Paul Rodgers' Solo Album "The Royal Sessions" Debuts @ #1 On Billboard Blues Albums Chart!

#18 DEBUT ON BILLBOARD CURRENT TOP ROCK ALBUMS CHART, #77 DEBUT ON BILLBOARD TOP 200 CURRENT ALBUMS CHART

Bad Co. and Free Founder Celebrates the Music of Memphis 429 Records Release

"Rodgers' devotion rings true"--USA Today

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Feb 12, 2014, 01:00 ET

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul Rodgers, longtime singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with Bad Company debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart with his album "The Royal Sessions"—a lovingly crafted collection of classic R&B and soul songs re-imagined by the iconic rock singer recorded at Memphis' Royal Studios, historic home of Willie Mitchell and Hi Records, with many of the musicians who played on the original tracks. In addition, the album debuted at #18 on Billboard's Current Top Rock Albums Chart and #77 on Billboard's Current Top 200 Albums chart. Truly a lifetime in the making, Rodgers has come full circle with "The Royal Sessions" as he pays homage to the legendary hits he collected on 45s released on Stax/Volt, Goldwax and Hi Records—recordings by Otis Redding, Albert King and Ann Peebles which made such an indelible impression on the young Rodgers inspiring him to pursue a career as a singer. The album is also doing well at AC, classic rock and blues radio formats. Paul Rodgers' "The Royal Sessions" is available worldwide on 429 Records.

Produced by Perry Margouleff, "The Royal Sessions" is an extraordinary recording which captures the music in its pure form—live band and vocal takes as performed together at Royal Studios by Rodgers and an all-star roster of legendary musicians. The band is a dream lineup of those who played on the original hits dating back to the 60's. The classic rhythm section includes Reverend Charles Hodges (Hammond B3), Michael Toles (guitar), LeRoy Hodges Jr. (bass), "Hubby" Archie Turner (Wurlitzer), Steve Potts and James Robertson Sr. (drums), The Royal Horns and the Royal Singers. "The Royal Sessions" will be released on 429 Records in the U.S. and internationally (see release dates below).

"The Royal Sessions" is a remarkable project that came together as Rodgers was working on a solo record and producer Margouleff had just discovered that Royal Studios was still up and running under the auspices of Willie "Pops" Mitchell's son Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell. The opportunity to record in such a hallowed place with musicians he considered personal heroes was a dream come true. The Memphis players forged an immediate bond when presented with his formidable talent and sincere love of the songs. Deeply felt, powerfully sung and expertly played, it features a cross-section of material hand-picked by Rodgers, songs of great historical significance and personal meaning.

Says Rodgers: "We seem to have touched a nerve in the world of music lovers. This is music with feeling. I am glad you are feeling it too."

"The Royal Sessions" track listing:

I Thank You
Down Don't Bother Me
I Can't Stand The Rain
I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
That's How Strong My Love Is
Walk On By
Any Ole Way
It's Growing
Born Under A Bad Sign
Dreams To Remember

For more information, visit:
http://smarturl.it/PaulRodgers

To order "The Royal Sessions" go to:
http://smarturl.it/PaulRodgers_Amazon
http://smarturl.it/PaulRodgers_Walmart
http://smarturl.it/PaulRodgers_iTunes
http://smarturl.it/PaulRodgers_BestBuy

429 Records is a unit of The Savoy Label Group (SLG). SLG is the North American based division of Nippon Columbia the oldest music company in Japan. The Savoy Label Group has evolved into a Grammy Award winning and chart topping independent music company consistently outperforming competitors in key music categories as monitored by Billboard Magazine. The Savoy Label Group is led by Steve Vining and is based in Los Angeles, CA.

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SOURCE 429 Records