© 2023
Jeff Wyatt (SOCAN). All arrangements by Jeff Wyatt.
**************************
Album
Title:
PRIVY TO THE BLUES
Label:
Cardboard Alley Music
Catalogue
No.:
CAM-012
Release
Date:
June
22nd, 2017
Availability:
This album is available by contacting this website only at
this time
Produced
by:
Jeff Wyatt
Recorded
at:
Cardboard Alley Music recording
facility, Burnaby BC, between 2011 and 2016
Engineered
& Mixed by:
Jeff Wyatt
Mastered
with:
T-RackS 3
Deluxe
Art
Work & Cover Design by:
Janice and Jeff Wyatt
Photography
by:
Darren Quarin
Particulars:
8th solo album. Vocals, Guitar and Keyboards performed by
Jeff Wyatt. Digital percussion programmed by Jeff Wyatt.
Recorded on a dual processor PowerMac G5. Mixed and
mastered on a Mac Mini. Software used included
Digidesign
Pro Tools,
Reason,
Miroslav Philharmonik
and a
host of IK Multimedia processors
available in
T-RackS 3
Deluxe.
PRIVY
TO THE BLUES is a collection of 11 blues influenced, guitar
featured tracks. 8 are original Jeff Wyatt compositions and
3 are public domain standards from the early 20th century
which Jeff interprets with his signature guitar and vocal
work. The public domain works included here are GOOD
MORNING, SCHOOL GIRL (by John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson
1st), CROSSROADS (by Robert Johnson) and ROLL AND TUMBLE
(original writer unknown). Photo by Darren Quarin of Quarin
Photography.
TRACK 1:
A SIMPLE CASE OF NOTHING is a repeated 12 bar blues
structure with lyrics that express a sarcasm, expressing
the general thought,… calm down, relax and don’t bug me
wasting my time with your crap. In the last verse there is
even a playful reference to Harry Nilsson’s 1971 classic
COCONUT, commonly known as PUT THE LIME IN THE COCONUT.
Jeff says,…
“No need to be intense, give your belly ache a drink.
What were those 2 ingredients?
Lime in the coconut I think.
Mix it up proceed to pourin’
But don’t you call me in the morning.”
TRACK 2:
Over The decades we've all heard released renditions of the
song GOOD MORNING LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL based on Sonny Boy
Williamson 1st GOOD MORNING, SCHOOL GIRL from 1937.
Although the various interpretations vary and are excellent
in their own right, few if any capture Sonny Boy's
original, odd 19 bar repeat pattern. Finding this structure
unique and intriguing (and somewhat awkward to play at
first), Jeff decided to release his own version based very
closely on the original. The main difference is that he
made it contemporary with electric guitar, upright bass and
drum kit. The original release by Sonny Boy was humbly, but
effectively recorded with only acoustic guitar and
harmonica instrumentation accompanying the vocal; i.e. in
the common uncluttered style of many 1930s blues
recordings.
TRACK 3:
With MY WANDERING EYES Jeff wanted to keep things simple,
trying to include catchy guitar riffs and a lyric that
expresses a pathetic guy who is in love with a woman who
treats him badly. And what is he doing about it? Nothing.
He’s feeling too beaten down and too entrenched to walk
away at the moment, but he’s always secretly looking out
for more appropriate relationship opportunities.
TRACK 4:
CROSSROADS (originally titled CROSS ROAD BLUES and released
in 1936 by Robert Leroy Johnson) has been recorded many
times over and is recorded here electric, featuring slide
guitar and with a completely new upbeat groove. The double
shot D Major accent on the half beats whenever that 1 chord
occurs is apparent, in your face and catchy. Included also
is an additional tongue-in-cheek verse penned by Jeff.
“I’m goin’ up to the country, a place called Juke Joint
Hill,
I’m goin’ up to the country, a place called Juke Joint
Hill,
If the liquor don’t kill you well,... the women will.”
TRACK 5:
EL BANDIDO is the only guitar instrumental on the album. It
has a galloping groove and a somewhat Spanish flavor on the
electric guitar. When Jeff wrote this he was picturing a
Mexican bandido riding off on his horse to make a clean get
away from danger.
TRACK 6:
Jeff previously released an electric blues version of his
song CORAE CORAE back in 2008 on the album REFLECTIONS AT
EVERY CORNER. This time, after being influenced by ragtime
blues guitar artists from the 1930’s, he decided to
re-write and record a ragtime version of this, stripped
down with only acoustic guitar and vocal. To differentiate
it from his original version it is appropriately titled
CORAE CORAE (RAGTIME VERSION).
TRACK 7:
With I’M BACK ON MY FEET Jeff attempted to capture the
country blues style of the early to mid 20th century,
however electric. After the guy in the song has been
emotionally knocked down over and over like a proverbial
punching bag from a bad relationship, he’s finally
confident and back on his feet.
TRACK 8:
The country blues standard ROLL AND TUMBLE (also titled
ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’ and ROLL AND TUMBLE BLUES) has been
interpreted and recorded hundreds of times since the early
20th century. Jeff also gives this an electric slide guitar
treatment, trying to make his version somewhat unique in
style.
TRACK 9:
Jeff’s maternal grandfather was near and dear to him. Some
of his fondest memories are of watching his Romanian Grampa
Ted put on and lace up his above ankle European style
boots. Ted laced them slow and with conviction,… almost
ceremonial. It’s amazing what a child’s mind is impressed
by and remembers for a lifetime. The song GRAMPA’S BOOTS is
the result.
TRACK 10:
WEIGHT ON MY MIND was previously released in 1994 (and
re-mastered and re-released in 2011 on Jeff’s “Cardboard
Alley Music” label) as an acoustic guitar song with
accompanying vocal on a 4 track EP entitled THE BULLFROG
SESSION. The difference here is that it is performed
electric with accompanying bass and drums.
TRACK 11:
The album ends with the title track PRIVY TO THE BLUES.
After decades of living, Jeff is definitely “privy to” or
“well acquainted with” and literally “hangin’ out with” the
blues on occasion, even in the company of others. That’s
expressed in the phrase “me and you make two, plus the
blues make three”. That’s just part of life. And the best
we can do is to try to learn from our troublesome
experiences and move on.