Hey, Howdy and Hi,

Hope every one of you is doing alright and enjoying the warmer weather as spring gives way to summer.  My usual apologies for not updating this page more often, but all’s well on this side.  It’s t-shirts, shorts and skirt steak marinated in chimichurri grilled on the Weber, season.  I still get the same feeling this time of year as I did as a youngster getting out of school for summer vacation and having eternity stretching out in front me.  School’s out for summer, school’s out forever.

I’ve done a couple of nice album projects lately, one being for John Lomax III.  John’s the grandson of the celebrated folk song collector, archivist and publisher John Avery Lomax and nephew of Alan Lomax. They are well known and remembered for their work in the ‘30s, ‘40s and beyond for The Library of Congress and the many field recording trips to the South recording prison inmates, migrant workers, cowboys, mountaineers and just about anyone who had a song or story to tell and wasn’t intimidated by the microphone.  The Lomax’s discovered Lead Belly and Muddy Waters just to name two towering artists.  John the third’s father managed Lightnin’ Hopkins and organised the Texas Folklore Society.  Lomax III is an old friend, has been an artist manager, music journalist, record distributor and producer.  Several years ago he began performing the songs associated with his family.  He decided he wanted to make an album of some of these songs and asked if I’d be interested in helping.  I felt it was a very worthwhile project and jumped straight in.  We recorded very organically, a couple of acoustic instruments and did it in four or five sessions.

Another was a project for Shawn Camp who I’ve admired for a long time.  A superb songwriter, singer, guitar, fiddle, mandolin player.  I played on an album of his back in 1994 but since that time, for whatever reason, we’ve run in different circles.  We reconnected on the above mentioned Lomax project.  He’d been flirting with the idea of getting in the studio and making a new album and asked me to be involved.  Again, it didn’t take too long to answer yes.  Shawn’s got so much music in him and it’s a pleasure to be included.

Also did some session work for renowned producer T Bone Burnett.  If you don’t already know who he is, look him up; his credits are too vast to list here.  He’s a great record producer and a good guy.  I hope to be on some more sessions for him.

Mark Knopfler’s new album One Deep River is out now and getting tremendous reviews.  It’s one of the best records he’s made and I’m very proud to be on it and have my name attached.  We recorded it back in 2022 and hearing those great songs and playing again was like visiting with old friends.  A bonus extended play record was drawn from those sessions as well and released exclusively for Record Store Day last month.  It’s called The Boy and consists of four songs about boxing and the show grounds.

MK’s charity single of Going Home has been going great guns as well.  The 9+ minute all-star single has 60 guitar players with all benefits going to Teen Cancer Trust and Teenage Cancer America.  It’s available in every format imaginable including cassette.  Read about it online at Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes.

There is a fine new album out by my friend Sergio “Stratoman” Diab, called Janicetown.  Sergio writes and plays big, atmospheric thematic guitar instrumentals and this new album is clearly focused on the wide open west.  Each of the 11 songs are themes for movies not yet made.  Check him out on Spotify or wherever you stream your music.  It’s worth your time.

I’ve one song left to record for my own new album that I seem to have been making forever.  One might imagine I’ve run into all kinds of road blocks but that ’s not been the case, it’s just that I so seldom work on it.  Anyway, the light is clear and bright at the end of the tunnel now.  Depending on manufacturing turn around time, it may be out in autumn or early winter.  I was really hoping to have it out this summer as I hear it as a summertime record.  Oh well, it’ll simply anticipate the following summer.

A passing of note, we all lost a monumental guitar hero with the death of Duane Eddy on the 30th of April.  His influence is far reaching and cannot be overstated.  I certainly came under his sway in ways both obvious and subtle.  I met Duane when I was 15 years old, still living in Phoenix and working in Forrest Skaggs’ music store.  That day Duane treated me as a contemporary and not like the kid that I was.  We’ve been friends since, nearly 60 years.  I’ve known Duane so long that sometimes it eclipsed who he was.  I would often be driving home from a visit and lunch with him and suddenly think…. man, I just had lunch with Duane Eddy!  He told me many years ago that he’d finally figured out his place in the scheme of things; he’d taught millions of kids to play guitar.  I was one of them.  Well, Duane was far more than that, but, it was no exaggeration.  Every kid of a certain age who picked up a guitar thought they could play Rebel Rouser, and to a certain extent could.  But not like Duane, not by a long shot.  As with so many things seemingly simple, there’s always far more to it than meets the ear, eye and ability.  Duane Eddy was humble, kind, funny, generous and a great friend to so many of us.  He was the last tie to my Phoenix days and all the old places and musicians we both knew.  I already miss him more than I can say.

Lastly, I’ve got myself in a great little Hawaiian trio called Volcano Brothers.  It’s Steve Dawson on steel guitar, Dave Jacques on string bass and I’m playing ukulele.  Hawaiian music of the 1920s and ‘30s was so popular and some astonishing steel guitar virtuosos emerged; Sol Hoopii, Sol K. Bright, Bennie Nawahi, Eddie Bush and others.  The best of them incorporated Hawaiian music with jazz of that day and came up with a potent musical cocktail.  I learned how to play rhythm guitar playing this music as my guitar teacher, the afore mentioned Forrest Skaggs, was a great steel player.  He’d play Hawaiian tunes on steel and I’d back him with rhythm.  From the time I was 11 or 12 I’ve had these sounds and songs going through my head and when I began collecting 78 rpm records, I hoovered up every Hawaiian record from that era that I could get my hands on.  Steve Dawson is a great multi-instrumentalist who’s taken a deep dive into the genre.  He plays a National Tri-Cone acoustic steel, the type that most of the ‘20s players used before the instrument became electrified in the mid-‘30s.  Being well familiar with this stuff, I can tell you that Steve plays it just as it should be; he’s great.  Dave Jacques is an old studio pal and also played with John Prine for 24 years or so.  I’ve always wanted to be in a Hawaiian group going back to my old L.A .days.  I used to think about getting a little trio or quartet together and finding a small Chinese restaurant or some place that would let us play once a week.  Didn’t happen; I wasn’t very good about organising anything and to be fair I was very busy in the studios and with Neil Diamond.  But now this has fallen into my lap and I couldn’t be happier.  At 72 it’s never too late, in fact it’s probably an asset. We’ve already played a short set to a roomful of hipsters who were there, no doubt, to hear anything but Hawaiian music.  I figured they would at best tolerate us or worse, begin throwing stuff and hurling insults.  The place went dead quiet when we started the first song then completely mad at the end… absolutely loved it.

So if you’re going to be in Nashville, our next gig is The Basement on July 1st from 7-8:30.  A 10 buck cover will get you a bunch of great music: all Hawaiian hits from the ‘20s and ‘30s.

Aloha ’til next time,

Richard

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Hi All,

I hope everyone had good holidays and 2024 has launched well so far for everyone.

Just a quick note to tell you about an amazing project release spearheaded by Mark Knopfler, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend.  A staggering array of guitar luminaries performing on a 9 minute version of Theme from Local Hero-Going Home.  I’m very proud to have been part of this recording.  All proceeds will go to Teenage Cancer Trust (UK) and Teen Cancer America. Please visit https://markknopflersguitarheroes.tmstor.es for more info.

Cheers,

Richard

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Hey, where’d summer go?  I dunno but it’s come, gone and there’s a crackle of autumn in the air.  Days growing short, leaves streaming down and a roasted turkey just around the corner.

Sorry I’ve not been very good about updating this page but all’s well on our side.  A long lazy summer it’s been, not too much work, lots of grilling out, working out, all the usual activities.  I did make a point to get in to the studio and record some more sides for a new album as well as writing.  That’s all going along wonderfully and I’m well on the home stretch now, a couple more sides to record and mix.

Our annual family fortnight down on the Gulf of Mexico was a high point and a perfect way to close out summer.  We took what ended up being the best home we’ve ever rented in all the years going down there.  Right on the water and completely renovated from the ground up.  Sleeps 14, massive kitchen with two of everything… dining tables, ovens, fridges, loads of counter space and every kitchen convenience known to mankind.  Clean as a whistle and the best part was an elevator for guest use.  A lot of homes have elevators but only for the owners.  It made all the difference for the load-in and out, not having to carry all that stuff up a flight of stairs.  Lots of kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, biking and just plain loafing.  We’re so very fortunate to be able to host the whole family for a couple of weeks holiday and…. everyone still wants to come along after all these years.

I’ve just returned from London having done a little more recording with Mark Knopfler.  You may remember us recording nearly 30 new songs last year.  Well Mark had a few more he wanted to get in the can and so we did.  As always it was a grand time being with everyone again and playing music, I always look forward to going over there so much.  We had one notable evening in the pub with full attendance of the 2019 touring band, Tom Walsh, Graham Blevins, John McCusker and Mike McGoldrick along with the usual suspects, a grand total of ten of us enjoying our heads off.  We ordered the first pints around 5 o’clock and they pitched us out at 11 when they closed.  You do the math.  In the process we devoured umpteen bags of crisps, several Thai dinners from the fab Thai kitchen in the pub, more than a few shots of scotch and enough London Pride to float a flotilla.  We were all were back in the studio the following morning at 10 o’clock sharp as razors and raring to go.  Too much fun.

Just heading off on a short 6-day cruise of the Caribbean then finally home at last and back to my own work.

I hope this finds everyone well and enjoying the fine autumn glow.

Be well,

Richard

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Spring’s sprung and clocks jumped forward for the last time, happily.  It’s the time of year that I begin springing back to life again after the long winter’s nap.  The warmer temps and increasing daylight are always a tonic to clear away the winter cobwebs.

That said, I’ve been staying busy since the start of the new year writing and recording for myself and others.  I’ve spent more time doing sessions so far this year than the last three combined.  I had the opportunity to work with a brilliant r&b singing star yesterday named K. Michelle.  Her singing seriously impressed every one of us hardened criminals on the session and we all applauded K. at the end of it.  She has such a great presence and personality.  Google K. Michelle to find out more about her.  It was part of an on-going all-star project I’ve been playing on for legendary producer Brent Maher.  I don’t think it is my place to tip off what it is right now, but it will be released later this year and I’ll announce it then.

I’ve also been playing on an album being produced by my friend Rodney Crowell for Johnny Cash’s  grandson who sounds very Cash-like.  Not trying to make Cash soundalikes, simply recording great songs in our own way.

It’s been wonderful getting back in the studios again and catching up with so many musician pals who I’ve not seen since the beginning of the pandemic.  Being with them reminds me how fortunate I am to know so many talented folks and call them friends.  Those of us lucky enough to play on recording sessions consider ourselves a tight brotherhood.  Sadly, we lost legendary bass player Michael Rhodes about a month ago to pancreatic cancer.  A big loss to the recording community and to us all personally.

On a completely different note, I’ve switched platforms for my album sales: It should make no difference to anyone wanting to download or buy a CD but, as of today, when you purchase through my Store the sale will be completed via Bandcamp. Streaming continues on all the usual platforms.

All’s well on my side, I remain healthy, lucky and active and plan to stay that way.  I hope everyone’s sailing into a great springtime.  Fire up those barbecues.  I plan to this weekend.

Cheers,

Richard

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The leaves of autumn have segued to the 12th month of the year. Hope everyone had a good summer and are enjoying the brisk fall weather as we sail into the holidays.

We had an end of summer splash down on the Gulf of Mexico for a couple of weeks in early October. The weather still very warm and mild, just like the Gulf waters. I always hate to see summer end but having an early autumn holiday makes it easier to take.

I’ve been doing several podcasts recently to promote the Tall Tale Tunes album. Craig Garber hosts a wonderful podcast called Everyone Loves Guitar, and I spoke at great length with him about the new record. That interview will be up beginning December 3rd, You can find it at www.everyonelovesguitar.com along with another interview I did with him a couple of years ago.

A new podcast dropped called “Legends” with Andy Ellis.  Andy’s an old friend and great guitar player.  We had this chat a couple of months ago and here it is: https://bit.ly/TGSLegends107

Here’s a link to a fun hour I spent with Paul Burch on his radio show, Works Progress Radio Hour. We talked about the new record and also took turns picking some of our favourite guitar records to play. You can hear it here: https://www.wxnafm.org/broadcasts/27880

And one more from my friends at Craft Brewed Music, the curated music website with exquisitely chosen artists and music by Brian Horner. I’m proud to be among the artists who are included at Craft Brewed Music. CBM is definitely worth your time to check out and here is a link to a brand new interview I did with Brian and his pal and CBM artist Aaron Stayman. https://podlink.to/CBMPodcastEp50

There are more podcasts to come and I will post them here as they upload.

Orders are still coming in for the new record and I want to thank all of you who’ve shown interest in it. The reception has been overwhelming and to that end I’ve decided to make all of my albums available through my site, sort of one stop shopping. They will of course remain on Amazon too along with all the streaming and download platforms. Code Red, Cloud Nine…. For The Newly Blue…. Contrary Cocktail…. Ballads In Otherness…. they’re all right there and nicely priced for the holidays.

I’ve just returned from London and another week of recording with Mark Knopfler & Co. It was great seeing everyone again, making music at British Grove studios, having lots of laughs, a million cups of tea and maybe just a few martinis. Everybody in great shape and high spirits. In the process we put another clutch of great songs in the can.

At this point I’m double vax’d, triple boosted and beginning to feel the world pulling at my sleeve again but still staying cautious. I hope you all are as well. Wishing everyone a warm and peaceful holiday season.

Be well,

Richard

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Hey all,

Don’t know about you but Nashville is just about melting down, high 90s and humidity in the upper 70% range. You need gills to breathe. We did get a bit of relief yesterday afternoon when the skies opened up and gave us a 1/4” of sorely needed rain. The temps briefly dropped a little but came roaring back with a vengeance after the rain passed. With the heat index it feels like 105-110 in the shade. Apart from that summer’s been great so far, the new Weber’s getting a good work out.

I’ve been finishing up a new album for Iris DeMent, just down to the final mix adjustments then on to mastering. Pieta Brown has joined the production team which also includes Jim Rooney who produced several sides as well. It’s all shaped up to be a beautiful album of songs, uplifting without being Pollyanna and spiritual without ever treading down the religious root cellar. It’s always a pleasure working with Iris. Not sure when it will be released but I’ll keep you posted here when it’s available.

As for my own new album, I know it’s been a long time coming but finally we’re looking at September 2nd as the official roll out at all the streaming and downloading services. The album is called Tall Tale Tunes and I’m calling it a folk collection although not everyone will hear it that way. My old pal Marty Stuart wrote the liner notes and really outdid himself, made me blush when I read them. Anyway, I will have much more to say about the record and a surprise announcement about how you can get an autographed pre-release copy. So watch this space around the early part of August. Meantime this is how I describe the record and recording process:

“With the release of my first album, Themes From A Rainy Decade, I began to take the writing and recording of instrumental music as a serious endeavour and new chapter in what was already a long and lucky career.

Over the course of composing and releasing six albums, occasionally a melody would come along that felt like a folk tune in it’s simplicity. Somehow they never quite fit into whatever album I was working on at the moment, so I began a separate folder with “Folk” scrawled across it in pencil. Whenever one of these tunes came to me I’d write it out and file it there.

Near the completion of my last record, Ballads In Otherness, a pair of these folksy tunes tumbled out of my guitar within a few days of each other. I dutifully transcribed them to manuscript and deposited them in the folk folder. I was surprised by how many songs had accumulated and began playing through them, pleased that many still held water for me as compositions. I’d already been thinking ahead to the record that would follow Ballads In Otherness, wanting something different but having no idea what that might be. Playing my way through the folk folder I realised the next record was sitting right there in front of me.

I began recording in November of 2018 laying down three or four tunes very quickly before putting the project away to commence a tour with Mark Knopfler. I came back to it again in late 2019 having written some more while on the road and put my shoulder to the wheel intending to get the record out by Spring of 2020. As 2020 unfolded, the awful news that a strange new virus, C-19 was sweeping the world and by March we’d all retreated from work and into our homes. The folk project sat patiently waiting another 15 months before I would come back to the studio and complete it. It’s been a long time and I’ve lived with many of these recordings for nearly three years never tiring of them. At their heart these Tall Tale Tunes are simple melodies that I’ve chosen to treat in some unusual ways. Not everyone will hear it as folk music but that genre is a broad banner and to my way of thinking Tall Tale Tunes falls squarely under it’s heading.

What is folk music? Stop the first 40 people you meet and ask that question. You’ll likely get as many answers and they’ll all be correct. Anglo, Scot, Irish? African, European, South American, North American, Australian? The ballads and songs collected by Child, Sharpe, A.P. Carter and the Lomax’s? Ethnic musics, the blues, jazz? Leadbelly, Guthrie, Seeger, The Kingston Trio? Ramblin’ Jack? Ramblin’ Bob? Peter, Paul, Mary? Joan Baez, Joni M, Johnny Cash? Trad-folk, psych-folk, folk-rock, folk revival, skiffle? The simple answer to this and more is yes. Like all music that has proven hearty and durable, folk music covers a lot of ground and criss-crosses continents.

To it I would add purpose-written songs by pop and country tunesmiths to evoke a folk flavour; Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, Scarlet Ribbons, Sixteen Tons, The Battle Of New Orleans, It Was A Very Good Year, High Noon, The Three Bells, The Long Black Veil and so many more. According to Big Bill Broonzy, “All the songs I ever heard in my life was folk songs. I never heard horses sing none of ‘em yet.”

The music has breadth, scope and a common thread; songs that tell a tale, a story in words and simple tunes. That is what I’ve tried to do with this collection of Tall Tale Tunes, convey a narrative but solely through music without the specifics of words. The title of each conjures a story that the music suggested to me as I wrote them, however, I encourage you to let these tunes create your own movie. After all, folk music always had a way of changing to best suit whoever held it at the moment.

They’re in your hands now.”

See you back here in a few weeks,

Richard

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Hi all,

I just looked back at the last time I updated this page and am shocked to find it was four months ago. I hope you’ve all been healthy, had good holidays and the 2022 has launched well…. or at least differently than the last two years. We’ve been fine on this end and have remained cautious and covid-free.

I’ve just returned from a month in London recording loads of new music with Mark and the band. I have to admit being a little anxious about airports and planes to make the journey over and back. The sessions themselves had fairly tight protocol regarding the virus. We tested every other day…. no pubs or restaurants, the latter being as much of the album making process as the recording itself. Wasn’t sure how that was going to work but fantastic lunches and dinners were laid in as well as drinks and kegs of London Pride Ale directly from the brewery just a few blocks from the studio. The whole month was the best recording experience I’ve had in over 50 years of making records. It’s really a miracle we put so many songs in the can given the amount of time we spent laughing, drinking tea and cappuccinos, eating wonderful meals and more laughing. One could not call it work by any stretch Everyone to a man was so happy to be back in each other’s company and playing brilliant music together again as a band. As for me, I feel as if my lights have come back on after two years of a flat battery.

My own new record, Tall Tale Tunes has been finished for a while now and will be released shortly. I’ve taken on new administration for my catalogue and couldn’t be happier with this situation as it will finally open some doors to movie, tv, adverts and music supervisors. We’re also looking at a different distribution deal for the record. So, in order to do a more coordinated release than past records, we’ll wait just a little longer until all the threads have pulled together. Thanks for all the inquiries and I’ll will definitely let you know when it becomes available.

We have a new puppy in our lives since the holidays, a female yellow Lab she’s been keeping us very busy. It’s been over two years since our last dog and the time finally seemed right. She’s a great pal and learning all the time. We’re already doing puppy training classes with more to come. Although she’s only been with us a little over two months, I can scarcely remember a time without her.

Early March here in Nashville and it was 79 degrees yesterday, sure feels like Spring though I’m sure we’ll get a few more cold blasts before the season officially changes. The new Weber BBQ Kettle has already seen some action in prep for full on use…. can’t come soon enough.

I know the pandemic restrictions are loosening and we’re all fed up of this virus, including me, but stay cautious and be well.

Richard

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Hi,

I thought I’d better pipe up here and let you know all’s well on our side. We’ve stayed healthy, turned the corner on Halloween, surviving day light savings time, and heading straight into Thanksgiving. From there it’s a fast downward spiral to Christmas.

We had a fantastic two-week holiday with the whole family on the Gulf of Mexico the middle of October. Though late in the season, the weather couldn’t have been better with temps in the mid-80s, the water still warm enough to get in and most happily no tropical storms or hurricanes threatened our tranquility. Like last year we brought almost every scrap of food with us to avoid having to shop for groceries. There is still so much COVID and Delta variant out there and while we are vax’d…. we’re still being very cautious. We took a large home right on the Gulf’s water so the beach was our own and we came back sporting deep tropical tans.

Regular readers of these note will know my attachment to our Weber BBQ Kettle and how, in old age it’s been failing. This past Spring I was concerned about it getting through the summer, which it bravely did. Sadly, she expired shortly after, the legs coming up through the bottom of the kettle that had slowly been rusting. There’s not a helluva lot you can purchase these days that will last 45 years. So, here’s to the Weber. 1976-2021. R.I.P. I hope the one that replaces it lasts half that long.

On a serious note of passing, my friend and legendary drummer Ron Tutt died in the middle of October. We met in L.A. in the very early ‘70s and played on lots of recording sessions together, including Billy Joel’s Piano Man album. In 1980 he joined Neil Diamond’s great band and together we logged a lot of miles, concerts as well as more recording sessions before I ended my tenure there in 1987. A big loss to the world of music, his family and friends. My love and condolences to his wife Donna and their large and wonderful family.

On the new album front, please be patient, it is being manufactured but as with so many things at the moment, supply chain issues have slowed production. Raw material like poly-carbon that go in to the making of CDs are harder to come by, thus slowing things down. Can’t wait for you to hear this new music though and I’ll let you know as soon as it is available.

Here’s wishing all my American friends a warm and happy Thanksgiving. I’ll write more soon. Stay healthy.

Cheers,

Richard

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Hey Everybody,

We have a winner in the Code Red Cloud Nine test pressing giveaway. It’s Lin Blank from Erie, PA. I’ll be signing my own personal copy and getting it in the post to her. All orders of this vinyl version of CRC9 were eligible and I want to thank everyone who has ordered it. Yield Brother Records assures me there are still some copies available if you know somebody who’d enjoy one

At long last, I’ve finished my new record. This album has been a long time coming, having been put on hold for over two years. The first time to tour with MK and then again for 14 months due to the pandemic. The good news is that I’ve never tired of the recordings, some I’ve lived with for three years and they’ve only grown fonder to me. I’ll be writing a little more about it as the album gets closer to release which will probably be October. Stay tuned.

I hope you all are having a good summer. It is a strange one. Climate change has come home to roost in very heartbreaking ways, near weekly events that overwhelmingly point to it. And… just as we’d all begun to carefully crawl back out into the world, Delta reared it’s head and has sliced through Tennessee and so many other states like a hot knife. Mask and Vax: Wear It and Get It. It’s nothing to fool around with. Stay smart and safe.

Speaking of summer, our Weber is still hanging on for dear life and I have a marinated tri-tip steak that will be sizzling on it tonight.

More soon,

Richard

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Hey everybody,

Just a few days and we’re officially into summertime. We’ve had a beautiful Spring here in Nashville, mild and warm, not too much humidity yet. Plenty of rain which is usual for that time of year but nothing torrential and mercifully quiet on the tornado front so far. My old hometown of Phoenix, Arizona hit 117 degrees the other day and a massive wildfire remains out of control there. Yikes… a little early for that kind of heat even in Arizona. As you might imagine our old Weber kettle b.b.q. has already seen some heavy action and is ready for this year’s cookouts. Sadly, this might be the old girl’s last season as the bottom of the kettle is rusting through where the leg sockets attach and I see daylight coming through. I expect I’ll come out one morning to find she’s collapsed and expired. A darn good run and testimony to how well things were once made. My wife and I bought that grill in 1976, the year we were married. It has survived 45 summers and winters, sunshine and rain and umpteen thousand hamburgers, hot dogs, chickens and steaks. They don’t make ‘em like they used to.

We received our second Moderna vax’s the end of March and are feeling much less vulnerable to the virus. That said, it has taken a little while to inch back out into the world again, I guess we became accustomed to being home. So far it is a careful and curated return. It’s been wonderful catching up with friends again over lunch. I’m really pleased to get back to my own record that has patiently been waiting for the last 14 months. I’ve recorded the final tune and am just wrapping up the mixes and snipping off a few loose ends. Look for it to be a late summer release and I’ll keep you posted. I’m calling it Tall Tale Tunes and am very happy with how this record’s turned out.

And on the subject of records, Yield Brother Records is announcing a drawing for a test pressing of the Code Red album they re-released earlier this year. A test pressing of a vinyl record is just that, a copy sent to the artist and label for their approval prior to full manufacturing. It will have the manufacturing plants generic label on the disc and a plain cover. When the winner is chosen I will personally sign this test pressing for them and send it out. Scroll over to their announcement.

Tomorrow’s Father’s Day in the States. Here’s wishing all the dads a good one. I’ll be firing up that Weber, hope her legs hold up and cook some cheeseburgers and corn on the cob. Don’t forget the beer.

’til next time,

Richard

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Hi all,

I just want to thank everyone for the overwhelming response to the limited edition, vinyl version of Code Red Cloud Nine. Yield Brother Records and I appreciate all the interest, orders, wonderful feedback and reviews that have come in or been posted. The comments invariably mention how good the record sounds and the quality of the package. I won’t belabour the point, if you scroll down a little further you’ll find my original release post and the details are there. Meantime, thanks.

Erratic weather the last couple of weeks. That polar vortex you read about dumped about 3” of sleet that immediately froze on the ground in to a bed of solid ice. That was followed a day later with 3 or 4” of snow. With clouded skies and temps below freezing, it didn’t take long for the whole thing to pack down into a skating rink. Two weeks later as I peck this out, it’s 73 degrees, severe rainstorms, flash flooding and possible tornadoes tonight. Spring’s come early.

And here we are at March the one-year marker in the ongoing pandemic. It has touched all of us in different ways; family, friends or co-workers we love and know who’ve had or succumbed to COVID. Businesses permanently shuttered, teachers parents and children soldiering through on-line classes, loss of employment, disruption of ‘normal’ life and isolation. It’s an epic global tragedy and yet I’m feeling optimistic for our near future and beyond. The log jam in the vaccination roll-out is opening up and I have high hopes for herd immunity sometime this year. What seemed like the holy grail just a few weeks ago is now available at your local grocery store or pharmacy. No reason not to get the vax. We got our first last week with #2 sched’d for the end of the month. The only thing that hurt was when I started doing backflips for joy. Meanwhile, keep that mask on for a bit longer… we’ll get through.

Still haven’t been able to get in the studio to record the final song for the new album but I suspect with vaccines more accessible it won’t be much longer. Apart from that one song, everything else is recorded, mixed and waiting. I’ve been writing and stock piling tunes for the album that will follow so I’m looking forward to getting in front of a microphone again with my friends on a studio floor and under a pair of headphones.

That’s about it for now. Be smart, stay well.

Richard

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Hello all,

I have some very exciting news, my album Code Red Cloud Nine has just been re-released on vinyl by the folks at Yield Brother Records. Yield Brother, a vinyl-only record label, have turned their full attention to every detail and gone all-out with this remastered 180 gram disc and beautiful packaging. Additionally, I’ve written an essay about the inspiration and making of Code Red that’s included with the album along with the original liner notes by Duane Eddy. This collection of tunes has always been near and dear to me, I’m proud of the compositions and always felt it was music made to be heard on vinyl with all its clarity, depth and dimension. Listening to the test pressing a couple months ago was a real thrill, it sounded so good. Code Red Cloud Nine is also being offered as a premium package with an 8 X 10 colour photo signed personally to you and a few other goodies. This limited pressing of 500 is available now exclusively through Yield Brother Records. So sharpen your needles and visit the Yield Brother Records website: yieldbrotherrecords.com to find out more and order one while they last.

Vintage Guitar Magazine did a Q&A with me about this vinyl edition of Code Red that appeared in the September 2020 issue. The article covers further details regarding the making of the record as well as a few other things. If interested you can order a copy directly from them at, https://store.vintageguitar.com/back-issues.html

Finally, here’s a little video I made to announce the vinyl re-release of Code Red. It’s a tune called Squisito, the song that opens side one of the record.

As you can tell I’m very pleased and excited to partner up with Yield Brother Records and to have this music heard the way I’d always imagined it should sound, through a needle stuck into a proper hunk of vinyl.

Stay well and as the vaccines roll out, here’s to a brighter 2021.

Cheers,

Richard

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A note of passing and a passing of note, my good friend Jim Silvers died on the morning of December 6th. He was 82 and in declining health for a while, rapidly so over the last 3 months.

Silvers was the very first guitar student I had after arriving in Los Angeles in 1969. We shared Chicago as our hometown and a deep love of ‘40s and ‘50s hillbilly music. I was 12 years his junior but we began hanging out together. When he landed a record deal in 1978 Jim wanted me to produce it and that was the first real record album I looked after, “You Gotta Let All The Girls Know You’re A Cowboy” on CMH Records. A second album followed in 1981 for Rollin’ Rock Records, “Colonel Jim Silvers”. Colonel was no idle title, Jim was a certified auctioneer and Colonel is the honorary title that goes with that occupation. It was only one of many hats he wore: press agent for Universal Pictures, professional photographer, professional motorcycle racer, opera singer, bluegrass musician, Los Angeles Times delivery, A&R man for CMH Records and no doubt a few more gigs I didn’t know about. Both of his albums, long out of print, were reissued along with a couple of out-takes on Bear Family Records CD.

Through it all we remained friends and that was sometimes not easy. Jim was funny, smart as a whip, a cynic, a wise guy, an immensely talented artist and songwriter, brilliant tenor singer, yodeller and not without his demons.

Here’s a link to one of my favourites from Jim’s first album… The Motel Song

Over the last years when I was on tour in LA we saw each other and talked regularly, particularly in these Corona months. My heart goes out to his daughter Marin, step-son Kenny and former wife Deborah.

Jim, a million thanks for all the good times and a few of the questionable ones as well. I hope you’ll find peace, buddy.

Richard Bennett

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Hello Everyone,

Summer slipped away a while ago, Autumn is here and I’m amazed how quickly this “gap” year has flown. Like many of you, we remain reasonably self-quarantined and will be that way until the arrival of a successful vaccine. I would have thought after this long the days would drag on. Instead I find myself busy with writing new music, practising the box of mistakes, cooking, reading and, having turned our rec-room into a gym, staying fit and healthy. I’m always surprised when I come up for air that it’s already 4 or 5 in the afternoon. This is proving to be a good fit for me and I’m not sure how much “normal” I care to return to even after C-19 is in our rear view.

That said, I’ve cautiously and carefully returned to the studio to resume the album I was in the midst of when things closed down last March. The studio is spacious enough for us to maintain distance from one another and masks are worn. I’m very pleased to be working on the record again and can really see the light at the end of the tunnel. This album will be a little different from the others and is a fully fleshed out version of a four song e.p. I’d released in 2019 called Four Buck Folk. That e.p. is no longer available but the four tunes that were on it will be part of this new album. Sometime early next year and you’ll be the first to know when it’s available.

I’ve participated in an extended podcast interview this month with Craig Garber for his podcast, Everyone Loves Guitar. It’s one of the most viewed music podcasts around and we covered a lot of ground. Here are links to the audio version: https://www.everyonelovesguitar.com/2020/11/13/richard-bennett-interview/ as well as the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/4_9FAT12aCQ

I’m very proud to be one of the artists featured on the Craft Brewed Music roster. One more link to a recent article by its founder, Brian Horner, explaining the curated streaming service in his own words.

https://platformandstream.wordpress.com/2020/08/19/craft-brewed-music-attracts-serious-music-listeners-to-artist-friendly-streaming-service/

Take care and stay well.

Richard

New:

I’ve been part of Craft Brewed Music’s artist roster for a couple of years now and am pleased and proud to be. CBM has begun a podcast and I’m flattered to be one of the early interviews. Here’s a link to this interview: www.podlink.to/CBMPodcast

Wishing all the U.S. followers a peaceful Thanksgiving.

Cheers,

Richard

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Hi,

I hope this finds you all staying smart and staying well as we clock into Summer. Seems like people can’t wait to return to some normalcy and it is understandable but so many cities are throwing the doors open even at a time when the cases of C-19 continue marching forward. Nashville is one of them. I dunno, it doesn’t take a lot of brains to figure that one out. Then again, we don’t have a lot of brains in government and the ones we do have go unheeded. Well, I know what I’m doing… a rerun of the last three months.

We’ve pretty well kept the world at bay since the middle of last March and I’m liking it just fine. Of course the reason for it is an epic tragedy, but I’m never at a loss for things to do or to occupy myself with. Still staying busy with music, writing, reading, records, some yard work and lots of cooking. The amazing thing with eating home all the time is how well we eat and have managed to shed a few pounds without even trying. Here is a great and simple recipe that’s a current fave around the Bennett table. The other welcomed occurrence is a drop in our credit card bill each month, half of what it used to be…. and I never thought of ourselves as “consumers”. My big splurge over this period was to order on-line a seriously heavy-duty, double wheeled Kobalt wheel barrow. It’s a shining blue beauty, makes hauling heavy stuff a breeze and I look for any excuse to use it.

What I do miss is seeing my friends and also being in the studio. I was on a good roll toward finishing my new album when everyone pulled in. So, I am looking forward to resuming my work whenever we’re all safely on the other side of the virus. In the meantime I thank my lucky stars every day I wake up that we’re all healthy. I can’t recall a year where I’ve lost so many friends, some to COVID others not. Through it all, I’m staying up-beat and I hope the same goes for you.

Stay well,

Richard

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Hi again,

Shortly after my latest post hit this site I got a note from my friends Henk and Nadia who created and curate a wonderful fansite for me. Henk suggested putting together a Spotify playlist of the records I’d mentioned listening to while working out at home in this isolated period. I thought it was a great idea and sent him a list of albums and singles I’d spun over the last week. I was surprised that Spotify only had about half of these in their catalogue but we decided it was a good start nonetheless and we will continue updating the playlist weekly.

So, here’s a link to Richard Bennett’s Corona Playlist

And…. here’s a link to the YouTube Corona Playlist consisting of the music Spotify does not cover

Also, a link to the the fansite that Henk and Nadia have put together so well.

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Hello all,

A monumental shift in the world over the last few weeks, I hope everyone is safe, well, coping with the new reality and weathering self-isolation. It’s hard to find words except we’re all in the same boat and there will be an end to this. Very important to heed the advice of doctors, epidemiologists and those in science. Be alert to irresponsible claims and misinformation.

We’re alright here at home and began taking this very seriously about three weeks ago when we quit eating out in restaurants. A week later I bailed on my gym, purchased some dumbbells, exercise ball and mat, resistance bands, etc. and crated a temp gym in our basement-rec-room. In the plus column I can listen to records on the hi-fi while pushing the weights around. Playlist? Ben Webster, Gene Vincent, Johnny Smith, Webb Pierce, Eddie Heywood, to name just a few. The usual sonic whiplash. I’ve also been digging deeply into my 78 rpm records that I’ve collected since I was a teenager. Currently leaning toward blues, gospel and r&b with the shellac. Sonic soul food for the times.

Being confirmed introverts we’ve been training for this all our lives. The coronavirus pandemic is epic but the isolation is not an inconvenience. I alway have plenty to keep me busy… reading, writing, practising, cooking. I appreciate every day. One of the very first things we did was re-stock the bar. Abundantly. My new motto is: drink up and stay home. I think we have some food as well. To that end, we’ve been cooking our asses off and eating like royalty.

I’d been making good headway on the new record until everything came to a screeching halt. No matter, I’ve been writing in the meantime. and will pick things up again when all this in the rear view.

My final day prior to isolation I spent recording with guitar hero Robben Ford who will be producing an album for another artist in the coming months and has asked me to play on it. The session I did with Robben was a ‘demo’ for a couple of songs he’d written for the project. Robben’s a wonderful guy and player, I’m very flattered to be involved with this upcoming project. We’re scheduled for mid-May, though depending on how things are looking with corona, it might be postponed.

That’s about it for now. Keep yourselves safe, heads up, hands washed and hearts open.

Cheers,

Richard

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