Album Notes

A vision of this music:

The heart of this album rests in the deep abiding love I have always had for American Roots music; blues, gospel, country, jazz, ragtime, old timey, and folk music in general. Along with these ingredients, however, there is the edge of rock music and the energy it has to offer. From the slide of Son House to the clarinet of Benny Goodman; from the lilting strains of Irish and Appalachian fiddle to the passion of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s guitar; from the melodies of the Beatles and Paul Simon to the gypsy guitar of Django Reinhardt; from the earthy lyrical prowess of Tom Waits to the simple yodeler Jimmie Rodgers; and from the stomp of the Mississippi Jugband to the whisper of Harry Connick Jr., I am deeply grateful. The melodies of these songs exist only because they come from the American tradition.

The themes of the songs run together in some ways. The title track, “Ain’t no turning back” gets to the quick of it. A lot of them have to do with the restless wanderer; a lonely vagabond waiting at a train station; a traveler on his way back home; one guy on the right path to the Promised Land. One similar strain in the lyrics is the tension between dreams and the possible, or delusion and desire. This somehow must be figured out for someone to take a step forward. There is the prodigal, who chose the vicious path and yet discovers the mercy of God in his sorrow; and the one who stays inside afraid to go out, even though Somebody’s knockin. There are final destinations and poor boy’s havens, sleepy hollows for hopeless dreamers, endless railway tracks, the freedom of the runaway, vagabonds waiting for another day, and rivers running down and out of sight. There is the voice of Sweet Savannah Sue that sometimes offers wisdom and other times lead to strange shadowy places, where life goes by like a cannonball in the sky. But Fair Marie is also up ahead waiting in green fields and flowing streams pointing the way out for us. The Journey to innocence, where memories are purified and things broken are made whole again. And the sign post says, “Once you’ve begun this journey, Ain’t no turning back!”

-Pete Searby

About Pete:
Like reminiscing through your record collection on a lazy afternoon, Pete Searby’s music walks you through the past with an eye to the present. With its eclectic mixture of instrumental textures and eloquent lyrics “Ain’t No Turning Back” makes you feel like you’re sitting on Pappy’s front porch sippin’ a mint julep as you take a unique and often spiritual musical journey.

Like many artists Pete’s gone through his stages of musical fascination and exploration. From his early years in Chicago, he imbibed the blues of Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, mixed it with a splash of Billie and Satchmo, added a twist of Hendrix and Clapton and then poured it all over the sounds of Vaudeville and Broadway. Later, Django Reinhart and the more contemporary Squirrel Nut Zippers inspired his jovial performance romps as they mixed with the sounds of New Orleans jazz and Texas Country Rock. This Smorgasbord of American styles was further transformed by his passion for that down home, Ol’ timey Jugband music of the 1920’s and 30’s.

Transcending the identity crisis of American music, Pete Searby pulls together a dynamic mixture of styles in “Ain’t No Turning Back”. Tightly composed and thoughtfully written, this jovial jaunt is part backyard roots rock and part sit-down family room revelry, bringing wit and drama to every track. From the sounds of Big Bill Broonzy and Jimmie Rogers to the skill of Django and Stevie Ray Vaughn, listening to his music is like listening to the beat of America’s musical heart and gaining life from every thump. There “Ain’t No Turning Back” because Pete Searby’s brought it all here.