Olé

Recorded in 1989 and 1990, with a cast of supporting musicians that included Paul Westerberg (The Replacements), David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), Peter Case, Charlie Sexton, Booker T., Bruce Thomas (The Attractions) and producer T Bone Burnett, Ol© is the album Entertainment Weekly calls Tonio K.'s best. Harking back at times to the crazed-rock feel of his early classics Life in the Foodchain (1978) and Amerika (1980), Ol© runs a gamut of styles and shows Mr. K. at the top of his game.

Despite receiving massive critical praise for Foodchain and Amerika, Tonio K. bounced around from CBS Records, to Arista, to Capitol-EMI (which resulted in the 1983 EP La Bomba), before settling into What?/A&M for his third and fourth albums: Romeo Unchained (1986) and Notes From the Lost Civilization (1988). Since being 'dropped' from A&M, he has been one of the music industry's most successful songwriters, penning the most played song of 1993 (Love Is, recorded by Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight), and placing songs with Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, Al Green (from the 'Michael' soundtrack), and many others. All four of Tonio K.'s full-length albums are available on CD from Gadfly Records. The Ol© booklet includes a history of the album, complete lyrics, and notes about each song, along with other Tonio K.-like stuff...

PRODUCED BY T BONE BURNETT AND DAVID MINER. Key personnel: Tonio K. -- acoustic guitar, vocals
Paul Westerberg -- guitar
David Hidalgo -- guitar, mandolo, background vocals
Peter Case -- harmonica, background vocals
Charlie Sexton -- guitar
Bruce Thomas -- electric bass
Booker T. Jones -- Hammond organ
T Bone Burnett -- acoustic & electric guitars, chamberlin.