Acoustic Highway

Acoustic Highway is American musician Craig Chaquico's first solo album as a contemporary jazz artist after 16 years playing lead guitar, composing songs, and co-producing for the San Francisco-based rock bands he co-founded, Jefferson Starship and Starship. Acoustic Highway, co-written and co-produced by keyboardist Ozzie Ahlers, was released on June 11, 1993, through the Higher Octave label.[1][2] The album was an immediate musical and critical success, becoming Billboard magazine's #1 Indie New Age Album of the year.[3]

Acoustic Highway
Studio album by
Craig Chaquico
Released1993
StudioLunatunes, Mill Valley, CA
GenreNew age, smooth jazz, classic rock
Length42:00
ProducerCraig Chaquico, Ozzie Ahlers
Craig Chaquico chronology
Acoustic Highway
(1993)		 Acoustic Planet
(1994)

Background

When Chaquico left Starship in 1990, he began looking for a new musical direction, opting for a solo career as a jazz and new age instrumentalist to showcase his acoustic music.[4]

Recording

The album was recorded at Chaquico's Lunatunes Studio in Mill Valley, California, mixed at Auravision Studios in Ojai, California, and mastered at Quad Tech Studios in Los Angeles.[1]

Music and lyrics

The album features nature-conscious songs such as "Return of the Eagle", "Mountain in the Mist", and "Land of the Giants". Chaquico produced distinctive "rippling, glistening, fluid tones" by processing his customized Washburn acoustic guitar through electronic effects.[5][6][7] Chaquico includes elements that draw from new age, contemporary and smooth jazz compositions while containing subtle undertones of Native American influences.[5] Chaquico's original recording of his jazz track "Sacred Ground" was included on the original Harley Davidson Road Song Collection in 1994, alongside classic rock songs such as "Born to Be Wild", "Rockin' Down the Highway" and a song by his former band, Jefferson Starship, "Ride the Tiger".[8]

Critical reception and accolades

Besides becoming Billboard magazine's #1 Indie New Age Album of the year, it also won the Bammie (Bay Area Music) Award for Best Independent Album of 1993.[9] It charted in the top 10 of the GAVIN Adult Alternative chart in the same year.[10]

Track listing

All tracks were written by Craig Chaquico and Ozzie Ahlers.[11]

No.TitleLength
1."Mountain In The Mist"4:36
2."Return Of The Eagle"6:32
3."Gypsy Nights"4:15
4."Angel Tears"2:44
5."Acoustic Highway"4:56
6."Sacred Ground"6:51
7."Summers End"4:51
8."Land Of The Giants"4:47
9."Sunset Altar"5:24
Total length:44:56

References
  1. "Acoustic Highway - Craig Chaquico | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  2. "Label: Higher Octave Music - Rate Your Music". rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  3. "Craig Chaquico Acoustic Highway Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  4. Whitaker, Sterling (2003). Unsung Heroes of Rock Guitar: 15 Great Rock Guitarists in Their Own Words. BookSurge Publishing. p. 300. ISBN 1591097584.
  5. BOEHM, MIKE (1994-04-02). "Starshipper Lands on His Feet on 'Highway' : Pop music: Craig Chaquico, who plays the Coach House tonight, took off with Grace Slick and friends. Now he's on a New Age road". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  6. "WASHBURN EA26 CRAIG CHAQUICO Limited Edition Festival Series Information". forums.washburn.com. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  7. BOEHM, MIKE (1994-04-02). "Starshipper Lands on His Feet on 'Highway' : Pop music: Craig Chaquico, who plays the Coach House tonight, took off with Grace Slick and friends. Now he's on a New Age road". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  8. "Harley Davidson Road Songs - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
  9. Carmen, John (1994-03-08). "Isaak tops at Bammies". Variety. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  10. http://www.americanradioresearch.com/Archive-Gavin-Report/90/93/Gavin-1993-10-01.pdf
  11. "Acoustic Highway - Craig Chaquico | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
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