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interview with singer songwriter DAVID MUNYON
When I listen to David Munyon’s music I feel like someone hearing the records of Townes Van Zandt in the 70’s and not quite being able to understand why his records don’t sell. Maybe it’s fate, I don’t know. I first heard Munyon in a sample of Adventures In Music, the song was “In the other side of Harlem”, I was just listening to it again and again and wondering who was this guy I never heard of. The song was taken from his first cd “Code name: jumper.” Sadly, this is still his only commercial U.S. release.
From then on, His cd’s have been released in Germany by Glitterhouse Records and Stockfisch records.
Munyon has release to this date 10 cd’s, yes, Ten! God knows how, but he has done it. Luckily (fate again) out of his small group of loyal fans two own record labels. His two new cd’s “More Songs for Planet Earth” - (SFR 357.6032.2) and “Seven Leaves in a Blue Bowl of Water - (SFR 357.6033.2)” have just been released by the Stockfisch label in Germany, a small label of audiophile state-of-the-art recordings.
Munyon’s song are about peace, belief, miracles, love, compassion. His songs make a religion out of the hippy movement, and long always for a better word.
Munyon sings “It’s sad when you are desperate for a friend”, and Munyon is desperate for an audience in his own country. I think he deserves it more than anyone I know. His voice is one you will instantly recognize, it is unique, his guitar/vocal songs are unique, and I have noticed that in the last five years, he has been the most frequent singer in my stereo system. I rank Munyon as one of the top 10 singer-songwriters in the US. His songs and music are as good as the music of Townes Van Zandt, Mickey Newbury, Greg Brown, Michael Smith, Jimmy Lafave, Alejandro Escovedo, just to name a few.
Since David Munyon is not really a household name, the editor asked me to explain why does he deserve an interview and why he’s so special. God knows how difficult it is to describe greatness, or to explain it, I can just say he’s a great singer, or how good are his lyrics, and you won’t understand until you listen. But in a few word, I would say that what has convinced me is that Munyon is completely honest, he can convince in a song where he sings “There is no love like our love”, that he is not cynical at all. He is hones and sincere. And in this world these qualities have almost disappeared.
For those who have yet to listen to Munyon, I hope this long generous interview will convey his honesty and sincerity.
David Munyon’s discography:
Glitterhouse records http://www.glitterhouse.com/
Acrylic Teepees
Down To The Wire
Code Name: Jumper
Stories From The Curve
Stockfisch records http://www.stockfisch-records.de/
Poet Wind
Slim Possibilities
More Songs for Planet Earth
Seven Leaves in a Blue Bowl of Water
Direct sale cd’s from David Munyon
Email: JDvdMnyn.aol.com
SONGS FROM A MOBILE HOME- PRETTY MUCH FENG SHUI
FROM THE SHADE OF BIG MAMOSA
Some quotes:
"David Munyon ....is a true .... and very lovable songwriter...he is a great guitar player" Warren Haynes The Allman Brothers Band / GOVT. MULE/ The Dead
"Sarge", or rather "SGT. Pepper " ...is David Munyon, he was born on August 19th , 1952 and this world is a better place because of him.....he would give you the shirt off of his back, if you asked him......he tries to include everyone ........... We all LOVE his songs, he is some what "savant" and a genius.....in his soul , he is golden, a very child like spirit that has met God, and wants to tell The Planet to LOVE EACH OTHER as God LOVES ALL of us" Greg Humphrey , Management
"probably one of the best songwriters ...ever" Ron Hitchcock , Hitchcock Media
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DAVID MUNYON INTERVIEW
Q:
“CODE NAME: JUMPER” is your first cd. Released in 1990 by Los Hermanos Records. I think this is your only U.S. release. It was then released later by the German Label, Glitterhouse. Could you tell us how you you recorded and released your first CD?
A:
in 1988 Dixie and I met a great producer Greg Humphrey in Nashville, he knew Jerry and Bruce Hicks in Sacramento and they helped us make our first recordings there for the cd Code Name: JUMPER in 1990 the first cd was very great as I remember, and fun to record....it was very spiritual.....some great players helped us, and we were introduced to Glitterhouse Records by someone in Europe maybe it was Jan Janssen at Real Roots Cafe in Holland...Glitterhouse contacted Hicks Brother Music and got a License to sell the cd in Europe I think for a thousand dollars , I had some advances of a few dollars from Jerry and Bruce and they owned the rights to CDJ .....we were pretty poor back then, we were sleeping I our car and Greg was sleeping in a old warehouse on a bare mattress...... and we are still pretty poor, though , we are grateful that we aren't homeless, but years go by....... and things change........ and then Glitterhouse brought me and Dixie to Europe, for our first TOUR of Europe that was very successful as I played Solo Acoustic....I couldn't convince any of the musicians to go with me , as they were all living and working in Nashville and LA as session players.....so I played the Tours solo , as my spiritual heart was to play the songs......we had been rejected by everyone in the music business , really everyone back then turned us down, and there was a lot of spiritual warfare.....Bruce and Jerry Hicks put in some money for the recordings, and when everyone saw how beautiful the songs were with all these great musicians on them, everyone got really excited.....a Studio loaned us some free studio time and we were surrounded by miracles and helped a lot by Angels! We were hopeful to sing about the Divine Love of Krishna and Jesus and also we wrote some songs that were kinda harsh....topical songs about Vietnam Vets, and drug abuse and alcoholism and race problems, and topical songs about things that were going on then....Beijing Dreams was a song where we expressed the sadness of Lord Buddha over the wrongful deaths of all of the student's at Tiananmen Square and the Spirit of The Goddess of Democracy. And, of course this pissed off some of the Chinese Govt., back then....... so I 'm banned from ever playing music in China, but the photo of the guy holding off that Tank, kinda spoke to the World.....and I sing a song about Lord Krishna "Stealer of Hearts" that seemed to make everyone happy at the time, and "Me and This Old Suitcase" a song about The Saving Grace of The Spiritual LOVE and Forgiveness of Lord Jesus Christ, which seems to be pissing off a lot of people these days ,I don't know why some folks don't like Jesus, go and see the Movie THE Passion of Christ, by Mel Gibson and if people don't like Jesus by seeing this Movie, then they should re-evaluate their spiritual hearts He is Lord, The Savior The Son of The Most High father of Light, and the simple belief in Jesus Christ by any soul, guarantees eternal happiness in Heaven...His shed Blood, The Blood of Christ and the belief that He was Resurrected gives me hope and I know there are many people that believe and some don't I hope that everyone find "this LOVE" I found it by reading a book, "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda and I found the LOVE of God........... and now everyone wants to make a bunch of money.....I can't seem to find Glitterhouse anymore, they don't communicate with me.......I am sad about this, but I keep trying, I keep trying ...I have noticed the change that money and fame brings, today I don't have much money, I have some fame, not much...I really am happy to be alive and still playing Music for our fans it was good while it was what it was....now I record with Stockfisch Records. I also sell a couple of solo acoustic cd's of my own generic in vibe, totally LIVE .......and I paint paintings now, still expressing my heart,,,,,,,,and I play music 2-3 nights a week for tips and a meal.
Looking back , if some one would have helped us put a band together we could have made some noise....still I'm very grateful to The Hicks Brothers Music and Glitterhouse Records and to Greg Humphrey........ we had a lot of fun recording the songs, it seemed to take forever.....we would try to get a Label Deal and no one would help us ....so now we record with Stockfisch Records. Gunter Pauler is brilliant and very honest and good. Our cd's don't sell much , his Label Stockfisch records is a very special Label for HI-FI gourmet types......Direct Disc Vinyl and great CD's ...... and we still are trying to promote the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda, as me and Dixie have done so, humbly since 1987.......Dixie is my wife of 23 years she is 56 and I'm going to be 52 on August 19th. We have the World Peace Concert here at our humble farm on every August 19th in Echo, Alabama
Me and Dixie still pray for health wealth happiness and success for everyone that has ever helped us with our Music..... "money has it's own energy" quotes Deepak Chopra try ignoring your Land lord about paying your rent or not paying your Electric Bill and see what happens......."the energy of money" .....
I would still like to put that Band together from Code Name: Jumper it would be wonderful.......still the World is changing now, as it always does and we are grateful for the cd's that people would be able to hear our songs.....everyone loves our Music.....the songs come from God, ......."everything comes from God" Hindu Christian Jew kinda thing..............with some Loving Buddha’s
Did I answer your question? I hope so.....ask around maybe someone will help us put the Band together.....I'm completely broke here I keep hope-ing that The Publisher's Million Dollar Prize van will stop buy this old trailer.....you know I ain't giving up......miracles happen if folks have a change of heart God is very forgiving , and people should try to imitate His forgiveness, me and Dixie we forgive everyone, we forgive those that hurt us, and we forgive our debtors and we hope some will forgive our debts...and we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings and I'm sorry about The Preaching.....if this saves some one from going to Hell, then I guess it is worth it.....There is a Heaven and there is a hell , I met Jehova one time in Tennessee , years ago. He said "David I have the answer to your question [before I even asked it] This Planet, this is Boot Camp for Heaven!
Q: I never felt you were preaching in your songs, but definitely they are very spiritual. You wouldn’t fit into Christian-Music festival, although you consider yourself a Christian, but also a Buddhist. I feel that all your religious belief is somehow rooted in the sixties, the Vietnam war and the hippie movement. Were you already playing music in the sixties and seventies?
I was born in 1952, August 19th in Newport Rhode Island, my Dad a LtCmdr in The U.S. Navy was on leave 7 months earlier and he and my Mother , a Preacher's daughter from Kansas were out for a drive in New Hampshire and one night in a quiet Motel , I was conceived......and I awoke to this World, on August 19th , 1952 2 months pre-mature.....my Mom said she , at first , had me sleep in a shoe box, I had one lung and I was prayed over, and prayed over....God was merciful to me, and now I'm 6'3" tall and I 'm 210 lbs....I will be 52 on my next birthday
I played some Music in the 60's I was in a band called The Grapes of Wrath but we broke up a mixture of girl friends, broken hearts , The Civil Rights Movement and The War in Vietnam ......... and in 1971 my Mother was killed in a tragic accident, and my life changed and I began to drink.....and drinking almost ruined my life , ...... before that accident, I was always hanging out at Producers Workshop in Hollywood California, and I remember seeing The Elvis' Limo when he was mixing "Moody Blue" in 1976, and seeing Elton John when he first played The Troubadour in 1971 , and seeing Three Dog Night.......I couldn't get any where , the songs were kinda im-mature during those years, and I was 17-19 years old.....I was ready for a change ......... so I joined The United States Army. I volunteered for Vietnam and The Army sent me to Germany and I stayed there from 1972-1974 . I was dis-charged with honor in 1974 and spent 3-4 months trying to go to University in Florida, but drinking again ruined my life, and I borrowed some money and drove to California ......in 1976 a man that was working with me, at a picture frame warehouse in Los Angeles, gave me a copy of the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda .....I used to go to The Lake Shrine where Yogananda used to live in Pacific Palasades and visit there and sit by the Lake......I only played talent shows back then and everyone in L.A. mentioned I should "dry out" , I was a bad drunk.....years later I was introduced to Alcoholic's Anonymous and it was explained to me that I am "allergic" to the chemical alcohol, so I ask God everyday to keep me sober and I turned my life and will over to The Care of a higher-power , my higher power is God.....the same one that Moses spoke to , years ago......and "we suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves" and AA and Self-Realization Fellowship and God is where all this Music comes from ....as I became sober, it took me 7 years to get sober......and finally I had my last drink and I still attend a 12 step meeting everyday ...everyday............{ I should note here that it is a Anonymous Program, though I don't mind speaking about my past, if it will some how maybe help some one that wants to quit drinking Alcoholic's Anonymous 12 step meetings saved my life.....}
I started playing Music again in 1985 and writing, and enjoying life without "booze" ......since then I have "opened shows" for Suzanne Vega, Richie Havens, The Band with Levon Helm and Garth Hudson, and The Drifters and Blues Traveler and there are several CD's of Music for sale around the World ......the spirituality of the songs comes from Our Loving Creator...I pray and ask God to help me write a good song, and I pray and ask for God to help me paint a cool painting, and I pray before I work, or sleep or eat or if I go anywhere before I play a Show or a gig.......
What I found out is this : God is always available and working miracles is his favorite thing to do, for His children, his Creation, and when we turn our lives and will over to The care of God , we can't loose........He gives us free will.....still if we choose God's will everyday we are happy joyous and free.........I'm very grateful to Glitterhouse and Stockfisch Records.......I wish there had been more "money" for everyone...but "it is the way it is, isn't it" I think too that I have been very blessed to have stayed alive through all this......I've seen some of the best writers and entertainers drink themselves to death......and this is sad, but what this is, is called "the phenonomen of craving" as a person that is allergic to alcohol , if he or she takes the first drink ,of any day it will start a chain reaction of drinking and drinking and drinking......and then drunkenness....... if that same person does not take the first drink then it is miracle after miracle after miracle......simple......there are Treatment Centers everywhere now, and with- drawing from alcohol and or drugs should be monitored by a Doctor and a Hospital.....I went through all that and now I'm a recording artist.........but why anyone would want to interview me, is beyond me ........I like the songs.....we are blessed to have so many fans World wide......
I'm lucky to be alive really.......I wish I had more money, but as the song goes "Money Can't Buy Me Love" ......the best thing about Self-Realization Fellowship is the "spiritual experience" .......I read in the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda that he actually met Lord Jesus Christ...and this spoke to me.....my Grandfather was a Preacher, Rev. Amer Stocking and reading this I realized that this is what I really wanted, to meet "God"......so after some years of effort , I have had some wonderful spiritual experiences that brings the JOY , that "money" can't really give........and JOY of Life is what keeps me Rocking........
We really didn't get ripped off by anyone.......everyone in Germany has helped us and the fact is, we are very blessed to be where we are...... we still have to fight the demons and devils...but we let God fight them.....People in Germany are very sweet, and kind to us......and I'm not just saying this........it is true ......The World is in a up-roar , again.......but I sense a spirit of forgiveness and compassion and helpfulness ........of course I'm not in a Combat Zone.....God has me here in this old trailer doing this interview.......I dunno......I'm so happy to be sober that it doesn't matter some days "I ask God for a super heart of Love and the ability to heal, everyday"........nothing matters except that one thing "don't take the first drink of any 24 hours" you know this is for "me" it may not be for everyone.....
I personally think that if everyone on The Planet went to a 12 step meeting and turned their lives and will over to the CARE and Protection of God we would have the peace we all want......... I am in Recovery still.....and I always will be in Recovery "one day at a time" .......still , look at the wonderful songs that people enjoy everywhere.......I'm still not a big fan of free music copies..... I think computer downloading is wrong .......and we have lost a small fortune as "some people" making free copies......of our Music........ for example "here is my garden I work hard, I plant seeds , I cultivate and water, I'm going through each day, chase-ing rabbits and crows away from eating my sprouts, I'm praying and waiting and watching my garden grow, ....and then some one comes along and takes all my cabbage and corn.......and says well it's ok? Everyone else is doing it?
What do I eat?
I'm not bitter.....but people should buy Music...... what will I retire with? Where is my income? My Record Labels income? There is a lot of justification and rationalizing ...but people are people ........and I'm getting old ....... I see the same souls everywhere the same type of people in Germany in Ireland in Holland in America , in Canada and in Israel ..........the thing of this life is this........"try to be as good as you can, and if you make a mistake ask for forgiveness, stay close by your Higher Power, how ever you see your "God" what ever His or Her Name is.....and try your best not to hurt anyone........make daily contact with your Higher Power and "if we follow the advice of our Higher Power we will suddenly live in a new and wonderful world.... no matter what our present circumstances".........Americans Love Israel, and we Bless Israel and we are very eager to help any Nation that needs our help......I would highly suggest that no one attack America or Israel as the that Same God would put the "WHAM on ya" as a Divine Father would do .........I am an American Songwriter that writes Americana Music , Roots Music....this "style of song" was developed in my Mother's womb the day I was conceived........ I'm happy to be sober
Peace on Earth is simple "quit fighting: Love each other" talking things over is a lot better that cleaning up the mess of War...............I still don't know if I answered your question I will recheck your e-mail and your question now and get back to you
…………
The Sixties and The Seventies were good and bad, as this world is.....I crossed that line with my drinking, and God in His mercy and Grace brought me to Alcoholic's Anonymous and saved my life, so that His "child , David ...could play these songs" I'm very grateful for all the Music.....I still wish everyone could have more money, but everyone is blessed I think.....the saving grace of the music business is , what I've seen is it is a spiritual business and eventually everyone gets what they want......I personally wish it was 1968 again, I enjoyed the good Music......I remember the first time I heard Led Zeppelin....I pulled my Mustang off the road and turned up the radio , so loud , I cried "Stairway to Heaven" songs have been my life, "Wild Fire" is a great song, and all The Cat Stevens songs, and The Band and MY GOD THE BEATLES......I still listen to Abbey Road to this day.
And John Prine and Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, I love Music and Art
I still have no idea why anyone would want to interview me.....I am a miracle though......I'm e-mailin' , walkin' , talkin', singing, songwriting, painting picture Miracle..........we are all miracles .............anyone that makes it through the 60's and the 70's is a miracle......anyone that makes it through this day in 2004 is a miracle.....................I wish , some days , not everyday that everyone had more money..........but........then again some days I'm happy to be poor...........and I'm not poor.......1/3rd of the world's population makes 2.oo a day and several thousand people die every day from starvation.......so I personally have it very good......and I'm sorry if I have hurt anyone's feelings in this interview I'm happy, you know "today" , I'm very very grateful ...for everything
I'm still trying to quit smoking cigarettes...........I smoked my first cigarette at the age of 9 years old, and I've been trying to quit ever since......"today, this day I think with God's Grace and Love and healing Power and miracle Power I can go all day without a drink, or any drug, and without a cigarette...and listen to some Music and paint a painting.......and I will say a prayer for Peace.
Miracles do happen everywhere, all the time.....I'm a miracle, and you are a miracle too.............Once upon a time there was this man that wanted to find God, he traveled everywhere up and down Mountains and Valleys and one day , on this Mountain top.....he heard this "Voice" inside that said "What do you want" The man was trembling, and said "Are you God"? and the Voice said "yes, I am ".....the man fell to the ground in fear and trembling and said "I fear you greatly Lord, are you the same God that created the Dinosaur"?.....there was a brief silence and God said "Yes... though I also created the Butterfly"......there was more silence...and then the man said with a slight smile, "do butterfly's fart" .........and God Laughed out loud and that day, God and the man became friends............................
Q:
How do you compose a song? Do you start with the words or with a melody? Do you write everyday? Are there many songs still unrecorded?
I keep a Title List.... years ago in Los Angeles I went to a songwriting class at UCLA and Mr. Bob Stone gave the class , he wrote "Gypsie's Tramps and Thieves" for Cher and many great songs. He said everyone should keep a title list. So every time I get a good song title I write it in my book and when I get ready to write I get my guitar and, my wife S.P. Standley helps me too, and we pray to "God , and I also pray to the linage of GURU's at Self - Realization Fellowship like this "Heavenly Father, Divine Mother, Most Beloved God, beloved Lord Jesus Christ, beloved Lord Bhagavan Krishna, beloved Mahavatar Babaji, beloved Lahiri Mahasaya, beloved Swami Sri Yukteswarji, beloved Guru Paramahansa Yogananda, beloved Saints and Sages of All Religions, We humbly bow to you all, .......please help us to write a cool song that will be enjoyed by folks, for the folks
IT'S FOLK MUSIC you know.............
and like , in usually a few minutes the songs just start pouring out....Sharon my wife whom everyone knows as "Dixie" helps me a bunch, she is co-writer on many songs , and she is the one that keeps bringing me back to reality, I have a personal cosmic..."you know kinda Route 66 VIBE non- sense" to be kinda "out there" and she keeps me 'real'.....adding "this doesn't work, and this is good," etc. and she is very good herself .......she plays some piano and Kazou, and I play mostly guitar
sometimes the chords and the song progression are first , sometimes like on the song " Poet Wind " the lyrics were written at Alison's house, Jack Clements daughter's house, .......Cowboy Jack Clement recorded all of The Elvis "Hits" in Memphis and his Studio in Nashville is where we recorded some of Code Name :Jumper CD and all of Acrylic Teepee's .....we got a 4 star review in the German Rolling Stone Magazine.......Niles Clement recorded it for $ 2.75 ......that's all the money I had in my pocket, and Niles is a very spiritual man and his love and good energy keeps the cd selling today , I hope .....and we were all hope-ful to sing a song about Lord Vishnu............as we all love Him....Vishnu's Dreaming (about Peace on The Planet and happiness for all souls) In The Hindu Trilogy Brahma Krishna Vishnu Shiva , Lord Vishnu is very loved and has much Grace and miracle working abilities, his Love is much like all the gods and Father GOD Himself.....but his qualities are to restore and help the souls that need help the most......and if ever anyone ever needed any help, it would be me David Munyon.....I was in a bad space for years and for years...... ......Lord Vishnu and Divine Mother in their compassion actually helped me to my feet.......and Lord Krishna ! I used to wander around California, and there was free food at The Hare Krishna Temple in Venice Beach on Sunday's and this is where the idea for "Stealer of Hearts" Little Hare Krishna Boy started , it was years later that the song was written.......there's a bunch of songs some good some kinda ... still in the," working on it mode," but I keep trying. We all keep trying! "If we try we might win" from Waves of Monterey I'm somewhat dis-abled ......... and very very grateful to be included in anything...I get very excited if anyone calls my house even if it's the phone company wanting us to change our Long Distance
I usually write almost every day..... .......I have 'delusions of grandeur' you know some days and I have money fits too.......but God in His WISDOM keeps me humble and teachable and I'm very grateful for this, ......and the songs are very spiritual in effect...... ......."it goes where it goes ya know" is what Townes Van Zandt said to me one day in Nashville.
I'm a basket case.......but I'm sober ...by The Grace of God......some of the "gods" helped me to get to the feet of Lord Jesus Christ and Jehova and Their Love and Compassion is the same.......it has been a...... and is gonna be a wonderful adventure.........We write some days 2-3 songs some times I awaken in the 3AM hour and write down some lines.......I need to learn some new chords... I LOVE to RECORD and to Play LIVE .....I LOVE to TOUR IN EUROPE the fans are so wonderful they applaud after each song and ask for autographs.....it is really a very blessed thing ........here in The USA I usually play for tips......and folks like the songs and I get many kind comments.......one thing every night almost, some one asks to hear "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd........ I wrote my first song "Dad I want to be a Record Star" in 1968......what year is this....? 2004 ......I guess my Dad would be proud of me....he was a NASA Engineer and he helped develop the Satellite’s in use these days..........Songwriting is fun......"when you start crying as you write a song, you know it is a good song " this is what Harlin Howard told me one day in Nashville.....I've met some wonderful people that have encouraged me and Dixie, some BIG Stars and some great writers and I think they have all prayed for me and Dixie.......My Biggest Happiness was meeting Mickey Newbury and Willie Nelson in Nashville and Ms. Dolly Parton in Los Angeles...and meeting Kris Kristofferson and The Band with Levon Helm and Garth Hudson and Rick Danko, the bass Player for The Band, in New York City at The Lone Star Road House.......we opened a show for Mr. Richie Havens at The Turning Point one night Richie is AWESOME....and Ms. Suzanne Vega is a sweet heart she gave all her opening acts at The Wetlands in NYC, $75.00 .....I played 3 songs and she gave me $75.00.....we had a good meal that night and filled up our gas tank....Dixie and I used to have a old Station Wagon a 1967 Pontiac Station Wagon.....we drove it 577,000 miles and finally it was towed away by some guy from India, in his tow truck in 1993 in Nashville.....I saw it in a dream one night, it was all customized and Blue with a lot of Glitter on it with new tires and mag wheels...................see, I told you it is all very spiritual ......but I have to say it is very fun ... this Business called SHOW : SHOW BUSINESS "There's No Business like Show Business and Show Business I know......." I hope I get to sing on Broadway one night , maybe even Carnegie Hall.....God is working miracles ..........God is working miracles God is working miracles
PS "God gives us songs in the middle of the night" Proverbs
Q: David, it’s funny you mention Mickey Newbury, because I was just writing the introduction to this interview, and mentioned him. I think that both of you are religious songwriters, and when I hear you he definitely comes to mind. Both of you have compassion for the dispossessed, the poor, the homeless, the people who are outside society. But then, it seems you are actually living this situation, and Newbury was never poor. Is Newbury and influence in your work? Who are your influences? What kind of music do you listen to these days?
A:
I met Mickey Newberry in Nashville he was a good friend of my Producer Greg Humphrey........I saw Mickey in a dream vision after he went to Heaven he was driving a beautiful Purple Cadillac, it was all customized and he had one arm thrown over the passenger seat and a big smile on his face..... really......we all miss Mickey......he told me once "God won't hurt you"
I listen to HELP! by The Beatles and Abby Road by The Beatles and I watch The Forrest Gump Movie and Little Buddha The Movie
Mr. Eric Burdon has a new CD titled MY SECRET LIFE I listen to this CD all the time too
and I love Barbara Streisand I don't know if I spelled her name correctly but I love to listen to Barbara and I like Classical Music and meditation music and The Rolling Stones and Blues Music I love Warren Haynes and I listen to Joni Mitchell and a Artist from Austin TX named Lee Ann Atherton....and I like Bob Dylan and a artist named Gene Gillespie and a songwriter named Jason Hunt and of course Pink Floyd and John Prine I like the songs at Church too, The Praise and Worship Songs and The Southern Baptist Hymns ......I like everything really, you know some days some days I like the quietness I like Bob Seeger and Bruce Springsteen....I really like Bruce Springsteen and I like to listen to my wife Dixie sing , she has a beautiful voice I like Choir Singing too
My influences are everyone, especially Johnny Cash and Pink Floyd and THE BAND and Joan Armatrading and Richie Havens......
Q:
From your discography of 10 cd´s, 4 of them (STORIES FROM THE CURVE, DOWN TO THE WIRE, SONGS FROM A MOBILE PHONE, FROM THE SHADE OF BIG MAMOSA) are recordings of only your voice and guitar. I think you have developed one of the finest techniques to do what so many do so badly and produced some of the best recordings of vocal/guitars. Did this happen because of lack of budget, or do you like these recordings? Do you prefer a band with you, or could you go on recording vocal and guitar cd’s?
I like recording solo acoustic.....like I said I don't have much money, so I can't hire musicians or players, so I usually play solo acoustic.....I enjoy playing with Musicians, on The CDJ Cd and Acrylic teepee's Cd's it was a lot of fun, Glitterhouse loaned us some money to record and then we had to pay it back, from sales, etc.........Stockfisch is good they have some GREAT PLAYERS in Europe/Germany/England /Israel/Tibet/America/Holand/ everywhere BUT, I have to pay for everything from the sales of the Cd's............ everything is de-ducted............like I'm playing for tips tonight at The HOTS Deli..........and there's 2 Hurricanes on the way ......you know, this is gonna make a great Movie some day......... to answer your question I enjoy recording with a Band and solo acoustic, I like both types of CD's.........and we are all glad that everyone enjoys our Music, all of the players, musicians, engineers, wives, husbands, record labels, and studio owners........we are all happy that everyone enjoys our music.
Q:
Today it's august 18 (2004) , it's your anniversary and you are releasing two new cd's. I am still eagerly waiting to receive them, but in the meantime can you tell us about them. I understand these are recordings from 1996-1997, but musicians added their instruments later. Who are these musicians? And why did you release recordings from 1996-1997 instead of recording new songs?
A.
of course I don't have much to do, with the process of making cd's , I told Gunter "Santa Klaus" Pauler to " do whatever he wanted to do".....I really do not know anything at all about recording, I'm like a farmer that writes songs and sings them enough times to where I don't make any mistakes and , I pray a bunch hope-ing that people will like our songs.....it was my hope as a young guitar player to make friends and make people happy with my guitar playing and singing, . ..it evolved into what ever it is today.......but the process of production and mixing and arrange-ing and musicians I have always said "go for it" . I was always happy to just be a part of the music......even when I recorded with Ron Hitchcock at Producer's Workshop in 1971 and 1974 I said "do what you think would be good", and walked away and had a Coca-Cola......and smoked a cigarette and tried to start a conversation with someone. One time there I met Pink Floyd and Melissa Manchester and The Eagles Bass Player Timothy B. Schmit......and I met Dolly Parton also.......I remember years ago at my first music class at Frederick Douglass Jr. Sr. High School a man there was a substitute teacher and he played Piano.....I don't remember his name , this was in 1964 though he said he had written the song "I want some Red Roses for a Blue Lady"........and I started writing songs that night! And, now it is 2004 and ....... why anyone would be interested in interviewing me, I don't know.....the new cd's Seven Leaves in a Blue Bowl of Water and More Songs from Planet Earth are a combo of some older songs and some newer songs......you know " Wine is better if you keep it on the shelf for a while".........and GP is very particular about sound and vocals mixed with guitar and everything......he had visited Dothan , where we live , with his friend Wolfgang Hess from Cadenberge Germany, and recorded us here at our Church Mt. Enon Baptist Church, but there were some technical problems with the recorder then, and the tapes didn't sound right, the tape recorder was damaged in Flight from a bumpy air ride flight thing......so .......to make a long story shorter GP had these songs on tape and they're good songs.......and like , well... it seems to work out well.......everyone loves the cd's and they're selling like hot cakes...............
As far as the musicians on the new project, you could ask Gunter , he and his wife Mrs. Evelyn are Zen Buddists /Hindu /Christian/Jews/Lovers of God and they're very lovable, very generous , as Wolfgang and his family are , they like all religions and faiths, they love everyone......if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have a music career… I am positive that they are the best in Europe, Hans Jorg plays Bass very well......and Mike Silver and Chris Jones and several other musicians .......I haven't heard the cd's yet but I've received a couple e-mails and people are very excited............... I love working with Gunter Pauler........ and he is the BEST .........at recording......he's a lot like Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab in Los Angeles and Stephen Tillisch from France and Nashville......these are very accurate men that work with sound.....a lot like y friend Ron Hitchcock and Bud Wyatt........
I'm very happy that the cd's are completed, for our fans to enjoy.
Q: David, you mean you have not heard the cd's yet?????
A.
Not yet, Gunter will send some to me, I know.......I trust Gunter Pauler and his wife Mrs. Evelyn and Hans Jorg...Like I said they mixed and mastered all of the cd's from Glitterhouse 1990-1996 1997-2004 and Stockfisch so I trust them completely........he offered to send me a pre-mix, but I said just "go for it' you are the Producer, send me some when it is complete I trust you" I have been there some years ago...I hope to return some day, there's a need for a bunch of sales so we can finance a Tour......PLEASE World NO FREE COPIES NO DOWN LOADING ! this is how we keep our business alive, and the cd's are worth it.....really......please let us buy our Music on CD's and tapes, and Albums this is our livelihood. Thanks.
Stockfisch is the best recording place I have heard about , my place there is ...there, because of people's prayers for me to have "the best"
I trust Gunter.....it is very spiritual there.......at Pauler Acoustic's , for example on the CD POET WING there's a song for our friend Mahavatar Babaji titled "In India"......and during the recordings Gunter said "I think I have tape of a Sitar Player Partha Chatterjee he said, and when they were mixing the tapes Gunter discovered that the Sitar Music was in the same key as the song "In India" , and the Sitar Music was recorded 20 years before my tape ever was recorded, and the song is in a strange key Capo 3rd fret and played in the key of D position....things like this......this is why I stay with Stockfisch and Glitterhouse...........they are great...........one of the songs on the new cd's is "Retrogressive Grooves and The Deceitfulness of Riches"....I remember writing, but I will have to hear it to remember it........there are so many songs, I read when I play LIVE......I know all the chords and music and I read the words.....and I have photo's of all my friends and family members and managers and everyone, in my song book , to "speak" to me.........some of the new players on the cd's are Beo Brockhausen , Mike Silver, Hans Jorg Maucksch, Hrolfur Vagnsson, Freek Borstlap , Martin Grosskurth and Chris Jones and some other players and singers you could call, Gunter at Stockfisch Records for everyone's names.........I'm very grateful for everyone that plays on the cd's and everyone is prayed for and blessed by God, for their music.......I hope I haven't offended anyone, I simply don't know everyone's names, .......Stockfisch does, all of the musicians names are on the new and old cd's............... I'm anxious to hear the mixed cd's WE love all of them .......it still amazes me to this day how wonderful "sound" and "music" is when it is spiritually blessed in a recording studio........Music has kept me runnin' all my life......from Patti Page to Barbara Streisand to Joni Mitchell, I saw Joni Mitchell in California one day at a grocery store one day......this is why I married my wife Dixie , she looks like Joni Mitchell , and she is a great writer too............................God told me "no smokin' no drinkin' no drugs, and give the money to your wife, and it will be wonderful" so far , it has been RIGHT ON Wonderful.................................. "no, I haven't heard the new cd's yet" I'm sure Gunter Pauler will send us some cd's, I hope he does.........
Gee Whiz what if he doesn't?!!!?
He will Gunter is a GOOD GUY.
It has been a good day today.......I'm very happy you would interview "me"
My Dad was a NASA Engineer did I tell you this yet? Some of my Ancestors came from Israel years ago......my Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandfather was Abraham
Q: David, I just received your two new cd’s and I am exited. I have just started to listen to “More Songs For Planet Earth”. The CD starts by an announcement of a radio station, WTVY, why? Was this your idea?
As the title suggests one of the concerns of your music is the environment, a love for whales and all the creatures of earth, how do you feel when you transfer a social-political problem into music?
The Radio Station WTVY is here in Dothan, Alabama , we live in a beautiful City, and everyone is welcome to visit or move here. We hold The Guiness World Book of Records for the" Longest Continuous Circle of Moter Cycle Riders -Harley Davidsons"
and we are The Peanut Capital of The World.....WTVY Radio is where I got my first start in Dothan, playing a song about my Mom, Lola Mae, on The Ann Varnum TV Show.
So Gunter Pauler's idea was to have this "on " our CD. I think it's COOL.
Transferring social political ideas and messages into Music and songs , wasn't my idea......everyone's doin' it.....from Plato to Abraham to Issac to Lord Jesus to Mohammad to Elvis to Bob Dylan, to Joni Mitchell, to Phil Ochs, to The Allman Brothers to THE BAND, All of The Band's today, all Artists...even the great Classical Writers had ideas they would sneak into a piece of Music......I just wish I was a better speller.........please deduct 3 points for all the mis-spelled words........... seriously though....poems and music are cool and Art too.......books and Films and all human expression are idea's from Our Loving Creator.....by the way Moshe, I LOVE your Poems........
I'm glad that everyone likes our Music......
Q: Last question, The last recordings of your songs released on Cd’s date from 2001, that’s three years ago.
What have you been writing since then? Have you written many new songs? Have you recorded some songs written in 2002, 2003 and 2004 or do you have any plans to do so?
I write about everyday, yes ... I have some new songs, God is very GOOD to "me", as I have several new songs, and I have them on a work tape, as soon as I write, I record the song , to have a reference tape of the song....then when it is time to rehearse some new songs, I listen to the tapes and polish the songs.....Yes, I have new songs.........I am very Blessed.
And I paint all the time too, if anyone would like to have a oil on canvas painting...I call my style "COOL ART" , kinda like Van Gogh meets Forrest Gump!
I work all the time, and I rest ... when I get tired, I work here on our farm/ashram , I call our home "OM FIELD" we have a old trailer that used to belong to Hank Williams Sr., and I mow the lawn and rake leaves....it is very nice here in SE Alabama....the weather is good, and the air and water is clean and the people are the best anywhere.....please come to visit and stay as long as you want we will keep the coffee pot , on....................Thank you Moshe, for this interview
Thank you.
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