Merry Christmas My Friends

Here is my present to you. It's an advanced copy of my first solo CD called : Sammy and the Snake Charmer's Union - The Monkey Speaks His Mind"

Included are the files to the songs to click on and download, covers and liner notes, and a couple of bonus demos that ended up on Matt Poss's latest CD. He worked a little more on the lyrics so If you own The Matt Poss Band - Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride. You'll hear the difference in a demo vs. a professional recording.

I hope you enjoy it. It was a lot of fun making it, a years worth of writing and scratching out words, chords, themes. I finally came up with this.

When I produce a CD for another artist, I listen to the songs they have, focus on the best ones and get an overall theme for the CD. Songs in a similar style, set a mood for the album, etc. For mine I broke all those rules. Since this is essentially an "unasked for, unwanted, bastard" solo CD, I don't think anyone had any expectations, so I did exactly what I wanted. The CD is about: Love, Cars, Girls, Love that never happened, medical marijuana (of course!), stuff that makes me laugh, and three monkeys. Mostly playing with my friends, some of whom are the best in the world. Reverend Robert, aka Bobby Reynolds, Jon Clarkson of X-Krush, Garrie Carlen of Back Flash, Brandi Yagow from 5 Gone Mad, Heather Hunt from Madem X, Chris Schaff on most drums, Dave "Toad" Baldwin, Pat Lee, Mark Cornell, Heather Yocum James, Merv Schrock, and the usual studio cast of characters, George Ozier, Ike Edwards, Tommy Dunn, and Jake Edwards. This was a lucky time for me because three CD's were being recorded so there were musicians everywhere. Some played a ton on this, and some did as little as a single line, but together they made up the band Sammy and the Snake Charmer's Union.

This is a Modge Podge of influences from Elvis Presley to Elvis Costello, Bob Marley to Taj Mahal, I play a lot of Guitar and Bass, very little vocal stuff, (I think one background) Why would when I have access to real singers? Anyway I'm rambling. I suppose I should let the music do the talking. I hope you enjoy it