Album Notes

What do you get when you mix the sounds of Merle Haggard and George Jones with John Mellencamp and John Fogerty? You get the midwestern flavored music of the Cattle Bandits. The 2008 release of \"Homegrown\" marks the first all original album by this veteran group from central Illinois. Members include; Eric Gordon (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Doug Ross (lead guitar), Jon Rapp (lead vocals, bass guitar), Kyle Ripsch (keyboards) and Tom Sparrow (drums, percussion).

The songs from the album are straight from the heartland. Subjects include barn dances, four wheel drives, honky tonks, and the Fourth of July. Also present are songs about Route 66 which runs through the area when the members are located. “Ol’ 66” is a Chuck Berry/Jerry Lee Lewis romp that brings to life the old mother road. “Haunted Grove” is an eerie walk thru the ghost stories that surround Funks Grove Illinois. The crowd favorite “That’s How I Roll” sounds like it came directly from a truck commercial. Many years of performing in honky tonks give songs like “Homegrown”, “Saddle Up” and “Crawlin’ Distance” that unique sound.

All eleven songs off of the album were written by lead vocalist Eric Gordon. “Homegrown” was engineered at Sedistudio in Lexington IL by Pink Bob and co-produced by Pink Bob and drummer Tom Sparrow. The entire album is a fun ride thru the heartland of America. Sit back, relax, turn up the speakers and enjoy the ride!