After the release of his second solo album, the sweeping double-album “From the Brighter Side of Her Midnight Sun”, Toronto-based rock n roll singer-songwriter Neil Leyton counted on the 6-string prowess of George Bettencourt, along with the bass talents of Steve Payne and experienced drummer Eric Herrmann in his live line-up.
The album release led to a cover feature story in Toronto’s eye weekly and the album gathered rave reviews in Canada and abroad. This led to a first trip to the UK to play some live shows.
After a first stint in London, Leyton returned to Toronto to begin work on the follow-up album to “Midnight Sun”. However, sessions where erratic and inconclusive as to what direction the new album might take…
Therefore, the “This is the Way” EP features several tracks, mostly co-written with Bettencourt and Payne, that could have been the beginning of the new album before Leyton scuttled those plans. Instead of “this” actually being the way forward, the following official release was the “Beat” EP and Leyton pursued a more classic singer-songwriter course. “This is the way” remained in the vaults, save for a South American split release. The EP remains a key snapshot, however, of Leyton’s britpop leanings and key collaboration with fellow Portuguese-Canadian guitarist George Bettencourt, which really should have led to more…
“To this day, George remains one of the most talented guitarists I have ever had the pleasure to play with and it was awesome when he joined us on an European tour years later. I wish we would make more music together one day. A full album will be the way!” – Neil Leyton.
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