Americana Motel
The idea behind this project was to get the top americana artists and songwriters in the mid-atlantic region to record new versions of each others songs, and to sit in on each others sessions.
It was a real pleasure to work with all these great musicians and writers, and I am very proud to have recorded, produced and mixed it. I even played on some of the tracks.
Featuring Last Train Home, Mike Auldridge, John Starling, Jimmy Gaudreau, Bill Kirchen, Kevin Johnson, Karl Straub, The Grandsons, Ruthie & the Wranglers and many more!
“Crackles with the kind of organic purity that’s missing from the high-gloss world of pop…deserves a big, big audience. Top 10 of the year!” – Jim Fusilli, The Wall Street Journal.
This unique project is a window into the americana, alt-country, no depression, roots rock, whatever-you-call it scene today.
The album closer is Karl Straub’s “Don’t Take Advice”, which has to be one of the more humorous tunes ever written. I include the lyrics here for your pleasure.
Don’t Take Advice (Karl Straub)
If your grass is wet
Don’t try to mow it
If there’s still fish to catch
Don’t head for shore
Don’t try to sing a song
If you don’t know it
Don’t track that mud
On Mom’s clean floor
Don’t apologize
If you don’t mean it
Don’t take the chicken out
Way before it’s done
Don’t discuss a film
If you haven’t seen it
Don’t wait ’til 4 am
To clean your gun
Don’t give a baby a zippo lighter
Don’t tease monkeys, run with scissors
Or cut down a redwood tree
Don’t take advice from a songwriter
And whatever you do
Don’t be like me
Don’t read a newspaper
If you are drivin’
Don’t stand a foot away
When something blows up
Don’t curse your girlfriend
for not arrivin’
If she looks pretty
When she shows up
Don’t fix anything
that isn’t broken
Don’t slam tequils shots
And try to shave your head
Don’t think about what to say
After you’ve spoken
Don’t haunt a house
If you’re not dead
Don’t give a baby a zippo lighter
Don’t tease monkeys, run with scissors
Or cut down a redwood tree
Don’t take advice from a songwriter
And whatever you do
Don’t be like me
Don’t watch the TV news
Until you go nuts
Don’t stand behind a horse
If he’s awake
Don’t run a red light
Near Dunkin’ Donuts
Don’t drive a brand new car
Into a lake
Don’t leave your house
Without your pants on
Don’t unjam a stapler
With your thumbs
Don’t send a telegram
To Charles Manson
Don’t give your teenage son
A set of drums
Don’t give a baby a zippo lighter
Don’t tease monkeys, run with scissors
Or cut down a redwood tree
Don’t take advice from a songwriter
And whatever you do
Don’t be like me
Don’t fall in love
with someone who’s already taken
Don’t slow down to a crawl
So you can see a wreck
Don’t grow dreadlocks
If you’re white and not Jamaican
And please try not to obsess about
Star Trek
If you’re running late
Don’t flood your engine
Don’t see movies that are built around
Tom Cruise
Don’t use aspot welder
If you’re not gonna pay attention
If you’re a white teenager
Please don’t sing the blues
Don’t give a baby a zippo lighter
Don’t tease monkeys, run with scissors
Or cut down a redwood tree
Don’t take advice from a songwriter
And whatever you do
Don’t be like me