Carry The Word
Living on the Line
Break the Rules
Country Boy at Heart
Lonesome Homesick Blues
Freedom's Cowboy
Born on the Run
Lone Wolf
The Flagman
Grevous Angel
Moving Man
Memory Taking Flight
Gone With the Wind
I Believe
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Break the Rules
Country Boy at Heart
Lonesome Homesick Blues
Freedom's Cowboy
Born on the Run
Lone Wolf
The Flagman
Grevous Angel
Moving Man
Memory Taking Flight
Gone With the Wind
I Believe
Download All
New York City, Greenwich Village
Having gone to high school in Manhattan at Xavier, which is located on 16th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, Greenwich Village was a natural place to go after school. Besides, while in uniform one might go to a small deli on 6th Avenue and would be served beer. The truth is I had been going to the village for many years.
After my mother's dinner parties, we would go to the village for coffee at one of the many coffee houses which always had a poet, folksinger, or flamenco guitarist on stage. It was there that I was infected with the need to pursue the music that had always been in my soul since the first time I touched a piano at the age of 12.
My college years were 1962 to 1966 and when I hit the village I was a very young adult in 1964. I remember working the door at the Bleeker Street Tavern when a guy ran by and yelled, "Lenny just got busted". At eighteen I had no idea who Lenny was, but he turned out to be Lenny Bruce who was busted at the Café Au Go Go. Who know from Lenny Bruce at eighteen?
Late 1964 I had landed a job as doorman at the Bitter End and was occasionally hired as an opening act. I worked that job through college whenever I would be back in New York during Christmas, Easter, & summers.
During those days all the great folks were in town: Phil Ochs, Joni Mitchell, Tim Hardin, Fred Neil, Danny Kalb, Dave Van Ronk, and Al Kooper was about and about to come into the scene.
The Café Au Go Go went from a jazz and comic club to a blues club and by 1965 all hell broke loose as rock 'n roll and blues took over.
It has been my pleasure to have worked with: The Blues Project; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Jay and the Americans; John Phillips (The Mamas and the Papas); and to have known and loved Fred Neil and John Stewart, two of the greatest songwriters of our time.
Of course as all things change as they must, by 1967 we had moved uptown. One of the great shows we (The Blues Project) did was Murray the K's last Easter show at RKO Theater in New York. The headliner was Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels. We (The Blues Project) did 4 shows a day and the highlight of that engagement was when we shared a dressing room with Eric Clapton, who at that time was with Cream. We only had an hour and 20 minutes between shows and that lack of time resulted in sitting around the dressing room and playing guitar. At 21 to sit around the dressing room and play guitar with Eric Clapton and Danny Kalb were truly the Glory Days for me. I have never heard nor might I hear again, the finest guitar playing that Eric & Danny played in the dark dungeons of the dressing rooms at the RKO Theater.
It was experiences like these which gave me the love and understanding that music is truly a healer. To have been a witness to this has been the greatest blessing one might have and I will be eternally in their debt.
We did our thing during those days. We got high, learned, wrote and played our songs. No guns, violence, and more importantly, an absence of discrimination, which seems to be a key factor lacking in today's society. I realize we cannot return to the past, however the past of peace, love and flowers was truly embraceable, not just for that moment, but perhaps for a moment in time.
I am often asked when I perform live, where the songs come from (pardon the dangling preposition). As the lyrics on this recording are audible, I have decided to share the seeds of inspiration regarding each tune. Of course only God knows where songs are born, but respecting this, there are circumstances which may lead a writer to write. Whatever that process is, let me tell you it is truly divine and regardless of our co-creatorship with God, the beauty of music can only come from the other side, for our imperfections and foibles are so great that I do not believe they can be overcome by a sheer act of will. If you are reading this, thank you.
1. Living on the Line written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Strings, Vocals: Donald.
2. Break the Rules written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Guitar (right side): Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar (left side), Vocals: Donald.
3. Country Boy At Heart written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bill McDermott; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Leads & Slide Guitar: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald.
4. Lonesome Homesick Blues written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald.
5. Freedom's Cowboy written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Mandolin: Charles Lackey; Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Strings, Vocals: Donald.
6. Born on the Run written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald.
7. Lone Wolf written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Banjo: Charles Lackey; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Horns: Donald; Vocals: Ilene Angel, Donald.
8. The Flagman written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bill McDermott; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald.
9. Grevous Angel written by George Cummings, George Cummings Music, BMI. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Lead: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Piano; Vocals: Donald.
10. Moving Man written by Donald and Kimberlea Harmon, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Banjo: Charles Lackey; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald
11. Memory Taking Flight written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Frank; Drums: Jim Love; Electric Lead: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitars, Strings, Vocals: Donald.
12. Gone With the Wind written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Banjo: Charles Lackey; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald.
13. I Believe written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bucky Lindsay; Drums: Leyland Wadell; Synthesizer: Tony Robertson; Lap Slide: George Cummings; Acoustic Guitar, Piano: Donald; Lead Vocal: Donald; Background Vocals: Ilene Angel, Alan (Mr. Nashville) Cohen, Donald.
Basic tracks: Acoustic guitar, acoustic piano, strings, horns, and lead vocals recorded at RP Recording, Pine, CO, 303-838-8205, Bob Hockenberry, engineer and owner. I Believe and Memory Taking Flight were re-processed from cassette and reel-to-reel to fit digital format at RP Recording by Bob Hockenberry in Pine, CO. Bass, drums, electric guitars, banjo, mandolin, and all other vocals recorded at Dog Den Studios, Nashville, TN, 615-327-1205 under the direction of Bill (805) McDermott.
Carry the Word was mixed by Bill (805) McDermott. Carry The Word was arranged and produced by Bill (805) McDermott and Donald at Dog Den Studios, Nashville, TN, 615-327-1205.
With love and affection for: Fred & Ellie, Al & Sylvia Honig, Bruce & Mona, Daniel, Stuart, George, Larry Blakely, Richard & Mary Jane, Mary Ellen & George, Alan, Susanna & Hickory, Terry & Judith Dees, Joel & Catherine, Kimberlea, Cathy Griffin, Jason Elliott, Miss Emily and her clan, Ms. Mary Pobst, Don, Sukey, & Georgette, Bill & Brenda McDermott, Bob & Jo Ann Hockenberry, Shirley Rinchold, Constanzia (Ms. J), Elliott, and Sandra Baker, whose love and understanding made this project come to fruition.
Dedication
I would like to dedicate this work to my mother and father, Ruth & Jack, and my aunt and uncle, Arlene & Joseph, whose love, nurturing, and understanding were responsible for my being alive today.
I would also dedicate this work to three mentors, two of whom have passed away: Larry Shayne and Boudleaux Bryant, the third being Elliott Gould, who taught me more about myself than I would ever care to know.
Peace to the Spirit
Grace For The Soul
Carry The Word
- Donald
Having gone to high school in Manhattan at Xavier, which is located on 16th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, Greenwich Village was a natural place to go after school. Besides, while in uniform one might go to a small deli on 6th Avenue and would be served beer. The truth is I had been going to the village for many years.
After my mother's dinner parties, we would go to the village for coffee at one of the many coffee houses which always had a poet, folksinger, or flamenco guitarist on stage. It was there that I was infected with the need to pursue the music that had always been in my soul since the first time I touched a piano at the age of 12.
My college years were 1962 to 1966 and when I hit the village I was a very young adult in 1964. I remember working the door at the Bleeker Street Tavern when a guy ran by and yelled, "Lenny just got busted". At eighteen I had no idea who Lenny was, but he turned out to be Lenny Bruce who was busted at the Café Au Go Go. Who know from Lenny Bruce at eighteen?
Late 1964 I had landed a job as doorman at the Bitter End and was occasionally hired as an opening act. I worked that job through college whenever I would be back in New York during Christmas, Easter, & summers.
During those days all the great folks were in town: Phil Ochs, Joni Mitchell, Tim Hardin, Fred Neil, Danny Kalb, Dave Van Ronk, and Al Kooper was about and about to come into the scene.
The Café Au Go Go went from a jazz and comic club to a blues club and by 1965 all hell broke loose as rock 'n roll and blues took over.
It has been my pleasure to have worked with: The Blues Project; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Jay and the Americans; John Phillips (The Mamas and the Papas); and to have known and loved Fred Neil and John Stewart, two of the greatest songwriters of our time.
Of course as all things change as they must, by 1967 we had moved uptown. One of the great shows we (The Blues Project) did was Murray the K's last Easter show at RKO Theater in New York. The headliner was Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels. We (The Blues Project) did 4 shows a day and the highlight of that engagement was when we shared a dressing room with Eric Clapton, who at that time was with Cream. We only had an hour and 20 minutes between shows and that lack of time resulted in sitting around the dressing room and playing guitar. At 21 to sit around the dressing room and play guitar with Eric Clapton and Danny Kalb were truly the Glory Days for me. I have never heard nor might I hear again, the finest guitar playing that Eric & Danny played in the dark dungeons of the dressing rooms at the RKO Theater.
It was experiences like these which gave me the love and understanding that music is truly a healer. To have been a witness to this has been the greatest blessing one might have and I will be eternally in their debt.
We did our thing during those days. We got high, learned, wrote and played our songs. No guns, violence, and more importantly, an absence of discrimination, which seems to be a key factor lacking in today's society. I realize we cannot return to the past, however the past of peace, love and flowers was truly embraceable, not just for that moment, but perhaps for a moment in time.
I am often asked when I perform live, where the songs come from (pardon the dangling preposition). As the lyrics on this recording are audible, I have decided to share the seeds of inspiration regarding each tune. Of course only God knows where songs are born, but respecting this, there are circumstances which may lead a writer to write. Whatever that process is, let me tell you it is truly divine and regardless of our co-creatorship with God, the beauty of music can only come from the other side, for our imperfections and foibles are so great that I do not believe they can be overcome by a sheer act of will. If you are reading this, thank you.
1. Living on the Line written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Strings, Vocals: Donald.
2. Break the Rules written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Guitar (right side): Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar (left side), Vocals: Donald.
3. Country Boy At Heart written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bill McDermott; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Leads & Slide Guitar: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald.
4. Lonesome Homesick Blues written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald.
5. Freedom's Cowboy written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Mandolin: Charles Lackey; Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Strings, Vocals: Donald.
6. Born on the Run written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald.
7. Lone Wolf written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Banjo: Charles Lackey; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Horns: Donald; Vocals: Ilene Angel, Donald.
8. The Flagman written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bill McDermott; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald.
9. Grevous Angel written by George Cummings, George Cummings Music, BMI. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Electric Lead: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Piano; Vocals: Donald.
10. Moving Man written by Donald and Kimberlea Harmon, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Banjo: Charles Lackey; Electric Guitars: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald
11. Memory Taking Flight written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Frank; Drums: Jim Love; Electric Lead: Bill McDermott; Acoustic Guitars, Strings, Vocals: Donald.
12. Gone With the Wind written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bob Marinelli; Drums: Bill McDermott; Banjo: Charles Lackey; Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Donald.
13. I Believe written by Donald, Running Wolf Music, ASCAP. Bass: Bucky Lindsay; Drums: Leyland Wadell; Synthesizer: Tony Robertson; Lap Slide: George Cummings; Acoustic Guitar, Piano: Donald; Lead Vocal: Donald; Background Vocals: Ilene Angel, Alan (Mr. Nashville) Cohen, Donald.
Basic tracks: Acoustic guitar, acoustic piano, strings, horns, and lead vocals recorded at RP Recording, Pine, CO, 303-838-8205, Bob Hockenberry, engineer and owner. I Believe and Memory Taking Flight were re-processed from cassette and reel-to-reel to fit digital format at RP Recording by Bob Hockenberry in Pine, CO. Bass, drums, electric guitars, banjo, mandolin, and all other vocals recorded at Dog Den Studios, Nashville, TN, 615-327-1205 under the direction of Bill (805) McDermott.
Carry the Word was mixed by Bill (805) McDermott. Carry The Word was arranged and produced by Bill (805) McDermott and Donald at Dog Den Studios, Nashville, TN, 615-327-1205.
With love and affection for: Fred & Ellie, Al & Sylvia Honig, Bruce & Mona, Daniel, Stuart, George, Larry Blakely, Richard & Mary Jane, Mary Ellen & George, Alan, Susanna & Hickory, Terry & Judith Dees, Joel & Catherine, Kimberlea, Cathy Griffin, Jason Elliott, Miss Emily and her clan, Ms. Mary Pobst, Don, Sukey, & Georgette, Bill & Brenda McDermott, Bob & Jo Ann Hockenberry, Shirley Rinchold, Constanzia (Ms. J), Elliott, and Sandra Baker, whose love and understanding made this project come to fruition.
Dedication
I would like to dedicate this work to my mother and father, Ruth & Jack, and my aunt and uncle, Arlene & Joseph, whose love, nurturing, and understanding were responsible for my being alive today.
I would also dedicate this work to three mentors, two of whom have passed away: Larry Shayne and Boudleaux Bryant, the third being Elliott Gould, who taught me more about myself than I would ever care to know.
Peace to the Spirit
Grace For The Soul
Carry The Word
- Donald