based Jankland Studios, where
most of “Long Journey Home”
was recorded. Other collabora-
tors include fiddler Garry Olear,
vocalist Corey Wagar, guitar-
ist Jim Celestino, drummer Joe
DeAngelo, and guitarists Mike
and Pat Guadagno, the husband
and brother-in-law of the former
lieutenant governor.
Despite all these excellent con-
tributions, my favorite track is
Petillo’s powerful solo number
“The Vision,” a spare Paul Simon-
like acoustic prayer and dream
about a father’s love for a daugh-
ter that is fulfilled in the birth of
a grandchild. The imaginative
“The Last Cowboy” also stands
out. The rootsy story-song in the
tradition of “The Ballad of Ira
Hayes” and “Mr. Bojangles” is
about a homeless cowboy recall-
ing his last roundup, while sleep-
ing on a river bank and riding
the rails.
The painstakingly produced
beauty of “Long Journey Home”
made me cry not only because
of the touching sentiments ex-
Listen to “The Last Cowboy” by Joe Petillo
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 44
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