Album Notes

What we'll say about Western Color is that the elements are there in the lyrics, melodies, and sonic landscapes for a classic. Dan King and Co. have created a rich variety of timeless styles that bring the stories and poetry to their proper elevation. Grounded by the consistently masterful backing of David Brown on Dobro and Electric Guitar (Simon and Garfunkel, Paul McCartney, Julian Lennon), Dave Mattacks on drums, Percussion and Organ (Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson, Paul McCartney, Roseanne Cash) and Wolf Ginandes on Bass ( GE Smith, Maceo Parker) this band has made a collection that soars in texture and artistry. The appearance of guest vocals by Kathy Aptt on Goodnight Romeo, Evangeline King on No Crying and Julie Dougherty on I'll Move On The Same and Down Ragged Street bring a wider range of feminine beauty to this new roots based collection. The subjects are rest stop girls, desert holes, wasted loves, aging castaways as well as loves found and never forgotten, perserverance, and acceptance. Surprisingly compared to many other roots projects Dan isn't stuck in the past. Many of the sounds may be vintage but lyrics that deal with the computer age in Green Light Day "headlines forming war on my homepage" and the philosophical/politcal plight of The Ruins "who knows the truth? some rich man's game, another write off, another truckload of pain" make this record very much of this time and the problems we face now. We can state that This record is as deep lyrically as the sound is wide.
Pay special attention to guest Willie Loco Alexander's angular honky tonk piano on No Crying that brings particular delight to the ears coupled with the soul diva backing vocals of Evangeline. The recordings were made over period of three years mostly by Dan using his mobile studio to find good rooms, inhabit them and create. Dan gives Special thanks to Colin Harhay for the room that made drum magic and to Tony Goddess and Bang A Song where the first run of mixes were done and where most of the vocals were recorded.