Although guitarist Jim Eannelli has been a fixture on Milwaukee’s music scene for decades, playing in a wide variety of styles, performing in well-known bands, and working his magic as a guitar repairman/technician, he’s only now releasing his debut solo album.
Eannelli was a member of the influential power poppers The Shivvers, the techno-pop Colour Radio – whose sole album was produced by no less than Rick Derringer – the blues-inspired Shuffleaires, as well as The Blackholes and Locate Your Lips and others. He's worked with erstwhile BoDean Sam Llanas, Willy Porter and Lil Rev, among others.
His guitar credentials established long ago, “Just Deserts” (which is pronounced “desserts,” despite the spelling) is a long overdue testimony to Eannelli’s skills as a singer and songwriter.
The record, made with contributions from keyboardist, producer and engineer Gary Tanin, covers the wide variety of musical territory that Eannelli has explored in his long career and is a perfect amalgamation of that experience.
We asked Eannelli not only about “Just Deserts,” but also about some of the moments from his impressive run, that is still going.
OnMilwaukee: Let’s go way back and tell me about how you got interested in music? Was yours a musical family?
Jim Eannelli: My mother played clarinet in high school and encouraged me to play the guitar. She bought me an electric guitar and amp when I was 11 years old. My two older brothers played drums so there was no shortage of music being played in our house. With the three of us playing together, I stood between my brother’s two drum sets with my guitar blasting away to James Brown’s “Cold Sweat" or Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love."
Of course, I have to ask about The Shivvers. Were you surprised by the resurgence of interest in the band in recent years, with the reissues, etc.?
Not surprised at all. The Shivvers members were an almost perfect combination of talent. We had songwriting, great vocals – and three-part harmonies to boot – each member fully capable on their instrument, an appealing image for the times, great "live" performances and the list goes on and on.
Why do you think it happened when it did?
When the band broke up it left behind a great collection of recorded material which turned out to be a timeless snapshot of what the Shivvers were and not something we were trying to be. In its short life the band captured the so-called "lightning in a bottle." The Shivvers' music has so far stood the test of time and will most likely continue to do so.
Can we expect something similar for Colour Radio? Will that record ever see the light of day again?
I'd be surprised if there was a resurgence of interest in the Colour Radio album. At that time there were so many bands doing what we were doing and it seems we got lost in the shuffle on a national level.
Locally, however, we had a strong fan base. It would take someone very passionate about the band to bring it back into the spotlight.
One thing maybe a lot of folks don't realize that is that you'd also become THE go-to guy in town when someone wanted quality repair work done on guitars. Was that musically satisfying in its own way – helping other musicians do the best they can by ensuring their gear is in top form?
Sorry to say that I no longer repair guitars but I did really enjoy helping guitarists reach their full potential on their instruments, while paying my bills between music gigs. I built and repaired guitars for Daryl Stuermer (Phil Collins, Genesis), the BoDeans, the Violent Femmes, Greg Koch, Crash Test Dummies, Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf), Lil' Rev, "Big Al" Ek, Peggy James and many more.
It was a great time in my life as I got to develop close relationships with many artists that I had a great deal of respect for.
Tell us about the new record.
My new album "Just Deserts" is my first solo album. As a sideman in so many bands with so many great songwriters it seemed that my songs just were never quite the right “fit” for what the particular band was doing. So for a long time I would merely demo a song and place it in my archive of original material.
Then last year I had a near-death-experience. That was a wake up call in so many ways ... the biggest one being, "How do I want to live the rest of my life!"
I started listening to my old demos and the songs seemed to come to life. I then realized I had 12 solid songs – out of 30-some – and began to re-record the ideas from the demos.
The songs are varied stylistically. Because I had performed with so many different kinds of bands they all presented an influence in what I was writing at the time. I wanted so badly to make a compelling album rather than one wherein every song sounded alike. I am happy to say that I feel I have achieved that goal.
Tell us a bit about the songs on it, about recording it, etc.
Many of the songs on my album are the result of just plain ol’ life experiences. My feelings seemed to be the driving force behind my motivations to create. I believe the best songs come out from being “broken,” at times when the truths of life are laid bare. Some of the songs came quickly seemingly out of thin air, lyrics and music. Some of the songs I carefully crafted as a songwriter normally would do.
After most of the tracks for the new album were recorded and I was nearing the final mix stage I felt as if though there was something missing. It didn’t take me long to remember that my friend Gary Tanin who produced Sam Llanas’ “A Good Day To Die” was also a great keyboard player.
Gary was set to master my record as he has for Peggy James albums in the past. He came to the studio and tracked 10 of the 12 songs. His sounds and touch gave the album just what it needed, a kind of eloquence and world class sophistication it was lacking.
Are you thinking about, planning or working on another one yet? No pressure, ha ha ha.
The release of my album and the subsequent PR campaign included reviews from small town radio and newspapers – WOAS/FM - Ontonagon Herald – to a feature in GOLDMINE Magazine. We’ll be continuing to promote the record for the foreseeable future.
I’m truly humbled and blessed to be the receiver of such affirmation of my art. And after reading these overwhelmingly favorable reviews of my album I began to think about writing songs for my next album. It sure feels good to finally – after all these years – be accepted as an artist and songwriter. It’s always better late than never.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
