This the 4th solo album from singer/songwriter and longtime guitarist for Michael McDonald, Bernie Chiaravalle. 12 new songs written and produced by Bernie as well as Chiaravalle playing and singing all the parts on the record.

12 MP3 Songs in this album (57:11) !
Related styles: Rock: Adult Contemporary, Pop: Beatles-pop, Mood: Intellectual

People who are interested in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Paul McCartney The Beatles should consider this download.


Details:
Itâs hard to imagine the amount of dedication, commitment, focus and sheer energy it takes to complete a record when youâre touring the world as a lead guitarist for a popular artist, as well as producing yet another musical project.  For Chiaravalle (pronounced (âshaira velleyâ) it simply comes down to passion.  Itâs not a matter of choice; itâs just creative necessity.  Not that he doesnât absolutely love the job heâs had with Michael McDonald for the past 22 years, itâs just that he has music he needs to make and artistic statements of his own to offer.  And Chiaravalle has done that in a very complete way with The World Around Me, his 4th record, on which he supplies all the vocals and plays all the instruments (with the exception of Pat Coilâs organ on âLong Haulâ). Chiaravalle says it is his most personal effort yet. âIâve always had people work with me, but as I developed this group of songs I had, it just felt right for the record to be doing it by myself. The songs are probably more introspective,â he explains. âI always admired Paul McCartneyâs first album,â he says, referring to 1970âs McCartney. âI always thought it was heroic that he played all the instruments. That was my inspiration.â

The Beatles were his influence from the start, growing up in Marin County, CA. Their famous 1964 Ed Sullivan appearance prompted him to begin playing piano and drums at the age of nine. He remembers being absolutely voracious, learning his first guitar bar chord in the middle of the street. âIt changed my life,â he recalls. After the formative bands and local gigs, Chiaravalle moved to L.A. in 1985 with a band by the name of Page One. Just as the group was disbanding, he met up with Ambrosiaâs David Pack. âI sent him a tape,â Chiaravalle recalls. âAnd immediately we hit it off and began hanging out together and writing and playing songs.â At the same time, Pack was telling Michael McDonald about the guitarist. Chiaravalle auditioned for him and in1988, they began their playing and songwriting partnership.

In 1996, Chiaravalle released his first solo effort, Driven By Desire. Two years later, he relocated to Nashville and the following year he enjoyed a No.1 hit song, âSpeak,â on the CHR charts. He also had a song called âTil I Hurt Youâ on Larry Carltonâs Fingertips, co-written with Carlton and McDonald, which sat on top of the NAC charts. Chiaravalle delivered his second album, Life As We Know It, in 2002, followed by Mystery Of Love in 2005. In 2008, Chiaravalle completed production on The Journey To Miracle River, an album for Amy Holland (McDonald), which had been several years in the making. Check it out at www.amyhollandmcdonald.com.

The World Around Me (available on CD Baby) took three years, with everything else going on in Chiaravalleâs life. Produced in his own studio, most of the lyrics were self-penned, although âLong Haulâ was co-written with Michael McDonald, âThe Only Game in Townâ was co-written with John Goodwin, and Chazz Frichtel co-wrote âNothinâ Left to Believe In.â âA friend of mine, Steve Leland, gave me a poem for the ballad âFor a Little Whileâ that I wrote a song to,â says Chiaravalle, who adds that it is among one of his favorites, along with âNo Way Out,â and âNothinâ Left To Believe Inâ, âabout a former relationship I had. Itâs sort of a downer song, but with a positive message,â he says. Another favorite he mentions is âThe World Has Let You Down,â a song about his dad.

So while some people say, âIâve had a busy week,â Chiaravalle says, âIâve had a busy decade,â with a chuckle. âSeriously, I donât know what I would do if I couldnât make this music. Iâm thankful that I still have the drive â and the ideas -- to do it. I do these records to re-charge myself, do these groups of songs, move on and write some more. Iâm lucky to be able to do it,â says Chiaravalle, who, no surprise, already has a batch of new songs for the next one!