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Not sure how I got here, but there it is, 50 years old. As part of a tribute to that age mark, (and to allow myself at least one mid-life crises) I decided to make a cd of some of the music I have written in the past 30 years of plucking, fluting and croaking. After a year, this has turned into two Cds. An addicting hobby. Following on the amazing success of the first Cd, "New World" (which means my 4 year old daughter really liked it) I decided to do another collection of songs in "The Best Years". I really am not much of a performer, (a wildlife biologist by day) but did do some coffee house stuff with a roommate during my hippie college phase, “Thick as a Brick”, “Moon Dance”, “John Barleycorn” you get the idea, and some open mic stuff here in Virginia. The Cds, unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, depending on your opinion) does not include any of my fluting. (visit my web site for some of that) And, to cheat even more, 11 of the songs on the first Cd and all songs on the second Cd were done via Demos by Mail. Tom Manche in Nashville did some nice producing and recording of my music and we selected a variety of talented singers. It’s a very strange experience; to let your baby’s go into someone else’s hands. Sometimes I was pleasantly surprised, sometimes I was shocked; what did he do to my song?! But overall, although somewhat different than what I would have done, the result is certainly much more professional than I could have done, and I am happy with all.
The other 5 songs on Cd number 1, quite clearly, were not done by Tom and company. On these you get the pleasure of hearing me sloppily pluck my guitar and croak my way though some songs. Sometimes ok, sometimes not, but..what could I do?…I was out of money! Plus, it just didn’t seem quite right to have a cd of my music entirely performed by someone else. I am currently working on the third cd, which will most likely just be me with a guitar doing my best…but then ya never know, things change.
Over all, I have to say, I think they are pleasant Cds. Some nice songs, some not so nice, certainly some cheesy, some mediocre; covered all the territory, as much as my talent would allow.
And so, give it a listen give it a listen, buy it, download it, make my daughter happy (more sales, better toys for her). |