THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “What’s Not To Love? is an album of music from John C. Reilly’s Vaudeville-inspired show in which he embodies a character called Mister Romantic. Despite this, it is the Oscar, Grammy and Tony award nominee’s most personal project to date.
The show, which was created to foster empathy and love for one another, has been described as fiercely funny, and hailed as one of the best performances of 2024. John is backed by a band of Grammy winners performing songs from the Great American Songbook, as his character sets out on a mission to get someone (anyone!) to fall in love with him.
The album was recorded in 2024 in Los Angeles at Nest Recorders and was co-produced by Reilly and Davíd Garza (Fiona Apple, Sharon Van Etten). In addition to Garza on piano and guitar, the band includes violinist Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers, Rosanne Cash), bassist Sebastian Steinberg (Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers), and Charles De Castro (Keb’ Mo’) on accordion and cornet.
The 13 tracks include a pair of Irving Berlin songs, a trio from Tom Waits and songs made famous by Louis Armstrong, Jo Stafford and others. On the lead single Dream, Reilly delivers a gentle, dreamy seaside cover of the 1944 Johnny Mercer song, which has previously been recorded by Frank Sinatra and Roy Orbison.
Reilly and this special band reimagine and re-embrace these beloved tunes and bring them to a new generation.”
