My Garage - the evolution of a song

I have been writing and recording songs for over thirty-three years now. One of the perks to having your own recording set up, and friends willing to help you, is that you can record, rerecord, and rearrange songs to your heart’s content. I can be my own George Lucas with my songs!

My Garage is the latest release and contains six songs that have gone through numerous changes. The first three, My Garage, Broken Septic Tanks, and Jeff the Killer Weasel, are among the first that I ever wrote. The other three, It’s For Real (This Time), Wrap My Arms Around You, and Maineline, were released originally in 2000 on The View From Left Field CD.

Of the songs, My Garage and Maineline took the least convoluted path to get to the arrangements you hear on this release. My Garage was written when I enjoyed taking a Monty Python approach to songwriting, throwing in non-sequiters to break up the music. Maineline was a surf instrumental I wrote in 1994 or so, and I added the instrumental section on the end after listening to the Mermen.

Broken Septic Tanks was a Ramones style song before inspiration struck and I married it to John Lee Hooker’s Boogie Chillen’ riff. It at one point had a Santana-like middle section after the solo, and I had conceived of a prog rock section involving a possessed septic tank, an archbishop attempting an exorcism before being eaten by a manticore. I finally pared all of that down to its current arrangement.

Jeff the Killer Weasel was written during my college days but debuted with the Love Cactus. It was a good version, but it finally can together when I brought it to Confidential Informant, the band that featured Jesse Lundy, Nayhten Wilson, and Mike Derosier. We were heavily influenced by the Allman Brothers, blues, and other jam bands, and that influence baked itself into the song and finally lifted Jeff up the level it needed to be.

It’s For Real (This Time) is the prime example of what not to do when making a record. When I was making the View From Left Field, I was adamant that the bass guitar was going to the central focus of the CD. It’s For Real (This Time) was arranged for voice, bass, and congas. It was an interesting arrangement executed poorly. Rather than redo the song, I doubled down, and put it out anyway, something that I regretted immediately. The new arrangement comes from the Live at Local Motives Show where I had the opportunity to bring a full band with me. Now the song really sings!

Wrap My Arms Around You was originally titled Nancy #2, yet another mistake from The View From Left Field. It was a good arrangement on the CD and had some great playing and a fantastic turn by Adele St. Pierre, but it was a little too breezy. This arrangement brings more dynamics and a new bridge to the song, while bringing back Jim McLaughlin for another fine turn at paint and Adele St. Pierre to once again lift the song with her backing vocals.

I decided to release this because I think the songs are good and deserve to be heard. There is no overlying theme a la Positive Snark, just some good music. Enjoy!