The Amplifier Heads and Barrence Whitfield declare ‘They Came To Rock’
Sal Baglio unleashes a barnstorming, rabble-rousing, barroom throwdown of tune about an alien invasion on Friday, March 1 via Rum Bar Records
Out Now: Listen to ‘They Came To Rock’ on Spotify x Bandcamp
The official soundtrack for alien rock opera ‘Songs From They Came To Rock’ out April 5
BOSTON, Mass. [March 1, 2024] -- The threat of an alien invasion never sounded so good.
On Friday, March 1, Sal Baglio’s vaunted rock and roll project The Amplifier Heads team up with soul dynamo vocalist Barrence Whitfield to unleash their pummeling new single “They Came To Rock” via Rum Bar Records.
It’s the title track to the soundtrack of Songs From They Came To Rock, Executive Producer Norty Cohen’s immersive rock opera about an alien invasion that first debuted in Nashville three years ago, detailing a story about extraterrestrials coming to Earth – which they call The Vinyl Frontier – in search of the type of music heard through static and noise on their radio. Who are they, and what do they want?
Ready to rock out, the aliens have now landed close to home, as the pair of longtime Boston music scene veterans – known for work that spans decades: Baglio first in rock scene pioneers The Stompers; Whitfield dominating stages across New England fronting The Savages – come together for a fiery and attention-grabbing single that sets a loud tone for the 10-song, eight interlude soundtrack.
“The term rock opera has come to mean different things to anyone's interpretation,” Baglio says. “There is a lyrical and musical line that follows through the record. Some fantasy, some fact. It is a musical speed rocket trip and the seat belt sign is off!”
“They Came To Rock” is the third single from the forthcoming record, following last fall’s Jen D'Angora-led “Something Went Down” – about the most famous UFO event in England's history, taking places at Rendlesham Forest on Christmas 1980 – and 2022’s “Space Cadette,” which received heavy airplay and attention on Little Steven’s Underground Garage on SiriusXM, about Betty and Barney Hill’s 1961 encounter of a UFO on a deserted highway in New Hampshire.
Written and produced by Baglio, who also performs guitar, mellotron, glockenspiel, and backing vocals, “They Came To Rock” features Samantha Goddess on vocals; Brad Hallen on bass; Kevin Rapillo on drums and percussion; Tom West on piano; Henley Douglas Jr. on baritone sax; and David Bryce on theremin. But it’s Whitfield who helps take it across the galaxy and back again, hurling through his vocals like a man possessed.
“Songs From They Came To Rock is a soundtrack record and I felt that it should have different voices besides my own for various tracks,” Baglio adds. “Barrence Whitfield was the only artist I thought of for singing the title track. Barrence is a brilliant instinctual artist and his interpretation of the song kicked it up and out of this stratosphere.”
Baglio has been cranking out hits since The Stompers first came on the scene in the late-’70s, and here, he’s crafted a barnstorming, rabble-rousing, barroom throwdown of a brass-led tune that gets gritty on the low-end and soars skyward with sing-along infectiousness up top. And though a new Amplifier Heads record is in the works, he’s leaned into Songs From They Came To Rock as it prepares to hit the theater stage once again after the soundtrack drops. Unsurprisingly, “They Came To Rock,” the single, came together especially fast.
“I had literally just been introduced to Executive Producer Norty Cohen by our mutual friend and fellow songwriter Jamie Rubin,” Baglio notes. “In that meeting Norty explained his idea and that he was looking for songs. I asked if he had a title song for Songs From They Came To Rock – to which he replied ‘no’ …and I said ‘I’ll be right back’. I ended up writing about 10 songs for the show and then kept writing with another group of songs that turned out to be The Amplifier Heads SaturnalienS album released on Rum Bar Records [in 2021].”
The batch of songs on Songs From They Came To Rock all swirl around a central theme of an alien invasion. But instead of UFOs coming to Earth to cause death and destruction, like we usually see portrayed on television and in the movies, these friendly little green men are here for one purpose and one purpose only – yeah, they came to rock. The original live show, reviewed by Rolling Stone, featured live music, Baglio’s songs, projection, and live burlesque dancing aliens. “My wife was pretty upset about the space ship we built off the stage for the dancers, since we made the masthead a stripper pole,” Cohen says.
Future plans for the Songs From They Came To Rock album could include more live shows, as Cohen adds: "We're sharing the music and inviting alien-loving rockers into the vibe.”
And they might have already gotten to Baglio, who’s quick to cite a famous line from the 1951 science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still – sung with gusto on the track by Whitfield, who delivers the combination of famous lines like you’ve never heard ‘em before.
“Klaatu barada nikto, man,” quips Baglio, “a wop be bop a lu bop a wop bam, go johnny go hail hail rock and roll yeah yeah yeah oooh!”
Beam us up, please.
‘They Came To Rock’ production credits:
Words and music by Salvatore Baglio
© ℗ 2023 Sunset on Mars Publishing (ASCAP)
Recorded & Mixed by Warren Babson at Bang-A-Song Studios in Gloucester, MA
Mastered by Jonathan Wyner at M-Works Mastering Studios in Somerville, MA
Produced by Sal Baglio
Norty Cohen: Executive Producer
Appearing on “They Came To Rock”
Barrence Whitfield: Lead vocal
Sal Baglio: Guitars, mellotron, glockenspiel, vocals
Samantha Goddess: Vocals
Brad Hallen: Bass
Kevin Rapillo: Drums, percussion
Tom West: Piano
Henley Douglas Jr.: Baritone sax
David Bryce: Theremin
Media praise for The Amplifier Heads:
“It has five of the five elements I look for in music, not unlike my five essential audio/video food groups. Those include Blondes, Martians, hooks, melodies and Willie & the Hand Jive, among others. Baglio barada nikto!” _Bill Kelly’s Blackhole Bandstand in Little Steven’s Underground Garage
“Set your phasers to stun and crank this one up. Loud. Repeatedly.” _The Secret Weapon Radio Show, Woody Radio
"Sal Baglio and Jen D'Angora have been involved in some of the best Boston bands from back in the day as well as the present. That's the great thing about it, they both continue to be active in the "scene" and crank out fantastic music!! It's only fitting that Sal and Jen get together on this newest hit single by The Amplifier Heads called "Something Went Down"!!" _Rising with Skybar, WFMO Radio
"Always great news concerning any developments with The Amplifier Heads. It’s a spaced out sonic spectacular with an outta this world sax supernova! Love Jen’s vocals!” _Rock Never Rusts
“As a singer, guitarist and composer, Sal Baglio has touched all the bases that have rounded out a successful musical career. But with his recent work as a solo artist, Baglio embarks upon a new path that looks backward in the most delightful way. Baglio's music and solo performances dial up a past that is easily imagined in a less-distracted age where music bursts boldly out of a car's AM radio on a summer drive or floats in the imagination of a young solitary artist learning to strum his first guitar.”_Frank Conte, Editor and Publisher, EastBoston.com
“Sal Baglio’s ability to be sad, poignant, witty, morbid, brilliant, hysterical, and downright ridiculous.....while being both oblique and accessible, all at the same, is unparalleled!” _Rick Harris
“Baglio is truly New England Rock Royalty and though the crown might be slightly bloodied from the wear of the road, it shines with the jewels of genius.” _Brian Wheeler, Marblehead Festival of Arts
“Perhaps the most inspiring and original set of tunes we've heard yet. This manic little screwball high-school review has something all of its own. Exquisite tunes, tirelessly referential images, soundtracky, sequential and plucked from a sparkly constellation of toys and stars. Bloody marvelous. Every tune a winner.”_ Alan Sargeant, Crud Magazine UK
