Older material of interest

This was my first attempt at a digital release - done in 2019. So, you do have to purchase it - available on iTunes. 

Check it out - I think it's worth the money and still proud of it. 

"So, who do you sound like?" "What kind of music do you play?" These are the kinds of questions that I frequently get. 

I started out as a (unsuccessful) folk musician in University. I ended up part of a folk band in Scotland when I spent a year at the University of St. Andrews, but I can't for the life of me remember the name. My own claim to fame from that period remains, as part of that band, playing on the same stage as "Silly Wizard." 

As career and children and general busyness became part of my life, guitars and music slipped to the side. About 20 years ago I decided it was either take this more seriously or sell the guitars. 

I started playing the open mic at ein-Stein's in Toronto. The rest, sort of developed from there. As well as playing live, I've also taken up recording in my home studio. 

The newest release will be "Dance, Rachel, Dance" - 10 tracks that can be purchased online. It is a mix of new songs, old songs that are re-recorded, and re-mix/re-masters of some of the best things I've done. Six original - 4 covers. 

Check it out. Available  November 15, 2019.  

So, what are the tracks on the new CD?

The first track is "Better Way." This is a song that I talk about as breaking my long, long song-writing drought. I first released it on Second Wind. This is a substantial remix.

The second track is a remix of "I Can't Make you love me." This is a cover of the song made famous by Bonnie Raitt. What I tried to do was have guitar as the main instrument, not piano. 

Third track - "Second Wind" - an original composition, remixed and with slightly different instrumentation. The piano on this is played by Brendan Macdonald, who also is responsible for the strings.

Fourth - "Dance, Rachel, Dance" - the title track. A slight remix, featuring Brendan on accordion. 

Fifth - "Third Time Lucky" - remixed and remastered. Original composition. 

Sixth - "Hartman's Brain" - the true story of Hartman, one of the most unique characters ever to grace an open mic stage. Another original composition. Even the line about the ducky is true. 

Seventh - I had to do a bit of engineering, but "The Day John Henry Died" includes parts of the original recording, with additional instruments, and a complete re-mix. (This was recorded on an old TASCAM 8 track digital recorder, so the trick was getting each track into a new software program.) Brendan Macdonald on piano. John McGowan on six string guitar and vocals.

Eight - Bob Dylan's "Not Dark Yet" - one of my favourite songs. 

Ninth - a re-recording of "You Stand By Me" a song by Pete Townshend. 

Tenth and finally - a new song - "Beneath the Mountains of Virginia." This is a song about caverns in the Shenandoah Valley where, apparently, both Union and Confederate soldiers spent time on their days off and sometimes at the same time.