The Heart And Soul Of Danny Peck

I have long admired the work of Danny Peck since first hearing his emotionally sincere debut of 1977 entitled, 'Heart & Soul.' More than a mere singer/songwriter, Peck like Joni Mitchell, has the uncanny ability and craftsmanship to make every song uniquely his own by weaving a myriad of stylistic nuance into the fabric of each composition. With his feet firmly rooted in the folk troubadour tradition, Peck's heartfelt poetic lyricism in combination with his doleful croon, showcase a true romantic sensibility capable of convincing the listener that every word does in fact seem to come from straight from the heart and soul of the author.

Arranged by David Foster, 'Heart & Soul' traverses the funky dance floor groove of 'Smoke Is Rising' to the Steely Dan kissed 'This Could Be A Real Nice Place' and the moody, atmospheric melancholy of 'Looking So Hard.' Strip the arrangements of their studio sheen however and one can easily recognize the coffeehouse folk underpinnings that inform Peck's songs. It's an engaging and eclectic listen, although it's the sincerity and passion running through Peck's work that continually draws me back; a remarkable feat considering his young age at the time of it's release.

After an unheard of 17 year hiatus from recording, Danny went on to release his equally strong 2nd self titled outing in 1994 for the RCA label. Despite the long absence from the studio, Peck utilized his time well, woodshedding on small stages throughout L.A., working with longtime cohort Michael Sherwood to craft a strong, mature body of work that became even more impassioned and increasingly politicized. Peck does not opt to shove his views down your throat with his newer material however. Instead, he delivers his lyrics with warmth and humanitarianism, cloaking his words in rich tones and muted trumpets, allowing the music to gently pull you in to the heartfelt message within.

It's a shame that Peck's talents have yet to find a wider audience. I can only assume that he has simply chosen not to pursue that road for reasons only he can explain. After all, how does one explain the decade plus lag between the making of his 1st two major label recordings? Obviously fame is not high on Mr. Peck's agenda. Regardless, I am glad to have discovered his music early on, as it has enriched me greatly and continues to be a gorgeous and rewarding listening experience today.

Having once met Danny, I was charmed by his genuine and unaffected nature, gracious in his acceptance of my praise and humbled to have been sharing the stage with kindred spirit, Richie Havens. Peck does continue to record for independents and can frequently be found performing in venues throughout the greater Los Angeles area where he has now become an icon. Should you find yourself in Southern California and find his name among the local club listings, don't pass up the opportunity to hear the heart and soul of Danny Peck first-hand.

For more information, check out Danny's MySpace page and also his official website DannyPeck.Com.

*1. Halo Of Fire
2. Looking So Hard
3. The Smoke Is Rising
4. Dream Girl
5. Brother Of Mine
6. This Could Be A Real Nice Place
7. I Do
8. That's The Way It Is
9. Take Your Baby Home
10. Where Is My Heart
(Bonus Tracks)
*11. Crazy Blues
12. The Beauty Within You
13. New Man
14. Wake Up Call
15. Eight Bodies

To download, click here and thank me later.

*Both 'Heart & Soul' and the bonus tracks from Peck's eponymous 2nd recording are sadly out-of-print.