It’s been a wonderful journey to get to the release of I WANT YOU, the third full length recording from Southern California Folk Rocker CHRIS CRUZ. Coming off an Indie Record deal with Delirium Records and the release of IN MY HEART and ON MY MIND in 2008, you wouldn’t expect it to take over 8 years for a follow up. Although proud of the songwriting and especially the timeliness of the 70’s style social commentary themed ON MY MIND, the reality was making a living playing music meant playing covers around Southern California. What started as a chance to have band mate from Doom Kounty Electric Chair Rob Klonel produce songs that didn’t make the Delirium releases turned into recording sessions of some standards as well as some not so famous songs that seemed to fit into the Chris Cruz style. In addition to 3 CC originals, title track Bob Dylan’s I WANT YOU, Mamas & the Poppas CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’, Carole King’s WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW?, Everly Brothers CATHY’S CLOWN, Arlo Guthrie’s COMING INTO LOS ANGELES, Mike Ness CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE, Alejandro Escovedo’s LAST TO KNOW, and OC Rock mates the Relatives’ OVERBLOWN. While the core band for the recordings was Rob Klonel(Drums), Kevin Darish(Guitars) and Jason Arthur(Bass), Chris enlisted cameos from musicians who had played on gigs and helped develop the live show. Sal Lozano(Saxophone) is a band mate from LB State’s Big Brown Music Machine(track 7 & 10) and Pooch DiPuccio had Chris play bass for a stint in his band The Condors(Slide Guitar track 11). Some of the first live performances after the Delirium Releases were in Downtown Fullerton at Table 10. “Playing with TAG, Terry Alexander Group in those early days was a great training ground. They basically adopted me into their band” Chris explains. TAG Bassist, the late John West plays on the title track and Coming Into Los Angeles. “John had done so many gigs with me, I wanted to get him on…those were the last songs recorded.” Chris was hired at Table 10 by Bartender/Artist Michael Magoski who went on to take the cover photo at his studio Violethour.