Album Notes

West of Dodge CD:
"This album is the closest that I have done that truly reflects my lead guitar playing and what I sound like "live" so to speak. I kept the production (added instuments) to a minimum. I try to practice on my guitar at least 3 hours a day and I love adding different licks and runs that most folks may not have heard before. I want to keep it fresh and not put my music into a certain predictable "box" or "genre"....On this album you will hear some songs that have a very Western gunslinger sound to a bluesy- kinda jazz sound to even a little Texas-swing! I like mixing it up so the listener doesn't get bored. I wrote 11 out of the 13 songs. Some of them are very special to me, like "September's Song" which I wrote after my wife and I celebrated our 29th Anniversary a few weeks early while the aspens were still in full foliage; while others are just for fun, like "Going Down To The River" although I did actually use the names of real boyhood friends of mine. For the first time in my recording career (note: this is Barry's 8th cd) I was totally in control of the production and the digital outcome and I love that! As an artist, there is no better feeling then that freedom to express your craft and your art to that dimension. It was recorded and mixed by the very experienced and knowledgeable Vern Thomson, with the amazing Joe Stephenson helping out with the accompainment when necessary" ~ Barry Ward