Liner Notes:
John Bell - vocals, guitars, mandolin
John Hermann - keyboards, vocals
Michael Houser - guitars, vocals
Todd Nance - drums
Domingo S. Ortiz - Percussion, vocals
David Schools - bass, vocals
With John Keane - guitars, vocals, pedal steel
David Blackmon - fiddle
Eric Carter - vocals
Adrienne Fishe/Ronnie Gizmo of the Cool Joe Funky Soul Symbols - vocals
Dwight Manning - oboe
When my sons were seventeen and nineteen (J.B. and Todd) there was a great discrepancy on their part on what to do with their lives. J.B. had played guitar and Todd played drums. Being retired from the Zambian Air Force marching band, they asked me for advice.
I told them I didn't give advice, but only emotional support. They asked what it took to be in the Z.A.F. I told them the three things men and women wanted in life were mystery, miracles, and patio furniture. They actually needed nothing, but life had grown to complexity, so they inquired what it took to start a group of musical compatriots. My answer and the answer is intention. Whether orthodox or unorthodox, disciplined or not, blocking trees, being a lasso instructor or a lariat importer didn't matter so they asked for money, I gave them $37.11. The two different mothers came up with $47.00, so they took off to find the other members of their band. I stressed they had to have six. Five and seven members would only be a threat. Six had to be the number.
They were in Channte, Kansas during a terrifying tornado, and pulled into a pizza joint. While in the restroom, they ran into a similar strained soul, whose name was Mike. Mike was a chemist and a guitarist and had been in Tibet studying the possibility that the alkaline essence of string instrument played at high levels of altitude had a magnificent resonance compared to playing at sea level. He had studied for five years that the koto, sitar, and mandolin had to be played at 8,217 ft. for their true sound to procure. His theses are now published in the well selling novel A Chemist and His Luggage.
The three made a bond. They were going to form a band. They knew the chemistry was right. The next instrument had to be a bass.
The three packed their bags and headed westward in a Chrysler 300 push button drive. Driving through the plains, they stopped at a restaurant right on the Colorado and Kansas line. The two brothers had always been competitive, and they wanted to race the last 100 ft. to see who got into Colorado first. Mike was the official starter. He was counting 1,2,3, when a flash of light from the sky lit the eastern half. When it ended the three of them saw a waffle 3 ft. high and 10 ft. wide come right to their car. The waffle had propellers, two antennas, and the missing link: Dave the bass player. Coming 200 yards from the highway (for no particular reason) the blast and the sound shook him. He had his headset on (listening to Monk, Bird, Trane, Miles). He walked up to the car and was in such a state of shock all he could say was "Bulk that was traumatized by state birds is traditionally backed by foreign money." This went on for hours, possibly half the day, but everything always works for the best, and they knew they had found their bassist.
They figured out now was the time to head north, right outside of glacier national park. They went into a bar and heard JoJo, a piano player with Montana soul and percussionist, Sunny, playing with the sensation of being stalked. They knew they were 5th and 6th. ( We cannot go into JoJo and Sunny's past due to the U.S. agreement between Japan and Madagascar dated October 17th, 1976.)
PANIC stricken from that moment on, grace was like a dry earthworm that looked upon everything equally.
-- Col. Hampton Ret.
Do with this what you wish, i.e., print as is, edit, or destroy.
Special thanks to Microwave and Samantha Woods Crew West Delk, Bill "Gomer" Jordan, Richard Kherlopian, Wayne Sawyer, D. Garrie Vereen, John Smiley Wilson
Widespread Panic Uses: Sabian Cymbals . Pete Englehart Metal Percussion . Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets . Rhythm Tech . Goff Professional Hammond B3 and Leslie Modulus Graphite Basses . GHS Strings
All songs written by WIDESPREAD PANIC, Widespread Music BMI except "Can't Get High" written by Daniel Hutchens and Eric Carter, Wet Trombone Music BMI and "Junior" from the song "Stay All Night" written by Junior Kimbrough, Holly Springs, MS., Mockingbird Blues, Publ. Ltd. BMI
Recorded at Keane Recording, Ltd., Athens, GA
Produced and engineered by John Keane
Assistant engineer David Barbe
Mixed by Clif Norrell and John Keane at Southern Tracks Recording Studio, Atlanta, GA
Mix assistance by Caram Costanzo
Mastered by Benny Quinn at Masterfonics, Nashville, TN
Cover Art and Booklet Back Art = James Mitchell
Photography = Wingate Downs / Jackie Jasper
Art Direction = Marcia Beverly / Widespread Panic
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