Notes on “Homemade Whispers"

This one was written at crawling speed on Highway 101.  At the time it was 55 MPH.  They changed it to 65. During the day, cars still do 15 MPH.   There are turtles that go faster.

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Back east in 1974, I went to listen to a man named David Gunnip at the recommendation of a friend. He sang this song written by his roommate Malcolm. I loved the song and learned it, but never got Malcolm’s last name. I have still been looking for him, but no luck yet. I hope I get to one day tell him how many folks have loved this song.

A girl who read the bible everyday was convinced I was a sinner and would go to hell because I didn’t go to church every Sunday. She laughed when I couldn’t come back with an answer right away. I went home, wrote this song and played it for her the next day. It didn’t change her mind.

For John Lee Hooker. Who showed me how a solo performer could mesmerize an audience.

Will the Moon Come out Tonight

An instrumental piece hoping that the moon would bring light to a dark night.

A journey back in time to when life was a lot simpler. Gas station attendants didn’t hide behind bulletproof, you could leave the back door open for the milkman. I miss those times. This is as close to a time machine as we get.

A song for the countless bar gigs I’ve done. It’s sometimes a battle to get your songs heard against, talking, dice games, phones ringing and blenders.

I was an assistant chef at a camp one summer in Carbondale back in ’72. Clay hired me and stayed in their house. They did a lot of drinking and fighting all thru a haze of cigarette smoke. I liked their names, so I gave them new jobs and wrote a song about a waitress and a trucker. Probably a better outcome than in real life.

Written for a girl who knew how to turn heads, but never cared for long relationships. I guess she got bored easily.

Probably the only blues tune written about this substance. I never understood how anyone could eat that stuff. I usually have to leave the room if someone is enjoying it too much.

Another love song for my wife of many years.

This song is in memory of John Fahey. Another one of my guitar heroes. He really introduced the world to solo steel string guitar.  The Godfather of American Primitive Guitar. I met him backstage in 1974 at the Bottom line in NYC after a performance. We talked about tunings and techniques. A very unusual man who liked turtles. I miss his presence on the planet.