Album Notes

Times Like These is Rick Danko's last studio album and is the culmination of the Rock `n Roll Hall of Famer's work which spanned forty years.

The CD starts with a beautiful original piece written by Rick Danko entitled Times Like These, which was a natural choice for the title of the CD.

The album includes a brilliant and heartfelt cover of the Grateful Dead's Ripple, an inspirational version of Sam Cooke's Chain Gang and the rocking All Our Past Times, which he co-wrote with Eric Clapton in the late seventies.

Included on the CD is another original song co-written by Danko that follows the theme of the CD Change is Good. Rick's brother Terry Danko contributes bass on this lively foot stomping tune. A masterfully re-worked version of This Wheel's On Fire by The Crowmatix, who also contributed on several other tracks, features some truly inspired accordion work by Garth Hudson.

Two songs from the Acoustic Café radio show recorded on December 6, 1999, Let the Four Winds Blow featuring Levon Helm on harp and The Band's song, Book Faded Brown, are a reminder of why Rick's voice is such a treasure. Maud Hudson's backing vocals on Book Faded Brown are a perfect compliment to Rick. Long time Band producer Aaron Professor "Louie" Hurwitz added bass on the track and the talented Gary Burke contributed drums on a remarkable version of this song.

Also included on the CD is a ballad co-written by Rick that is a testimony to his philosophy of "helping out the neighborhood". You Can Go Home calls to mind the plight of the countless thousands of refugees from Bosnia to Rwanda. The last song of the CD People of Conscience, which is in the spirit of Rick's beliefs, is a tribute to those who take on numerous environmental and political issues that haunt the world.

Rick had always said he would never put his name on an album unless he was proud of it. The reason being he had to live with it. Well, this is no exception. I know he can hear it and I know that he is very proud to have his name on it. --Elizabeth Danko