Ro Sham Bo is the first and only studio album by The Grays, released on February 22, 1994 by Epic Records. The album was supported with a single and music video for the song, “Very Best Years”, alongside promotional singles for “Same Thing” and “Not Long for This World”.
According to Jason Falkner, Jon Brion initially got into contact with him after listening to a mixtape of the album Odessey and Oracle by the Zombies he had compiled for his then-girlfriend. Brion called Falkner to invite him to an informal jamming session with musicians Buddy Judge and Dan McCarroll. This however led to a record label bidding war for a supposed band composed of the four musicians. Feeling pressured to join the supposed band, Falkner reluctantly joined and the band signed with Epic Records in 1993.
The intention of the band was to be a democratic collective of musicians, rather than a hierarchical group with a leader and backing musicians. This was due in part to the group’s dissatisfaction with being in a band—particularly Falkner who had just come out of a tumultuous period with the band Jellyfish. The band members would often swap instruments depending on the need of the individual song and would contribute to each other’s songs.
Tracks
1 Very Best Years (Jason Falkner) 03:25
2 Everybody’s World (Buddy Judge) 05:43
3 Same Thing (Jon Brion) 04:02
4 Friend Of Mine (Jason Falkner) 05:17
5 Is It Now Yet (Buddy Judge; Dan McCarroll) 04:03
6 Oh Well Maybe (Jason Falkner) 03:43
7 Nothing Between Us (Jon Brion) 03:55
8 Both Belong (Jason Falkner) 04:25
9 Nothing (Jason Falkner) 03:31
10 Not Long For This World (Jon Brion) 04:53
11 Spooky (Jason Falkner) 05:07
12 All You Wanted (Buddy Judge) 04:30
13 No One Can Hurt Me (Jon Brion) 06:30
Musicians
| Bass | Jason Falkner |
| Bass | Jon Brion |
| Drums | Dan McCarroll |
| Guitar | Buddy Judge |
| Guitar | Jason Falkner |
| Guitar | Jon Brion |
| Keyboards | Jason Falkner |
| Keyboards | Jon Brion |
| Cello | Martin Tillman |
| Percussion | Lenny Castro |
| Vocals | Buddy Judge |
| Vocals | Jason Falkner |
| Vocals | Jon Brion |
Liner Notes
Producer – Jack Joseph Puig
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Jack Joseph Puig
Mixed By (Assistant) – Ken Allardyce
Recorded By – Jack Joseph Puig
Recorded By (Assistant) – S. Husky Hoskulds
Art Direction – David Coleman
Illustration, Photography – Avery Falkner
Mastered At The Mastering Lab
Mixed At Ocean Way Recording
Recorded At Grandmaster Recorders
Phonographic Copyright Sony Music Entertainment Inc
Copyright Sony Music Entertainment Inc