Jimmy Mac’s – Life is Good or… How I spent my summer vacation: I recorded a bunch of new tunes with my friends! Jimi Fischer played and/or programmed: Bass and Drums on most of the tunes… Greg Gonaway played Drums on The Raptor… Bob Mocarsky played all keyboards and Taylor Cutcomb played Bass On Thanksgiving. I played all Guitar parts and Damien played all Harmonica stuff. Norbert Stachel arranged the horns..so if you hear some, yep, that was Norbert’s doing. Produced and mixed by Jimmy Mac As you know these things (CDs) don’t happen out of no where, well some do and you regretfully have a few but here’s how this one came about and what was used to write record and release “ Life is Good” The opening Track “ The Intruder” was one of my final compositions intended for this release. It features a brilliant Harmonica solo by Damien . The Slide Guitar solo was played on a 61 reissue Gibson SG and I used a strange Open G minor tuning.It was a lot of fun doing this track. Track two, She’s Leaving Town is my tip of the hat to Bill Withers along with some old school 70s funk ala Hendrix meets Brothers Johnson..sort of.. I used a lot of cool old-school guitar sounds. My respect for the YellowJackets shows up in track three “Life is Good” –and has one of my favorite melodies with some great work from Bob Mo and Damien Masterson. Track 4-A Bb Blues played with a Pshyco-twist every 3rd chorus modulates to E and goes in to a shuffle. Think Wes jammin’ with Freddie King and how about Bob Mocarsky’s Piano solo- wow! Nashville Swingers is track 5 and lets just say I love The Ohio Playeres and I’m addicted to Fender Tele's and that Nashville sound. “Thanksgiving” is the title of track 6 – written in the memory of my Dad who died on Turkey day 2005. Miss ya Pa. The Raptor – track 7 - is a great jam featuring GG , from Mariah Carey’s original lineup and a killer horn section/part arranged by Norbert Stachel. Once again, Bob Mo’s keyboard work keeps up with my crazy but kick a** guitar solo. Who’d a Funk It – is track 8 and this tune was influenced by my appreciation for Stevie Wonder and Jeff Beck. The Mystic ..no 9 – All the trimmings going on here. A cool moody melody played thru a Mesa Boogie beefed up by some odd reverse soloing along with a great Les Paul soaked blues solo from the Blues Breaker period. Track 10,Whine Country was the first tune Damien played on and he is superb on this track. I consulted Jimi Fischer heavily on the production of this tune and it’s a gem . The melody is quite hypnotic . I used a few different Guitars on this track even an Arch Top. OSB –Orange Sunshine Boogie at 11 – Norman Greenbaum on steroids! The spirit lives on ! Here we go a little nuts with power chords, Blues boogie, some Canned Heat Harmonica along with a nutty guitar solo that refers to Joni Mitchells “Clouds” and an ending that you gotta love! Here’s Bad Juju coming in at track 12. My Hendrix influence is present,well to me its present here. The riff is a 60’s vibe and the groove builds to an anthem type jam with a powerful outtro Guitar solo that smokes in to a weird ring Modulator thing that really chokes you up. We close our Project with Funky Apples – The opening Bass riff is truly Old school funk. I had all sorts of guitar sounds going on here but in the end you make the call...can you dance to it? Jimmy Mac played the following guitars : Sadowsky Telecaster Fender telecaster 59 reissue Fender strat Les Paul Gold Top (57 reissue) Gibson SG (61 reissue) Ibanez Archtop – I thinks..whatever was in the studio the day we recorded Whine Country. Amps used: Mesa Boogie lone Star Fender Hot Rod Deluxe And the Line 6 PODxt Live – great product! Gizmos Digitech Whammy II Digitech EX 7 Fulltone Wah & OCD Boss chorus Ring Modulator- ZTEK I guess that’s about it. Production consultant: Jimi Fischer Mark Stein mastered this CD and Seth Affoumado along with his son Ezra managed the photography things. All Compositions by Jimi Mac – Jamminwithjimmy.com – Raptor Music