Page 43 - May 2022

JOHNGREENE
“This beautiful song was written by Delbert McClinton as Birmingham Tonight however, I changed the title because in the UK - where I live - the word Birmingham creates a somewhat different mental picture!! The recording features the extraordinary piano playing of my old friend John Bickersteth and was co produced by my daughter Rosalie James, a great talent in her own right.
The song deals with the issue of loneliness caused by distance, less of a problem in Britain for sure but in the USA......The towns mentioned, Chicago and Birmingham, are almost 600 miles apart. McClinton is a great writer - his lyrics always tell a story; more often than not a sad one, but that’s country for you! The recording also features the pedal steel guitar, an instrument of great complexity which took me years to learn. I will never come close to mastering it. Rarely, for me anyway, the verses are spoken rather than sung which in my opinion adds to the impact of the hook/chorus. Another good ole country trick. I am a singer songwriter of long standing. I spent my early years on the rock & roll road; in the USA and Europe learning how good you really have to be!”
This is a 1977 Neil Young song that I had been playing for ages and finally got around to recording for the ‘Train to Cry’ album.
It is a typical Neil Young song in that it appears so simple and yet has a memorable chorus and great melody. I hope I do it justice.
It was originally released by me in 2017 on that album and became a minor YouTube hit for no apparent reason!
I played all the Guitars, Dobro, Pedal Steel and Percussion but had some help from the talented John Bickersteth who added the Hammond B3 organ.
The video footage was filmed by me on various trips to California during the early 2000’s.
I am a singer songwriter of somewhat long standing. I spent my early years ‘on the rock’n’roll road’ in the USA and Europe learning how good you really have to be!
My music is a mixture of Americana, Country and Alt- Country with many other elements shoehorned in.
I hope you enjoy