By Bob Makin
originally published: 11/15/2024
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “All Fall Down,” a colab between Hoboken legend Richard Barone and Darryl McDaniels, the D.M.C. of pioneering hip-hop duo Run-D.M.C. PHOTO BY BOB GRUEN
Is everybody happy?!
Well, you should be with “All Fall Down,” the new colab between Hoboken legend Richard Barone and hip-hop pioneer Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C.
The Makin Waves Song of the Week was released in four different genres: rock, folk, alt-country, and hip hop.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “All Fall Down” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Nov. 15 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
“The hip-hop mix was done by DJ Johnny Juice of Public Enemy,” Richard said. “As far as I know, this is the first single ever released in four distinct genres simultaneously by the same artist.”
Released just prior to the recent election, “All Fall Down” puts all political leaders on notice. Inspired by the American folk music revival and protest songs of 1960s Greenwich Village with flashes of classic rock and hip-hop, the single is available on Instant Records, run by Barone’s long-time collaborator, Richard Gottehrer.
“‘All Fall Down’ is an open letter to those who gain power through intimidation and division,” Richard said. “I was sitting with my guitar, began strumming, and the words seemed to flow on their own. I knew Darryl’s rhymes would make it complete.”
Richard then sent the track to Darryl, who immediately began writing his segments.
“When Richard said he wanted to collaborate on a song and sent me ‘All Fall Down,’ I was inspired, motivated, and pumped with purpose,” Darryl said. “And it sounds really, really good! He sent me one of the most important songs of this generation.”
Plans include a special 12” vinyl pressing with the multiple versions of the song in multiple genres on the B-side.
Cover graphics were created by legendary album cover designer Kosh with photography by Bob Gruen, whose iconic shots include John Lennon.
Richard first gained attention as frontman for The Bongos, pioneers of the 1980s Hoboken Sound that also spawned The Feelies, The dB’s, The Wygals and Rage to Live. He will play Nov. 18 at Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. For more about him, click https://richardbarone.com/.
Darryl also recently colabbed with Santana on the single “Let the Guitar Play” and has a new single, “She Gets Me High,” with Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, Travis Barker Blink-182, Mick Mars of Motley Crue and Duff McKagen of Guns N’ Roses coming soon. For more about him, visit https://thekingdmc.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
About the author:
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
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