A World Called Desire: The Townshend Tapes Redux, a long-lost 1993 solo album from veteran rock songwriter, guitarist and cultural historian Jeff Slate, produced by Simon Townshend and Slate himself, will be released on Record Store Day Black Friday, November 27, on Shamus Records, part of a new label deal and publishing agreement with TRO Essex Publishing, the premiere independent music publisher, which now oversees Slate’s entire music catalog. The album’s first single "Babylon" is available out now.

The recordings capture a pivotal moment in Slate's creative life: Pete Townshend, riding high from the Tony-winning Broadway production of The Who’s Tommy, invited Slate out on his Psychoderelict tour to discuss a production partnership. What followed was a legendary week at Avalon Studios outside New York, where Slate, alongside Simon Townshend, drummer Mark Brzezicki, keyboardist Josh Phillips, and multi-instrumentalist Bob Stander, recorded what would become this album.

"I was always incredibly proud of this material," says Slate. "It just wasn't meant to be at the time. But hearing the tracks now, more than thirty years later, what felt dated in 1993 feels timeless now."

The project lay dormant for decades, shelved as the grunge era shifted musical tastes and other projects took precedence. When Avalon Studios eventually closed, Stander reached out, having discovered additional multitrack reels that Slate believed were lost. The rediscovery sparked a years-long finishing process, with Slate, Stander and company completing arrangements and overdubs to realize the album Slate always envisioned.

The supporting ensemble reads like a career retrospective: Simon Townshend provides backing vocals and guitar alongside his production work; Brzezicki (drums, percussion) was a Psychoderelict project veteran, as was Phillips, who plays piano, Hammond and keyboards, and Stander, who helped Slate realize a project originally begun more than 30 years ago.

The album was mixed by Duane Lundy and mastered by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios.

A World Called Desire: The Townshend Tapes Redux, a long-lost 1993 solo album from veteran rock songwriter, guitarist and cultural historian Jeff Slate, produced by Simon Townshend and Slate himself, will be released on Record Store Day Black Friday, November 27, on Shamus Records, part of a new label deal and publishing agreement with TRO Essex Publishing, the premiere independent music publisher, which now oversees Slate’s entire music catalog. The album’s first single "Babylon" is available out now.

The recordings capture a pivotal moment in Slate's creative life: Pete Townshend, riding high from the Tony-winning Broadway production of The Who’s Tommy, invited Slate out on his Psychoderelict tour to discuss a production partnership. What followed was a legendary week at Avalon Studios outside New York, where Slate, alongside Simon Townshend, drummer Mark Brzezicki, keyboardist Josh Phillips, and multi-instrumentalist Bob Stander, recorded what would become this album.

"I was always incredibly proud of this material," says Slate. "It just wasn't meant to be at the time. But hearing the tracks now, more than thirty years later, what felt dated in 1993 feels timeless now."

The project lay dormant for decades, shelved as the grunge era shifted musical tastes and other projects took precedence. When Avalon Studios eventually closed, Stander reached out, having discovered additional multitrack reels that Slate believed were lost. The rediscovery sparked a years-long finishing process, with Slate, Stander and company completing arrangements and overdubs to realize the album Slate always envisioned.

The supporting ensemble reads like a career retrospective: Simon Townshend provides backing vocals and guitar alongside his production work; Brzezicki (drums, percussion) was a Psychoderelict project veteran, as was Phillips, who plays piano, Hammond and keyboards, and Stander, who helped Slate realize a project originally begun more than 30 years ago.

The album was mixed by Duane Lundy and mastered by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios.

Jeff Slate's new studio album "The Last Day of Summer" on 180g Limited edition vinyl, from Schnitzel Records, is now available for pre-order.

Slate recruited a who's who of iconic rock musician friends for this effort, including Dave Stewart, Earl Slick, Duff McKagan and members of Paul Weller’s band and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

Here's what critics have been saying about Jeff's new LP “The Last Day of Summer”:

“…an album of classy, Greenwich Village-scented folk and soul.” - Clive Prior, MOJO

“In layman's terms: this artist is a badass... “The Last Day of Summer” is an album full of audio gold.” - TONE Scott, GOLDMINE

”If someone told you this tasteful slice of American AOR was a lost Tom Petty album from the early '90s you wouldn't be surprised.” - Chris Twomey, SHINDIG! MAGAZINE

“… swooning folk-rock that immediately brings a sense of warmth with its timeless lyrics and infectious sound.” - Neil Ferguson, GLIDE MAGAZINE

"[8.5/10] "...expansive, mature, and classy. “The Last Day of Summer” heads off into the autumn with its thoughts and sadness, but on the back of some truly classy and exceptionally well put together songs." - Andy Thorley, MAXIMUM VOLUME MUSIC

“Jeff Slate’s recent single ‘(Broken) Without You’ is a tremendous new song.” - Alisa Ali, WFUV, NYC

“… the perfect dosage of musical ecstasy.” - Andrew Daly, CLASSIC ROCK HISTORY

“In layman's terms: this artist is a badass... “The Last Day of Summer” is an album full of audio gold.” - TONE Scott, GOLDMINE

The photo shoot for “The Last Day of Summer” was done by none other than famed rock photographer Bob Gruen.

Jeff’s fourth solo album, The Last Day of Summer, featuring Dave Stewart, Duff McKagan, Earl Slick, members of Paul Weller’s band and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, is due May 17th via Schnitzel Records. The photo shoot for the album was done by none other than famed rock photographer Bob Gruen. (A photo quality print of the cover is included in the Deluxe Edition CD.)