Stuart opts for "Space Junk"

"Instrumentals have always been a part of the Fabulous Superlatives repertoire, but this is the first completely instrumental album we've done, largely inspired by two of my favorite bands from Sixties, The Ventures and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass," Stuart said.

"They did some dangerously cool instrumental records. We've done bluegrass, gospel and country records. Our hearts just led us to this one. 'Space Junk' turned us back into kids with our first guitars. We thought the world needed a fresh instrumental album by a pretty good band so we composed 20 instrumentals and took them to the microphones."

The band consists of Kenny Vaughan, Harry Stinson and Chris Scruggs. The album's origins can be traced to Stuart's years composing music for film and television, including the score for "All The Pretty Horses," which earned him GRAMMY Awards in the category of "Best Country Instrumental Performance" for "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "Hummingbyrd."

"Scoring required a cinematic way of thinking," he said. "I had to make music for what the scene called for, which turned me into more of a visual player in an understated way. That kind of thinking followed me into the studio during the making of 'Space Junk'. I knew the music had to be pretty, but it also had to say something without losing its drive."

He and The Superlatives ventured to Hollywood to cut the bulk of what would become 'Space Junk' at Capitol Recording Studios. "The creative atmosphere of California always gives me the feeling that the sky is the limit," Stuart said. "'Space Junk' is California music. If you want a specific sound, you go to certain places in the world. For the California sound, it's Capitol. You've got the blue skies, the legacy, the romance, and a lot of friendly ghosts. The atmosphere makes you do a little better."

"California Part 1 (Bobbie Gentry Please Call)" channels this spirit. Captured live at Capitol, Stuarty played Clarence White's Fender Telecaster guitar. "It winks at me, because it's purely California," he said. "I close my eyes and see a Western sunset. Clarence played really softly, and there was a magic bell tone to what he did. I finally found that tone on the guitar with this song."

The band also recorded a handful of tracks in Nashville, including "Graveyard." "We recorded at the House of Blues studio," Stuart said. "Right behind it, there's a big graveyard where people like George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Marty Robbins and Porter Wagoner are buried. The title worked."

The title track includes steel drums, galactic chimes, topped off by a sample of the Sputnik signal. Vaughan said, "Sonically, it's like you're sitting in the window seat of a spacecraft, and you're seeing all of this stuff just drift on by."

"I hope Space Junk takes the listeners for a ride," Stuart said. "It makes me forget my problems and remember why I play guitar and get to dress up in cowboy clothes. It reminds me I'm okay, and I want it to do the same for you. Mainly, I want to inspire some kid to go to the store, buy an instrument, and make a difference. This concept was passed down to us from the old heroes. If we can serve the same role, mission accomplished."

The track list is:
1. Graveyard
2. All The Pretty Horses
3. Catalina
4. Over The Moon
5. Slipnote Serenade
6. Space Junk
7. El Zorro
8. Coastline
9. The Ballad of the Lonely Surfer
11. Bat Patrol
11. Till We Meet Again
12. Waiting on Sundown
13. La Tingo Tango
14. Rhapsidio Sangre de Cristo in E Major
15. Showcake
16. Jody the Fly (Romance in Laguna)
17. Malibu Dawn
18. The Surfin' Cowboy
19. California Pt. 1 (Bobbie Gentry, Please Call Home)
20. Waltz of the Waves