You may not be familiar with Will Dailey, but if you watch a lot of TV, chances are you've heard his music. The Boston-bred singer/songwriter's songs have been featured on episodes of NCIS, Harper's Island, 90210, Numb3rs, Gossip Girl, CSI: NY, The Hills, and more. Part of the reason that Dailey's songs seem to show up on TV can be attributed to the fact that he's signed to CBS Records, not the late imprint that was absorbed into Sony, but a new incarnation started in conjunction with the CBS TV network designed to exploit opportunities to expose music through television.
Since Dailey is so closely tied into television, it seems only appropriate that a promotional clip for his recently issued physical release, Torrent Volumes 1 & 2: Fashions Of Distraction/By The Blue Hills, parodies Peter Lemongello's infamous Love '76 commercial, which aired on late-night TV in 1976 and helped the crooner sell millions of albums. Check it out Dailey's painstakingly authentic parody followed by Lemongello's original spot below.
Looking at that clip, you might get the impression the Dailey is nothing more than a gimmick artist, but don't sell him short. He's just a hard-working singer/songwriter fighting to make a name for himself in a world in which it seems everyone is trying to come up with new ways to cut through the clutter. Aside from exposing his songs on TV and through parody video clips, Dailey has found an interesting way to release his music. Although Torrent Volumes: 1 & 2 was just released on Tuesday (June 9) in its physical incarnation, the songs were initially issued months ago as two separate digital EPs, hence the Volumes 1 & 2 and the twin title Fashion Of Distraction/By The Blue Hills. The former title, which was inspired by '60s folk-rockers the Byrds and features a guest spot by Byrd man Roger McGuinn, was initially released digitally in January. Here's Dailey performing "Peace Of Mind," Fashion Of Distraction's opening-track, courtesy of Daily Grommet.
By The Blue Hills, the second EP featured on Torrent Volumes 1 & 2, pays homage to Dailey's hometown of Boston with guest appearances by some of that city's notable musicians, including the Cars' Elliot Easton, Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses/Belly fame, and Letter To Cleo's Kay Hanley. It was initially issued in March as a digital-only release, but is now part of the physical release that includes the bonus tracks "Hands" and "Too Long." Check out the video for "Tomorrow Still Comes" from that set below.
Dailey recently told Billboard magazine that he plans to release two more volumes in the Torrent series this year, thanks to an overflow of creativity. "The whole idea was born talking to my label, how I had a torrential outpouring of music," he told Katie Hasty. "I didn't want to push one record for two-and-a-half years. My fans want something new, and it feels disingenuous for me, because I don't write only 10 songs every two years."
So fans of Dailey can look forward to more new music soon, but they may be faced with a slight dilemma. While the digital releases come first, the physical releases include a CD as well as a DVD version of the album featuring the new audiophile CODE recording process, founded by Grammy-winning producer T Bone Burnett, that offers high-definition audio, all for the price of a single disc. So you'll have to decide if you want you fix on new Dailey immediatey as downloads or if you want to hold off for the better-sounding format, or if you really love the guy, splurge and buy it both ways. You can catch Dailey where else but on TV next week. On June 15 he'll be on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson and the following morning he'll appear on The Early Show. Both shows are on--you guessed it--CBS. You've got to love corporate synergy.