At long last, just over two years after my wife bought me a digital recorder, I've finally put together my first self-produced CD, "Slant Six & Other Love Songs." I did the recording and the mixing, but I hired a pro - Miles-Kevin Baron - to do the mastering. With Miles' help, I believe I've managed to create the feel of a three or four-piece band in a small venue with you, the listener, in the front row, which is how I envisioned most of these songs being performed. (Although on a couple of these tracks - Right Kinda Hurtin' and Greed - you might want to crank up the volume and the bass to get the full power of these two tunes.)

This album is a showcase for 11 of the many songs I've written over a span of almost 30 years. Several of these songs have been previously recorded with a full band - some with my vocals, others with someone else singing. But a song performed by a band is naturally influenced by the musical interpretation of each of the players, so, though arguably improved musically, the final collaboration seldom truly conveys the original intent of the composer. And though I've been working on my guitar playing for almost 40 years, I have - maddeningly enough - received more compliments on my singing than my guitar playing (nonetheless, I would hardly describe myself as a vocalist). Several people who have heard recordings of others singing my songs have commented that they'd like to hear my vocal renditions of those songs. So, for better or worse, I elected to perform all the parts I could on this album, which includes the guitars, the bass, and the vocals. Therefore, what one hears on these parts is exactly what I intended, given my limited ability to make my fingers and voice to create what I hear in my head and feel in my soul.

However, my few attempts at drumming many years ago made it quite clear that I should content myself with playing the guitar. Luckily, I've been playing these same songs off and on with a particular drummer, Al Schwartz, since 1974, and consequently he was quite able to provide the drum tracks most adequately. (In fact, I'm sure more than one listener will find the drums the strongest part of the album.)

If you would like a copy of my demo CD, email me at: