The Calm Before the Storm
MP3s on sale soon at the on sale at the The iTunes Music Store, CD Baby, at Live Performances and other Global Download Sites.
The Calm Before the Storm CD was the definitive performance of The Tom Farley Band captured in the studio. Produced by Tom, engineered and recorded at Earworks Studio with Bob Smith, it was the end result of many years of playing, writing and technical experience. Tom, Tania and Gerry had been performing live in local clubs for about eighteen months before going into the studio. Using a combination of sequenced rhythms and live performance, the band was not only able to achieve a dynamic recording, but also reproduced the album-quality performance consistently in all the venues they played.
The songs on the CD exhibit some of the best writing of Tom's career. Variety of styles, contemplation, humor and description have always been a mainstay of his songwriting. With fifteen songs (72 minutes of music) on the CD, fans can certainly get their moneys worth. Tom wrote all of the songs except two: Baby Can I Hold You (Tracy Chapman) and Landslide (Stevie Nicks).
Songs on the CD include
Artists featured on the CD are:
Songsmyth and the Basement Cuts
MP3s on sale soon at the on sale at the The iTunes Music Store, CD Baby, at Live Performances and other Global Download Sites.
Just
a bit of background….
The
Songsmyth album was my first attempt at a major studio recording.
When it was produced, my thoughts were to bring together some of the most
endearing musical friends I had known over the years and to let the magic
happen. The end result was a labor
of fun and shear joy.
At
my side on keyboards and vocals, as in every musical group I was connected to,
was Tania Farley…..the one who believed in me the most.
My brother-in-law, Steve Ihlenburg, who would later bring his energy and
humor to The Tom Farley-Cam Head Band, was our drummer.
Steve and Todd Gallagher, whom I had developed a rich writing and
recording tradition, accompanied me on lead guitar, keyboards and flute.
Donnie Satterwhite, known for his tours with Thunder Road, The Ill-Eagles
and duo with Jim Cootes, has been a part of every major studio situation in my
career. From my earlier days of Cimarron
was Tom Lavin, a bassist steeped in the Southern Rock tradition.
Denny Smith of the Blacksburg-based band Happy was the fellow background
vocalist, responsible for all of the background vocal arrangements.
Just back from the road was Cam Head, whose collaboration in both duo and
band I would cherish for nearly a decade. Rounding
off the list would be Jim Cummins on harmonica, Greg Ferris on guitar and Mike
Gosey on acoustic lead.
The
final mixing and mastering were done in Nashville. I chose Quadrafonic Studios because I was a real Fogelberg
freak at the time, and, I wanted to be surrounded by the people and equipment he
worked with on his earlier albums. To
have the chance to experience the atmosphere and spirit of Nashville was a real
education. Thanks to Tania, our
families, our friends (especially Beetle Bailey, Laura Kesser, Debbie Hazelwood,
Sharon Kelley, Charlie Scott, Pat and Beau Ludwig, Lloyd Stone and Kristin
Phillips), and the many fans and supporters, I had the rare chance to have a
dream come true. Little did I know
that it would open other doors that would continue to enrich my life in ways
that I could never have imagined.
Fifteen years later, I decided to archive the master tapes into a CD for my own pleasure and for their preservation. When I heard how good the original cuts transferred to CD format, I decided to work to add additional "basement cuts" and make a fuller, 72 minute CD product. The result is a history and compilation of established and never-before-heard cuts that will please fans and newcomers alike. It is my pleasure to re-release the Songsmyth album on CD and to share with you some of the best memories and moments I have savored over the years.
"Basement Cuts" Liner Notes
Gasology with Tom Jones
By
Tony Rice
Recorded
in 1982 at South Oliver Drive, Va. Beach, VA
Tom
Farley: Acoustic Rhythm Guitar
Tom
Jones; Lead Guitar
Tom
Jones is one of the finest lead players Hampton Roads has ever produced.
Although we enjoyed playing music together, Tom was involved with The
Street Talk Band and I with The Tom Farley-Cam Head Band; we never had many
opportunities to play together. When
Tom came over to my house one day in 1982, I set up a makeshift recording
situation and was able to capture some really nice moments.
One was our first attempt at Fresh Air, which we later recorded at Live
Oak Studios and found its way to The Calm Before the Storm CD.
The other was our version of the Tony Rice tune, Gasology.
By
Melissa Etheridge
Tom
Farley: Acoustic Rhythm Guitar
Tania
Farley: Lead Vocals
Gerry
Herndon: Electric Lead Guitar
Recorded
Live in 1989 by The Tom Farley Band at The Restaurant By George, Nags Head, NC
Tania
Farley has always been known as one of the premier female vocalists on the local
scene. With Cimarron, The Tom
Farley-Cam Head Band and The Tom Farley Band, she distinguished herself in her
musical style and interpretations. On
a cold, windy, rainy, icy night in December, The Tom Farley Band (with Gerry
Herndon) went to play at The Restaurant By George in Nags Head.
Following us were a caravan of die-hard friends and faithful from Chick's
Beach Café. It was truly a night
to remember, as is the live performance Tania gives to this song.
By
Tom Farley
Recorded
in 1987 at Gallagher Studios, Va. Beach, VA
Tom
Farley: Acoustic Guitars and Vocal
Ever
since my college years I have shared my love for music and recording with my
best friend, Steve Gallagher. We
have always relished the creative process.
As I invested my time into the performing aspects, Steve did so in home
studio engineering. Without his
friendship and collaboration much of what I know and love about music and the
recording process would have never been realized. Several of the basement cuts were recorded where he was
living at the time. Many became the
basis for band and recording products. This
song was written for my wife, Tania, during a period in our lives when we both
were working so much that we rarely had time to spend with each other.
It was my way of telling her that I love her, and that when all is said
and done, I'll Be Waiting……….
By
Tom Farley
Recorded
in 1987 at Gallagher Studios, Va. Beach, VA
Tom
Farley: Acoustic Guitar and Vocal
Long before The Calm Before the Storm CD, this song was a personal favorite. It was written on the boardwalk at Virginia Beach during a break when I was playing solo at Abbey Road. That was on a Saturday night; on Sunday afternoon, I was at Steve's recording it. Nothing like getting it fresh out of the oven….
By
Tom Farley and Lloyd Huckstep
Recorded
Live in 1974 at the 70th Street Apartment, Va. Beach, VA
Tom
Farley: Acoustic Lead Guitar
Lloyd
Huckstep: Acoustic Rhythm Guitar
Lloyd
Huckstep was a close friend of my good college buddy, Charlie Wilkerson.
Charlie and Lloyd came down from Richmond to spend a weekend with Steve
and I when we lived on 70th Street at the beach.
Lloyd and I had just met and had never played guitars together before.
Steve was setting up the deck to record and needed to set the levels.
The result is a spontaneous moment that remains special to me for one
reason: I never before or since had the opportunity or the pleasure of playing
guitars with Lloyd ….
By
Otis Redding
Recorded
Live in 1985 at Smackwater Jacks, Va. Beach, VA
Tom
Farley: Acoustic Rhythm Guitar; Background Vocals
Tania
Farley: Background Vocals
Cam
Head: Lead Guitar; Background Vocals
David
Frink: Bass Guitar
Johnny
Bailey: Lead Vocals
Jim
Cummins: Harmonica
In my performing career I have had the pleasure of making music with some truly unique characters. Johnny Bailey was one of these characters, and, one of the best crowd-pleasing entertainers I have ever met. He would sit in with our acoustic act for a period of about six months. During this time, we developed a small but wonderful song list with Johnny singing lead vocals: Shamma Lamma Ding Dong, Shout, The Boys are Back in Town and, of course, Women….
By
Harburg and Arlen
Recorded
in 1987 at South Oliver Drive, Va. Beach, VA
Tom
Farley: Acoustic Rhythm Guitar
Cam
Head: Acoustic Lead Guitar
By
Tony Rice
Recorded
in 1982 at South Oliver Drive, Va. Beach, VA
Tom
Farley: Acoustic Rhythm Guitar
Cam
Head: Acoustic Lead Guitar
For
many acoustic and rock fans in Hampton Roads, the name Cam Head brings to mind
one of the most unique talents ever to hit the local scene.
Creative, intense and fascinating to watch, he has never failed to amaze
me in the twenty-four years that I have known him.
We started our musical relationship at his garage in 1973 when he was a
senior and I was a first year teacher at Indian River High School.
It just got bigger and better as the years went on. Starting as a duo some years later, we would evolve into The
Tom Farley-Cam Head Band, playing together for over seven years.
While practicing for our acoustic duo at my house on South Oliver Drive,
we decided to set up and record so we could critique ourselves.
Part of the result of that session is our versions of Over the Rainbow
and Gasology.
By
Tom Farley
Recorded
Live in 1983 at Michael's, Va. Beach, VA
Tom
Farley: Acoustic Rhythm Guitar; Lead Vocals
Tania
Farley: Percussion; Background Vocals
Cam
Head: Lead Acoustic Guitar; Background Vocals
Donnie
Satterwhite: Pedal Steel Guitar
Jimmy
Dunne: Electric Lead
Rick
Price: Bass
Steve
Ihlenburg: Drums
Every
once in a great while you get the chance to have some fun with people you really
admire and cherish. As a means of
filling out a Sunday afternoon program at Michael's, a Hilltop Country Music
bar, Tania, Cam, Steve and I decided to get together and jam with some of our
friends in the house band, Thunder Road. Totally
unrehearsed and spontaneous, we opened with this song.
After that afternoon, we came up with an ending to this tune….
By
Tom Farley
Recorded
in 1984 at Gallagher Studios, Va. Beach, VA
Tom
Farley: Acoustic Guitars
When Tania and I lived on South Oliver Drive, we had a nice lot with dozens of trees. Squirrels were naturally part of the landscape. However, on one particular day, they seemed to be playing together in greater numbers and with fun on their minds. I must have watched them for an hour or more. They had an energy and rhythm that I couldn't get out of my mind. So, I let it out in a song….
All Songs Written and Produced by Tom Farley
Release Date: October, 2006
MP3s on sale soon at the on sale at the The iTunes Music Store, CD Baby, at Live Performances and other Global Download Sites.
After a long dry spell, the joy of songwriting and producing has returned. With the ability to engineer and produce at home...with the same quality....the timing was perfect. With Tania and Steve at my side, how could I lose....
There's a new sound in the music....the dobro. A retirement present from Tania, it has be my new musical passion.
Also....this album allowed me to re-establish an old but cherished relationship with guitarist Greg Ferris. Greg lives in Lynchburg. But with a strong musical connection and technology on our side, we were able to collaborate over long distance....knock one out of the park.
I hope you enjoy the new CD....three instrumentals and four lyric songs....Version 1.0....it will amended as new songs present themselves.