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Earlier this month, former Eagles guitarist Don Felder released his first solo album in more than six years, American Rock ‘n’ Roll, an 11-track collection that’s packed with famous guest musicians.
Kicking off American Rock ‘n’ Roll is the album’s title track, which finds Felder lyrically and musically saluting the history of U.S. rock music, from the 1969 Woodstock festival through the grunge era.
“[T]o me, [Woodstock] was sort of the birth of modern rock ‘n’ roll,” Felder, who was at the historic gathering, tells ABC Radio. “So I thought that would be a great premise to set an album up on, and invite friends of mine…to play and sing with me on it that had that same experience and that same influence.”
“American Rock ‘n’ Roll,” the song, features guitar work from Slash and drumming from Fleetwood Mac‘s Mick Fleetwood and Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith.
Other musicians featured on the album include Peter Frampton, Rush‘s Alex Lifeson, Sammy Hagar, Bob Weir, Joe Satriani, Richie Sambora, Orianthi, and members of Toto.
Hagar, Weir and Satriani all appear on “Rock You,” which Felder describes as “a big stadium rock ‘n’ roll anthem.” Don says he wanted to duet on the song with “a big rock ‘n’ roll voice,” and Sammy fit the bill perfectly.
While Felder was working on the track at Hagar’s studio in Sausalito, California, Sammy’s pals Satriani and Weir paid separate visits to the facility, and wound up contributing guitar and backing vocals, respectively.
As for Frampton, Felder tapped him to add the “ethereally beautiful” sound he gets playing his Les Paul through a Leslie speaker to the love song “The Way Things Have to Be.”
Here’s the American Rock ‘n’ Roll track list, along with select guests featured on each song:
“American Rock ‘n’ Roll” — featuring Slash, Mick Fleetwood and Chad Smith
“Charmed” — featuring Alex Lifeson
“Falling In Love” — featuring Steve Porcaro
“Hearts On Fire” — featuring David Paich and Joe Williams
“Limelight” — featuring Richie Sambora and Orianthi
“Little Latin Lover” — featuring Abe Laboriel Sr.
“Rock You” — Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani and Bob Weir
“She Just Doesn’t Get It” — featuring Styx drummer Todd Sucherman
“Sun”
“The Way Things Have to Be” — featuring Peter Frampton and David Paich
“You’re My World”
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