The Williams Brothers – Memories to Burn
Out October 21, 2022
Via Regional Records
First single, “Tears Only Run One Way” – September 21, 2022
“It’s hard enough keeping gas in the car,” wrote Tom Petty on his song “Keeping Me Alive.” The Williams Brothers released the song in 1988 on their debut album, Two Stories. The lyric and song ring truer today than ever.
The Williams Brothers are twins, Andrew and David, and have rightly been compared to the sublime two-part harmony sound of The Everly Brothers. Their version of “Tears Only Run One Way” was written by Robbie Fulks and sets the tone for an album that would make any Everly Brothers fan smile.
The Williams Brothers released three albums on Warner Brothers from 1988-1994. On their second self-titled album, they scored a hit single with “Can’t Cry Hard Enough” (written by David Williams and Marvin Etzioni) and produced by David Kirshenbaum (Tracy Chapman, Joe Jackson), with a string arrangement by the late great Paul Buckmaster (Elton John, David Bowie). The song has been covered by artists worldwide, including Judy Collins, Victoria Williams (no relation), and more. With five million streams on Spotify, the song is also in the Library of Congress. After their third Warner Brothers album, Harmony Hotel, The Williams Brothers cut ties with the label and went their separate ways as a recording and performing entity.
Andrew and David sang live with the backdrop of Greg Leisz (Willie Nelson, Eagles) on steel guitar, Don Heffington (Bob Dylan, Emmy Lou Harris) on drums, and Marvin Etzioni (Lone Justice, Counting Crows) on bass. The five set up live and played like they had so often done before in the clubs or other studio settings. The vocals were cut live with the band in an attempt to capture lightning in a bottle. “If Sam Phillips at Sun Records could do it in a little studio in Memphis, why couldn’t we do it that way? It was an exciting moment in time to be a part of,” says producer Marvin Etzioni
Finally, after 28 years, The Williams Brothers are ready to release the album Memories to Burn on Regional Records will be releasing on all digital platforms.
Worth the wait? You bet.
The album clocks in at under thirty minutes, so repeat play will be necessary.
