band, is back with their latest single “If I Could Only Be Sure,” a new take on Nolan Porter’s soulful 1972 love song. Porter, who was born in Los Angeles, became a prominent figure in the UK’s northern soul movement in the 1970s, but struggled to gain notoriety in the US and sadly passed away in February of 2021 without much fanfare. In tribute, Sully dusts off this hidden gem and gives his take on Porter’s lyrics, growling “I’d do anything at all, if you’d just let me love you, baby."
"When I set out to make this album, which is a journey through songs about love by soul, funk, and blues icons, I was blown away to discover this tune, and even more blown away that no one else had ever covered it. Lyrically, this song is a simple yet heart-wrenching plea, and musically it has a sweet guitar riff but also a melancholy tension that makes it stand out from most other love songs, so I was excited to give it a go. As we approach one-year anniversary of his passing, I do hope our version is a fitting tribute that also draws some attention to his brilliant original."
In step with the spirit of the St. Valentine’s holiday, “If I Could Only Be Sure” follows two other love songs from The Sully Band’s upcoming release: “If You Love Me Like You Say,” a New Orleans-style take on an “Iceman” Albert Collins classic, and lead single “When The Battle Is Over (ft. Rebecca Jade),” a rocking reimagining of a Dr. John-penned gem originally recorded as a one-sided boast by Delaney & Bonnie, and later by Aretha Franklin. Together, the three songs are part of a story arc of love and it’s trials and triumphs, with the rest of the songs due out on March 11th on the Sully Band’s debut album Let’s Straighten It Out!
LISTEN: “IF YOU LOVE ME LIKE YOU SAY”
LISTEN: “WHEN THE BATTLE IS OVER (ft. REBECCA JADE)”
Let’s Straighten It Out! was conceived in the hallowed halls of Henson Recording Studio in Hollywood, California (formerly A&M Studios). With it, Sully and his bluesy, nine-piece beast of a band take us on a journey through the ups, downs, and all-arounds of love by way of 10 classic ‘60s and ‘70s soul, blues, and R&B tunes.
The album was recorded in only five jam-packed days, with “mostly-live” versions of carefully curated love-themed songs that made a mark when they were originally released and yet also feel relevant today. Sully’s soulful, heartfelt vocals cut across layers of horns and guitars that take the listener on an emotional arc of joy, disappointment, struggle, and redemption.
Multiple Grammy Award-winning producer Chris Goldsmith (Blind Boys of Alabama, Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite, Big Head Todd) provided the musical curation that makes up Let’s Straighten It Out!. Anchored by Grammy Award-winning slayer of the bass, James East (Eric Clapton, Elton John, Michael Jackson, and many others), The Sully Band is composed of seasoned, accomplished players who hail from diverse locales like Japan, Panama, and the island of Lemon Grove. The horn section features sax-flute-harp-man Tripp Sprague (Kenny Loggins, The Little River Band, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, The Four Tops) and trumpet and flugelhorn player Steve Dillard (The Righteous Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd).
Sully caught the music bug at age six after picking up a nylon-string guitar and playing the first few chords of “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” with his dad. In high school, the barrel-chested, all-American football player rocked out to Boston and Foreigner with his buddies, starred in every show-tune-laden musical theatre production through college, and ended each day with James Brown or Stevie Wonder on his Pioneer receiver.
In his 20’s, after pounding the unforgiving Los Angeles pavement trying to cut a record deal, he embarked on a 35-year detour, traveling a storied path from Price Club cashier to self-made entrepreneur and national radio/TV personality, ultimately finding his way back to his first true love: music.
Now, after years away from the stage, he is back in full force. He and the band have been playing regional and national shows to small but mighty crowds, from Southern California’s legendary Belly Up Tavern to Austin’s illustrious Antone’s Nightclub, making his mark as a compelling musician and live performer ready to “Straighten it Out.”
UPCOMING ALBUM RELEASE SHOWS:
3/10 - The Mint - Los Angeles, CA
3/17 - Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA
ABOUT BELLY UP RECORDS
Belly Up Records is the recording component of the legendary Belly Up concert venue, located in Solana Beach, California. Opened in 1974 with only a couple of mics and no stage, it soon became a frequent stop for legends like John Lee Hooker, Etta James, and BB King and hosted classic performances by Curtis Mayfield, George Clinton, The Neville Brothers, and Toots and The Maytals. Since then, many artists have stopped by on their way up the ladder, including No Doubt, Black Eyed Peas, Mumford and Sons, and Childish Gambino, while artist underplays at the venue in recent years include The Killers, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimmy Buffett, Willie Nelson, Ben Harper, Damian Marley, and even Tom Jones. And, perhaps most famously, the Rolling Stones played a private event in 2015. With over 100 live recordings in the Belly Up catalogue, The Sully Band’s Let’s Straighten It Out! is the label’s first studio release.
ABOUT BLUE ÉLAN RECORDS
At Blue Élan Records it’s about the Music, it’s about the Artist, it’s about Collaboration. Blue Élan Records is a young and fresh independent label headquartered in Los Angeles. Founded in 2014 by veteran entertainment attorney and music lover Kirk Pasich, his son and musician Connor Pasich, and an experienced label team, Blue Élan believes in doing things differently.
Blue Élan is the happy home of more than 20 artists, including 2-time Grammy® winner Rita Coolidge, the late Rusty Young, Soul Asylum, Grammy® nominated Colin Devlin (The Devlins), Gerry Beckley (America), outlaw country's Jesse Dayton, LA’s own Ozomatli, and self-assured newcomers like Chelsea Williams and Rod Melancon, who contribute to a full house of exciting and diverse talent across all genres. Blue Élan embraces a self-starting ingenuity and offers our artists a creative and nurturing music haven where they can continue to grow and flourish.
