Love, Gratitude And Other Distractions is a solo album by Will Lee, released in 2013 William Franklin “Will” Lee IV (born September 8, 1952) is an American musician and bassist, best known for his work on the CBS television program Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra.
Will Lee performed at Live Aid with The Thompson Twins and, with The CBS Orchestra, is in the house band for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. He has toured with Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Horace Silver, The Brecker Brothers and Herbie Mann. He has played with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and was held in Charlie Parker's arms as a baby. Will also has the enviable position of having performed or recorded with all 4 of the Beatles, which is pretty thrilling for a guy who is a founding member of the world's premier Beatles band, The Fab Faux!
Will is an inductee in the Musician's Hall of Fame in Nashville TN, and has a permanent display.
Will´s album "Love, Gratitude and Other Distractions" was born with the writing & recording of a single song. Once "Miss Understanding" was under way, other mental meanderings began to take shape & get completed. This album is different from a normal concept album. It's simply a collection of tunes in a few different directions. Some are instrumentals, most are vocals. The musicians are legendary. Pat Metheny appears (though uncredited, due to his label's restrictions). Steve Lukather lashes, Bob James jumps, Chrissy Amphlett emotes, Billy Gibbons burns, Allen Toussaint tinkles!
Tracks
1 Gratitude (Will Lee, Leni Stern, Willie Nile) 4:09 2 Get Out Of My Life Woman (Allen Toussaint) 5:33 3 Miss Understanding (Will Lee) 5:42 4 Papounets Ride (Will Lee, Dave Delhomme) 4:19 5 Fooled Him (Will Lee, Oli Rockberger) 5:18 6 Shahara (Will Lee) 6:45 7 123 (Leonard Borisoff, John Madara, David White) 3:42 8 Simple Way To Say I Love You (Will Lee, John Tropea) 5:47 9 Natives (Will Lee, Horace Silver, Oli Rockberger) 4:09 10 Smile (Charlie Chaplin, John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons) 3:03
Musicians
1 Gratitude Bass - Will Lee Drums - Chris Parker Guitar (solo) - Pat Metheny Guitar - Leni Stern Ngoni - Leni Stern Synthesizer - Will Lee Trombone - Giulio Carmassi Trumpet - Jeff Kievit Vocals - Will Lee
2 Get Out Of My Life Woman Bass - Will Lee Drums - Shawn Pelton Guitar - Billy Gibbons Organ - Will Lee Synthesizer - Will Lee Vocals - Will Lee Vocals - Billy Gibbons
3 Miss Understanding Bass - Will Lee Drums - Tommy Allen Acoustic Guitar - Hugh McCracken Organ - Kenny White Piano - Kenny White Percussion - Will Lee Background Vocals - Mark Hudson Background Vocals - Larry Hoppen Vocals - Will Lee Vocals - Chrissy Amphlett
4 Papounets Ride Bass - Will Lee Drums - Narada Michael Walden Piano - Bob James Programming - Will Lee Fender Rhodes - Dave Delhomme Synthesizer - Dave Delhomme
5 Fooled Him Bass - Will Lee Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - Chuck Loeb Keyboards - Oli Rockberger Percussion - Shawn Pelton Vocals - Will Lee
6 Shahara Bass - Will Lee Drums - Zach Danziger Kora - Yacouba Sissoko Keyboards - Mitchell Forman Cello - Dave Eggar Viola - Louise Schulman Programming - Mitchell Forman Talking Drums - Kofo Ayananfowora Background Vocals - Tabitha Fair Vocals - Will Lee
7 123 Bass - Will Lee Drums - Chris Parker Guitar - Will Lee Keyboards - Giulio Carmassi Programming - Giulio Carmassi Piano - Akiko Yano Clarinet - Giulio Carmassi Sax - Giulio Carmassi Trumpet - Giulio Carmassi Vocals - Will Lee Vocals - Akiko Yano
8 Simple Way To Say I Love You Bass - Will Lee Drums - Peter Erskine Guitar - John Tropea Synthesizer - Will Lee Keyboards - Oli Rockberger Harmonica - Gary Schreiner
9 Natives Bass - Will Lee Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar (solo) - Steve Lukather Guitar - Oz Noy Keyboards - David Garfield Synthesizer - CJ Vanston Programming - Will Lee Vocals - Will Lee
10 Smile Bass - Will Lee Guitar - Chuck Loeb
Liner Notes
Arrangements – Will Lee (Tracks 4, 8, 9) Arrangements – Dave Delhomme (Track 4) Arrangements – Mitch Forman (Track 6) Arrangements (Strings) – Gil Goldstein (Track 6) Arrangements – Giulio Carmassi (Track 7) Arrangements – Oli Rockberger (Track 8) Arrangements – David Garfield (Track 9)
