Background & Credits
Albums & Singles
Some Kind of Hope - A stand alone single release
Some Kind of Hope - Some Kind of Hope came to me out of nowhere. Or everywhere, maybe. Most of it was just there for me, all at once, and I just...finished it. Added a few lyrics to craft the message. From the very beginning it felt like a hymn, something you would maybe hear in a church. I think it very much applies to what's going on in the country and the world right now; but it also seems like a good message, maybe even a "wholesome" one, for any time. To me it feels good to sing it, to say it: I believe in peace, I believe in love, and ...some kind of hope. Always. S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Produced by Ed Smart
The Band:
Music and Lyrics - Steve Tussey
Vocals - Steve Tussey
Guitars - Nick Brown
Bass - Les Brockman
*****202020 Songs in order of appearance on album*****
Baby Believe -- A song about the beginning, the very beginning of a love affair, maybe even a long-term relationship. It’s about a guy in the process of convincing the girl he’s fallen for that it’s a good bet, let’s go for it. Just a feel-good piano boogie, and Lauren Dixon adds a nice touch with the violin on the note sliding upward in the instrumental break. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano
Mark Jeffords – Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Lauren Dixon – Violin
Someone True – An upbeat sort-of-Bossa-Nova about the excitement of meeting someone new, and having a gut feeling that it just may be your true love. Killer bass part from Kyle Sanford, along with fitting rhythms from Mark Jeffords on guitar and Keith Rosenbaum on drums. Nice violin work by Lauren Dixon completes the feel on this one. (Now all we need is to get a hold of Sergio Mendes and Brasil ‘66 to do their version.) -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
Mark Jeffords – Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Lauren Dixon – Violin
Eight Weeks Today – Heartbreak, straight up. That sense of loss that borders on insanity after a break-up – especially if said break-up wasn’t part of your game plan. Mark Jeffords does a wonderful guitar thing with his volume pedal throughout, and Kyle Sanford’s ascending bass line creates its own hook in the chorus. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Kyle Sanford at Peak Shadows Studio, Phoenix.
Produced by Kyle Sanford.
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboard
Mark Jeffords – Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Summer Into Fall – Mild commentary on how life can feel sometimes. Mostly just a fun dance number, everybody rocking with no excuses. The horn section (Joe Leyva, Jermaine Lockhart, Mark Witt) elevates the vibe even further. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded at Lamont Audio, Gilbert Arizona – Sandy Lamont
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano
Mark Jeffords – Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Joseph Leyva – Trumpet, Horn Arrangement
Jermaine Lockhart – Saxophone
Mark Witt – Trombone
Marvelous Night – Once in a while, the universe permits everything to come together just so you and your lover can have a beautiful – a marvelous – night. Apache offers an appropriately sensitive acoustic guitar instrumental in the short break. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Bob Koszela at the Kage, Los Angeles. (Rhythm tracks recorded by Ravi Knypstra).
Produced by Bob Koszela.
The Band (California):
Steve Tussey – Vocals, Piano
Apache – Guitars
Marc Doten – Bass
Joe Berardi – Drums
Not Love At First Sight – A pretty superficial denial going on here – our protagonist is sure that it’s not love at first sight, but all the head-over-heels symptoms are there. Instinctively, he pleads that he wants to go slow, but I don’t know if I’d take that bet. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano, Guitar
Mark Jeffords – Lead, Rhythm, and Steel Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Joyce Guyett – Backing Vocals
I’ll Step In – The tale of a single mom struggling to make ends meet and maintain some level of happiness. And the pledge of a guy who says he’s ready to take it on in the name of love. A mix of Lauren Dixon on violin and a bit of synthesized strings going on in the slower tempo sections. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Vocals, Piano, Synth Strings
Mark Jeffords – Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Lauren Dixon – Violin
One Good Shot – Just good rocking fun, Joe and Jermaine and Mark (our horn section) blowing it up throughout. Jermaine cranking out a great solo in the instrumental break. And Joey turns himself into Superman with that high trumpet lick at the tail end. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Vocals, Piano
Mark Jeffords – Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Joseph Leyva – Trumpet, Horn Arrangement
Jermaine Lockhart – Saxophone
Mark Witt – Trombone
Dream 101 – Part dream, part gratitude for a soul-enriching love affair in real time. Nice violin from Lauren Dixon along with just a touch of synth strings. Jermaine Lockhart delivers a beautiful sax solo. You’ll want to check out our special alternate single mix with Mark Jeffords playing an incredible guitar solo on this one. Two terrific versions – if only we could play them simultaneously. -S.T.
Watch for our alternate version!
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Vocals, Piano, Synth Strings
Mark Jeffords – Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Joseph Leyva – Trumpet, Horn Arrangement
Jermaine Lockhart – Saxophone
Mark Witt – Trombone
Lauren Dixon – Violin
Free Speech – Ain’t nothing free. Just like the song says. Having some fun rocking while we’re saying it. Keith Rosenbaum keeping that drum beat solid and steady, Kyle Sanford delivering what I call an old school “thumping” rock bass part, Mark Jeffords hammering home the main riff along with a high-flying solo. And it sounds like the spirit of Jerry Lee Lewis is in the saddle for a minute there in the piano break. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Vocals, Piano
Mark Jeffords – Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Waiting To Feel Good – A pretty clear message here, spoken gently, no finger-wagging. Originally written just for acoustic guitar and voice, we had fun putting this one together with a little orchestral accompaniment. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Vocals, Synth Strings
Mark Jeffords – Guitar
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Guess I Haven’t – Another complaint from Heartbreak Central. Our hero can’t quite believe that whatever was – isn’t anymore. Sometimes you know it’s time to move on, but you’re just not ready yet. Had fun layering in the old school backing vocals. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano, Synth Strings
Mark Jeffords – Guitar
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
No Friend of Mine – No real friend of mine would make me feel this way. Need I say more? Joyce Guyett joined in on the backing vocals, way up high in the choruses. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano
Mark Jeffords – Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Joyce Guyett – Backing Vocals
You Broke It Good – Yes, it’s heartbreak, but we’re having fun singing about it. Recorded in Los Angeles with some absolutely killer backing vocal work by Gia Ciambotti and Kaspar Abbo. One fellow musician called Apache’s guitar break “one of the best pound-for-pound guitar solos I’ve ever heard.” And it is rather impressive, no question. Blazing. Fiery. Mm-hmm. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Bob Koszela at the Kage, Los Angeles. (Rhythm tracks recorded by Ravi Knypstra).
Produced by Bob Koszela.
The Band (California):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano
Apache – Electric and Rhythm Guitars
Marc Doten – Bass
Joe Berardi – Drums
Gia Ciambotti – Backing Vocals
Kaspar Abbo – Backing Vocals
Every Single Day – A declaration of forever love, quoting from some American songbook-era classics: “Our love is here to stay,” and “The best is yet to [be].” Based on a true story. Terrific Bacharach-style horns from Joey and Jermaine and Mark. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Vocals, Piano
Mark Jeffords – Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Joseph Leyva – Trumpet, Horn Arrangement
Jermaine Lockhart – Saxophone
Mark Witt – Trombone
Song For My Father – I hope it does him justice. He was a wonderful human being, a good man, a great and steadfast husband to my mother, and the type of father that we all should be lucky enough to have. I certainly feel fortunate to have known him. Nice violin work from Lauren Dixon here. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Vocals, Piano, Synth Strings
Mark Jeffords – Guitar
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Lauren Dixon – Violin
That’s How Strong My Love Is – Mark Jeffords and I wrote this one together, from the cool riff ideas Mark had – and they’re very present in the bass and guitar parts throughout. The story is about, well, we’ve “set each other free” but I would still do absolutely anything for you. All you have to do is call. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey and Mark Jeffords
Recorded and mixed by Kyle Sanford at Peak Shadows Studio, Phoenix.
Produced by Kyle Sanford.
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
Mark Jeffords – Lead and Rhythm Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Turning Time – Pretty self-evident theme here lyrically. I think the overall message is something like, “Deal with it, okay?” And mainly “we will have to be the change we need to see.” We had a lot of fun doing the backing vocals toward the end of the song; felt a little like King Crimson meets the Wizard of Oz. Or something like that. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano,
Mark Jeffords – Guitar
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Lauren Dixon – Violin
Love is a Strange and Beautiful Thing – Well, isn’t it? An upbeat song meant to make you feel . . . upbeat. See if you can find the spots where the “Nashville tuning” guitar floats in ever so briefly. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano, Guitar
Mark Jeffords – Lead and Rhythm Guitars
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Joyce Guyett – Backing Vocals
Didn’t I Say Goodbye – Who doesn’t love a polka-rock number? Just good fun while delivering an “auf Wiedersehen” message. Mark Witt makes it even more fun with his trombone solo and outro riffs. Joyce Guyett joins me for the backing vocal “answers” in the outro fade. -S.T.
Written by Steve Tussey
Recorded and mixed by Sandy Lamont at Lamont Audio, Gilbert, Arizona
Produced by Sandy Lamont and Steve Tussey
The Band (Arizona):
Steve Tussey – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano
Mark Jeffords – Guitar
Kyle Sanford - Bass
Keith Rosenbaum – Drums
Joseph Leyva – Trumpet, Horn Arrangement
Jermaine Lockhart – Saxophone
Mark Witt – Trombone
Joyce Guyett – Backing Vocals
