Album Notes

Nap Daddy: I guess it starts with me. Matthew Fletcher Goodwin …born 7/3/52.
When I’m four, I start picking out simple melodies on our old piano, Christmas carols, TV themes (Dragnet comes to mind), whatever. In 1959 when I am seven, my Mom starts me on piano. I never really learn to read music. I read just enough to commit songs to memory or play them by ear. My interest wanes. I quit when I’m eleven in ’63. Then The Beatles and The Rolling Stones happen. Got my first Gibson box guitar for Christmas in ’66. Making music is all I care about. No more athletics, music is all I do. Before long I buy a Farfisa organ and I’m playing keys and singing. In ’68 I get my first electric guitar, now I’m doing that live as well. (Wish I had still had that Telecaster!)

Now I’m 54. My main axe is a ’66 Strat. We've share between two and three thousand gigs. I bought it barely used in ’72, shortly after the birth of my first son…Todd. I’ve been blessed with four amazing sons. Todd happens to be the one who came first. He is the instigator behind this project. (See CD Insert) and sings lead on most of the songs. He has the voice, a heart the size of Lake Michigan, and has seen the dark side. Hard to sing about love or pain if you haven’t lived it. He is a father, a consummate big brother and one of the finest people I know.
I’ve also been blessed with talented friends. I toured with Billy Braatz and Big Mac in Tug Mumbo. I hit the road with Steve Thurler, Dick Armstrong, and Big Mac in Sleeper. We put Steve and Billy together as a rhythm section for the first time on this record. Big Mac contributed the lyrics on Lock the Doors. Dick plays harp on Another Way Home. My dear friend Jeanne Holbrook came up from North Carolina to help with harmony vocals. These songs are not perfect. But they are sincere. I love or loved the people these songs are about. And I’m really not angry, not all the time anyway, just was when some of these songs were written. What remains constant in my life is the passion. When I stand before an audience, I am prepared to lay myself open to them. I’m far too obvious. I simply tell the stories the way I see them. We all observe life as it unfolds, and we all do the best we can at the time.
There is a lot of lead guitar on this record. I think I play guitar because I don’t sing as well as I would like. I don’t know another way to convey the intensity of my feelings. I still love the keyboard; I really enjoyed playing it on this record. These arrangements are not “pop radio” friendly. I have no illusions about that. But then this is my thing. I’ve never cared about perfection. Just sincerity. The three love songs on this record were written for Anne. She is my wife, my best friend, and a “jewel” among women. My son Thomas is my steadfast hero. My young sons, Rob and Ben bring joy to my daily life. Rob plays trumpet, Ben plays the alto sax. Looks like I may have a ‘horn section’ on the rise!