Greg Loiacono Covers Genesis’ ‘That’s All’ On New Album ‘Giving It All Away’
Stream the Curtis Mayfield-esque take on Genesis’ 1983 hit from The Mother Hips co-founder’s forthcoming solo LP.
By Scott Bernstein May 19, 2022 • 7:34 am PDT
Greg Loiacono of The Mother Hips went the retro soul route on Giving It All Away, a new solo album set for release through Blue Rose on August 12. JamBase is pleased to preview the LP by exclusively premiering its lead single, a cover of Genesis’ “That’s All.”
Produced by Scott Hirsch (Hiss Golden Messenger, William Tyler), the 10-track follow-up to 2020’s Mystic Traces was recorded at Widespread Panic bassist Dave Schools‘ new Spacecamp studio in Occidental, California. Loiacono put together an all-star band for the project, including Schools on bass, drummer Michael Urbano (John Hiatt, Lindsey Buckingham), vocalist Vicki Randle (Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples) and keyboardist Danny Eisenberg (Counting Crows, Jonathan Richman). Greg was pushed outside his comfort zone by the impressive array of musicians as he displayed a deep vulnerability in his songwriting and utilized his falsetto singing voice.
Greg took inspiration from some of his favorite ’60s and ’70s heartbreak tunes on Giving It All Away and wrote about different aspects of love, exploring happiness, heartache, redemption and regret with great insight and empathy. “When your heart breaks, it also opens up,” explained Loiacono. “It’s easy to be afraid of getting hurt, but sometimes you need that pain to make room for growth and joy. Sometimes you need to let go in order to figure out what’s worth holding onto.”
The guitarist and singer-songwriter gave a Curtis Mayfield-esque feel to “That’s All” at the suggestion of Blue Rose founder Joe Poletto. The result is a patient and groovy version of the song originally issued on Genesis’ self-titled 1983 studio album.
“I knew I wanted to put a cover song or two on this record and ‘That’s All’ really encompasses so much of what this record is about,” Loiacono told JamBase. “It goes back and forth between the push and the pull, the highs and the lows, the agony and the ecstasy of being in love. The subtly powerful rhythm section of Michael Urbano on drums and Dave Schools on bass really sealed the deal on the cover concept. And Danny Eiesnberg’s organ part is quite remarkable in its groove. I am very happy with the way this track came out.”
“That’s All” officially comes out tomorrow (Friday, May 20) and can be pre-saved here. Giving It All Away arrives on August 12 and can be pre-saved here.
Watch a trailer for the album showing Loiacono at work in the studio and stream “That’s All” below:
Trailer
That’s All
Loiacono announced a handful of full-band shows with Urbano, Randle, Alex Koford (guitar, vocals), Reed Mathis (bass, vocals) and Max Cowan (keys). The ensemble will play this weekend’s Hipnic Festival in Big Sur and then hits the road for a swing through California in August featuring stops in San Francisco on August 12, Sacramento on August 13, Soquel on August 19 and Chico on August 20. Additional dates will be revealed soon.
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Giving It All Away Tracklist
- Giving it All Away
- Can’t Forget
- Mister G
- What Can I Say
- Even Though I Lost
- That’s All
- Love is The Way
- Del Mar Station
- And Not Cry
- You’ll Lose a Good thing