Highway Butterfly – The Songs Of Neal Casal
Neal Graeme Casal (November 2, 1968 - August 26, 2019) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and photographer. First rising to prominence as lead guitar with Rickey Medlocke's Blackfoot from 1988 to 1993, he is also known as a member of Ryan Adams' backing band the Cardinals from 2005 until 2009, with whom he recorded three studio albums. He played in several groups, including the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hard Working Americans, The Skiffle Players, GospelbeacH and Circles Around the Sun, and released twelve albums as a solo artist. Casal died by suicide on August 26, 2019. Neal Casal's death, by his own hand, in 2019, reverberated throughout the musical community which Americana UK inhabits. Never a household name, never lauded with awards (aside perhaps from Mojo magazine proclaiming his 1998 album, 'Basement Dreams' as their Americana album of the year), Casal nevertheless was a highly regarded songwriter, musician, guitarist and photographer, and by all accounts, a warm and engaging human being. 'Highway Butterfly', with more than three hours of music from an amazing array of musicians, and assembled by friends without any corporate assistance, is testament to the esteem in which he is held. Casal released 14 albums under his own name between 1995 and 2011 and was a valued member of several bands including Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hazy Malaze, Beachwood Sparks and GospelbeacH and Hard Working Americans. Circles Around the Sun, the instrumental group he assembled initially to record the music for hour-long intermissions during a reformed Grateful Dead's 50th Anniversary tour, introduced him to a new audience. In addition, he appears on a myriad of albums, on guitar or vocals, ranging from Willie Nelson to Danny & The Champions Of The World. A consummate musician, Casal must have invariably made his way into any of our readers' record collection at some point but he also created a circle of friends who have gathered together for this incredibly impressive tribute album. Casal's long-term manager, Gary Waldman, had initially thought he might garner around 14 songs but, as the wheels rolled on and news of the recordings went out, he was inundated with offers from musicians who either knew or were touched by Casal, resulting in 41 songs spread over three CDs or five vinyl discs. A successful Kickstarter campaign (in further evidence of the love for Casal, fans contributed $155,000, although there's a rueful comment from Waldman that this was exponentially bigger than anything Casal had ever had to spend on his own records) was the go ahead for this handsome project to go ahead. It has to be said that this sprawling project is hugely successful in gathering together the many threads in which Casal participated. His albums contained songs which could sound as if they were recorded in Laurel Canyon back in the 1970s along with darker grooves which recalled Neil Young guitar workouts. His collaborations found him expounding sun speckled California jangle rock and Grateful Dead like jams, along with a wealth of other styles. Indeed, there's no end to his interconnected musical community and that community repays their debt to him in spades with a roll call which includes Hiss Golden Messenger, Beachwood Sparks & GospelbeacH, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Jonathan Wilson, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Vetiver, Shooter Jennings, J Mascis, Cass McCombs, Johnathan Rice, Billy Strings, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Jaime Wyatt, Dori Freeman and so many others. In all there are 41 artists, backed by 130 musicians, packed into the set, all of them touched at one point or another by Casal's artistry and enthusiasm. They interpret Casal all in their own way which allows the album a fine sense of diversity and, although there are ebbs and flows, there's not one song here which one might be tempted to skip on a further listen. All of the songs are loved and, in turn, deserve to be loved by the listener. There are highlights but even then there are too many of those to mention in this review. However, a quick sketch map allows us to alight on some of our favourites. Both of those old skull and roses survivors, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, sparkle with Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band sounding quite cosmic on 'Freeway To The Canyon' while Weir is wonderfully laconic on the lean 'Time & Trouble'. Billy Strings, backed by Circles Around The Sun, aches wonderfully on a brilliant version of 'All The Luck In The World' while Todd Scheaffer's 'December' is a drop dead gorgeous ballad. We have to make space to mention Jonathan Wilson's 'Detroit Or Buffalo' which is a glorious slice of pedal steel sweetened country rock, along with the pared back piano delivery of 'Pray Me Home' by Jason Crosby. For sheer bravado however, Jimmy Herring's version of 'Bird With No Name' (accompanied by Circles Around The Sun) is quite spectacular and Warren Haynes digs into Neil Young' Zuma' territory for his devastating guitar bonanza that is 'Free To Go'. We've barely scratched the surface here and there's so much more which is quite joyous and uplifting. Suffice to say that 'Highway Butterfly' is throughout, a glorious listen, despite the sense of sadness and loss ever present. There's an accompanying podcast which has many of the contributors relaying their memories of Neal. All proceeds from sales of "Highway Butterfly : The Songs of Neal Casal" will benefit the Neal Casal Music Foundation, a non-profit formed in 2020, which provides musical instruments and lessons to students in New Jersey and New York state schools where Casal was born and raised, while also donating proceeds to mental health organizations for musicians, including MusiCares and Backline. "Highway Butterfly : The Songs of Neal Casal" is a tribute to the life and music of the gifted singer, songwriter, musician, and friend to many. Featuring 41 of Neal's songs on 5 LPs or 3 CDs, the collection brings together a galaxy of rock and roots music luminaries to reimagine the body of work he left behind, while celebrating his enduring impact as an artist. Within the limited edition vinyl and CD box sets are sleeves with rare and previously unpublished photos of Neal, a booklet presenting song lyrics, Neal's own iconic photography and an essay by early career champion Jim Cardillo. Additional collectibles include a poster and baseball card with photos of Neal by photographer Jay Blakesberg and stickers designed by poster artists Alan Forbes and Marq Spusta. Highway Butterfly was co-produced by Widespread Panic's Dave Schools and 7-time Grammy-Winner Jim Scott. All proceeds benefit The Neal Casal Music Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit formed in 2020, which provides musical instruments and lessons to students in New Jersey and New York state schools where Casal was born and raised, while also donating proceeds to mental health organizations that support musicians, including MusiCares and Backline. "Highway Butterfly : The Songs of Neal Casal" is yet another tribute album, but it's as different from others as producer Hal Willner's gloriously themed tributes to Nino Rota and Thelonious Monk were. Casal died in 2019 at age 50. A fine guitarist, songwriter, bandleader, and sideman, he left behind 14 albums, played with Hazy Malaze, Beachwood Sparks, GospelbeacH, and Circles Around the Sun. He did long stints with Blackfoot, Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, and Hard Working Americans, and amassed hundreds of studio credits with Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Amanda Shires, Gin Wigmore, and others. This multi-disc collection features more than 130 musicians performing 41 Casal songs. Longtime manager Gary Waldman envisioned it after a live tribute raised more than $25,000 to create the nonprofit Neal Casal Music Foundation. He undertook a crowdsourcing campaign for this charitable project and enlisted Dave Schools and Jim Scott as co-producers. Sessions commenced at Scott's L.A. studio in February 2020 and completed in 2021. Among the dozens who contribute are Hiss Golden Messenger, Phil Lesh, Shooter Jennings, Dori Freeman and Teddy Thompson, Vetiver, Victoria Reed, and Allman-Betts Band. Casal's songs are a seamless, high-quality match for the studio talent. Aaron Lee Tasjan's deeply moving rendition of "Traveling After Dark" opens the collection : "We all want something real/And we're all hoping to find/A closer way to feel/Just one thing to remind/Just one way to forgive ..." His resonant tenor rises above jangly electric 12-string guitars, tambourine, and a Hammond B-3. The Nilsson-esque "You Don't See Me Crying" is wonderfully performed by a combined Beachwood Sparks and GospelbeacH. Marcus King and Erik Krasno offer a souled-out read of "No One Above You. "Detroit or Buffalo" by Jonathan Wilson and Hannah Cohen and the haunted "Day in the Sun" by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks close disc one. The second kicks off with the instrumental "Bird with No Name" from Circles Around the Sun with guest guitarist Jimmy Herring. Later, Kenny Roby and Amy Helm team for the gospel-tinged, horn-drenched Americana of "Too Much to Ask" before Bob Weir delivers the biting, bluesy "Time and Trouble." J Mascis renders "Death and a Dream" with garage band intensity before Tim Heidecker offers the anthemically sad "The Cold and the Darkness." Warren Haynes offers a forlorn "Free to Go" to close the side. The final disc opens with Rachel Dean's tender, indie pop-meets-Doc Pomus read of "So Far Astray." It precedes Steve Earle's poetic, world-weary version of the title track. Zephaniah OHora and Hazeldine perform the country song "Best to Bonnie." Robbi Robb's closing take on "Weep No More" is interspersed with Casal's disembodied voice from an interview. The package contains a large booklet adorned with Casal's photos, lyrics, and discographical info, with a moving liner essay by Jim Cardillo. "Highway Butterfly" is remarkable because there isn't a weak song or performance included. Hopefully, its release will spur serious interest in reissuing Casal's catalogue. Boxset celebrating the prolific body of work the late, great Casal including collaborations with Derek Trucks, Jonathan Wilson, Phil Lesh, Warren Haynes and Circles Around the Sun. A huge array of artists across. different genres covered the material he recorded over14 albums between 1995 and 2011. A fitting Tribute to a huge talent.
1. Aaron Lee Tasjan - Traveling After Dark 03:49
2. Jaime Wyatt - Need Shelter 04:08
3. Beachwood Sparks & GospelbeacH - You Don't See Me Crying 04:00
4. Marcus King with Eric Krasno - No One Above You 05:12
5. Fruit Bats - Feathers For Bakersfield 03:33
6. Billy Strings with Circles Around the Sun - All The Luck In The World 04:42
7. Dori Freeman w/ Teddy Thompson - Sweeten the Distance 05:12
8. Hiss Golden Messenger - Time Down The Wind 05:33
9. Johnathan Rice - Me & Queen Sylvia 03:33
10. Mapache - The Wisest of the Wise 03:12
11. Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band - Freeway To The Canyon 05:26
12. Leslie Mendelson - Feel No Pain 04:45
13. Jonathan Wilson with Hannah Cohen - Detroit Or Buffalo 04:25
14. Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks - Day In The Sun 04:49
15. Jimmy Herring with Circles Around the Sun - Bird With No Name 05:46
16. Shooter Jennings - Maybe California 04:47
17. Vetiver - White Fence Round House 04:15
18. Todd Scheaffer - December 06:25
19. Courtney Jaye - Grand Island 03:50
20. Oteil Burbridge, Nick Johnson, Steve Kimock, John Morgan Kimock, Duane Trucks - Superhighway 04:19
21. Britton Buchanan - Willow Jane 03:25
22. Kenny Roby w/ Amy Helm - Too Much To Ask 05:18
23. Bob Weir - Time & Trouble 06:06
24. J Mascis - Death Of A Dream 03:28
25. Tim Heidecker - The Cold & The Darkness 03:52
26. Warren Haynes - Free To Go 08:28
27. Rachel Dean - So Far Astray 04:00
28. Steve Earle & The Dukes - Highway Butterfly 04:19
29. Victoria Reed - Angel & You're Mine 04:54
30. Jason Crosby - Pray Me Home 03:53
31. Lauren Barth - Lost Satellite 05:45
32. Jesse Aycock - The Losing End Again 04:57
33. Puss N Boots - These Days With You 04:34
34. Tim Bluhm with Kyle Field - Cold Waves 04:44
35. Zephaniah Ohora with Hazeldine - Best To Bonnie 03:57
36. The Mattson 2 - Let It All Begin 04:55
37. Cass McCombs, Ross James, Joe Russo, Farmer Dave Scher, Dave Schools - You'll Miss It When It's Gone 04:55
38. Angie McKenna - Fell On Hard Times 05:16
39. Allman Betts - Raining Straight Down 06:07
40. Hazy Malaze featuring Jena Kraus - Soul Gets Lost 05:00
41. Robbi Robb - I Will Weep No More 06:46
