The “bicycle diaries” of a working musician, film noir, actor Clive Owen, and “the dark sacred night” are some of the elements in I LIKE THE STREET, the title of the 2011 recording by “Singer at Large” Johnny J. Blair.

Blair said, “These songs are ‘up close and personal’ dynamics, extending from my ‘bicycle diaries;’ life observations from riding bike on city streets for years, mainly as a messenger on the streets of San Francisco.

“Musically, I reached into my Roxy Music and Velvet Underground bag of influences. I’m covering VU’s ‘What Goes On.’ Then there are acoustic and world beat interludes, doses of Latin and Tango music, and a nod to Erik Satie in the closing song ‘It’s in Your Hands,’ which I produced with glam rock-flamenco overtones.”

The song “Night Garden” has a psychedelic-Cuban rock groove. “Many of my songs come from my dreams, fully arranged, and this was one. The lyrics are an open-ended story.” “Night Garden” features the trumpet and percussion of Eric Biondo (Beyondo, Burning Spear, Monkees, TV On the Radio) and the piano pyrotechnics of Mike Garson (David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins).

An online single was issued of “If I Could Dress Like Clive Owen,” a tribute to the British actor and “a song about how you wear your armor and the politics of fashion,” said Blair. The song quotes “spy movie music” and 60s British Rock, tracked with Bret Alexander and Ron Simasek of The Badlees. Other musicians on I LIKE THE STREET include Felipe Torres (In Musth, David Cassidy)–who worked with Blair in the Davy Jones Band and The Monkees.

Tim Breon (David Rose Band, Martha Reeves) is the lead guitarist on the Bryan Ferry-influenced “Even in the Night,” a collaboration with songwriter Amy Mintzer (Word2Soul Project). The song is accompanied by a “film noir-ish” video getting lots of plays on You Tube www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKWVUefDN1U. “The song ‘Kept on Walkin’” is a spin-off of this one. Both have the same flavor and style.”

Urban irreverence, romantic abstraction, and bittersweet spirituality define Blair’s “sunny brand of pure pop music.”

Johnny J. Blair w/Bret Alexander, Eric Biondo, Tim Breon, Richie Devletian, Carmen Estevez, Mike Garson, Keith Kavanaugh, Ron Simasek, and Felipe Torres. Songs written by Johnny J. Blair w/Jennie & Steve Kanski and Amy Mintzer. “What Goes On” written by Lou Reed.

Mixed by Bret Alexander, Eric Biondo, Tim Breon, and Scott Francis. Produced by Johnny J. Blair w/Bret Alexander & Eric Biondo.

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