Originally released on the Epic label, Life in the Foodchain, from Tonio K. garnered outrageous press when it was first issued in 1979 (Stereo Review called it "the greatest record ever made"). “Imagine a punk rock Warren Zevon or a misogynistic folkie who just took a hypodermic full of adrenaline Pulp Fiction style right in his songwriting sternum. That's how far out of this world Life In The Foodchain was (and, frankly, still is). “ (quote courtesy Tim Brough) Tonio K. followed that project with several other stellar major label releases until the mid-1980s, when he shifted his focus primarily to songwriting. He has written songs with and/or for Wynonna Judd, T-Bone Burnett, Charlie Sexton, Peter Case, Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, Patty Smyth, Tanya Tucker, Vanessa Williams, Jules Shear, and The Pointer Sisters. There are an additional seven titles by Tonio K in the Gadfly catalogue.