Mayer Hawthorne Brings Early Morning Funk In Record Store Day EP

           33-year-old Michigan soul singer Mayer Hawthorne added a funky dose of music to the roster of Record Store Day’s Black Friday releases through the six-track EP KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic. Originally recorded for Santa Monica College’s KCRW 89.9 radio station in June of 2012, the EP was released on clear ten-inch vinyl and contains live performances of songs from both of his previous albums, How Do You Do and A Strange Arrangement.

The EP begins with “Love In Motion,” a chic and infectious track that Hawthorne cut with the French DJ SebastiAn on the latter’s 2011 album Total. The liveliest track on the album, “Love In Motion” displays the flash and groove of his backing band, The County. As Hawthorne continues with the EP, he delves into his own material, including a personal favorite, “No Strings,” as well as sweet-sounding takes of the smooth songs “Shiny & New” and “I Wish It Would Rain.” The EP closes with a radio version of Hawthorne’s biggest hit to date, the adieu-bidding “The Walk.”

A solid live album that gives Hawthorne’s audience its first look at his career as a performer through a physical release, KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic was a smart selection for inclusion onto the Record Store Day Roster by an artist who has admitted to keeping pictures of his vinyl collection on his phone.

Mayer Hawthorne’s KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic is available for purchase through a list of independent record stores that may be found here:

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