tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18103867969366526082024-03-05T11:02:21.651-08:00Jim Hurst's BlogJim Hursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094278327532837549noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810386796936652608.post-55498526788964064682019-08-18T11:26:00.001-07:002019-08-18T11:26:46.592-07:00<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Soliloquy of a road
musician”</span></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-by Jim Hurst</span></span></i></h2>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Being a road scholar -
which is additional learning to this high school graduate - is something I am
proud of, even if it is entirely possible and highly probable that I will never
receive any certificate of completion or feel that I’ve ever learned enough to
stop. Willingly at least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wonderful experiences,
beautiful scenery, great food, new acquaintances & old friends… are all
part of this wonderful journey. So are complications and frustrations,
disappointments, travel planning, replanning, and replanning, fatigue, pains,
colds, profit & loss, and loss. Many, many more things than I need to share
here go into and alongside my ongoing efforts to be a musician, singer,
songwriter - creative artist-at-large.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of course leaving home
is part of this. Time away is hard, very hard, sometimes excruciating, because
when I commit to any dates - I follow through with that. My wife and kids have
had to commit to it with me in that sometimes dad was not home. They allowed me
to do what I needed to do, and sometimes felt disappointed I'm sure. But they
never asked me to stop. Wow. I've always felt supported trying to play music,
something I feel I was built for... but I do regret being away for a few
important things. I say 'a few' because I was there for most of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Playing music for a
living is something I really never planned for... no, really. I saw myself as a
woodworker, carpenter, factory worker, and truck driver, and played music on
the side. That is what I thought was the best way to live my life, to be a husband
and father. I sometimes wonder how things would be different if I had the
'drive' early on to do what I do now. If I'd have moved to Nashville 10, 15,
even 20 years earlier than I did... how would it be different? How would I be
different? Musically, who and what would I be now and where would I be? Would I
be a better musician, artist, songwriter, composer, producer, performer? Would
I have health issues? Honestly, I don't really want to know the answers to
those questions... really. I do wonder though, if creatively I'd be more
advanced and/or happier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who I am now is fine
with me. Yes, I've learned from mistakes (mostly) and I have followed
opportunities to be where I am, and the opportunities came my way. Playing
music for other artists makes me a 'sideman' and I did my best to do my best
for each artist I played for / with. I didn't move to Nashville to be a sideman
necessarily, but, thanks to my wife Judy, we moved to Nashville so I could be a
career musician. It was her idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yeah, we moved to town
in 1988, took me until 2010 to figure out I wanted to make MY music, My terms.
Well, let me tell you, that was not an easy decision. I enjoy being a good
sideman, playing well for the 'artist' so they can be the best they can be on
stage... meaning not worrying about the guitar picker. I feel good about
offering that to the different artists I worked for / with. But now, after all
those dedicated years, I need to dedicate to ME. Try to convince folks who I
think I am - how good I think I am. THAT is the hard part. Well some of it
anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Which brings me to my
soliloquy. I want to try and share what my life as a musician means to me. How
being an artist, performer, composer, producer, recording and touring for MY
musical efforts, and who and how good I think I am. Or not. Yeah, that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It takes courage to
step in front of anyone and sing a song, play an instrument, share words /
lyrics, etc. In a sense, you're asking for affirmation, something to make your
courageous effort not feel so... naked - if you will. Before I moved to
Nashville to be a full-time musician, I played for smaller audiences for the
most part. Yes, there were a few bigger events, but they were the exception,
and nothing being played was my original material. And, my bandmates: family
and friends - were onstage also dealing with the same emotions and we handled
it as a team... I guess I was the 'captain' but only in spirit, and age. That
is different than what I do now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a 'leap of faith'
in 2010, Judy and I decided that my being a sideman was unhealthy. Physically
too, and maybe more importantly. But as a would-be artist, it was stopping my
growth and hindering what was meant to be, really. What was / is meant to be -
what IS that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do I have what it
takes to do the thing that the artists I've been a sideman for did / do and
have done for years / decades? I have desire. I have original musical ideas. I
have stories to tell, guitar techniques to share, develop and share. I want to
do what others do, but in my voice, my words, my music. My recordings. Now
what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We ‘set sail’ at the
end of March 2010 for whatever destination would come our way. My way -
musically and career-wise. I had one gig on the calendar in 2010. One. It was
as a vocal instructor at a week-long music camp in TN. I was looking forward to
that. Well, the crash of 2008 hit the music business at the end of 2009 and
2010... so the music camp felt it in the number of students who didn't sign-up
for the week. My class was cancelled and so, there went my ONE gig for the
foreseeable future. Judy decided to help me, so she started calling folks and
trying to book gigs for me as a solo. I actually told her "good luck
honey, no one knows me as an artist, and you'll probably get a bunch of 'no
thanks'... sounds positive, eh?". Well the first call, she booked me a
gig. And she kept doing that, until the rest of 2010 had a good number of gigs
and I felt I could breathe! 2011 was even better calendar-wise. NOW I had to
bring it. Solo. Uno mano. Me. Reality and self check in the mirror, then opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Opportunity.
Opportunities. Bring it or go home. I started working on my songs, writing new
material (wrote 5 in one day), started imagining what my performance would be
like, what it needed to be. I'll be honest - initially, it was 'panic city'. I
had a few songs I had recorded solo and had some good comments and feedback for
those. So, I felt like I could at least work on it, improve on number of songs,
and start finding money for a new recording. Recording a solo CD. Well, that
took a while, a couple years. Hard to get folks to hire you without a
recording. But there were those who did, and I am so thankful for that. I'm
still working to do this... I feel like "I am more like I am now than I
was a while ago". And so it goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let me back up for a
moment. Our wonderful daughter and son grew up and became independent / moved
out before all this going out on my own decision was made. I admit, I was a bad
'empty nester'... I knew I had to let go at some point, but I held on tight.
Wasn't good for them to fledge and to have a dad hanging on. I've apologized
for all that, but it was what is was. That said, my career change also was not
as hard to do because Judy and I were just us. No family to provide for, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I continue to make
efforts to be a successful musician, singer, artist, songwriter, producer of my
own music, but to assist others in theirs as well. I work (record, tour) mostly
as a solo performer, but I've recorded and produced others' CDs, and have done
some short tours with a few efforts (Jim Hurst Trio, Claire Lynch Band) etc.
and I am having fun. Diverse is key.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Diversity. So now, I
am really working on my career in different ways. Keeping the calendar full is
a challenge for anyone doing this. If you are a superstar - the challenge is
when to book time off for yourself to go on vacation, etc. I wouldn't know much
about that. However, I do book off important family dates and events so I don't
miss out anymore. That only works if I know about the date early on, I
sometimes miss things that come up without much lead time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inspiration. It comes
when it does. A lyric, a melody, a groove, a guitar riff, banjo roll, mandolin
melody, bass line… and it hits me sometimes in the middle of the night (as it
was for my Open Window tune 'Alarm Clock'), or being tired facing a long drive
home in a foggy rain (my JHT-1 tune 'Keep Me Awake'), or my song for my mother
(JHT-1 song 'This Waltz Is For You') co written with Keith Little and Dawn
Kenney. But I can't tell you how many melodies and lyrics I failed to capture
that are now in the wind somewhere... wow. Case in point: I just recently had a
great 2 weeks in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Germany, and arrived home for 1
1/2 days before heading to Canada for two weeks. I slept in my bed for one
night, and as I woke up - still snug and not wanting to arise yet, A cool
guitar tune started finding me, and I was digging the possibilities - but my
lazy backside didn't want to get up to grab my guitar and my recorder.
AAARRRGGGHHH! Gone. Well, not entirely, I did kinda recall this thing and
I'm working on it... thankfully!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One last thought. I
intend to be a musician until somehow or another I can't. Maybe God puts an end
to my playing, my ability to think, or brings me home. Either way, I feel very
blessed to have my guitar as my oldest friend, which introduced me to many,
many of my other best friends, and I desire to keep on keeping on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Road Scholar? I think
so. (Recorded on my solo CD Looking Glass). Maybe not so much as so many others
including the guy I heard the song from first, Lee Roy Parnell, who co-wrote it
with a couple others. Maybe not ever as much as folks like Merle Haggard, or
Jerry Reed, or James Taylor... but in my own courses... I am that. I am a road
scholar. And with all the ups and downs, in and outs, and everything in
between, I'm good with that. I cherish it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>By Jim Hurst 2019 – All Rights Reserved<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Jim Hursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094278327532837549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810386796936652608.post-2218427302173926102017-01-10T23:27:00.000-08:002017-01-10T23:27:39.287-08:00USA 2017...<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontlarge">... and so it begins.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">A new year, a new era, a new introspective. New thoughts
about this country, a new President, a new set of challenges. New.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">I had a good 2016, and enjoyed the successes and
challenges, although each presented me with opportunity to reflect on my career
in ways I don't think I had thought of before. Maybe you are this way too, but
I find myself always wondering if I am doing the right thing, making the best
decisions.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">When things are going well, it is not a big part of my
thoughts. I tend to contemplate what I can do to keep the ball rolling and
improve on that path... hopefully to a positive return. Sometimes that is as
difficult as trying to recover from missed opportunities and unfortunate
choices made. When things are not going the preferred way, or the results of
those choices made can cause stress... recovery and adjustment can be daunting.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">Of course that pendulum swing is what makes it all work,
I think. If all decisions and attempts were flawless, we wouldn't appreciate
the successes. One of my favorite phrases comes from a friend of mine:
"You can't fully appreciate the sun until you've had to walk in the
rain". And I totally agree with that!</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">That swing back and forth, such as the pendulum, is what
keeps everything balanced. Seasons change, the cycle of life, ebb and flow,
even regrowth after a devastation. Of course some of these balancing acts are
much more encompassing and impacting than others, but it is change.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">2016 revealed a lot about us as a country, and how we act
toward each other when change is imminent. And to be honest, I was very
disappointed. Through news stories (real and fake), social media, etc., I
witnessed so much division and separation, and recognized there were so many
ways to achieve that polarization, that it almost made me physically ill. I had
to search myself for answers to the issues and complexities I was made aware of
in the country, in my friends, and within myself. I didn't want to witness all
of that - and mostly was successful at refraining from participating. But I had
to comment a couple times, and then I decided to remove myself from the fray.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">The election is over. We the people have elected a new
POTUS, and this cycle will begin again, and the outgoing President's legacy will go into the
history books. Changing of the guard, so to speak.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">As I prepare myself for another year as a career
musician, I am facing my own challenges and will make decisions and accept
opportunities that I trust will head my way. I will strive to do a better job
than last year and hope to find musical inspiration and moments of performance
bliss while doing my best to grow as an artist. Who knows what is next.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">I do hope that 'We The People...' will make every effort
to erase the boundaries and dividing lines that only succeed at keeping us from
being as good as we can be, and only reveals the ugliness that it promotes. We
can be better. We must be better. I don't know if we can get much worse.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">The President elect deserves an opportunity to make a
positive difference as best he can. Many voted for him, many didn't. Sound
familiar? That has happened EVERYTIME, no surprise there. He will make
decisions - good and bad, he will learn from this experience, and he will lick
his wounds from failures and celebrate his successes. My hope is he will
consider the entire country and all of its citizens for every decision and
thought.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">We need to support him, challenge him, applaud him, and
rebuke him whenever those things apply, but in a healthy, legal way. Positive
thoughts and prayers will help.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontlarge">Let us do the same for each other... yes, even those who
we vehemently disagree with. A smile and a kind comment can work wonders.</span></span></div>
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Jim Hursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094278327532837549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810386796936652608.post-37331510754480532322015-09-21T11:38:00.001-07:002015-09-21T11:38:47.189-07:00'Mando Bounce' Jim Hurst and friends<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WQT0bFifqyg" width="480"></iframe>Jim Hursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094278327532837549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810386796936652608.post-82864241549945520302015-06-17T21:51:00.001-07:002015-06-17T21:52:34.075-07:00Jim & Jack's "Giveaway"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Yes, you could win a free set-up and maintenance visit to your favorite music store, repair center, luthier or repair person for your guitar! Do you have a guitar that needs a little extra attention, maybe a good cleaning and oiling, a new set of strings and adjustment, so that it'll play great again? Do ya, huh? DO YOU?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Well you might just be the lucky one! All you have to do is click on the graphic below, sign-in, and complete at least 1 of the qualifying options (we hope you'll choose more), and we'll choose a winner within 48 hours after the deadline - August 17, 2015 by 12:00am Central time.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="e9b451c00" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e9b451c00/" id="rcwidget_06q84nhw" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This 'giveaway' is co-sponsored by Jim Hurst and Jack Shannon. Why? We both love to play music on our guitars and know that getting a 'tune-up' is just the right thing sometimes. It makes up want to keep playing and having fun all hours of the day and night, that what a good feeling and sounding guitar can do... inspire us!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It inspires us to play, take care of our guitars, take it to our local repair center to not only keep them in good order, but to support independent businesses. That is important to us, and it sure helps the businesses out too. Small businesses for sure, but big businesses too.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Come on, try your luck!</b></span>Jim Hursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094278327532837549noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810386796936652608.post-13012443316052093262015-06-16T08:50:00.000-07:002015-06-16T08:50:49.074-07:00Question: Why do women (and men) enjoy and support denigrating lyrics in music? (long-ish)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a musician and artist, I am always mindful of my musical efforts. I search to find songs that express many things and offer a variety of story-lines and emotional content. Some of it my own composition and writing, some from other sources. It is a part of my own thoughts which reflect my upbringing and moral values. I am a Christian.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoy so many kinds of musical art for its musical content and production, the vast amount of great talent is constantly amazing to me. I hear things that sprang forward from basements, family rooms, garages, and home studios. And I hear other efforts that run the gamut all the way to major productions that I know takes a HUGE budget to accomplish. Honestly, my appreciation runs the full range, but I almost always prefer the lesser budgeted musical efforts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's a rawness there that while is complete and beautiful, is kept from being polished to a high gloss / 'no imperfections' finish. That seems too unrealistic to me. And I find the attraction to beautiful music, real human kindness and loving sentiment, as well as haunting stories and even a murder ballad here and there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That said, I am really amazed by the lack of 'love songs' in popular music. Why are there almost no loving, respectful songs in music, especially popular/mainstream music? Seriously, I'd like to know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been thinking about this for some time now, and I am shocked at the vast amount of denigrating, insulting, abusive lyrics in mainstream music. OK, go ahead and call me a curmudgeon, fogey, grandfather, what have you, I don't really care what you think of me... that's not the point here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's one point: Where are all the love songs?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Music has had a long standing reputation of being a 'cupid's arrow' of sorts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Songwriters and singers, musicians, and purveyors of same, have shared love notes through music as far back as the dawn of time (well, maybe - work with me here).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in the days before women had the right to vote, songs were sang in tribute, loving affection, and beckoning to the ladies to consider a ride on a bicycle, a carriage, a swing. Invited to go on a picnic, to dance, out for dinner, and then almost pleading for their hand in marriage and to help make a baby and a family. And even when the courtship parted ways, there were songs about how the man was not whole enough to continue, and couldn't unless she returned to him. You know, loving courtship, romance, joyful tribute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And while we are not old enough to know if there was ever a time -like the present- where women were sang about as sex toys, my guess is it never happened. Not only sex toys, but talked down to as enslaved objects of sexual pleasure and only good enough for procreation of some self-appointed slave master/commander of a stable of concubines. But I venture a guess to say it wasn't there. It is now though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Point #2:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why is it that songs of violent actions toward anyone including law enforcement, gender, age, parts of the country, ethnicity, income or lack of income, are popular? I don't mean popular at the local gathering of like-mindedness or regional watering holes... I mean national and international popularity! Why? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In order for something to be that popular and make that kind of money, somebody (LOTS of somebody's) has to like it enough to take their money and buy the product, attend live concerts, go to award shows, and have the music playing in homes, cars, personal audio devices, etc. And the vast majority of these 'consumers/customers/victims/partners in crime' share this popular material with friends and neighbors. Sometimes unwilling neighbors get assaulted with that so-called 'art'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Point #3: How is it women, especially young women, enjoy this?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK. I know almost everyone doesn't enjoy or understand or tolerate what I try to do musically... no worries about an inflated ego here. But one thing I do not do is intentionally insult women with my lyrics and music. I do NOT. But I know I am not popular, not everyone's 'cup of tea', I get it. And I sometimes wonder why the people that actually like my musical effort, do say they like it and buy my recordings and come to my concerts. I am THRILLED they are there! Thank you all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But (<span style="color: red;">serious run-on sentence alert</span>), how is it that after decades and centuries of toil and pain, abuse, second rated-ness, fighting (sometimes to the death) for the right to vote, work outside the home, be independent, be assured the ability to make choices to have a career/mother, or a single woman with a career/no mother, and make an equal wage and equal respect as their male counterparts (<span style="color: #674ea7;">whew</span>), that women support and enjoy these denigrating and insulting songs and attitudes?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cannot fathom this. I have zero ability to understand how these offenders of the human spirit - albeit through musical 'art' - not only continue this abuse to women and others, but do so while making mountains of money from these same victims. These victims willingly give their money, time, and long lustful looks to these abusers, and actually are seen on videos and live stages being sex-toys/objects/slaves in support of these abusers. Why?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Point #4: How is it young men think this is ok?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only OK, but it is a goal to reach. It is a right of passage, a level of dominance, another way to make oneself feel bigger, more important and more powerful than the lesser gender. Than their own gender. Than their own kind. Than their own families and siblings. Why do these males feel the need to abuse, feel superior, neglect women's rights, and really not respect or truly love women?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Point #5: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did it get this way?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is it mass media? Is that the way it is supposed to be? Do none of these people love their mothers? Do they not understand that their mothers were once girls and young women, that young women will hopefully grow up to be mothers, or adult women desiring respect and dignity?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are these young women thinking enough about their own self-worth long and serious enough to see the damage they're causing to themselves, to their own gender, families, and the insulting damage they're causing to the plight of all women? Especially the reversing damage to those women who came before and fought for, earned, and gave them the freedoms and opportunities they are taking for granted... today?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope this can be stopped, and now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last point: Young people - especially women, respect yourselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one will respect you if you don't respect yourself. If you don't respect yourselves, then think about respecting your mothers and sisters, all other women who came along before you, and seek counseling... you are special (yes you) and you need to be able to love and respect yourself. Placing yourself in the role of a victim doesn't garner you any respect from anyone, and you won't be able to respect yourself either.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stop supporting this kind of ugly, hateful, demeaning demonstrations of ill will masked as entertainment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I admire success when achieved with wholesome intent, respectful attitude, and true effort. Some of our major musical artists have made missteps and were not perfect along their ways, but most - if not all - didn't intend to be offensive or derogatory or insulting to others while trying to make music. I support music whenever I can, I buy recordings, go to concerts, follow social media, and share that musical effort wherever I can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also try not to be offensive in my car while driving on public streets. I keep my music lower to protect my hearing, low enough to be able to hear emergency vehicles (and I move over), and low enough so as not to offend others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Imagine that.</span>Jim Hursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094278327532837549noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810386796936652608.post-89788562466012433332015-05-27T16:00:00.001-07:002015-05-27T16:04:22.561-07:00IF ONLY...<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">I have wondered and wondered why things are like they are. Why the things I feel so good about are being taken advantage of and abused by so many. Why do folks have to get more than their fair share? Why is it that stopping behind the white line – intended to be a place where one would stop on or just behind – is not enough? Is there some reason that folks have to go just beyond? Some far enough that the line may as well not exist.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">As a former truck driver of many kinds but mostly 18-wheelers, I found that 'past the line' offense to be ridiculous and at times made my task of maneuvering that rig around corners, into parking lots, onto highways, etc. much more difficult. It surely didn’t make it easier. All because a driver HAD to go beyond the white line. Really?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">Speeding. Folks seem to just decide that 5-10 MPH is legal and some have the viewpoint that those who doesn’t do it are problematic. Really?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">Why don’t folks abide and obey the laws? Why not be more courteous to others, be kind, give a little more, take a little less, think less of one and more of many?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">I am feeling this way for many reasons, the examples above are just the tip of the iceberg. I guess we all come up short here and there, but lately that’s not it… I don’t think. It’s a general overall attitude that says “me me me”, and “I’ll get mine” even if it is yours too, and couldn’t care less if you got any, much less your fair share. It is sad and very selfish.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">If only we all would just do the right thing all the time. If only we didn’t even consider bending the rules and breaking laws. Drive the speed limit, obey the traffic laws, keep right except when passing, STOP at stop signs, use turn signals, don’t tailgate or act like Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon does when they race on a controlled track with other expert drivers – on public highways. I bet they drive normal on public highways.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">If only people would treat each other with kindness and respect. What if no one broke the laws and never stole from people, didn’t sell drugs, didn’t use drugs, didn’t assault others, didn’t get into trouble with the law? What if everyone did the right thing and stayed out of trouble to start with. No need for rioting and looting (I don’t understand that anyway – WHY LOOT?), stop hating and doing wrong?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">If only law enforcement officers did the right thing all the time? What if they didn’t exert extra force, didn’t abuse their power, didn’t decide when and when not to write citations because of ulterior reasons, assume the worst because of a gender or a race, pretty and thin or ugly and fat, the type of car, the decals or bumper stickers, or part of town?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">If only politicians weren’t corrupt. What if those we elect to office actually worked for us instead of other forces, monetary or power, or political, or otherwise? What if the legal system was fair and not jaded by opinion or hatred? What if voters would research the candidates and issues instead of going by what the advertisements say? What if a party of choice was a general idea and not a religion? What if the “news” sources actually reported the truth, not some ill-gotten stream of data/text/hogwash that got ratings? What if those ‘news’ sources couldn’t be altered by the owners of the station/network/conglomerate or some hate group?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">If only we were all for one before one for all. What if we tried to do the right thing? What if we did this in as many places in our lives and day to day doings as best we could? What if ALL of us did this?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">If only we could find a way to find peace. Harmony. Balance. Fairness. Forgiveness. Love.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 20.7000007629395px;">If only…</span>Jim Hursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094278327532837549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810386796936652608.post-11314475188573533852015-05-14T23:24:00.002-07:002015-05-14T23:25:25.661-07:00PIVOTAL CAREER EVENT?<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Here's a post I placed on my Facebook pages today (5/14/2015) after my Wednesday night (5/13/2015) solo performance opening for the world famous Doobie Brothers at the wonderful Music City Roots here in Franklin, TN...</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.musiccityroots.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" Music City Roots" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAAZn539mhm9w85KRXIwQs2RXTpxBy42FeWKebEEjYv6N_pIqXHn_WrzDKDjsAcdzJd0XgqndGVlq0UpMvANLkIi8Ye0uOiYSjGqv8tQ_mO9YkMRvRw695FuVxz2Q3ipmdeEJfGRfYUA/s320/MCR+sidewalk+board.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>Good morning FB people...</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>I'm feeling pretty stunned from last night's event at Music City Roots - where I performed my solo set opening for the Doobie Brothers.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>Opening for the Doobie Brothers. Wow, still hard to absorb.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>I couldn't have dreamed this to happen for me... my dreams are either so far out of reality or too close to reality. Last night seems to fit somewhere between the two... but it was a real thing.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>Everyone in the Doobie Brothers band, crew, techs, of course John Cowan, Bela Fleck, Jim Lauderdale, Keith Bilbrey, Craig Havighurst... the Music City Roots folks, crew, techs... all were so great to work with! It is refreshing that people with all that they offer: legendary status and world famous decades of experience and sucess, are so friendly and down-to-other people's level.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>I am encouraged by success - my own baby steps, and the giant steps of others. I strive to be a professional and as good as I can be in my chosen career. I work hard to find that 'place' where humbleness meets confidence but avoid either being too meek or too egotistical, so I can give the best I can to those listening and buying the product. It's not easy for me, or really for anyone. Some work harder at it than others... I think. Some are better at it anyway.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>We all try to be as good as we can be on our instruments, singing, songwriting, performance, etc. And like an old proverb says - loosely "the joy is the journey, not the destination", I am really enjoying my journey.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>In the end, I'd rather be around good people with excellent talent than around anyone who perceive themselves as excellent and share their talent to those who deserve to experience the greatness.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>Last night, the legends who are the Doobie Brothers, were great, friendly people of excellent talent and shared that world class musical energy and creativity performing to their fans. That's what they want to do. That's the way they seemed to me anyway.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>I am honored to be a part of Music City Roots' roster of performers, and to have experienced a once in a lifetime evening. Thanks to all who made that happen, and for all the fans who came out to support MCR, the Doobie Brorthers, and little ol' me.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>I guess I can retire now! Opened for the Doobie Brothers on a Wednesday, and got my senior discount at Kroger's too!</i></span></span></div>
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Jim Hursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094278327532837549noreply@blogger.com0Nashville, TN, USA36.1626638 -86.78160159999998835.752564799999995 -87.427048599999992 36.5727628 -86.136154599999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810386796936652608.post-65328149847496715152014-05-24T18:03:00.000-07:002014-05-24T21:39:07.675-07:00NEW RECORDING DIARY BLOGI am beginning to work on my new CD, and thought I'd try to share with you (interested folks) a sort of point by point account of the experience.<br />
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So, here's the deal: I'll post my experiences for the material selection, pre-production, studio time, mix-down, title ideas, art and packaging efforts. and release date. All you have to do is have a look. And, should you have any questions or comments, you can do that as well.<br />
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<li>First entry, March 3rd: I have been going through songs and have already selected the first 8-10 possibilities... 5-6 already chosen, working on the others. Studio chosen, and recording time scheduled for next week.</li>
<li>March 5th entry: Worked on some co-writing songs today, one with Dawn Kenney and we're writing a song together for the first time. Also worked on a couple songs from Jack Shannon, and on one as a co-write, first one for Jack and I too. Listening to some demos of other songs, other writers, more on that later. Have a couple more co-writing ideas and appointments, eager to get going.</li>
<li>March 11th entry: A bust for studio time yesterday, but made up for it today! Recorded 4 tunes at Scott Vestal's Digital Underground studios up north of Nashville. Scott is so good and professional, he made a lot of notes and took pictures when we recorded my 2012 CD "Intrepid" a couple years ago, so setting up for me and getting tones and levels didn't take long. Two types of mics and pre-amps along with my Gallagher guitar's Fishman Aura Pro set-up feed, the guitar sounds awesome! I love my job! Recorded 4 songs: "Same Old Moon' and "I Picked The Wildwood Flower" penned by Jack Shannon; a beautiful song by the late Perry Pitney "I'm Not The Man I Was"; and a song co-written by Don Dunn and Claire Lynch (I have to get the official ok, before I can reveal the title and be sure I can include it on the new CD). More soon!</li>
<li>March 15th entry: Fun day yesterday, achieved 4 final tracks and started on 2 more. One of the new tracks is a song Dawn Kenney is co-writing with me... Purty good! Here's a pic of "sound central": </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi3JFdic-p_-FjDlv5aTB2cyBs4iJFOo1gRmbWBwjphMWY5al2b9TgD2ffrkf6jJ4_oAfANTw1JbYOGwzSFQgBQsMFFug5XPQh0wIXhl58iCN4VkeG7CFUhfi1wwJX0ISUIvjX4e7AVM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi3JFdic-p_-FjDlv5aTB2cyBs4iJFOo1gRmbWBwjphMWY5al2b9TgD2ffrkf6jJ4_oAfANTw1JbYOGwzSFQgBQsMFFug5XPQh0wIXhl58iCN4VkeG7CFUhfi1wwJX0ISUIvjX4e7AVM/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>March 19th entry: A few more songs to add to the CD recorded today...so total recorded now is 9, but one of them may not make this CD. I am excited !!! Great songs by great authors, and I am having a blast doing my versions of them, even though I'm not veering to far from the original versions, just putting my sound on them.</li>
<li>May24th entry: Scott and I have been working on final mixes and tones, and sequence. Now starting to work on all the mastering - unless there's is something I feel I need to change, but I doubt it at this point. I mean, one has to stop and let go at some point, or else it'll never get released.</li>
<li>Additional May 24th entry: Didn't really get into the 'technical' aspects of this recording, and I mentioned I would. So here it is: Scott is recording on Cubase, using a pair of Neumann KM-54 condenser mics and a Manley tube mic all ran through API pre-amps, along with a channel of my Fishman Aura Pro system with exclusive Jim Hurst Gallagher Images<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">®</span>. So, 4 tracks of guitar, and one track for my of vocal, which is another tube mic (don't recall which brand) ran through an API pre-amp as well. I may be incorrect on some of this, but I'll confirm with Scott and update here.</li>
</ul>
OK, so here is the list so far, of course this could change:<br />
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<ol>
<li>I Picked The Wildwood Flower</li>
<li>The Preacher And The Bear</li>
<li>Same Old Moon</li>
<li>Just One Man</li>
<li>Richmon Safford</li>
<li>Dead Flowers</li>
<li>They Said</li>
<li>A Mailbox On The Moon</li>
<li>Nobody Loves Me But My Dog</li>
<li>Not The Man I Was</li>
<li>Road Scholar</li>
</ol>
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<ul>
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Our method of choice was to record guitar solo first, then sing vocals as overdubs. Reason being, separation and mix control, as well as easier editing for any fixes for either. I can perform all the songs on Intrepid and this CD live, although honestly my performances of these songs are better after the recordings as I get much more experience playing them afterwards. Scott worked hard to get the same tones for guitar and vocal each and every session. Sounds like a default position, right? Well it is, except sometimes there were a week or more in between sessions for me, and Scott had other sessions booked as well. So just the fact he got almost exact tones each time is a testament to not only his ear for it, but his attention to detail, and his compassion about it. Great musician and engineer, that Scott Vestal.<br />
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I do some workshops on recording and band / artist preparation and pre-production, but the bottom line is: It is better to spend more time getting prepared ahead of time that to have to do it while the clock is ticking. Disclaimer: I didn't prepare for this CD as much as I did Intrepid, and it cost a little more. As my dad used to say: "Do as I say, not as I do". But even so, there were three songs I thought were going to be on the CD that didn't make it, for various reasons. And at least one of those I worked a good of time in pre-production.<br />
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End result, I had a great time and am still having a great time. I feel like this is a step up from Intrepid and that's what I hoped. There are a couple songs here that may be a little unexpected from me, but that'll be up to you to decide... I'm happy.<br />
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More later...Jim Hursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094278327532837549noreply@blogger.com0