Fifteen years ago I stepped in front of a microphone at a recording studio in Louisville, Kentucky to record a song that I had written.  Just me and a guitar that I played badly at best and a song I enjoyed singing in the confines of my home music room with no one around to listen and…perish the thought…try to tell me what I was doing wrong.  I didn’t know if it was right, wrong, or indifferent.  I just wanted to sing my song.

So began a friendship between me and Jeff Carpenter, owner and engineer of Al Fresco’s Place Recording Studio.  Jeff handled me with kid gloves.  I suppose he realized he had such little raw material to work with at the time that he was best served just to let me be.  It worked out.

This many years later, I am ready for it to work out again.  The last time I recorded proper was a great session that produced six worthy numbers two years ago.

Let me back up.

In 2001 I recorded a collection of 14 of my own songs.  We called it Leap of Faith  because for me it was just that.  One day, when I am ready to hold forth on such a subject, I will report here how it came to be that I turned to playing the guitar and writing songs at the age of thirty.  I needed it.  Just ask Carrie, my dear wife.  Thank God I figured it out.

Over the course of recording sessions in 2004 and a renewal in 2006, I finished 14 more songs.  We called this one The Best Thing You Did Yesterday.  One of those songs was called She’s Gone with the Wind.  This is a hit song.  I can say I wrote a hit song.  No…it has not been recorded by anyone famous.  It has not received acclaim or radio airplay.  But…everyone that has ever heard that song, even some folks I don’t think really like me, have been thrown for the best when they heard it.  It still sounds very good.  I never tire of listening to it.  I can’t say that about many of the songs I have written and recorded.

Jeff Carpenter has been at the controls of every song I have ever recorded.  He is a Louisville Music Scene Institution.  All he wants is to make good music and be respected for doing it.  He has an ear that is true to what a song needs and a diplomatic streak that can talk the most umbrage seeking rock and roll wannabe into agreeing that, yes, Jeff (I call him Jefferson) is spot on with his assessment.

There is something so very special about being in the throes of a recording session.  It is like we are inside a little cocoon.  Nothing else is heard.  Nothing else is seen.  Nothing else finds its way between us and the music until our sensibility and better judgement has left us only to call time and live to record another day.  I think the word organic may actually fit here.  And I hate the misuse of that term.

I wrote a post here about Tim Krekel and how he helped me to make The Best Thing You Did Yesterday what it was.  Tim died in 2009.

When I went back to the studio in 2012, I knew I didn’t have Tim to fall back on as far as being on our side of the glass.  Jefferson did and does more than anyone could ask for on his side of the glass, as he is taking care of the sound and arrangements.  But…on my side of the glass…while I was working with guys I liked and respected… my safety net (Tim) was gone.  I had to grow up.  It was the most satisfying recording for me as an artist.  I was helping drive the sound this time. My guitar came alive and held its own.  I know…it may sound silly.  Yes….I did write all the songs (words and music).  Still, in the past I just handed them over and said okay, what can we do with this?

I have the itch again.  I want to call Jefferson and get some recording going.

The song I am hanging my biscuits on is a song I wrote for my dear wife, Carrie.

The Way I Wanna Go

Alongside the wintertime                                                                                                         There’s a laughter in the air

That still flows…not sure where it goes

But I know that we were there

We spoke of dreams we could share                                                                                     Through the highs and very lows…never sure how it will go

But as long just as long as you’re no more

Than an arm’s length away from me

Just as long as I can reach out

And pull you close to me

Well I know…that’s the way I wanna go

As the shadows grow longer

On the Eastern side of the ground

And the ocean that’s in front of me

Never ceases to bring me down

We’ll walk along this sand again

Not needing to say a word or make a sound                                                                         There’s a sweet roar in the air that follows us                                                                         Wherever we are bound

And I hope and I pray and I pray and I hope

As I place my arm around your shoulder

With you it feels like I am getting younger

As I am growing older

And I know….that’s the way I wanna go

Yes I know…that’s the way I wanna go

Speaking and singing the rights…

Danny Johnson