Album Notes

Bogs Visionary Orchestra combines the anthem like melodies of old-time Country music with contemporary wit. Their music hints at the surreal yet is imbued with simple honesty and heartfelt zeal. The sounds of banjo, lap steel and harmonica become the soundscape for lyrical stories that convey the joys and plights of modern life. With songs like "E-Mailin' Gal" and "War Recession Remix" their music sits somewhere suspended between the Great Depression and the New Recession.

RECESSION SPECIAL
Produced by A. Bogs
Recorded at Modfa Studios, Brooklyn N.Y.
Mixed & Mastered by Jason Spittle, Brooklyn N.Y.
All songs written by A. Bogs
Ben Layden co-written with Jose Delhart
A. Bogs: lead vocal and acoustic guitar
Jose Delhart: lap steel, bass, electric guitar and backing vocals
Jonathan Royce: mandolin, fiddle
Eric Levine: acoustic guitar picking (track 1)
ketil Fagervik: bass (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10)
Bernt Eide: drums, percussion
Analissa Martinez: cello
Michael Arenella: tuba
Bliss Blood: musical saw, backing vocals
DJ Kenny Mitchell: remix (track 9), engineering (track 11)
Shara Worden: xylophone, keyboard, backing vocals (track 2 & 5)
Will Holshouser: accordion
Sean Slaney: mandolin (track 11)
Cheo Colon: bass (track 11)
Ernesto Gomez: harmonica, banjo and backing vocals
Special thanx to L. Bogs

Photo on 1st printing By Ernesto Gomez
Illustration on 2nd printing by A. Bogs
Design layouts by A. Bogs

Stuff we've done-
CBGB'S, NYC
Mickey's Blue Room, NYC
Barbes, NYC
Sin'e, NYC
Whitney Museum of American art: Sound Check, NYC
Brooklyn Museum: Members Party
Union Pool: "WHEEL OF FIRE" A Musical Tribute to Howard Finster, NYC

What someone said about our debut at CBGB's-
I was personally amazed with "Bogs Visionary Orchestra". Their music took me back to the olden days with exceptional romance and enchantment. I was glad to have heard them, they totally took me by surprise. I hope they play again at CBGB's. Congrats for an awesome show and for bringing "Bogs Visionary Orchestra". John

What someone said about our debut CD-
I enjoyed your album "enormously" and listened to it most of the night. The Visionary Orchestra is really a great big orchestra and the sound is fabulous. And (although friends argue about that) I love your voice. I was surprised to see you working with Bliss Blood of Pain Teens and more recently The Moonlighters, and with DJ Kenny Mitchell. The songs are 'almost serious' and the lyrics are critical in an intelligible way. "Chapeau" (my hat off to you) as they say in France!This record will end up high on my "best of" list of 2003. Leoslepidus

What someone said about our Whitney Museum show-
One of my favorite moments from the night at the Whitney was the performance of "War Recession blues" complete with audience participation. I usually hate sing-alongs & audience participation bits but you guys pulled it off and more. I just can't get over how excellent you guys were. The stage presence of the entire band was everything the music required. I haven't witnessed such an aggregation of on-stage cool since the halcyon days of Sir Douglas Quintet w/Augie Meyer. I would have bet my boots that you guys all hailed from Austin, but I understand that like another great cowboy singer, Charles Adnopoz aka Ramblin' Jack Elliot, you guys are from Brooklyn. I would have wound up going barefoot into the night on that bet. Tex

Stuff A. Bogs has done (camios or solo performances)-
Bob Fass show on WBAI with Eric Levine on twelve string guitar (3 songs), NYC
Bowery Poetry Club: SAGE'S Sex, Drugs & Sunday school (read Ramblin' Poem), NYC
Bowery Poetry Club: SAGE'S Son of a Bush (Devil came knockin' & War Recession Blues), NYC

Radio stations we've been played on-
WFMU (91.1FM) NJ
WTJU (91.1FM) VA
WMTU (91.9FM) MI

If you'd like to be updated on our shows e-mail BVO from this page and say you want to be put on the e-mail list!

VISIONARY POEM #1

I see your face
Many faces
Some with hope
Some without

I listen to your tune
Before you hum it
And put words to your melody

I sing it
And you sing with me
HEAR THE CHEERS!
The cheers of many
Brothers and sisters
Who don't feel alone
Because you took the risk
And sang out of tune!

A. Bogs 11/20/02 10:54pm, revised 9/17/03 12:22am