This collection of songs has been long in the making and long in the waiting to be assembled and released. The songs were written mostly in the 1980s and recorded mostly in the 1990s. The songs were originally conceived as being on two different concept albums--one being "western" songs that were actually set in the west and the other being rockabilly type songs. Neither set was actually complete enough to become albums and the songs were set aside as I worked on another album of folk and singer-songwriter songs that I'm still working on.

To complicate things, I was not able to come up with a satisfying title for a long time. Like two years or so. It started out as Dead Man's Shoes, but I could never get comfortable with that for a title, even though the song is a winner (Honorable Mention, Billboard Song Contest 1995, Rock category. Go figure!) Sombrero Serenade was another possiblity as I really wanted to use the picture of lil Pedro Pepper. But the album isn't really tex-mex enough to support that concept. I also considered Travelin' and now, with the encouragement of my friend, wife and advisor, have settled upon it.

Then there was the artwork. It's taken a long time to settle on that. Seems every aspect of releasing this set of songs is fraught with indecision. At least I've decided to let it out there, and whatever the package looks like or the title is, the songs are the main thing.

The problem is I didn't follow my own advice in this case, which is to start with the art, as outlined in my 12 step approach to making an album .

The songs are listed in the column to the right, not necessarily in the order they will be on the album. Those with links you can download and listen to without having to eventually buy the CD when it comes out. However, the mastered mixes on the CD will sound way better.

Uncle Mike's Music Works | Far Beyond Publishing
Poetry Works | Images | 60/40

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Sombrero
Travelin
We Couldn’t Make It
Dead Man’s Shoes
Three Dollar Guitar
Pocatello Belle
Oregon Border
Get Down The Road
Midas and Me
Sharlet
After While
Love Is Good
That Boogie Thing

Zip Disk Shuffle (99)
Probably a rockabilly style. Getting the files from here to there. Web bonus song