Sweet origin story for the lovely Anders family. Mike had most of the song written prior to February, and he and Margaret fine-tuned the words at the studio while we were setting up to record. Mike invited his bluegrass pickin’ buddies over…

So, the RPM Challenge is to record an album of original music in the month of February, which had 28 days this year. Robbie texted me on the 27th of those 28 days to let me know he had another song almost finished – it just needed final vocals…

Kenny kept this song in his back pocket for a couple of years after an especially sweet revelation/confession from a couple of friends. The origins were specific, but as with lots of good songs, the lyrics could describe any number of situations…

This one has quite a convoluted path, too! The origin was toward the end of the first RPM recording session on Saturday, 2/4, when Matt said, "Hey, can we jam on G – D – Em – C and see what happens?" We arrayed ourselves around the studio…

Love can be complicated in this mixed-up world. Production notes: We recorded Leum’s first couple of passes at the vocals and guitar on 2/4. After listening back, he said he wanted someone else to re-record the guitar parts (Robbie, Matt, Nick…

Robbie’s lament for the Earth and the state we’re likely to leave it in. (This one’s vibe reminded me of Lady in Black by Uriah Heep, which our band covered several years ago, so I tried to add drums and bass to maintain that vibe…) Robbie…

After a bit of encouragement from myself, our Nadaband bandmate, and probably a few others, the Halls of Justice broke down and got a Zoom R16 recording device last year and have started dipping their drumsticks into the wild, woolly world of…

Maggie’s beautiful, heartbreaking hymn to loved ones lost too soon. The intense, somber feeling of loss, both individual and communal, and support in the room as the other 6 or 7 of us listened to Maggie and Sara Beth perform the first take…

Nick wrote this one in remembrance of a beloved pet, but we all have friends and loved ones we miss. So glad to have been able to get Nick and Matt in the studio at the same time to capture this performance! Nick Peshman - Songwriting, acoustic…

Glad Dan could join us this year! I’ve missed hearing him do what he does. 😊 Dan Hollands - Guitar Kevin Craig - Recording, mixing

A lovely, sweet sentiment that, to my ear, could be a love note from one hopeful individual to another, or could read as a celebration of this everchanging group that assembles to entertain and support one other each February. Like I told Leum…

Dan was (*ahem*) instrumental in very first Spice Rack Collective album way back in 2010, and we’ve gotten together a few times since then for various jam/recording sessions, including RPM albums in 2015, 2018, and 2019. Robbie and I have been…

Early on, after we recorded the first couple of takes of Leum’s song, Silence is Sound, Nick and I chatted about Leum’s request for somebody to replace the guitar part on the song. I thought about maybe using my baritone and/or 12-string hollowbody…

This one started as a busier version of Leum’s song When Do You Show It. I added drums and a bass part to his vocals and acoustic guitar, and Hayden later pitched in with a distorted guitar part. I sent Leum mixes of three different versions…

Another of Leum’s lovely minor key odes to what goes on in our heads and hearts to make us who we are. Leum Monroe – Songwriting, lyrics, vocals, acoustic guitar Kevin Craig – Recording, mixing When Do You Show It What you think and…

After Robbie had played this one for us early on, and while we were waiting for everyone to assemble for a later Zoom call, Margaret bet me a drink that the perpetually optimistic Robbie had written this song unaware of the ambiguity of the main…

This one was the most collaborative effort this time around. Leum laid down the acoustic guitar and vocals in the studio on the afternoon of 2/12, then Margaret, Kenny, and I added drums, bass, organ, background vocals, and an unused djembe take…

Robbie wrote this one to entertain his granddaughters while visiting them up in Boston. So cute! 😊 Robbie Robinson – Songwriting, lyrics, vocals, guitars Kenny Tannehill – Bass, recording Kevin Craig – Drums, recording, mixing Momma Want…

Leum’s concerns over cloning, set to a bluegrass beat. Leum Monroe – Songwriting, lyrics, vocals, guitar, banjo Margaret Bibb – Vocals Kenny Tannehill - Recording Kevin Craig – Upright bass, recording, mixing God’s Tools Well, I heard…

When Kenny first sang this one over a Zoom call, I immediately thought of “Singapore” by Tom Waits, and said, “Hell yes!” 😊 I’m not sure I made the chaos part sufficiently chaotic, but it was a lot of fun to put together. Special thanks to Rebecca…