So I’ve got this new record that I’m pretty juiced about.  It is called Bluebird, and there are only 6 songs.  I was hesitant about making a mini-record, but in this brave new world of music production and duplication and distribution, in the end it seemed like the right thing to do.  (that’s a different blog post!)

I remember the morning that the melody for Bluebird (the song) came into my brain.  It was a really pretty day, and this is so rare, but I just started singing it.  I wrote the whole chorus in the length of time it takes to sing it.  It was so familiar that I racked my brain trying to figure out what song I was stealing these notes and syllables from.  Stumped, and with a killer harmony part in mind, I gave thanks and started the work of figuring out what this song was about.  

I don’t know exactly where the guitar part came from either.  My best guess is that I had recently spent some time in Houston with my brother, John Goodgame, Esq.  Even after years of gift neglect, his competence as a guitarist quickly reveals itself when he finally does take a moment and strap on his pretty blonde Larrivée and pick a ditty.  And subconsciously or not, I wrote the guitar part to Bluebird with John’s picking style.  I’d never written a song with that classic pseudo-Chet Atkins-thumb-to-thumb-and-middle-finger bounce before, and the major-to-minor changes just sorta fell in there together with the melody that was coming out as the song worked its way to the surface.  

I have written complicated songs with many words, and I love Bluebird because it is so simple, that I am able to enjoy and rest in the musical moments as they pass by a bit more than I am used to.  I loved the production ideas that came out of Quinlan as he stepped in the stream, and one of my greatest joys upon completing the record has been hearing my 7 year old daughter walking around the house singing that last line of harmony-become-melody that Amy sings to end the song.  It is just right for  her range, and it stops me like the lights going out when I hear her sing it. 

RG

We had a yard sale/fundraiser this weekend.  I’d like to tell you all about it, but my wife Amy beat me to the punch, and I could never put it as well.  Check it out at our adoption blog…

 

http://thegoodgamefamily.blogspot.com/

What fun we had on Sunday night.  Andrew Peterson asked me to play an opening set for his CD release concert in Nashville at 12th and Porter.  I played a set, and the band was awesome, my pal Ginny Owens came out and sang on my last couple of songs, Osenga belted out a few passionately delivered songs after me, and then Peterson and his folk orchestra came up on the stage and KILLED.  The band was tight, AP’s vocals were crisp and clean (thanks, sound guy) and he could have kept on playing all night, and the full house crowd would have kept listening.  

 

All this is to say, Andrew Peterson’s new release “Resurrection Letters” is on sale now!  Go and buy it.  The songs are fantastic and will quickly become new favorites, the production and arrangements are typically brilliant, and, well…  it’s Andrew Peterson’s new record! What more reason do you need.  Buy one for yourself, and buy another for a Christmas Present.  Your friend will thank you.

 

RG

Hi friends!

In anticipation of my new EP “bluebird”, I’m inviting you to download one of the tracks, All The Years by clicking here. 

Hope you enjoy it!

-RG

We just wanted to let you all know that Randall’s new EP, “bluebird” will be released on November 4, 2008. And, you can listen to “All The Years” on the website RIGHT NOW! Let us know what you think!

Rocktober is here, and the weather is awesome.  I’ve been driving a friend’s Mercedes around town with the windows down, just drinking in this fall air.  The speakers on our Toyota mini-van have been blown since we bought it 3 years ago, and my GMC truck (the one with 240,000 miles), well, lets just say the sound system needs work.  

Ordinarily that’s not a problem, because I pretty much only listen to NPR while I’m driving, so the sounds don’t have to be sweet.  This week, though, I’ve finished my record!  So my buddy Winn let me borrow his “extra” Mercedes to get a real feel for what it sounds like on a high quality stereo system.  We won’t get into how someone winds up with a spare luxury vehicle. 

Thankfully, it sounds fantastic.  I can’t wait for you all to hear it.  Quinlan worked his producer magic and Ben Phillips (who also played drums, and when I say played, I mean committed pre-meditated murder and other high crimes of passion with his skills) mixed the record juuuust right…  like that last bowl of porridge. 

The record is going to be called “Bluebird,” and you will be able to get it very soon.  I have high hopes that you will love it.  As for me, I finally had to return the Benz, but the tunes kept their groove even without the leather seats and cool October breezes. (But it was fun while it lasted!).  Stay tuned for more updates, since now that the record is done, I will have more time for blogging.  Cheers!