Monday, August 24, 2020

Tracky-by-Track #7 -- Walking In The Rain was a poem I had written many years ago.

 This is about no one in particular; it is a mélange of people I’ve known over the years. I’ve always been fascinated about the idea of rain, and sadness and depression .. and yet the rain is a bringer of new life as well. Lots of imagery in this one. Musically I was going for a blues-pop feel like Jonny Lang or Clapton’s 1990s output. Come for the groove and imagery, stay for the long outro – where I let fly with some guitar. 😊

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Track-by-Track #6 - I Never Got To Say Goodbye

Track-by-Track #6 - I Never Got To Say Goodbye is a special song I’ve had in the files for years. Years ago, I had the honor of singing for the funeral of the mother of a friend of mine. It was a sad yet beautiful occasion. I wrote this song soon after; all those emotions come pouring out of you after an event like that. I kept the song to myself for years and never had an album or project to put it with.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Track-by-Track #5 Westbound

 

Track-by-Track #5 Westbound wasn’t something I had planned for the album. But as the project started to grow, I felt like it needed a bit of interlude or palette-cleanser (a musical sorbet, if you will). So, I wrote this from scratch and tracked it all in about 2 days.

And wouldn’t you know it, it’s one of the tracks people have told me they like the most. It just goes to show you. Sit back and enjoy a bit of blues guitar as we look off into the sunset of another highway drive.

https://soundcloud.com/ryansheeler/westbound?in=ryansheeler/sets/roads-weve-taken

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Track-by-Track #4 These Streets Have Changed

 

Track-by-Track #4 These Streets Have Changed is the other brand-new song on this collection. This is the one I’ve gotten the most positive response from so far...and I nearly left it off the album…

This is one of my favorite songs on the album, and one of my favorites of my own of all the songs I’ve ever written. After all the of the unrest of this year, I started reflecting this summer on some of my memories of when I was younger. I remember when I was very little, my brother and I would walk to school by ourselves. It was about a 6-block walk to school; and we thought nothing of it at all. But things have changed over the years, we are so distrustful of everyone and everything – seems like we have a lot of neighbors out there but not a lot of friends. And every day we continue to wonder where we went wrong.

“These streets have changed, from now and then. We used to be neighbors, now we’re not even friends.”


Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Track-by-Track #3 Set The Rain On Fire

Track-by-Track #3 Set The Rain On Fire - is another song idea I’ve had for a while. But this time I did almost complete re-write so it’s essentially a brand-new song. I was thinking back – knowing what I know now what would I tell my 14-16-year-old self? I would tell myself to go after things and do not be afraid of something before you start – at the same time try to recognize when the opportunity is there. “Set the rain on fire, but don’t chase the wind”. I wanted a good blues number to rock out with and play some guitar – it’s ok to turn this one up a bit.


Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Track -by-Track #2 Roads We've Taken

 Track-by-Track #2 Road’s We’ve Taken – is a song I’ve had around for a while now and slightly re-wrote for this project.   My favorite school years were in elementary school; it seems like those were the best years before life got crazy.  I still have life-long friends from those days who I talk to regularly – this song is for all of them.  I had some wonderful teachers in those days as well – ones who shaped me greatly.   We don’t thank our teachers enough I think – I took the time out to thank them in the bridge.  

“We were all a little younger than…younger than our dreams”

 

Track-by-Track #1 Route 65

Track-by-Track #1. Route 65 – is a nice little instrumental ditty to open the album with. Dan Fogelberg often opened his albums with little instrumental pieces of various styles, and it was a great way to set the mood. I always really enjoyed that. Years ago, I often played for the Summer Farmer’s Market at the historic Niland Café and Hotel (off Highway 65 and old Lincoln Highway 30). It is was a great time and a wonderful little spot in small-town Iowa. Sit back and enjoy a nice summer evening with a bit of finger-pickin’ goodness.