Harry Connick, Jr. promises his new album Every Man Should Know contains 12 original songs that expose his feelings in a way no other album of his has done. Arriving on June 11, 2013, Every Man Should Know features Connick collaborating with soloists Branford Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis as well as his longtime band regulars Jerry Weldon (tenor sax) and Jonathan DuBose, Jr (guitar).
“I don’t recall ever reaching quite as deeply – or confidently – into my inhibition pool,” said Connick Jr about this new album. “I used to be more comfortable writing in a fantasy-style concept, using ideas that intrigued me but didn’t necessarily come from personal experience. It’s one thing to assume the role of a storyteller – it’s quite another when the story is your own. I felt ready to explore some of my personal experiences in some of the songs this time around.”
On the title track:
– “I was building a workbench with a carpenter friend,” Connick explains, “and my lack of knowledge about carpentry left me feeling inadequate. It led me to think about other things that every man should know, like how to change a tire. Then I began thinking about what everybody should know how to do, and that’s to love.”
On “Come See About Me”:
– “‘Come See About Me’ is a song about a guy who’s heartbroken that was inspired by a line Kim Burrell sang on ‘All These People’ [a song about the abandoned Katrina victims from Connick’s 2007 CD Oh, My NOLA]. It was tough for me to sing, because the thought of watching the one you love move on is so painful. Just the idea of it hurts, and it took me a few tries just to figure out how to sing it.”
On “The Greatest Love Story”:
– The song is for Connick’s wife Jill and his late mother, Anita. “Before, I would never talk about my mother, much less write about her,” Connick admits. “It took years and years, and this might be my first specific lyric reference to her in a song. Her life and her death were so significant to me, and over time they’ve gained layers. I actually cried the first time I sang the lyrics in the studio.”
On “Love Wins”:
– The song is dedicated to Ana Grace Marquez-Greene, one of the children killed in the Newtown, Connecticut tragedy and the daughter of former Connick Big Band tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene. Connick sang at Ana Grace’s funeral, and was inspired by a speaker at the service who emphasized that love trumps even the greatest tragedy. All proceeds from sale of “Love Wins” will go to the Ana Grace Fund anagracefund.com.
