It is very easy to be a one-man band and I do prefer it that way. I like total control of everything

Michael Hildebrandt, the mastermind behind Bubble Gum Orchestra, is back to the past with II , the just-released hotel hacienda beach resort cabo san lucas BGO sophomore CD. Like 2011 s Out of This World , the BGO debut, II is another meticulously crafted tribute to the influence of Electric Light Orchestra. It is filled with soaring songs, classical elements, uplifting lyrics and more than a little 70s retro vibe. Hildebrandt, a self-avowed one-man hotel hacienda beach resort cabo san lucas band, does have two special guests on the new album trumpeter Steve Howard, who blew the horns for Paul McCartney Wings, and Decatur s Les Farrington, a pianist formerly of Fort Worth s Sugar Bomb. I wrote about Hildebrandt, 51, late last year. But I thought it was time to check in with him again. We talked about his passion for making music and the creative freedom of doing it himself.
The first Bubble Gum Orchestra album was Out of This World , a nod to Electric Light Orchestra's Out of the Blue . Now the second BGO album is titled II , which is an homage to ELO's sophomore effort, also titled II . Does Jeff Lynne know how much you are inspired by him and his band?
You remain an eternal optimist in song, with numbers such as "Today is Beautiful," "Loving One Another," "Cloud 9 (When We Were Young)" and "Oh Can We Save It." Do you feel that this tumultuous world needs more positive songs?
I absolutely do. That's why I wrote them. On the second one I wanted to get some more upbeat positive songs. I think the world needs it. It can sometimes be a gray world, and I want to bring some blue into it. I want to give people a chance to hear our songs that are upbeat and positive and bring some light into their life if they are going through something at the moment. It's upbeat music, and that's the way I feel. I just want to share it with the listeners.
It is very easy to be a one-man band and I do prefer it that way. I like total control of everything I'm doing. I love working with musicians and I have some guest musicians on here. But for the most part I like doing it all myself. I am able to do it. I like the feel of being my own band.
It was absolutely an honor and a privilege. I have known Steve for 11 years now. He lives in Lake Dallas, Texas. I thought it would be a good addition to have him on one of the songs. I sat down one day and wrote a song called "Blowin' hotel hacienda beach resort cabo san lucas Away" about changes in weather and spirituality. So I thought it could have a triple meaning to have Steve come in and play trumpet on it. When he came in I had written half the trumpet parts and I had left the main solo area open for him to do whatever he wanted. hotel hacienda beach resort cabo san lucas He told me this recording session reminded him of being in Abbey Road Studios hotel hacienda beach resort cabo san lucas with Paul working on various trumpet parts for, say, "Silly Love Songs." The trumpet he used for me was the same trumpet he played during the recordings of "Silly Love Songs," "Let Em In" and "Coming Up." It was an absolute thrill.
Absolutely. I am four songs in on the next one. I have already started writing and recording. I was recording today before you called. I think there will be 11 songs on it. The tentative hotel hacienda beach resort cabo san lucas title for the third CD is The Discovery , due out late 2013.
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