JOHN COWAN - SIXTY [DELUXE EDITION] Compass 4630 Release date: 8/26/14 1. The Things I Haven’t Done (Bruce Coughlan) Bruce Coughlan Music (SESAC) The opening track, by Bruce Coughlan, a talented singer-songwriter from British Columbia with whom I’ve had the privilege of collaborating over the years, captures the theme of Sixty: I’ve been blessed with an amazing life and career. As with most of us, my journey has not been without loss and sacrifice, but by and large, I’ve been able to make a living doing what I love. One of the joys in my life has been to sing on records of people I admire greatly. Singing on Rodney Crowell’s recordings since the landmark “Houston Kid,” has been a source of great pride and satisfaction for me. I was a fan of his long before our lives intersected and we became friends. Having Rod on this song means very much to me. Alison Brown - Banjo | Rodney Crowell - Background Vocal, Lead Vocal on Bridge | Danny Flowers - Harmonica | Jim Pugh - B3 Organ | Ed Toth - Drums | John Cowan - Bass | John McFee - Acoustic 6 and 12-String Guitars, Electric 12-String Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals 2. Why Are You Crying (Rick Roberts) Hori Pro Entertainment Group Inc. dba Sixteen Stars Music (BMI)/Reservoir 416 (BMI) After dropping out of my first year of college in Indiana (where I seemingly confused GPA with THC), I moved back to Louisville, Kentucky, to pursue “the dream.” While working in a car wash full time and playing music on the weekends, I met a budding young concert promoter by the name of Rusty Lovell. Hanging out listening to records in his basement, Rusty introduced me to Gram Parsons’ solo music and The Flying Burrito Brothers. I loved the Burritos and Gram, but the record I wanted to hear over and over was what has become known as the “blue” F.B.B. album. Gram had left the band, and Rick Roberts was recruited to share vocal duties with Chris Hillman and Bernie Leadon. I’ve always just had “a thing” for this song. Who knew in that basement in 1973 that I’d record it one day with both Bernie and Chris playing and singing on it? Chris Hillman - Mandolin, Vocals | Bernie Leadon - Banjo | John McFee - Acoustic Guitar, High String Guitar, Dobro, Vocals 3. Devil Woman (Marty Robbins) BMG Platinum Songs o/b/o Mariposa Music (BMI) One of the many things that my record producer John McFee and I have in common is our love for traditional country music. I’m guessing more people know John from his tenure as a principal member of The Doobie Brothers than as one of the founders of the genre-busting Clover or Southern Pacific. The rest of the story about John McFee is that he grew up in California playing ONLY Bakersfieldera country music on the pedal steel guitar, fiddle, Dobro, and Fender Telecaster. One of John’s first questions to me after I’d asked him to produce this record was, “Do you like Marty Robbins?” I’m glad he asked and had the vision for this. Glad also to have the sweet, authentic sounds of Luke Bulla on fiddles and Viktor Krauss on bass. Luke Bulla - Violin | Viktor Krauss - Upright Bass | John McFee - Pedal Steel, Baritone Guitar, Piano, Vibes, Drums, Vocals 4. Miss The Mississippi (And You) (William Heagney) Peer-Southern Organization o/b/o Southern Music Pub. Co. Inc. (ASCAP) I recorded this song with one thing in mind: to honor Doc Watson, his wife Rosa Lee, son Merle, and the entire Watson clan from Deep Gap, North Carolina. I am very familiar with “The Singing Brakeman,” Jimmie Rodgers’ recording from 1932—in fact, mine may be closer to that version than to Doc’s. But I learned to love the beauty of this song from Doc’s Memories album. I, of course, met Doc and Merle as a member of New Grass Revival, and the kindness and support the whole Watson family bestowed upon a bunch of young, well-meaning but crazy hippie musicians has stayed with me all this time. John Jorgenson’s clarinet ensemble and his guitar solo are, in my opinion, stun- ning. When John McFee and I brought this to Guy Allison for keyboards, John advised me not to say too much and just let Guy be creative. I said one sentence to Guy: “Think ‘Louisiana’ or ‘Marie’ by Randy Newman.” Guy Allison - Piano | John Jorgenson - Clarinet, Lead Acoustic Guitar | Viktor Krauss - Upright Bass | John McFee - Violin | Orchestration by Guy Allison and John McFee 5. Helplessness Blues (Robin Pecknold) Kobalt Songs Music Publishing o/b/o Foxes Fellowship (ASCAP) My appreciation for Robin Pecknold and the Fleet Foxes is pretty stout. Anyone in my age group (or otherwise) who says there aren’t great young bands and artists clearly isn’t paying much attention. Once I decided to attempt this tune, I faced the task of serving the spirit of the author’s words and melodies. John and I thought a fitting template would be Crosby, Stills & Nash’s treatment of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock,” in terms of tempo and timbre. As someone who, to this day, appreciates the axiom “speak truth to power,” this song resonates heavily with me. Ed Toth - Drums | John Cowan - Bass, Vocals | John McFee - Electric Guitar, 12-String Guitar, Pedal Steel, Slide Guitar, Vocals 6. Rising From The Ashes (John McFee/Andre Pessis) Wixen Music Publishing, Inc. o/b/o Long Tooth Music (BMI)/Bob-A-Lew Songs o/b/o Endless Frogs (ASCAP) This song, written by John McFee & Andre Pessis, brings to mind the Sam Bush/Steve Brines songs that we recorded in New Grass in the ‘70’s, like “The Dancer,” Child In The Rain,” or “And He Said I Love You.” Having my old buddy Sam on fiddle seemed like the perfect choice. Sam Bush - Fiddle | Viktor Krauss - Upright Bass | Frank Solivan - Vocals | Andrea Zonn - Vocals | John McFee - Acoustic Guitars, Dobro, Mandolin, Banjo (cont.) 7. Happiness (Paul Buchanan) Kobalt Songs Music Publishing o/b/o Paul Buchanan (ASCAP) The Blue Nile and Paul Buchanan: what can I say? I’m just a die-hard fan. The first time I heard Guy Allison’s gorgeous, lush keyboard work on this track, I was moved to tears. The other thing about this track for me is Bonnie Bramlett. We have been friends for a good while and have done our share of singing together. The truth is (and I’ve told her this more than once) that for a lot of singers, myself included, we were given “voice” and the wings to fly by listening to Bonnie. My intentions for this track initially were to just have her sing solo over the “Happiness” outro choir. She had bigger ideas than that, and I’m glad we were smart enough to let her try them. This and all happi- ness is for you, Ms. Bonnie. Guy Allison - Keyboards | Bonnie Bramlett - Vocals | Sam Bush - Mandolin | Viktor Krauss - Upright Bass | Choir Vocals - Carol Cowan, Maya Burgess, Allegra Bulla, Maggie Beth Phelps, Ella Rose, Rachel Wahlman | Hand Claps - Carol Cowan, Maya Burgess, Allegra Bulla, Maggie Beth Phelps, Ella Rose, Rachel Wahlman, Brian Smith | John McFee - Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Autoharp 8. Fate Full Of Shadow (Bonus Track) (Peter Lewis) Peter Lewis (BMI) John McFee suggested this tune by Peter Lewis, and from my first listen to Peter’s version, it absolutely fascinated me lyrically. Peter is a founding member of The Moby Grape, who I’ve loved since their first record came out. Chris Hillman joined John and me on vocals for a bit of a “Grape stomp.” Chris Hillman - Vocals | Kenny Malone - Percussion | Victor Wooten - Fretless Bass | John McFee - Resonator Guitar, Dobro, Keyboards, Vocals 9. Run For Your Life (Bonus Track) (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) Sony/ATV Tunes LLC o/b/o Northern Songs Catalog (PRS) I have said on more than one occasion that The Beatles saved my life at age 11. All I can tell you is that for the first time I felt a part of something that had, all at once, noth- ing and everything to do with the world I was experiencing in 1964. It’s always enlightening AND beguiling to actually unlock a piece of music you swear you know by heart. For me, the key seemed to be less about inhabiting John Lennon’s gritty lead vocal than actually disassembling Paul McCartney and George Harrison’s non-linear background vocals and then executing them correctly. God bless the Fab Four! Jay Dee Maness - Pedal Steel | Jim Messina - Lead Electric Guitar | Ed Toth - Drums | Josh Williams - Acoustic Lead Guitar | John Cowan - Bass, Vocals | John McFee - Acous- tic Guitars, Dobro, Mandolin, Electric Guitar, Baritone Guitar 10. Who’s Gonna Cry For You (Luke Bulla/Glen Phillips) Redding Theory Music (ASCAP) Umami Music (ASCAP) This haunting number by Luke Bulla and Glen Phillips raises the question: What can we expect of others based upon our own behavior? It resonates with me in the echoes of things I’ve done that I’m not very proud of, and the assurance that I can do things differently. I have known Alison Krauss since she was a teenager. I sang on Alison’s first record, and after all these years, she graciously returned the favor—and of course, just hammered it. Alison Krauss - Vocals | Tony Pia - Drums | Jim Pugh - B3 Organ, Piano | Marc Russo - Saxophone | John Cowan - Bass | John McFee - Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar, 12-String Guitar, Keyboards 11. Sugar Babe (Jesse Colin Young) Pigfoot Music (ASCAP) Another nod to John McFee here for suggesting this song.