For those unaware, Chris Berardo’s latest album is also his oldest for the New York-born/Connecticut-based singer-songwriter recorded American Dust in 1997.

For its 25th anniversary, Berardo is releasing it digitally for the first time on September 27th, with the first single, Old Man’s Eyes, available across digital media platforms on August 26th.

When Berardo first started performing around New York City in the 80’s he attracted the attention of superstar manager Bill Aucoin (Kiss, Billy Idol), who offered his help and encouragement. Berardo’s bands were always on the verge, but never broke through.

Aucoin helped Berardo move to Los Angeles and get situated in L.A.’s music scene. Berardo honed his songwriting craft working with hit songwriter/producer/ Songwriter’s Hall of Fame member Bob Crewe (Four Seasons, LaBelle).

Returning to New York from Los Angeles, he put together a band with an assortment of New York and Connecticut musicians, including his brothers Marc and Scott, mandolin/lap steel player, and the co-producer of American Dust, Dick Neal (who has produced and played on several subsequent Berardo albums), and bassist Tom Marotta (Indigo Girls). “There was no budget; there was no plan,” Berardo admits. “I just wanted to document this stuff.”

Pristine sound isn’t the point of American Dust. It’s an album about an artist rediscovering the joy of creating music for the sheer love of it. A prime example is the sole live track, Still Your Friend. Recorded at 3 am in Larchmont, NY’s Cellar Bar, as an acoustic duo with his brother Marc, and at the end of the band’s second gig of the day, the track has uneven sound, bar room sounding performance, but it conveys the wholehearted exuberance that is only achieved after a group and its audience are locked in.

The recording is significant to Berardo because “it is just the sort of thing that made me realize what’s good about bringing music to people directly.”

1. American Dust
2. Old Man’s Eyes
3. One Step Closer to Goodbye
4. The Top of the Stairs
5. Is There Anybody Out There
6. Somewhere Down the Line
7. Hard Times for the Lonely
8. She’s Leaving Me
9. Still Your Friend
10. One Chance

Opening on the roots rockin’ acoustic and electric guitar feast that makes up the titular American Dust and the heartwarming, highly personal ode within Old Man’s Eyes, they are seamlessly backed by the Eagles-esque, mid-tempo, balladeering harmonies within One Step Closer to Goodbye, the aching yearn of The Top of the Stairs and then comes the uptempo, yet gentle rocker Is There Anybody Out There.

Next up is the porch swing summer vibe within Somewhere Down the Line and the slow melodic rock of Hard Times for the Lonely which are themselves in turn followed by the heartfelt melodies within She’s Leaving Me, the album rounding out on the acoustically live, near seven minute balladry of Still Your Friend, coming to a close on the foot-tapping storytelling within One Chance.

Of late, Berardo has released a series of singles. His song Somewhere Blue, as well as a knock-out cover of the Badfinger classic Baby Blue, and his gorgeous original holiday tune This Year. These songs were all done in collaboration with longtime Reckless Kelly guitarist, David Abeyta, who also produced Berardo’s upcoming full-length album which will be released in the near future.

Although American Dust has been available over the years, it has been only on a small scale - like merch stands. It’s understandable why Berardo is excited about bringing these songs, which come from such a pivotal time in his career and life, to a larger audience.

“When I hear American Dust, it actually gives me a wonderful feeling,” he confides. “I think, well look at this: you wrote 10 songs you’re really proud of, recorded them, and started a cool band that’s lasted essentially to this day. So that gives me a very happy feeling.”

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