Chris Sharp - Posted - 09/06/2009:  06:48:27

Sometimes things just feel right. When you start a project and things are just heading in the right direction. When there are no walls. When so many people are so willing to support what you're doing that any minor problem is quickly taken care of.....That usually gives me the feeling that I'm on the right track.

Thanks to everyone who has responded here about their favorite John Hartford songs. It's nice to read what so many of you have to say about John. He was one of the most gifted musicians I ever met. On top of that John was such a wonderful person. I'm proud to call him my friend as well as my boss.

We have completed recording on the new "John Hartford Stringband" CD and it will be released in the early part of 2010. Below are some details:

John does appear on this CD in 4 songs that we're pretty sure you haven't heard (we can't find them on anything else recorded except the demo's)

A very special thanks to Jamie Hartford, and Katy and Eric Hogue for their support and help on this project.

Another special thanks to my bandmates and to the special guests.

Mostly I want to thank John for leaving such a wonderful gift as his music so we would have something to play.

These songs were selected partly through our experience playing on stage with John, partly through your contributions, and partly decided on by the band on which 3 of some of John's previously unheard material we would record with. They were not all written by John. Those that are not Hartford originals were done by John and the Stringband on a regular basis.

In the spirit of John, 99% of this CD was recorded live, with the exception of Bela Fleck and Alison Brown doing overdubs, due to their schedules.

We recorded the CD in 2.5 days in Nashville, TN

I've included the songlist in the format: song - writer - guests or vocalists

All songs that do not specifically mention a guest were done with the band (a couple only feature a few members and 2 tracks only feature Mark Schatz... one of those is with John)


Core band:
Bob Carlin - banjo/vocals
Matt Combs - fiddle/vocals
Mike Compton - mandolin/vocals
Chris Sharp - guitar/vocals
Mark Schatz - bass/vocals/speech

Special Guests:
Alison Brown - banjo
George Buckner - banjo
Bela Fleck - banjo
Tim O'Brien - vocals
Alan O'Bryant - vocals

Very special guest:
John Hartford - banjo/guitar/vocals

Songlist:
3 Forks Of Sandy - from John via Ed Haley
M.I.S.I.P - written by John Hartford (Alison Brown/banjo and Tim O'Brien/vocal)
Love Grown Cold - written by Johnny Bond (Mike and Chris/vocal)
Wyatt Earp - written by John Hartford (John/banjo and vocal)
Madison Tennessee - written by John Hartford (Matt Combs/vocal)
Delta Queen Waltz - written by John Hartford (Alan O'Bryant/vocal)
Poem - written and recited by Mark Shatz
Homer the Roamer - written by John Hartford
The Only Thing I Really Know To Do - written by John Hartford (John/banjo and vocal)
Bring Your Clothes Back Home - written by John Hartford (Mike Compton/vocal)
Half Past Four - from John via Ed Haley
Lorena - lyrics -Reverend Henry DeLafayette Webster. music - J.P. Webster (George Buckner/banjo Tim O'Brien/vocal)
You Don't Notice Me Ignoring You - written by John Hartford (John/banjo and vocal)
The Girl I Left Behind Me - John's lyrics used (Bela Fleck/banjo and Chris Sharp vocal)
She's Gone and Bob's Gone With Her - written by John Hartford (Bob Carlin/vocal)
Royal Box Waltz - written by John Hartford
As if yet unnamed song - written by John Hartford. (solo performance by John/guitar and vocal)

I look forward to hearing your comments on the upcoming release.

Thanks to everyone and have a wonderful day.

alprice - Posted - 09/06/2009:  07:05:09

Oh man, I don't think I can wait that long!

______________________________
alprice@nechville.com
www.vzvalley.com

The Old Timer - Posted - 09/06/2009:  07:14:12

Congratulations Chris, what label will it be on?

The Old Timer.
"Early Cuyler plays Gibson guitars."

Chris Sharp - Posted - 09/06/2009:  07:15:33

It's being released on Red Clay Records, the Japanese label owned by Toshio Watanabe (of "Bluegrass 45") that most of my CDs are on.

banjogra - Posted - 09/06/2009:  07:24:13

fantastic chris, well done mate, got everything john ever done? I so I thought

R Buck - Posted - 09/06/2009:  07:26:33

Red Clay does not get great distribution here in the States. How will it be available? What outlets will handle it? Can a local store order it? As I am sure you know Chris, the music distribution system here is in shambles. Would like to be able to get it. Could you offer it via the Hang Out?

RobBob
Music; the best way to count time. It is a journey not a destination.
www.blueridgerounders.com

Chris Sharp - Posted - 09/06/2009:  07:31:19

As it happens, the deal I have with Red Clay is that Bob Carlin and myself will be in control all of the distribution here in the states. I intend to employ someone to build a website specifically for this CD and I'm sure it will be available through all major channels (County Sales, Amazon, iTunes, etc..) Also the CD will be available through John's official website....Again very special thanks to the family....and of course it will be available on the website that we will have built for it.

Chris Sharp - Posted - 09/06/2009:  09:27:50

I forgot to mention that in addition to all the music and the poem, we found a rare interview that John did many years ago. A lot of people had mentioned that John talked on his CDs and suggested that we take some similar approach. I think that taking 5-15 second clips from that interview and scattering them throughout the CD will be a lot of fun for everybody and once again the voice of John Hartford, speaking about music, will be heard.

GerryH - Posted - 09/06/2009:  13:32:00

Sure look forward to its release!
GerryH

plunka5 - Posted - 09/06/2009:  20:54:03

Awesome Chris!!! Can't hardly wait to get the cd. Thanks to yourself, and John's family. We all miss him dearly and any material done in his honor is a fantastic tribute to his well-deserved legacy.




"do you have room in your heart for the five-string banjo?"
John Hartford

Chris Sharp - Posted - 09/07/2009:  22:10:05

Thanks everyone. It's been a lot of fun working on this and it's brought back lots of good memories. Good times in the studio as well. Some of the stories and the overall vibe....I think John would be glad we're doing this for him.

Trashbanjo - Posted - 09/08/2009:  05:21:33

Thank You very Much Chris(and every one else)!Cant wait to hear it, sounds fantastic!!!! Its also very nice that in a small way many of us had a hand in this album.For me its a very personal feeling of connection to John.

"Pick it right or pick through it,just dont stop".
Vic Jenkins

banjogra - Posted - 09/08/2009:  05:29:28

yes, john would be tickled to know

Chris Sharp - Posted - 09/08/2009:  06:00:43

One very special thanks I've forgotten to include goes to Mark Howard. Mark was kind enough to help me in many ways on this project. One of the main things he did was (again I asked him per a suggestion from reading your posts) allow us the use of John's "Deering" banjo, which he used on so many of the recordings that are now legendary. It was used by George Buckner on Lorena, and by Alison Brown on M.I.S.I.P.

Thanks Mark and thank you guys!!

myfavefive - Posted - 09/12/2009:  09:04:44

Chris, Thank you so much for all the work you guys have done to make this recording available. It's also nice to see that nearly all of it was recorded live; that natural feel is missing from from many projects these days.

Do you anticipate any other recordings of the Stringband making their way to CD?

For those of you who haven't heard Chris's CD on Red Clay titled "The Good Fa-air Side" released several years ago with John, Mike Compton, Larry Perkins, and others...check it out. Very nice band vibe on all cuts

http://www.chrissharpmusic.net/

Tom

Edited by - myfavefive on 09/12/2009 09:06:19