My latest Album, "Now… Here…. THIS!"
is available!
*CLICK on album cover to listen
*Cover design/photography: Lisa Ryan
CLICK ALBUM COVER TO LISTEN
Like so much of my life, this album was not planned. In truth, I'd been struggling with some problems with my hand and playing guitar - something I've done since my teens- has been a challenge lately. Struggling to play chords I've played since my earliest years has been a sobering and humbling experience (to say the least). But to not play is even harder! So thanks to some sage advice I heard Keith Richards say to an interviewer who asked him about his own struggles with arthritic hand limitations , "…the guitar is an infinite universe, so I've just found other new ways to play …". So, like Keith, I too have found other "new" ways to play and continue to do this thing I love! So thank you for this reminder Keith!
Recently, while cleaning and organizing my studio, I discovered a bunch of songs I'd recorded- all in various stages of completion. In truth, as life intervened, I'd forgotten about most of them! So I gave them a listen. Having a few months between working on them and hearing them again I was able to listen with "fresh ears". I liked what I heard and felt they all warranted completion and release, so that's how this album came to be. And then, as I worked on these, I remembered the first song I'd ever written back in 1969 with my friend and musical partner, Bob Fredricks,
Curious about it I reached out to him for the lyrics that I couldn't remember. Bob has always had a remarkable memory, and in true fashion he remembered all of them!!! This song was our response to a popular TV show at the time- a kind of "hokey" country music variety show that featured skits and performances and lots of scantily clad ladies and fake hillbilly-types. The song was intended as a spoof and originally called, "A Bullfrog named Joe" but retitled here as, "The Ballad of Bullfrog Joe". So, here it is, 50+ years later, and it is finally making its world premier! Has it aged well? did it show the nascent genius songwriters we were destined to become??? OR should it have remained a "Closet classic"?? Well, you will have to be the judge of that. But I had fun recording it and hopefully it might give you a laugh or two as well (laughter is much needed these days, don't you think?). Other songs, such as "Alternative Facts" or "Another American Song" speak to some of my thoughts and concerns regarding the damage being done to our national discourse and trust . "All That Love Can Do" speaks of the lasting power of first love and the twists and turns it may take, as well as questions around fate and destiny and most importantly, what does endure. This song was inspired by a lunch conversation with my high school girlfriend, Joanne, and my own thoughts afterward as I processed that earlier time in our lives.
Some songs, like "You're Making me Sweat", are just straight out fun dance type numbers with a friendly nod back to earlier influences. "Doing the best I can (One Breath in..) talks to the challenge of being human and learning patience. "Breakdown Break Thru" speaks to the idea of hope and that it's often when things are breaking down that something else is breaking through(based on personal experience). As is the case with my other albums, "Now…Here…This!" is part of my way for making sense of being here and finding purpose in this world. "Start over again(Try a little kindness)" speaks to a lesson I needed to learn over and over again. Completing this album also gave me the opportunity to think about where I've been as well as what I want to say as I closed the album with "The Empty Stage". Because the truth is none of us really knows when we will be leaving this life. And the fact that a number of the people I grew up with or have played music with are now gone brings this home as does the passage of years (which DO seem to be going faster and faster). So I have a few things I wanted all of you to know about me, and sometimes music is my best way of saying things.
I'd also like to say a special "Thank you" to my wife, Jane, who is directly responsible for my returning to music and who has been an inspiration and a treasure as well as bandmate, musical collaborator, teacher and mentor, hospice colleague and a constant "encourager" . I'd also like to thank Bob Fredricks, a most excellent friend, teacher, mentor, band mate and "brother -in-arms", without whose help and guidance none of this would have been possible or ever happened! And I thank all those others who tolerated me and encouraged me, or challenged me to be better. I say a special thank you to Bernie Gracin of Gracin's Music who allowed a 16 year old kid to take a guitar amp and pay it off. That was the start I needed and will never forget his kindness, trust and support.
Bottom line is that I am so very grateful to have been able to do this thing I love for so many years…and my hope is to continue. BUT if that is not to be, then contained here in these songs are some of my thoughts and comments for you to consider. Some of these songs are just plain fun(at least were for me) and some of them speak to my own questions as well as opinions and concerns. These are all for you and I thank you for listening. Take what you need and leave the rest! Until next time……
All guitars, bass, keyboards and instrumentation: Rich Hayes
All vocals(except were noted): Rich Hayes
Produced by Rich Hayes
Mastering: LANDR
Album cover design: Lisa Ryan
Album will be available on
Youtube, Spotify, Pandora and all major streaming services