Welcome to the sixth post of our Socially Distant Storytellers Series! We recorded the entire record with Earle Mankey at his Psychedelic Shack in T.O. It was an honor and privilege to get to work with him once again! The recording was mastered by Guy Martin at Black Couch Studios, who is always a pro! The sixth track off the record is Song For A Friend. Take a listen and enjoy the story! We’d love to hear your feedback and answer any questions you have in the comments! Stay safe friends and enjoy your Friday evening!
Quotes and Reviews:
“New tracks are just on repeat for me over and over! ‘Song for a Friend’ so earthy and melodic....I really look forward to seeing this music live for sure.” ~Polly Parsons, Daughter of Gram Parsons
Song For A Friend
I’ll be around
If you wanna hang out
I’ll be around
If you’re down and out
I’ve done a lot
So many things
Things that I forgot
At least that’s how it seems
I’ll be around
If you wanna hang out
I’ll be around
If you’re down and out
I sang this song
Had nothin better to do
So I move along
I still think about you
When the sun goes down
Who’s on your side
When the swell rolls in
When the tide gets high
I’ll be around
If you wanna hang out
I’ll be around
If you’re down and out
I’ll be around
I’ll be around
I’ll be around
I’ll be around
Behind the Music:
This is a brand new song and was the last one recorded for the session. The basic riff came about as we were rehearsing with the band one night. It sounded really cool and Robert just free-styled some lyrics to help it along. I grabbed my phone to record it so we wouldn’t forget it, as happens so often with a jam session. We knew this one was really good! The verses further developed when Robert was on a week long backpacking trip in the Sierras last summer. They were inspired by the loss of our friend, Neal Casal, and when he returned, we ironed out the verses, wrote the chorus, bridge and spent a few sessions working out ideas for the solos. I had been practicing vocals on the piano when Robert came in and loved the sound of the keys. Two days later we took it to Earle’s! We hadn’t even performed it live yet, but we knew we had to be include it on this record! Especially poignant during this time when we all need to be there for one another!
Geek Tech Notes:
Epiphone EJ200 / Rhythm
Fender Telecaster Thinline > 1953 Tweed Fender Deluxe / Rhythm
Fender Telecaster Thinline > 1965 Fender Blackface Reverb Deluxe > J. Rocket Designs Archer Overdrive > Keeley Kantana Clean Boost > Keeley MS30 Double Tracker > Strymon Flynt Reverb / Lead
Guitars, Robert Ramirez
Bass, Cary Von Gott
Piano and Tambourine, Michelle Votrian