Album Notes

During the last few years, veteran singer-songwriter Rick Malis has been spending most of his time honky-tonkin’ with Pittsburgh’s favorite neo-traditional country and western swing band, The Mavens. This new collection of original tunes shows that time has been well spent. It’s got plenty of swing, shuffle and twang and songs that sound both fresh and classic.

But it’s more than that. It’s a fusion of the Americana paths that Rick’s been “Hard Travelin’” for the last twenty five years. Some country blues, some high and lonesome bluegrass, a slow sad ballad and a plenty of new acoustic music that digs a little deeper.

According to Rick, “I’ve been listening to a lot of essential American music over the last few years and I really think that had a huge influence on this new collection of songs. There seems to be a common rootsy, blues form and feel to most of the material.”

Rick heavily relied on producer Doug Wilken to compliment the material with a consistent authentic sound and production approach. The result is a CD that really holds together from song to song but offers a lot of varied texture, rhythm and themes.