Richie with Alex MacDougall
The “country song classic” project I’m working artists/writers who made them “hits” come in norm for many years. Tell us about this project
on with my longtime friend Val Garay (1979 as guest and appear with this 75-year-old guy of classic country songs and iconic studio
– I Still Have Dreams) is a unique project for who loved their music. We’ll see! musicians? The track listing that you showed
me since previously I have written most of the me covered and honored everyone from
songs I record. When Val approached me with George Jones to Ricky Nelson.
the idea, once again I was reluctant (I do want
to retire), but when we started to talk further [Richie] I was just as amazed as you were,
and assemble songs it seemed very much playing with such talent makes recording so
like something worthwhile. I had in my mind easy. Many times, touring musicians don’t
to do a project of songs that had touched my realize the specialty of the studio musician.
heart in a special way and when several of the [WM] Visiting with you recently in the studio The musicians for this project were assembled
songs turned up on various lists, I was all in. here in Nashville, was very special. It was an by Val and we had the very best Nashville has
It has been so exciting working with such an amazing sight for me to see so many legendary to offer; Dan Dugmore, steel guitar and guitar;
accomplished producer/engineer again and studio players, most of whom are well-aged, all Tom Bukovac, guitar; Chris Luezinger, guitar;
the songs are turning out to be exceptional (in in one room and tracking together live on your Glenn Worf, bass; Victor Indrizzo, drums; and
my humble opinion). We had some of the very project. They were excited to be associated Steve Nathan, keyboards. We did 14 songs in
best musicians in Nashville record the basic with someone so important to music. Walt four days and the only one we didn’t do was
tracks and we’re well under way in finishing Disney had his legendary Nine Old Men in a George Jones song. But we did redo my
the project. I suppose some people are going his group of animators, and when I saw who “Pickin’ Up the Pieces”. As I am listening to the
to be curious about it, but each song has you and producer Val Garay (James Taylor, tracks with lead vocals on them, I am sure it’s
meant something special to me. We did not do Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Santana) had going to resonate with my fans and people who
karaoke versions of the songs but made them assembled, I was awestruck. It was literally don’t even have a clue as to who I am.
current as some go back as far as 1957, while a “who’s who” experience, watching these most are from the 1990’s era. What’s really amazing players lay everything down live [WM] And aren’t there some new tunes on
exciting is the possibility of having some of the without layering overdubs, which has been the this as well?
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January 2020
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