Track 1 is “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison. I had been told for years I needed to learn this Song. In the early Summer of 2006, I added it to my list and it quickly became one of my favorite Songs to sing and it always goes over with the listeners. For that matter, it seems you can’t go wrong with a Song by Van. The water, crickets and peepers you hear (these are also what you hear on my Home Page) were from Torch Lake, Michigan in the Fall of 2005, where I had a wonderful Time with some close Friends and their Family. Visit the “New Stuff” Page and follow the Links to the Quest for a bit more. (4:50)

 

Track 2 is “Pair of Ducks” (Paradox), a Tune from “She’s Going to Have a Baby”, a CD I recorded for my God-Daughter Jessie after I found out she was going to have a baby. Joy and concern were inter-mingled as I just let the Music pour out. I could almost see myself running from house to house shouting ,”She’s going to have a baby!!”, throughout this entire CD. The Cycle of Life is an awesome thing, deserving of Respect and worth Celebrating. I think it would be a wonderful thing if this young woman didn’t have to worry about $$$, and only had to think about the needs of the new family she is a part of. Please consider buying a bunch of her CDs to give away to friends and family who you think would enjoy the Music, as well as, being a part of this process. (5:01)

 

Track 3 is “Please Call Me” , one of my Songs. Kind of a not so platonic pledge to be there as a Friend. A Folksy Love Song with a lot of Heart poured into the vocals. On some level I think it may be one of those Songs written for the yet to be discovered Owner and on another level I think these feelings would be hard to bring forth without the surroundings we were a part of. Either way, I am a changed Man and am grateful for our Time in the Sun. (2:45)

 

Track 4 is “Requiem for the Hammer” . This recording was the first thing I recorded after the passing on of John “the Hammer” Sampson. He was one of Cincinnati's premier Drummers. He was a man well beloved by many and who will be missed by all. On my Home Page you will find a candle. Give it a click and it will take you to a Page dedicated to the Hammer. I pulled this one from “Electrified”, an experimental CD with lots of Guitar stuff going on. (2:44)

 

Track 5 is “Every Time I Roll the Dice” , a Song I picked up from Delbert McClinton. It was written by Max D. Barnes and Troy Seals. There is something powerful that takes place in a Man when he feels the Love and support from that special Woman… (3:22)

 

Track 6 is “Good to be Back” , a Dave Gilligan composition, embellished by the Flock members, that is seated prominently in the midst of their yet to be released CD. I was Blessed to be a part of the Flock lineup for around 4 years and am indebted to my fellow Flocksters for all the Inspiration they brought my way. They graciously allowed me to include this on my CD and for that I thank them. (3:25)

 

Track 7 is “Joyfully Blue” and is one of 2 Pieces I recorded to go on this Project. I plugged my Godin into a Guitar Port that was hooked into my Computer and just played some Bluesy sounds while thinking about what a Friend had said in regards to the kind of Blues she preferred and voila, a tasty Blues tidbit that I’m still enjoying even after months of listening to it. I have added this Piece to my “Electrified” CD. (3:18)

 

Track 8 is the title track for the CD, “Oasis of Love” . After the demise of the relationship, I was toying with the idea of renaming it the “Mirage of Love”, but after a few conversations with some close Friends I decided to look past the pain and remember that for a Time all too brief, it was indeed an Oasis. Life goes on and change seems to be inevitable. (4:05)

 

Track 9 is “the Oregon Trail” and is the title track for another CD. It was recorded in response to my Site being discovered in May 2006, by someone all the way from Portland, Oregon as she was searching for Fractal Art for her nephews. The Site is just now going public, October 2006, so how she found me gave me a boost in the Cosmic confidence factor. Turns out she has her own Site with some very powerful Poems and Flow going on. Some topics are imposing or dark or revealing or humorous or disconcerting or romantic or sensuous… Well, you get the idea, but her seemingly complete and cool control of where the subject matter is going was also some of the Inspiration I found within her discovery. I hope to have a Link to her Site, per her approval. “the Oregon Trail” is available if you want more of this unique Disk. (8:49)

 

Track 10 is “Good to Be Home” . There are points in your Life when you feel so grounded and secure, full of confidence and resolve, at least that has been my experience. Too bad most of those Landmarks are attached to the way someone else makes you feel, instead of the confidence that should be in your own autonomous Self. After all, we have been encouraged to “Love thy neighbor as you Love yourself.” A lot of the World’s hate related problems would disappear if more misguided Souls had a proper respect for their own ability to make important decisions for themselves, instead of depending on someone else to chart the course or demise of their Lives, or on a deeper thought, some middle man between them and their vision of GOD. If there is a GOD who is supposed to change our outlook or perspective on Life, what’s the point if GOD is unapproachable by the Ones who need a touch from the Divine the most. All that to say, I was feeling pretty good about Life… (2:46)

 

Track 11 is “Because I Can” , a raucous romp with the Godin plugged into the Guitar Port once more. Created for this CD and also to be included on ”Electrified”. A full tilt, no holds barred Piece, with several flips on the Rhythmic Dial. It ain’t no bumper cars kind of a ride. At times, more of a, take a deep Breath and hold on, kind of a ride. (4:13)

 

Track 12 is “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” , a Hank Williams Song and one of Dad’s favorites. Dad was serious County and I’ve often felt this was one of the cryingest, saddest set of lyrics I had ever heard. I paid Hank’s grave a visit at Midnight several years ago and can honestly say I was moved and maybe even changed somewhat from that experience. I sang one of his and one of mine and just hung around awhile. No goose bumps or anything ,but there is, at least in my opinion, something to be said for the Life-force that has flowed in and through someone’s Life and Being. (2:49)

 

Track 13 is “Someday” . This is from a yet to be released CD I recorded for a Musical Inspiration of mine, in the hopes that as this Journey picks up momentum, just maybe enough CDs will sell so she can seriously consider going full time with her Musical aspirations. The rest of us will be in for a treat when this finally happens. (6:52)

 

Track 14 is “When Love Comes Knockin’” . It is a Ballad and asks the poignant and ironic question, “What will you do…?” (4:59)

 

Track 15 is “Spirit” , the title track to the 3rd CD I recorded after my Event with the fever. It is the 1st Disk of a Trilogy: “Spirit, Mind and Body”, meant to be a thank you to J & L, the couple whose kindness can be found in every room of my house and whose influence and gifts have played a big part in the evolution of my Guitar playing prowess. The Cordoba Classical guitar I play on the majority of my improvisations was a gift from them a few Christmases ago. I will be forever grateful to them… (7:18)

 

Track 16 is a second pass on the title Song, “Oasis of Love”, with the Flock adding their talents to the mix. Their individual and unified contributions were, in my estimation, priceless. This too will be on the newest Flock CD. (4:25)

 

Track 17 is “Even Tho’ There Are Still Times I Miss You” , and is yet one more Tune from the “Electrified” CD. It is a prime example of why I Love playing Guitar. Very few instruments capture what the player is trying to communicate to the listener as effectively as a Guitar. Whether Sadness or Joy, or both at the same time, when the connection between the Heart and fingers manifests, every note holds within itself the possibility of Magic and Majesty… (5:04)

 

Track 18 is “Castles Made of Sand” , one of Jimi’s truly insightful visions into an all too common plight of Man. I am grateful to Experience Hendrix for granting me permission to include this Song as a closing thought to all that went before. Life is to be a Personal yet shared experience. It works best when we seek ways to get along rather than ways to destroy. The Future and what lies Beyond is uncertain. The Moment is all we truly have, so Live like there is no Tomorrow and Love like all Eternity depends upon it. Peace… (3:16)

If you are wondering what CD to pick up first,

“Oasis of Love” would be a good place to start.

$$$ from your purchase will enable me

to continue my Journey around the Planet.

You can buy “Oasis of Love” now,

by using the PayPal Cart.

 

 

 

 

Below are some liner notes about “Oasis of Love”.

Click for, “Some reasons I play the way I do…”

John Redell

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what else is available.

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Oasis of Love

“Oasis of Love” has been a long Road for me.

4 of the Songs were written in the midst of one of those

whirlwind Relationships that take you to the stars,

only to leave you in pieces, once you crash back onto the real World.

Consequently, I had a hard time singing them

since they were so intertwined with the feelings of loss.

But here I am, finally getting a chance to let the World into my Odyssey.

There was going to be 2 sequential CDs with around 26 Songs.

However, some of the Songs are still hard to sing. Everything in it’s time…

The idea of Cyber liner notes gives me more flexibility in what I consider a work in progress, as well as, not using paper. Thanks for your interest and please consider ordering a copy of “Oasis of Love” from my Site via PayPal’s secure services.

Click on a Track’s name

for a short Sample.