This is the second solo album for J. F. Oakes and marks a no-holds-barred return to his Southern Rock roots. The majority of the album was recorded via LIVE tracking for two days at the famous ARDENT STUDIOS (Led Zeppelin, ZZTOP, 38 Special, Stevie Ray Vaughn, WILCO) in Memphis, Tennessee. Returning from J. F.'s first album (Acknowledge the Corn) were Billy Earheart (Hank Jr.'s Bama Band, The Amazing Rhythm Aces) on Leslie organ and grand piano, as well as Max Williams (The Kudzu Kings, George McConnell & the Nonchalants) on guitars electric and acoustic and steel. New to scene were Justin Showah (Jimbo Mathus & the Tri-State Coalition, The Taylor Grocery Band, Hill Country Records) on bass and Ryan Rogers (Jimbo Mathus & the Tri-State Coalition, Rocket 88) on drums/percussion. Two days of fun ensued and we wrapped up with 2017 songs wrapped in a 70's vibe. Oakes took the recordings to Dipping Vat Studio in his home county in Mississippi and finished up most of the lead and backing vocals. Nick Smith (Skylar Laine, owner of Dipping Vat Studio) also added some lead fills on THE WEIGHT OF LOVE and lead guitar and fill throughout LOW DOWN...as well a little banjo on WEEPING WILLOW! Tate Moore (Kudzu Kings) also added some backing vocals on LOW DOWN (recorded at Taproot Audio Design in Oxford, MS). For a complete listing of the musicians that played on the album make sure you run by J. F. OAKES' Facebook page! "It's just good old Southern Rock. I call it driving music. For the most part it's Blues based uptempo stuff. 12 bars and the truth I guess you'd say," says Oakes. "It's a lot different than my first solo album. ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORN was originally intended as a side project of acoustic songs. It turned into something else when my mother passed away and my former band wasn't going to put out a new album. This one, on the other hand, was always going to be a Southern Rock album. I ended up with a gritty sound that fits what I wanted the album to be. It's a warts-and-all deal. If like Southern Rock that kicks a little bit....and you're on a road trip, especially to New Orleans, you need throw this one on and give it a listen in my opinion." "So Jeffrey Reed (Taproot Audio Design, Black Dog Records, Ardent Studios) and I picked a dream list of musicians from Mississippi to bring the music home....and we basically had the same list and it worked out well for the music. Everyone gelled like Sunday lunch." "I've got songs about drinking, one about a Civil War soldier, love and hate, and lots of songs about women. I can't think of anything more Southern than all that." WEST OF CAPRICORN (Deluxe Edition) also includes two demos. THE WEEPING WILLOW (CIVIL WAR LAMENT) - ROUGH DEMO is the first recording of the song. J. F.'s friend, and indie rocker, Cole Powell helped J. F. put some of the songs together and this is the original acoustic version of the song. A GOOD ONE is the second rough demo on the album. J. F. woke up at 2 a.m. with words and music in his head for the song. It was the day before he was to release the masters for production and distribution....so he threw it together and recorded it....possibly a full version if there is a third album. The reason for putting it on this album, even though it was in a rough form? "If you wake up in the middle of the night with a song 90% composed in your head...that's not a coincidence," Oakes said with a smile and a laugh. J. F. has had some health issues that have kept him from performing and recording as he would have liked..."At the time we recorded the album I truly thought it was going to be my last. Since then, there is some hope for another one in year or two. Fingers crossed anyway." So enjoy the album as it stands and make sure you review or comment on the album if you like it.