Spinal Tap bassist to release star-studded studio album

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Harry Shearer, aka Spinal Tap’s Derek Smalls, will release his debut solo album in April - featuring Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Taylor Hawkins, Chad Smith, Rick Wakeman and more

Derek Smalls
Derek Smalls

Harry Shearer, aka Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls, has announced he’ll release his debut solo album later this year.

It’s titled Smalls Change (Meditations Upon Ageing) and will launch on April 13 via Twanky Records/BMG.

His Spinal Tap bandmates David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel won’t appear on the record, but it does feature a star-studded lineup of guest musicians.

Those include guitar virtuosos Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers sticksman Chad Smith, Rick Wakeman, Toto’s Steve Lukather, Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, Dweezil Zappa and Peter Framtpon.

To mark the announcement, Smalls has release a video for the title track and announced that he’ll tour in support of the album, with only one date confirmed so far: April 14 at the Saenger Theater, New Orleans.

Find the Smalls Change (Meditations Upon Ageing) tracklist below, which also features a list of guest artists.

Derek Smalls - Smalls Change (Meditations Upon Ageing) tracklist

  1. Openture (ft. The Hungarian Studio Orchestra)
  2. Rock ’N’ Roll Transplant (ft. Steve Lukather, Jim Keltner, Chad Smith)
  3. Butt Call (ft. Phil X, Taylor Hawkins)
  4. Smalls Change (ft. The Hungarian Studio Orchestra, Judith Owen, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel)
  5. Memo to Willie (ft. Donald Fagen, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Larry Carlton, the Snarky Puppy Horns)
  6. It Don’t Get Old (ft. Peter Frampton, Waddy Wachtel)
  7. Complete Faith (ft. The Hungarian Studio Orchestra)
  8. Faith No More (ft. The Hungarian Studio Orchestra, Todd Sucherman)
  9. Gimme Some (More) Money (ft. Paul Shaffer, Waddy Wachtel, David Crosby)
  10. MRI (ft. Dweezil Zappa)
  11. Hell Toupee (ft. The Hungarian Studio Orchestra)
  12. Gummin the Gash (ft. Steve Vai, Gregg Bisonnette, Jane Lynch)
  13. She Puts the Bitch in Obituary (ft. Richard Thompson, Jane Lynch)
  14. When Men Did Rock (ft. Michael League, Joe Satriani, Rick Wakeman, the Hungarian Studio Orchestra)

Spinal Tap: The Big Black Book by Wallace Fairfax - review

Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.