Jay Graydon
Official Web Site
Sonic Thrust Records
| The record company SONIC THRUST RECORDS was founded in July 2001. Founder and owner is Jay Graydon who has now begun to release albums from his huge catalog, as well as new songs and albums. So far there are 6 full length albums released plus 3 MP3 singles on Sonic Thrust Records - and a DVD with guitar instructions. Jay has also released a full length album, JaR - SCENE 29, on his other record label, JaRZONE Records, together with Randy Goodrum. They are all available for purchase online. The BUY button underneath each album image will take you to the specific Sonic Thrust Records page with sound samples and purchase info on Amazon. |
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You may also want to check out a few reviews on Jay's albums!
All of these songs and albums are also available as digital downloads from Apple iTunes - the direct links to each song are listed adjacent to the song titles below.|
Together with his long time pal and highly accomplished songwriter/musician colleague Randy Goodrum Jay has also formed a new record label in 2008 - JaRZONE Records - on which they will release albums as the new supergroup JaR. |
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NEW JaR SINGLE RELEASED - SOMETIMES YOU WIN!!!
JaR Fans, while we're mixing preparing our new project for release we offer this track Sometimes You Win which was the bonus track from our Pony Canyon release of Scene 29. Please savor this classic Westcoast ballad while we're busy in the studio putting the finishing touches on our next album project titled - CODE - Randy and Jay
The debut album - SCENE 29 - was released October 1, 2008 in the US and available here. Check out this very cool VIDEO from the work with the hit song YOUR HEARTBREAK from the album SCENE 29.
You may also be interested in following the very entertaining series of short videos where Jay Graydon and Randy Goodrum are sharing with us the story of how their band JaR - Jay Graydon and Randy Goodrum came about and how the songs were shaped.
The videos are available on the Jay Graydon Official YouTube Channel.
Here below are the Jay Graydon recordings released on his own record label SONIC THRUST RECORDS
Jay Graydon - AIRPLAY FOR THE PLANET - Remastered at 96k
AIRPLAY FOR THE PLANET has been selling well and we are running out of stock so when almost out of stock, CD BABY requests more. That opened a can of worms since the program Kerstin used for the original artwork is out of date so she needed to start over using a new program. Since she needed to redo the artwork, I thought it would be a good idea to re-master the audio.This remaster has already been available as a download at Bandcamp for a few months, but since we keep getting so many requests for a physical CD it is now possible to purchase this remaster as a physical album at Amazon. Apart from the physical CD, the album is also possible to purchase at Amazon as a download - both the full album as well as individual tracks.
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Label: Sonic Thrust Records |
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When I first set up Pro Tools about 14 years ago I wanted to transfer all analog tapes to Pro Tools as to preserve. The problem with old analog tapes is they won't play as they become sticky as the chemicals used to make tape are part petroleum based. The solution is to have the tapes baked! At that point the tapes will play for about a month. I found all of the analog tapes I could find so after having the tapes baked, I transferred everything into Pro Tools at that time.
I typically recorded the transfers at 44.1k but in some cases, I also recorded at 96k. I asked Kerstin to find out if any company allows 96k audio files to be sold. One of her sons (Stefan) mentioned he uses BANDCAMP for his State Cows albums as they allow 96k files to download!
I thought the re-mastering gig would take a few days BUT it ended up taking 6 weeks, since I am a perfectionist. The concept was to "sculpt" the mastering by automating EQ to make sound as good as possible. I did my best to make the bass sound more "even" as well as bringing up the vocal level on a few songs via EQ, adding some sweet high end frequencies to "open up" some meaning to give it air. Some guitar solos and lines had a bit too much in the 2.5k area so I rode EQ in those spots.
Keep in mind most of the songs were recorded on analogue 2" Scotch 996 tape (at 30 ips), which is the best sounding analog tape ever manufactured! The mixes were recorded on 1/2" Scotch 996 tape (at 30 ips),
Back to the re-mastering, I am just scratching the surface as to describing all of the automated EQ moves I did BUT I must say it was worth the hassle as the album sounds delicious! - Jay
This Region Free 4 DVD box set is available at Amazon! - Worldwide shipping!
JAY GRAYDON ALL STARS - 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
The Japan/Scandinavia Tours 1994 and 1996 with documentary bonus materialA Region Free 4 DVD box set, having a few flashbacks from the 1994 and 1996 actual concert footage, a fun and informational band reunion hang at Garden Rake Studios 20 years later, filmed by Todd Homme, and a lot of bonus material, such as for instance a complete explanation by Jay Graydon on how to play his "Peg" solo, as well as a very cool jam session in Jay's garden from 1989 with great musicians, including Steve Lukather, and so much more.
You will find a lot more info about this DVD box set, Jay's own comments, and a huge amount of of pictures from the reunion at Garden Rake Studios on this dedicated page for the Jay Graydon All Stars 20th Anniversary Edition.
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Label: Sonic Thrust Records Cat. no: STRDVD-002 Release date: August 2015 UPC 889211749898 |
JAKE & The Rum Man - HOTTER THAN HOT
Positive, energetic upbeat dance-pop tune by JAKE & the Rum Man (Jay Graydon, Randy Goodrum, and Timothy Hosman), featuring Felicia Barton as the lead vocalist. Jay and Randy play all the instruments, including guitars, keyboards, and synthesizers.Jay Graydon, Randy Goodrum and Timothy Hosman wrote this song for the family motion picture, Gibby, and the style is Pop: Today's Top 40. The movie story is written by Greg Lyon and is about 14-15 year old kids as summarized below:
A young teenage girl, Katie, cannot snap out of her depression after losing her mother. Katie has lost interest in school, her friends, and gymnastics. All that changes in the summer when she is asked to monkeysit Gibby, her science teacher's Capuchin monkey. Taking care of the monkey changes her life in a big way. Gibby's happy-go-lucky personality renews Katie's zest for life. Gibby helps her with gymnastics, renewing friendships (including finding a potential boyfriend) and overcoming her nemesis, a mean girl who is out to beat Katie at everything.
The song HOTTER THAN HOT comes into the movie at a dance party just when the girls take over the scene and start dancing and singing. The main character Katie is glad that she decided to attend the dance, hang with her friends, and is really enjoying herself. The climax of the night is this song – HOTTER THAN HOT.
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Label: Sonic Thrust Records Cat. no: STRCD-011 Release date: October 2014 UPC 889211137251 |
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Jay Graydon with Sherwood Ball - CRANK SINATRA
A modern arrangement of a Frank Sinatra song with all the brass, sax and horn parts played by Jay Graydon on guitars, with the amazing Sherwood Ball on lead vocals. Here below is Jay's own words about his recording experiment:
Crank Sinatra - The Concept
So around the middle of 2008, I happened to watch a Frank Sinatra TV special filmed in the mid 1960’s. The opening song is Day In – Day
Out. As always, Frank sang great and the Nelson Riddle arrangement was perfect for the era! What a great team they were!
I dug the musicality so much I watched over and over and then began thinking what it would sound like to play the horn parts on guitar playing one part at a time as an experiment. With that in mind, I decided to take on the task of being a one-man band. The experiment turned out to be much fun and the result is a sound of guitars I had not heard before.
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Label: Sonic Thrust RecordsCat. no: STRCD-010 Release date: February 2009 UPC 884502029468 |
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Jay & Joe Graydon - ON THIS CHRISTMAS EVE
Get into the Christmas spirit and let the velvety smooth voice of Joe Graydon caress your ears in this lovely ballad, arranged and recorded by Jay Graydon in a pop version. Since so many people have asked for this Christmas song over the years, having heard just a short sound bite of it on Jay Graydon's website many years ago, Jay has decided to make the whole song available as an MP3 download at AMAZON. The song - ON THIS CHRISTMAS EVE - is produced, arranged, performed, mixed and mastered by Jay Graydon. His father Joe Graydon wrote the song and sings the lead vocal. Background vocal by Bill Cantos and Jay can also be heard on the bridge.|
Label: Sonic Thrust Records |
Also available on iTunes and other downloading services |
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Jay Graydon - PAST TO PRESENT - the 70s
From the Garden Rake Studios tape vault... super sounds of the 70s... an album as close to AIRPLAY as it will ever get... This 8th album on Jay's own record label Sonic Thrust Records features Jay Graydon on vocals, guitars, bass and some synth stuff, great singers such as Bill Champlin, Marc Jordan, Tata Vega, Lisa DalBello, Ed Whiting and more. On all tracks other musicians include such top names as David Foster, Jeff Porcaro, Mike Baird, David Hungate, Mike Porcaro, Greg Mathieson, to name a few. The album has 20 tracks and this stuff has never been released before. Apart from the main songs, there are a few bonus tracks - fun stuff like TV themes, a jingle, and also 2 instrumental tracks.Jay says about the album: "“For those of you familiar with the AIRPLAY album, I humbly state you will like this CD. The odds are good another AIRPLAY album will never be recorded, but the good news is this CD is as close as it gets, as some of the songs were demos for the AIRPLAY album, as well as some other demos we considered recording!
If you are interested in hearing great singers, musicians, and songwriters that had surfaced as "top notch" in the 70s during the beginning of their professional careers, you will enjoy the CD."
Read the EXTENSIVE LINER NOTES (full story on the recording sessions, the transfer process and more.)
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Label: Sonic Thrust Records |
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Planet 3 featuring Jay Graydon - GEMS UNEARTHED
Who would ever think this could happen one day? A follow up album by Planet 3 with many previously unreleased songs as well as alternate versions of a few songs from the first Planet 3 album. Yes, what you just read is true! In March (2004) Jay is releasing the second Planet 3 album. This is an album that indeed lives up to its title! The music style is adult contemporary pop with many strong melodies - power ballads mixed with tough 80s synth rock, in the spirit of Toto, Chicago and the like.You will find fun and raw uncut diamonds with major energy like PUSH IT IN, blended with glowing precious stones like the beautiful ballad TONIGHT YOU'RE MINE. "Old" Planet 3 fans will love it and be happy that the second Planet 3 album is finally to be released and "new" Planet 3 fans will find this album to be a rare gem to discover. This second Planet 3 album opens up a jewel case of treasures for quality music lovers.
Jay tells us in the liner notes...
"A while back, I was organizing my tape library and came across many recordings of Planet 3 songs that were recorded around the time of the Planet 3 album - Music From The Planet. After listening to the tapes, I humbly state I became excited as the songs and performances are happening and should be released! We simply had too many songs to choose from so these were most likely for a follow up album so about 15 years later, here is the follow up album! The majority of the performances were either one, two or three passes with an occasional "punch in" fix and the mixes were board mixes. The bottom line is raw energy similar to a live real time performance!"
On a few songs, I bounced the mixes to an ADAT M20 recorder and added a few guitar parts. Most interesting doing guitar overdubs over a final mix when the mix is fading out. Here is the full story.
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Label: Sonic Thrust Records |
All songs are written by Jay Graydon, Clif Magness, Glen Ballard AKA Planet 3. Recorded and produced by Jay, Clif and
Glen at various studios, mixed by Clif and Jay. Mastered by Jay Graydon using
the ALESIS MASTERLINK system. Published by Noted For The Record (ASCAP), Magnified Music (ASCAP) and Aerowave (ASCAP).
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Steven Lee Group - FROM THE GROUND UP
Smooth jazz with world class players who bring enthusiasm, integrity and virtuosity to every live performance and have been invited to share the stage with many jazz favorites, including Fattburger, Richard Elliot, Kirk Whalum, Peter White, Everett Harp, and The Rippingtons. If you happen to be around Las Vegas, be sure to catch their show at the Bellagio Hotel!!!The rich, cultural sound of jazz is appreciated by many as the true form of “music for the soul.” Guitarist extraordinaire, Steven Lee leads a group of world class musicians in this ground-breaking CD sure to be a favorite for even the most discerning jazz fanatic! Presented to you by Jay Graydon and Sonic Thrust Records, From the Ground Up delivers a unique blend of jazz influences and the multi-dimensional talent of seasoned players. The album is distributed by SONIC THRUST RECORDS - Quality music from Jay Graydon.
A few reviews:This is a great CD and a great band. Steven Lee has captured the essence of the Smooth Jazz genre but manages to push the boundaries which keeps it interesting. There's a little something for every music lover. Check it out....." - Harvey Mason
"If you like Smooth Jazz, this CD is a must for your collection! Great songs and great performances!" - Jay Graydon
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Label: Sonic Thrust Records |
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Texto en Español
Jerry Lopez - NEGRITA
is the solo labor of love by this gifted guitarist/singer/songwriter, who will be the next Latin sensation!!! Jerry Lopez is a member of the Ricky Martin band and joined Ricky’s "Livin la Vida Loca" tour in June 2000. Jerry toured with Ricky Martin during 2002 as well. Jerry is also a founding member of the band Santa Fe.PLEASE NOTE!
The physical CD is now out of print, but you may download the whole album or separate tracks from several music subscription services such as AMAZON, iTunes and many others.The list of musicians that Jerry has recorded/performed with is too extensive to mention here, but some of them are: Jay Graydon, Grover Washington Jr., Tom Scott, Arturo Sandoval, David Sanchez, Greg Mathieson, Michelle Camillo, Robben Ford, David Paich, Paul Jackson Jr., Gloria Estefan, Larry Carlton, to name a few.
This album is a harmonious combination of catchy, danceable, fun pop rhythms mixed with passionate velvety smooth ballads - all delivered in a spicy Latin flavor at its best. All new original songs by Jerry Lopez and friends, produced by Jerry and James Hosmer. Co-writers include James Hosmer, Bill Zappia, Paul Dourge, Gilberto Lopez Sr., Gilbert Lopez Jr., David Richardson, and Cocho Arbe.
The captivating Latin pulse of the first song will really coax you into listening to the rest of the recording and several of the songs are sure to be dance floor hits. Some of the songs are performed in Spanish and we also plan to release a total Spanish version of the whole album. The Spanish market that supports Ricky Martin or Marc Anthony, will definitely embrace these mesmerizing ear candy tunes - vibrant and infectious Latin sounds that will sway the soul!
On track 4 Muñequita you may also enjoy the winding and beautiful harmonic structures of a Jay Graydon solo!
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Manteca Music/distributed by: Sonic Thrust RecordsCat. no: STRCD-005 Release date: April 2003 UPC 821681010320 |
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RAKE and the Surftones - SURFERS DRIVE WOODIES
(Japanese version/18 tracks) is now available to the rest of the world .- remastered by Jay Graydon! This is an album which will take you back to the sixties when the surf music waves were high, recorded in a surf style (Dick Dale, Ventures type of thing) with a host of the best studio musicians in the world, e.g. Dean Parks (Steely Dan), Steve Lukather (Toto), David Hungate (Toto), John Ferraro, Joseph Williams (Toto), Jason Scheff (Chicago) and many more, who are revisiting the music of their youth and the fun factor of this recording is shining through big time. A few of Jay's surf songs have been featured on Oceanic cable television in Hawaii. Read more about RAKE and the Surftones, listen to some sound bites and check out pictures from a fabulous surf party with the band!|
Label: Sonic Thrust Records Cat. no: STRCD-004 Release date: September 2002 UPC 807207016328 |
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Planet 3 featuring Jay Graydon - MUSIC FROM THE PLANET
is finally available again and is better than ever. Remastered by Jay and with a previously unreleased Planet 3 song - DREAMERS. All songs are written by the creative songwriters - Jay Graydon and his band partners Clif Magness and Glen Ballard, who also are the musicians and producers behind all the performances and instruments in all songs, under the band name PLANET 3. The music style is adult contemporary pop with many strong melodies - power ballads mixed with tough 80s synth rock, in the spirit of Toto, Chicago and the like. The ballad "I Don't Want to Say Goodnight" was included on the soundtrack for the film "Navy Seals" with Martin Sheen in one of the leading roles, and "Born To Love" was on the sound track for the film "Ghost Dad" with Bill Cosby directed by Sidney Poitier.|
Label: Sonic Thrust Records |
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Jay Graydon - AIRPLAY FOR THE PLANET - The Video
... on solos and beyondThe Jay Graydon instructional video Airplay for the Planet - the video is available from AMAZON.
The DVD is partly based on the much sought after instructional video (VHS format) Guitar Play For The Planet released in Japan only (1995) and out of print since many years. Jay talks about a few of the solos on his album Airplay for the Planet and demonstrates how to play them. He also elaborates on his favorite licks, what to consider when buying amps and talks about his signature guitar. The DVD is released in an extremely limited edition so keep hanging around for news on the release date, to make sure you won't miss out on this very rare item. Check out a cool clip from the video.
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Label: Sonic Thrust Records Cat. no: STRDVD-001 Release date: December 2009 UPC 884502242812 |
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Jay Graydon - AIRPLAY FOR THE PLANET
. Think sophisticated, catchy and playful AC/SMOOTH JAZZ/POP along the lines of Steely Dan; think magical harmonies with accessible melodic hooks; think superb original songs and arrangements with e.g. the Grammy awarded song AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE; think a stunning host of the best musicians and vocalists on the planet, among them Bill Champlin (CHICAGO) and Joseph Williams (TOTO), and you have AIRPLAY FOR THE PLANET - highly praised, for the great musical performances, the outstanding melodies and production and especially for its superb mastering of the 2002 release. This release of this highly acclaimed album also has a bonus track, a beautiful ballad written by Jay Graydon and Bill Cantos, and Bill is doing the vocals on this song. Includes a new version the Grammy awarded song AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE written by Jay Graydon/David Foster/Bill Champlin and sung by Bill Champlin (CHICAGO).
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Label: Sonic Thrust RecordsCat. no: STRCD-002 Release date: February 2002 UPC 793033107128 |
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Since AIRPLAY FOR THE PLANET was never released in the States or hardly anywhere, many of you have not had the pleasure of listening to this ear candy album earlier. However, some of you might have had the opportunity to get ahold of an imported album and consequently already have the AIRPLAY FOR THE PLANET album from 1993. And now you are wondering why you should buy this NEW version. Jay got this question from a British fan - Alan Hales - and is here explaining for all of you why this version is so much better.
Question:"I have had the great Airplay for the Planet for some time. It is one of my all-time favourite albums, a real masterpiece. Is it really so much better than the 1993 European release?? - Alan S."
Jay's response:
Yo Alan,Your question is very good and since this question has and will come up again, I'll explain in full. I will ask Kerstin to put this up on the Jay Graydon web sight.
When mixing the album, except for one song, all were mixed to analog 1/2" tape. The original mastering was in 1993. Analog to digital converters of that era are not of the quality compared to converters of this era. The difference is major!
Also, in the typical mastering chain, the audio from the 1/2" tape machine goes through a mastering console and possibly through some outboard gear. This causes signal degradation meaning the source signal goes through long wire, connectors, console components, etc. I ran 15 foot cables directly from the 1/2" tape machine to the Masterlink (mastering device). This helps the sound in a huge way, as the signal path is as clean as it can get!
Regarding the mastering device, it has built in EQ and all the toys needed. The EQ is extremely flexible and allowed me to get exactly what I wanted in EQ land! The unit includes a look ahead limiter. This tool allowed me to get the level up on songs that were low in comparison without hearing any "pumping" that can happen with a limiter that can not look ahead. The circuit looks for the peaks in regarding to the threshold level set and then smoothes out the spike without brick walling! A great tool.
The bottom line is this: I spent four full nights dealing with the mastering possibilities and nailed it! This version sounds much better than the previous by far!!! More clarity, more "punch", and more level when needed.
Further, a new song is included!!!
All best, Jay
Jay Graydon - BEBOP.
Jay Graydon's new masterpiece - BEBOP - is adding even more bright nuances to the multi-colored painting of his music genius. Those of you familiar with the way Jay expresses himself in pop music know that he has developed his very own style of playing, letting the guitar sometimes basically explode in a technically perfect aggressive solo and sometimes bleed in close harmonies and intense feeling - really squeezing the best out of the guitar.A straight ahead jazz album such as BEBOP does not offer any shortcuts or easy ways out by hiding behind distortion or cranking up the volume or using all kinds of helpful gadgets - you simply have to be a very good player and musician, and Jay Graydon surely proves his skill and versatility on this long awaited new jazz album.
Jay Graydon is supported by a group of highly talented and solid sidemen on this album, all seasoned top-notch musicians. Brandon Fields, the incredibly gifted sax player contributes a beautiful tone to the new tunes and is truly inspired. Together with the other players on this highly recommended album - Dave Weckl, Dave Carpenter and Bill Cantos, these musicians form a synthesis of musicality, music quality, virtuosity, zest and total command of the bebop genre. Read all about the making of BEBOP listen to great sound samples, and check out some cool pictures from the session!
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Label: Sonic Thrust RecordsCat. no: STRCD-001 Release date: October 2001 UPC 793033106022 |
The album is also available on iTunes
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In the very near future you will be able to enjoy more albums from Jay's huge catalogue and many songs never released before. So stay tuned, quality music lovers!
