Jules Shear

DREAMS DON'T COUNT - IN STORES NOW
After nearly three decades of creating music, Shears said he is where he wants to be with the release of Dreams Don't Count , making music that really matters. I care more about the timeless aspect of making records, and less about making my records sound current or competitive, says Shear. I'm still always looking for that same thrill I got when I was a kid, when I'd hear something great on the radio and be completely blown away by it. I try to keep in touch with that feeling and let the rest of it fall by the wayside. At this point, I kind of realize that Im not going to end up on the cover of Rolling Stone, and that I've got a deeper reason for doing this.
A Pittsburgh native, Shear achieved national recognition as one of three singer/writers in the country-rock combo Funky Kings with whom he recorded one album in the mid-70s. He then formed critical favorites Jules and the Polar Bears and recorded three albums with them by the end of that decade.
Having served his musical apprenticeship, Shear returned to the East Coast, settled in Woodstock, N.Y., and launched his solo career. His first solo effort was 1983s critically lauded Watch Dog, produced by Todd Rundgren, and this release set the tone for a series of diverse, masterful releases: the sonically sleek The Eternal Return; a low-key demo collection Demo-Itis; unadorned voice-and-guitar on The Third Party; and the more ornately produced The Great Puzzle and Healing Bones. Released in 1997, Between Us was one of Shear's most ambitious efforts, a collection of duets that paired him with an eclectic assortment of vocal partners including Patty Griffin, Carole King, Rosanne Cash, Paula Cole, and Margot Timmins of Cowboy Junkies.
Along the way, Shear sold MTV on the idea for a show called Unplugged, showcasing established and lesser-known musicians together in an informal environment that encouraged jamming, collaboration, and musical experimentation. He served as master of ceremonies for several years.
Many artists recorded Shears compositions and had huge hits. They include Cyndi Lauper, who scored a Top Five single with All Through the Night, the Bangles who topped the charts with If She Knew What She Wants and Alison Moyets cover of Whispering Your Name which became a U.K. smash. He has also been covered by The Band, Roger McGuinn, 10,000 Maniacs, Curtis Steigers, and many others.
With great reviews coming in daily about Dreams Don't Count , the legend continues to grow for this songwriters' songwriter. The beautiful simplicity and brooding elegance that each song possesses will captivate and entrance devoted fans and new listeners alike "A lot of songwriters think, ..I'm already great. I just need to know how to make money at this,"' relates Shear. "But I wish they'd think more about just writing the best song they possibly can."