MP3 Cold Cold Heart - Blue Collar Attitude

Up tempo country boogie, screamin' southern rock guitar licks and timeless melodic pop make this a "Jack Sauce" of alternative, blues-influenced country.

14 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Alt-Country, COUNTRY: Country Boogie



Details:
Cold Cold Heart

Cold Cold Heart was formed in 1996 by Joe Hannigan (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Carl Bergman (Drums) and Charlie Ortolani (Guitar, Vocals). The three had just wrapped up a stint as backup band for the popular area Country Western singer, Jule Younger. They enlisted Ortolaniâs former B.R.M.C. band mate, John Tate (Bass, Vocals), and set off to catch the cresting wave of the Country line dance craze that had recently washed up on the stony New England shore. The band chose âCold Cold Heartâ for a name in tribute to Hank Williams and his hit song of the same name. CCH was a staple on the New England Country club and concert scene for several years, but eventually, when the dance wave ebbed, the band dedicated itself to writing and arranging music.

This was when the diversity of their musical tastes and backgrounds became evident. While Country music (in all its forms) remained the bandâs touchstone, their individual influences shaped their new sound. Hanniganâs Southern and Country Rock, Jazz and Bluegrass, Bergmanâs Rock and Blues, Ortolaniâs Folk, Folk Rock and British Invasion influences and Tateâs Rockabilly, R & B and Blues blended together into a sound all its own, informed by country and uniquely American. The operative term these days being âAlternative Country,â for want of something better. They released a well reviewed CD of originals in 1997 entitled âPridesâ Crossingâ on independent label Black Rose Records.

After promoting the recording for the following year, CCH went on a hiatus as a performing unit. They spent the time writing music and pursuing assorted musical adventures and misadventures. The band had dissolved amicably but was reunited after a chance encounter in 2006 and they began discussion about once more joining forces. Hannigan had continued writing in collaboration with pianist Sam Brown, with whom he had been performing, along with Carl, in the popular area band, TC and the Torpedos in local clubs. Brownâs musical tastes ran toward Rock, R & B and the Blues and the four had found a way to bring their songs to a new level. The chemistry clicked immediately. Tate added solid, nuanced vocals to many of their prerecorded tracks and new recordings. Hannigan, Brown and Bergman fleshed out Tateâs compositions with their stellar musicianship and sparkling arrangements. Soon they were soon composing together as well as recording.

Over the course of the following year, the ensemble went on to compile enough songs to fill a CD. Although this collection was originally conceived only as a vehicle for marketing their songs, they felt the recordings were good enough to merit the pressing of a new disk. Thus âBlue Collar Attitudeâ was unleashed on the world in 2007, a year after the commencement of their new partnership. The inspiration continues and the band now finds itself in enviable position of having too much music to record!

Cold Cold Heart is a band of seasoned veterans of the club and concert scene having individually and collectively served as openers for the likes of Charlie Daniels, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Leon Russell, Rick Nelson, Roy Orbison, Sleepy LaBeef and many others.