Album Notes

. . . took a long time to get here, but been playing music and singing for years now. First CD was called THIRTEEN SONGS, recorded with Hugh Birdsall of The Reducers fame and other friends on various instruments at various stages. Released in 2001 after years of playing around. Got a job writing novelty songs, mostly Christmas tunes, for a NYC company with a factory in Hong Kong, that makes toys that sing when you tickle them. Snowman Melting and Santa in a Sled waiting to take off. Toys like that. Ended up with an overflow of songs that Mr. Christmas couldn't use even if he wanted to. Put ten of those tunes on a CD called CHRISTMAS LEFTOVERS. Carols and novelty-songs overflowing with the Christmas spirit and the joy of the season. Been writing songs for Kids and their folks forever, and began playing more and more in schools, at summer family picnics and wherever children gather. Released IF YOU WANT A DONUT in 2002. Ten original tunes. And god how the people loved them! Even old people. Began working on BLINDMAN in 2003 with Jim Nolet, NYC session player extraordinaire on various stringed instruments; with Chris Anderson, trumpet player from Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes; and with Eduardo Mandoca, noted Brazilian percusionist and band leader, brought in special with his sack of rattles and shakers. Connected somehow with London artist Edori Fertig for cover art on THIRTEEN SONGS. Couldn't believe a guy named Charles Ray had a painting he called Blindman in a Boat that fit so well onto the cover that graces the BLINDMAN cd. The album covers alone are worth the price of the record . . . And some folks probably buy them just for that. Initial reactions and reviews of BLINDMAN couldn't have been better. Every reviewer so far recommends you get your hands on this one, and try to find the others. And keep an ear peeled for GOOD OL’ JESUS - a left wing righteous hymn that’s downloadable for free – and all over the internet. And Now available in time for Christmas 06 is American Songs . . . from the album notes . . ."Daisy and Old Dan Tucker are some new words to old songs. Little Sadie, House of New Orleans and Little Light are new arrangements of traditional songs. The rest are new songs from that dark place so many American folk songs come from, smelling of hot dogs and warm beer. Morphine is true; it's a cowboy song, an American lament like Nice and Short is an American lament. And then there are the love songs. Hold On Henry, Girl with the Yellow Hair,Hootenanny Blues and the others. American songs all, and as true as God Bless America is or ever will be. The cover and back photos were taken by my friend Bill Hurshman, who was there at the Hootenanny when Carlotta sang out for the first time and Sarah showed up with her new husband. That's Southside Johnny's Chris Anderson on trumpet and
Stephen Chapman on back-up vocals. I played the acoustic and electric guitars, the bass, Hammond B-3 organ, harmonica - and the upright piano on Morphine.
Jim Nolet came in again from Seattle for four days with his fiddle and mandolin. Carlotta Rose and Emily Kane, Genie Raven and Julia Engel sang back-up in the
Adirondacks on a couple of tunes. J.P. sang "Oh no!" on Little Sadie, And there you have it, just what we all need - twelve more recordings of American Songs.