This collection of songs has probably been in the works ever since I was a kid living at the end of a no - name, half - mile long dead end dirt road. The sounds of hay being baled, the train whistle blowing across the Battenkill river, and the tires of my dad's old Ford crunching on the gravel at the end of his shift at the local paper mill, all still echo in these songs. When something broke, we fixed it, when it was time to plant the garden, it got planted, when it was time to start the campfire and have a few cold ones, that's what we did. Not much thought went into it, that's just how it was.
It's said that time stands still for no one. The dirt road with no name is now called "Hardscrabble Lane", the train rarely runs these days, and I discovered the joy of writing and recording music. These songs draw from my time spent twirling a wrench to earn a living, to being crammed in the family station wagon with my brothers and sisters watching spaghetti westerns at the local drive-in on Saturday night. They also reflect some of lifes tougher times. I've been fortunate enough to avoid most of the more difficult situations that are the topic of songs like "Hard Rain" and "Beautiful Redemption". I've also been fortunate enough to spend time with family and friends that love to laugh and can find humor in songs like "Don't Slap The Bull" and "Long Stretch of Muddy Road". Recording this album has been one of the most satisfying and enjoyable things I've ever done.
I hope you enjoy it!
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