Does CD Packaging Matter to You?
Things have really changed with the advent of music downloads. It’s a positive for me because sales of my music are 8-to-1 with regard to download vs. CD. I actually didn’t expect that to happen, thinking that most folks who purchase New Age style music prefer the CD version. But I’ve also come to understand that listeners of the genre don’t necessarily put as much importance on the CD insert, with artwork and liner notes, as the music. So downloads outnumber CD purchases.
With that said, does it then matter what the packaging of a CD is? A friend of mine has settled on packaging his CDs in a polyvinyl sleeve with the insert. Simple. Very cost effective – for us musicians.
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3 ‘Ancient Elements’ Songs Chosen for Documentary
Michael & Steve are excited that three songs from the ‘Ancient Elements’ album were selected for inclusion in the highly important documentary Disappointment Valley, a film about the current plight of, and salvation for, the American wild horse. Did you know that for the sake of big oil money the BLM is rounding up wild horses and selling them for destruction to meat plants? Please visit Saving the American Wild Horse to learn more.
Songs selected for the film: Into The Canyon, Unbroken Spirit and The Forgotten Plains
New Album Coming : Silent Voices
Silent Voices Cover
Since about January of this year I’ve been recording compositions for a new solo Fingerstyle guitar album. I will be finishing it up over the next two or three weeks and then moving on to final production. Look for a Summer release date, perhaps sometime in August.
The songs on this album reflect the deep feelings we have when experiencing various occasions in our life. These feelings are the silent voices…what we think and say to ourselves inwardly during these experiences. We feel crushed or hopeful, we think it was our failure or just circumstance; but we survive these occasions and continue on.
Listen to “I Miss You”
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Sometimes A Struggle
I’ll say it right from the beginning…I am a Christ follower. I have been since 1974, for 36 years now. Those who have bought my CDs may already know this from reading the credits; I always first thank “the dreamer within . . . Christ”.
I need to admit though that at times I have struggled as to whether I should make this more prominently known to the listeners of my music. Why? Because I want the music to be determined listenable on its own merit, and not by who the artist is. I am probably only to myself overemphasizing this point; since not one listener of my music with whom I’ve conversed has ever said they tossed out my CDs because I’m a Christ follower.
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So, Do I Move Closer?
Somewhere back in 1983/84 the word ‘minstrel’ was spoken to me, representing the type of musician I am. I took to it – I knew within it was a sure word. But what I thought should happen after that word never did. I didn’t go on to be a regular fixture in the church music scene. Matter of fact, by 1986 I was out of the “scene” altogether.
I just went on about my musical life without regard to that word previously spoken. Around 1988/89 I more fully found my true musical self as I dove into listening to and composing instrumental songs, somewhat influenced by John Michael Talbot and Acoustic Alchemy. Interesting, because a minstrel is an instrumentalist.
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‘Ancient Elements’ has Arrived!
Ancient Elements Cover
This is my first collaborative album with Steve Rushingwind. Steve plays the Native American flute and does so wonderfully. He and I connected through a mutual friend and in three months time we wrote and recorded this album.
The album title stems from mine and Steve’s mutual respect for, and the influence of, music of the ancients and the natural elements.
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New Fingerstyle Album by Paul Briscoe…
Paul is a friend and fellow Fingerstyle guitarist from Otley, UK. He and I came to know one another by way of Walden guitars…we both highly regard them and own several. Paul has released a wonderful Fingerstyle album titled “Warts ‘N’ All“. If you’ve enjoyed my solo guitar recording then you must get “Warts ‘N’ All“! Purchase the CD at his web site Chevin Sounds.
Give a listen to one of the songs:
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Isn’t that good?!
