Album Notes

I hadn't written a song in 8 or 9 months when I came up with the first of many cuts that would end up on this release. I'd been busy with other things - model plane building, making ice cream, girl watchin'- and songwriting didn't quite fit into the schedule. Strangely, after the first number, the other ones came along quickly. In the end, I wrote approximately twenty songs, 18 of which were recorded, 14 of which made it onto the CD. There was an ease to writing this material that I hadn't experienced in years. Many of the songs reference gentlemen of the more aged variety. I've heard it said that every man over 40 is a scoundrel and I suppose much of this material is a testament to that. I find the middle aged lech so appealing because his tragic side has a very acute comic edge. Also, you will find there are a number of references to alcohol consumption in this batch of songs. I'm not much of a drinker myself but I admire those who are. I've noticed that this is where many elders seek solace and to not make a note of such a preoccupation would have clearly been an oversight on my part. The young also seek solace in the grape but, truthfully, their motivations are not nearly as interesting. Two of the numbers - "Southern Lean" and "That's Close Enough" - harken back to the "Carefree Life" character from 1997 (see "Under Whip And Chain" CD). He is a particular favorite of mine because he has such a wonderful view of this crazy world we live in. Maybe if one day I can crawl out of this oddball little town, I'll look him up.

Maurice Mattei started writing songs in his early teen years. After the release of his first recordings in 1983 and 1988 he abandoned music to pursue photography. His interest lay primarily in documentary photography and this led him into certain social circles (Bikers, Drug Addicts, Debutantes, Wrestlers, Strippers, Socialites, Celebrities, etc.) that he found to be strangely new and oddly exciting. This vast and glorious parade of life re-ignited his desire to write songs. In 1995 he released his first CD of original material. He has since released 9 CD's, the latest being "Dead Rails". In addition, Mr. Mattei has released three cassette tapes, two 7-inch singles, one tape-cassette single, a CD single and a DVD since 1995. To view a complete discography, examples of photographic works, lyrics page, mp3's, and miscellaneous writings please go to the Maurice Mattei web site - www.mmattei.com.