40 Years Too Short (album)
| 40 Years Too Short | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 4, 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2020-2022 | |||
| Genre | Rock, Pop Rock | |||
| Length | 48:47 | |||
| Label | Portside | |||
| Producer | Dave Shevil, Denis Porter, Lauren Jensen | |||
| Foolish Creeper chronology | ||||
| ||||
40 Years Too Short is the double album released by Foolish Creeper. It consists of a remastering of their greatest hits album Foolish Album from 2012, and a second disc of brand new material. At this time, it is the final released album by the band.
Production
New Compilation
After the release and subsequent press tours of Battler...Again (2016), the members discussed the future of Foolish Creeper and where they'd go from here. Realizing their 40th anniversary was approaching, they wanted to produce a record that symbolized who they were and are.
Producer Dave Shevil suggested another greatest hits album. After reviewing their catalog, the band found that most of their hits were already included on previous compilations and didn't want to release another just for the sake of it. This led Lauren Jensen to suggest re-releasing their previous compilation Foolish Hits (2012) in newly remastered sound, having recently acquired the master tapes from all the band's previous albums. The band agreed to the idea and remastering began.
Forgotten Tracks
A few months into remastering the band's previous compilation album, Roman Erickson discovered a handful of unreleased or incomplete tracks while listening through the stacks of masters. He started playing them for the rest of the band, and soon everyone was enjoying hearing old songs long forgotten. Karen Weber commented that with a little adjusting, the old songs might be fun to release to the fans.
The band agreed, deciding to turn the previous single disc compilation remaster into a two-disc overview of unreleased classics and hits for their fans.
Coming to the End
During late November 2021, Denis Porter and Lauren Jensen found themselves toying with the idea of a new song. Liking what they were hearing, they recorded three takes with the intention of going back and doing a final take with the full band. Porter left the studio after giving Jensen a big hug and thanking her for all the years she put up with him.
On December 11th, 2022, Porter's family reported he had died due to a long battle with Cancer. The band, shocked to find the news that he was gone, decided to include the last song he and Jensen recorded, and include it as the final track of the album.
The band picked their favorite take of Porter's vocals and re-recorded the rest of the backing track and vocals, fully completing the song based on notes he left and Jensen's input.
Blast from the Past is an upbeat, rock anthem about life, love, and those around you. Reviewers have taken the lyrics to be referencing Porter's past with Jensen and the band, and that he was reflecting heavily on his life before his death. It became a number one hit after its release, staying on the charts for almost 24 weeks. It's the band's highest-selling song and won them their first of two Grammys.
Dedication
The album's liner notes included a special dedication, taken directly from a letter Porter wrote Jensen before they rekindled their friendship:
"To you. You were there. You were always. Thank you."
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Another Time Perhaps" (from Tasteful Tasteless, 1984) | Denis Porter, Lauren Jensen | 4:22 |
| Total length: | 71:32 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Blast from the Past" | Porter, LJensen | 5:82 |
| Total length: | 71:32 | ||
Personnel
- Denis Porter – lead vocals, keyboards
- Victor Morgan - lead vocals (track 1), backing vocals (track 12)
- Lauren Jensen – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Craig Hansen – rhythm guitar
- Karen Weber – bass
- Roman Erickson – drums, percussion