Kyle "K. Edward" Smith has written an album with themes of reaching, of searching, and just as important - memorable melodies and great collaborators. I was fortunate to play violin on several tracks including this one. I am super excited for this album to be my debut on a vinyl record release. Visit kedwardsmith.com to learn more!

"When a song is a friend" episode featuring a review of the song "Blue Canoe" by Blue Mountain. Guest: Jason Monroe (Bottle Rocket Blue, The Texarkana Two)

Stream/ Purchase Blue Canoe

"I recovered out loud so others wouldn't suffer in silence." Russ Taff. A review of his song 1987 song "Believe in Love," and appreciation for his upcoming album "Cover Story."

A new episode option for me - reviewing songs that have been friends to me over the years; companions for life's journey. Sometimes I'll have guests, sometimes it will be just me.

Stream Believe in Love https://youtu.be/yIxIOpAssHM?si=TY4SB7XnjNKBfonR

I had a vision of my Great Grandparents one night when I first heard Daniel perform this song. It was a gift I've never forgotten. Learn more about Daniel ML at danielml.com

There are two ways to enjoy a song: you can feel it as a whole, or you can be aware of all the parts that make it. For the first time on the pod, we have two guests; and both are adept at both ways to encounter music. Brannon Hancock played on and produced the session for today’s song and my Uncle Steve Peck is an enthusiastic fan of it from its release to today.

https://www.tomadamsonmusic.com

The name of Steve’s Facebook music blog is Hickory Notes.

My sister Sarah is three years younger than me. We saw and experienced many of the same things growing up. In making this episode, it occurred to me this fact is an underused resource when reflecting on the past. Consider this, you have your memories, but your sibling, who was also there, is like another camera angle, if you will. In talking to them, you can learn so much more than you remember. Sarah and I began our conversation around a 2002 demo of mine called “How Come?” and go on to reminisce a little about 1980s charity singles.

“More than a songwriter, I’m an artist, “declares Troy Yeager, lead singer of Bottle Rocket Blue, “I have a need to create in whatever I’m doing.” Troy and I unpack the influences and the crafting of “Baby One More Shot” a staple of the Bottle Rocket Blue shows. Troy and I wrote the song together in September of 2003, on the day Johnny Cash died. Towards the end of the interview you’ll hear rare, live clips from BRB shows in the ‘00s. Stream [Bottle Rocket Blue](https://open.spotify.com/artist/23RYqtavqg1rK2XAVivzRf?si=8jFmpBaNQy-Om4jGKo9--Ab). Check out Troy’s podcast https://theflipsidepodcast.weebly.com/ more on Tom https://www.tomadamsonmusic.com

When inspired by real life events, an artist has to place their work somewhere between two extremes: journalism on one end or poetic license on the other. When something difficult happened in my life, it reminded me of other real people deeper in my past. Writing about their difficulties felt cathartic. But the first draft of “God Only Knows” was too close to the truth, almost tabloid; “tell all” in a way. But with the help of friends, I decided to revise in the direction of poetic license - changing details and introducing fiction - for the final version. But when performing it, I can still feel the identification and catharsis. Our conversation with Mike continues as we unpack the song “God Only Knows,” by Tom Adamson and the Automatic Rhythm Section. https://www.tomadamsonmusic.com