Album Notes

**PLEASE NOTE: This is the original 2006 trial release. This is not the enhanced CD released by Aspirion/Northwind Records in 2007. Supplies are limited and bound to be a collector's item - when they're gone, they're gone.**

Now, about the CD:
“Warning: listening to this album will make you want to quit your job, buy a boat and live the life of Mike Aiken. “Hillbilly Beach Bum” leads things off with a honky-tonk rhythm, and when he rhymes “señorita” with “margarita,” the scene is set for the rest of the album. …Aiken’s vocal harmonizing with his wife Amy is irresistible. “Salt on the breeze, saltwater under your keel, salt on the rim on your glass!” explains Aiken of the CD title. Just Add Salt is a vicarious thrill ride arriving just in time to blow off the winter blues.” Paul Shugrue, Port Folio Weekly, Norfolk , VA and WHRV 89.5 FM “Out Of The Box”

“Aiken’s style is a mix of folk and blues-on-the-rocks with a saltwater chaser. He is a great storyteller with a very genuine delivery.” Robert Lindquist, Singer & Musician Magazine

“Mike is something of a floating John Prine crossed with Ry Cooder.” Charles Doane, Sail Magazine

Just Add Salt is comprised of 12 tunes, 10 originals and 2 covers including the island and beach sounds of ‘Hillbilly Beach Bum’ and ‘Back To The Beach’, the blues-ier National steel slide of ‘No Fishin’ Pole’ and ‘One More Night’, the more reflective side of ’90 Miles To Hemingway’ and ‘This Guitar’, and the fun Celtic cover of ‘Friend of the Devil.’ Again Aiken shows us his versatility in songwriting and mastery of guitars, including slide, acoustic, electric, nylon and mandolin. An impressive array of artists joined Mike to add a little salt of their own from Nashville session fiddle player Charlie Austin to veteran stage man Bob Zentz on bodhran and concertina.
So spice up your day with Just Add Salt.

Originally hailing from the Buffalo, NY area, Aiken cut his teeth playing roadhouses and clubs in the northeast. After combining his two passions, playing and sailing, he went solo, moved aboard his sailboat and started to travel. Sailing took him and his music to Canada, then to Portugal and Spain. After some time playing in Europe, he sailed to the Caribbean and continued playing throughout the islands. Drawing from many sources and with a style all his own, his music has been labeled from Americana to Maritime Folk Rock to Alternative Country. Mike calls it “travelin’ music, made by a man with a travelin’ bone.” Whether performing live or recording one thing is true, he likes making his music fun to play and fun to hear. Mike now has 3 CDs out, a signature guitar by Takamine and writes an ‘On The Road’ article for Singer & Musician Magazine.