Megaforce RecordsFounding Santana and Journey singer/keyboardist Gregg Rolie recently released his first solo album in 18 years, Sonic Ranch.
Rolie tells ABC Audio that the reason it took so long for him to release the record was that he “got busy” with various other projects, including Ringo Starr‘s All Starr Band, Santana’s Santana IV reunion album and the recent shows by Journey guitarist Neal Schon‘s side project Journey Through Time.
Sonic Ranch features appearances from various well-known musicians, including Schon, Toto and All Starr Band guitarist Steve Lukather, original Santana drummer Michael Shrieve and ex-Santana bassist Alphonso Johnson.
Lukather and Schon appear on two tracks each. Among the songs Steve plays on is the lead track and current single, “Give Me Tomorrow.”
“Journey could have done that song. It’s got that kind of vibe to it,” Rolie says of “Give Me Tomorrow,” which he rates as one of Sonic Ranch‘s standout tracks. “And I love what Lukather played on it.”
The album also features a new rendition of the 1976 Journey tune “Look into the Future,” which Gregg says is among his favorite songs by his old group.
Closing out Sonic Ranch is a slow, gospel-flavored cover of the classic Elvis Presley hit “Don’t Be Cruel.” Rolie tells ABC Audio that his rendition was inspired by a 1975 version he saw veteran country singer Billy Swan performing on an old TV variety show.
Meanwhile, Rolie reveals he’s started a new studio album with a backing band that includes his son Sean — who co-produced and played guitar on Sonic Ranch — and fellow Journey Through Time members: ex-Journey drummer Deen Castronovo and veteran hard-rock bassist Marco Mendoza. Gregg says he likely won’t play solo shows until 2020, when he expects to release the next album.
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