Album Notes

The Crown Prince of 12-String Guitar, Horst-Peter Schmidt, has returned from his musical sabbatical to treat pop fans to another janglefest of twelve new tunes that build on his Byrds-inspired legacy. Horst-Peter channels Roger McGuinn effortlessly through his Rickenbacker 12-string play and his vocals. The eleven tracks on Phoenix are original songs that draw on Horst- Peter’s varied personal observations. The opening track, “Another Day Without You,” is a
song about his Rickenbacker 370RM 12-string guitar – which went unplayed for too long a period. This autobiographical tone is repeated in songs like Catch Me When I Fall -a song dedicated to his wife Uta -
and You’ll Show Me The Way a retrospective of Horst-Peter’s musical career. Other songs capture the spirit of 60s folk-rock by lamenting the current poor state of German education, the troubled global situation, the environment and the Trail of Tears a song rooted in American history, as interpreted by a German songwriter. In spite of these melancholy song themes, Horst-Peter retains his positive perspective and optimism as evidenced by City of the Angels and the climactic You’ll Show Me The Way. Just as Turn! Turn! Turn! gave hope to a conflicted generation in the 60s, the songs on Phoenix give hope to contemporary listeners. We have a troubadour from Cologne, Germany and his Rickenbacker 12-string guitar to thank for this chiming call for a brighter, better tomorrow.

Eric Sorensen, "Jangle On!" Columnist