Scuffed Knees is the first single taken from the Wills & The Willing album Another Long Week
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Another Long Week is the album that will define Ian Wills. It is the zenith of a life's journey that you would believe to be fiction were it not for the man himself. From biting poverty and abuse on the grimmest London council estates of the 1970s to the top-flight of British business, battles with politicians and his own demons, and finally to his much longed for career as a writer and performer from spoken word to a vocal sound that is unmistakable. Ian has had to fight for everything he has achieved, most often, and most tellingly, with himself.
Described by the Sunday Times as "The Ian Dury of the 21st Century", Wills continues to craft his open, honest lyrics which remain at times stark, brutal and confrontational. On this his fifth outing, he further confirms himself as one of the UK's most interesting and thoughtful lyricists.
Another Long Week comprises 13 new songs. Written with a heavy Americana/Country influence that sits in juxtaposition to Wills' unmistakable South London-tinged vocals. The songs are cinematic, confessional, at times apocalyptic and reflect Wills' current life darting between England and Arizona, where he now calls home. Wills never shies away from bringing his own deeply personal vulnerabilities to life in his songs and the current stable of musicians he is working with, bring a depth of interesting colours to the overall sound of this new recording.
Another Long Week also includes the track Do You Dream an Ordinary Life, a co-write between Bruce Springsteen and Wills. The song sees Wills reworking some of his musical hero's words and this brave and unusual collaboration adds another layer and point of interest to The Willing history.
As part of the promotion for Another Long Week, Ian Wills takes Wills & The Wiling back on the road for a series of festival appearances and more intimate gigs, to show the different sides of his twenty-year career. Wills & The Willing have always received praise for their live performances, most notably from their lovely supporter the late, great Janice Long and legendary guitarist Les Paul, who discovered the band while they promoted their first album in New York.
The album has been produced by Sean Genockey, Ruadhri Cushnan, Charlie Morton, & Adj and features a host of esteemed musicians moonlighting as part of The Willing.
Guitars – Sean Genockey (The Who /Manic Street Preachers, Kula Shaker, Richard Ashcroft
Piano & Keyboards – Andy May (Albert Hammond, Lou Reed, Marianne Faithful)
Guitars - Donnie Little (Paulo Nuttini, Imelda May, Ronnie Wood)
Guitars - Adam Chetwood (Mark Ronson, Imelda May, Paolo Nuttini, White Denim)
Pedal steel - Melvyn Duffy (First Aid Kit, Squeeze, Robbie Williams, Ray Davies, Mark Knopfler)
Drums - Simon Hanson (Squeeze, Death In Vegas, The Quire Boys, Dogs D'Amour, Iggy Pop, Liam Gallagher)
Bass - Mo Pleasure (Earth, Wind & Fire, Bette Midler, Ray Charles, George Duke, Natalie Cole, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Roberta Flack)
Additional Vocals - Galia Arad (Jools Holland, Shane Macgowan)
