DownTown Mystic is the roots-rock project of songwriter and producer Robert Allen, who works from a love of classic records, vintage guitars, and an analog recording approach, and who has built the project up to more than 250 television and film placements. His new single, “Maybe Love’s A Crime,” reached streaming services worldwide through The Orchard/Sony Music on October 9th from Sha-La Music, and it heads to US college radio on October 13th.
Maybe Love’s A Crime
The single holds two songs, including a TV mix, and its character comes from the groove. Allen was weighing which way to go rhythmically when bassist Paul Page, who has worked with Dion, suggested a shuffle. Allen, a longtime Dion fan, knew right away what he meant, and it fit the track perfectly. The result is a classic shuffle that gives the song movement and looseness while leaving the other instruments room to breathe.
The band behind it is a seasoned one. Drummer Steve Holley, whose credits include Paul McCartney and Elton John, and Page, who has also worked with Ian Hunter, recorded the shuffle in a single take, and keyboardist Jeff Levine, known for his work with Joe Cocker and Hall & Oates, adds a piano performance that the release calls an instant classic. The playing sounds like musicians responding to the song instead of filling in preset parts, a natural quality that’s rare in today’s heavily built-up productions.
The single follows two EPs from earlier this year, Mystic Highway Road Trip and On E Street Remix, the latter featuring Max Weinberg and Garry Tallent of the E Street Band, and a full-length, On E Street Remix – The Album, with six new tracks, is planned for Black Friday, November 27th. Allen’s approach to the sound is less about nostalgia than preservation, keeping the warmth, character, and imperfections that made so many classic rock records feel alive, while still finding new ways to work with those influences.
Final Thoughts
“Maybe Love’s A Crime” is a loose, confident slice of roots rock built on a great rhythm section and a groove with real history behind it. The single is out now, and you can watch the video on YouTube. For more, visit downtownmystic.net, or follow DownTown Mystic on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.
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