The TANK is an acoustical marvel and a sonic wonder of the world, with a swirling, shifting reverberation longer and richer than the Taj Mahal’s. This once-abandoned 65′ tall, 40′ wide steel water tank from the age of steam engines is now The TANK Center for Sonic Arts in Rangely, Colorado — a unique destination for artists, sonic explorers, and curious visitors to learn how to listen in a whole new way. In November, 2016, more than fifty residents of Rangely, Colorado, brought their voices and their instruments to The TANK to record "Rangely A-Caroling at The TANK," a 13-song CD of traditional Christmas carols and songs, produced by The TANK Center for Sonic Arts. 

 Who’s Who on "Rangely A-Caroling at The TANK" Bay Area master engineer Mark Fuller, assisted by Rangely resident Samantha Wade, captured these overwhelmingly beautiful acoustics in a compelling 40-minute collection of music that tells the story of the Nativity from many perspectives and in many styles. Musical Director Bruce Odland wove together a sonic tapestry of talented local voices and musicians. Local Rangely artist Julia Davis and TANKster Lois LaFond created the moody artwork for the CD cover. Rangely oilman and philanthropist, Sam Tolley, donated the funds to gather together and record "Rangely A-Caroling at The TANK." All proceeds raised from Rangely A-Caroling at The TANK will benefit Rangely public schools, Colorado Northwestern Community College, and The TANK Center for Sonic Arts.
 JOY TO THE WORLD and ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH Elaine Urie is a longtime Rangely businesswoman who has been an advocate, generous supporter, and friend of The TANK from the very first note she sang there. Jana Wright and Elaine Urie sang together in a church trio before Jana moved to Cortez, Colorado. We’re so pleased Jana brought her beautiful, soaring soprano for a visit to The TANK. Heather Zadra, longtime Rangely resident and college English teacher heard about “Save The TANK” efforts in 2013, and decided to write a story for the local newspaper. She started her research with a visit to The TANK, accompanied by Samantha Wade, and has been involved ever since. In fact, Heather is The TANK Center for Sonic Arts Operations Coordinator. 
JINGLE BELLS This “party version” of "Jingle Bells" is enthusiastically performed by the students of the Parkview Elementary School Choir, directed by first-year teacher Caitlin Leslie. If you listen closely you can hear the “sleigh ride” leaving the TANK and disappearing in the distance. O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL Rangely Junior/Senior High School music instructor and director Carol Morton wrote the beautiful arrangement of "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel," performed with such skill and beauty by the Rangely High School Band and Choir. WE THREE KINGS Amada Garcia, a student at Colorado Northwestern Community College, attended the CNCC session of Days of Sonic Learning in September, 2016. When she sang a few bars of Ave Maria on her way out of The TANK, Heather Zadra, her English instructor, snagged her to participate in "Rangely A-Caroling at The TANK." (She also sings on "Silent Night.") Miranda Hayes grew up in Rangely, and is well-known in town for her powerful alto, which found a home in the music of Patsy Cline and Martina McBride. She left for many years to pursue a singing career in Nashville, and returned last year to be closer to family. Being asked to sing on the CD meant her first experience in The TANK; she was overwhelmed, and instantly understood how special a sonic space it is.

 Marie Morton is a recent graduate of Wheaton College, who grew up with music in her homeschool education, both piano and voice. Marie has always loved to sing — which might have something to do with being Carol Morton’s daughter — taking the melody or harmony, and lending her strong, confidant voice to "We Three Kings." 
 We’re so fortunate that Michelle Jones — cello player, college music major, and homeschooling mom — was able to join her friends and neighbors to share her considerable talents for "We Three Kings." 
 WHAT CHILD IS THIS? Desert Storm veteran and Commander Lisa Hatch became reacquainted with her violin to join her friend, Michelle Gohr, in a splendid version of "What Child is This?" THE FIRST NOEL Rangely Senior High School student Abigail Shriver came to The TANK several times this summer during Open Saturdays, often with family members, and fell in love with the space. Abigail speaks often of the peace that singing in The TANK brings to her, which we can hear in her performance of "The First Noel." 
O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL The Bishop and Campos families are good friends who share a love of music, so joining together to perform "O Come, All Ye Faithful" seemed perfectly natural. Their harmonies resound beautifully in The TANK. IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER Nurse practitioner at Rangely District Hospital, and a gifted musician, Shelby Lindsay has also been a volunteer through The TANK’s inaugural open season. He sings a lyrical "In the Bleak Midwinter," with Bruce Odland on hammered dulcimer. 
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM The Fiscus family has been making music together since their two boys, Jarrod and Jordan, could hold guitars. Well known in the community as “Fiscus & Gravy,” they play at venues ranging from ice cream socials to summer weekend events. Dan, who is gifted at many instruments, played in The TANK on several occasions this summer. I HEARD THE BELLS Wayne Nickson loves The TANK, and has talented grandchildren who came to love it during Open Saturdays this summer, as well. Wayne gives a heartrending rendition of "I Heard the Bells," from a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow after learning that his son had been wounded fighting for the Union in the Civil War. Wayne is the safety officer of the local pipeline company, and provided a great deal of work and support to create The TANK Center for Sonic Arts. CAROL OF THE BELLS Samantha Wade — who grew up singing in The TANK, and is known as "the voice of The TANK" — performs an amazing vocal interpretation of "Carol of The Bells". Samantha is also on staff at The TANK Center for Sonic Arts as Keeper and Guide. 
SILENT NIGHT Kelvin White, who was just a boy when he saw the old water tank get reconstructed in the early ’60s, sings a beautiful tenor solo over Rangely townspeople on "Silent Night." Twenty Rangely residents, who are also TANK volunteers and supporters, joined Kelvin in this beloved carol. 
HOW DID "Rangely A-Caroling at The TANK" COME ABOUT? During our Summer Solstice Celebrations in June, 2016, Elaine Urie, one of The TANK’s strongest local supporters, brought Rangely businessman Sam Tolley to experience The TANK for himself. 

Sam is a savvy oilman who, up to that point, had been pretty skeptical about these “wild-eyed musicians” from far away who had been descending on Rangely for decades to make recordings in an old abandoned water tank. But, when Bruce Odland joined Elaine to sing for Sam, and Sam heard the marvelous acoustics of The TANK, a twinkle came to his eye. He said, “I want to do something for Rangely.” That something is "Rangely A-Caroling at The TANK," an album of traditional Christmas carols, sung by the people of Rangely and produced by The TANK Center for Sonic Arts. Sam said he’d foot the bill for the whole thing, with the proceeds going to Rangely School District RE-4, Colorado Northwestern Community College, and The TANK Center for Sonic Arts. Sam’s prediction? “We’re gonna sell a million.” 

 Putting together a Christmas album in just a couple of months, from scratch, using a 65-foot tall steel tank with up to 40 seconds of reverberation as a recording studio is no small task. Sam’s idea meant that a dozen different groups of musicians who could make good music had to be found — and quickly! In a small town like Rangely, that meant that nearly everyone ended up involved in the CD in some way. 

 Volunteers and supporters contacted Rangely residents who had made music during Open Saturdays in The TANK this past summer to ask them to consider playing on the CD and to think of others who might jump in. What followed was a team effort involving enthusiastic townspeople and those “wild-eyed musicians.” There are lots of people who made this happen. Heather Zadra, The TANK Center for Sonic Arts Operations Coordinator, sought out musicians, scheduled rehearsals, encouraged and nudged reluctant carolers. Sam got on the phone with his contacts. The local schools, a family country band, and singers from the churches all got involved, and soon we had more than a dozen “acts” and lots of ideas for carols. Friends of The TANK former Executive Director Rich Harris arranged for speedy pressings of CD’s. Outreach Chairwoman Lois LaFond teamed up with local graphic artist Julia Davis for cover art, Bruce Odland enlisted Mark Fuller to come in from Northern California and lend his formidable engineering and mastering skills. (Mark last visited The TANK in 1993, when he played drums on Bruce’s Leaving Eden album, back in the illegal trespassing days.) 

"Rangely A-Caroling at The TANK" was accomplished in four days: two days of rehearsals and setting up the new recording studio in our Rhino Cubed container, and two days to record thirteen songs.
 This was the first full use of The TANK Center for Sonic Arts as a recording studio, something that has been years in the planning. Engineer Mark Fuller and his local assistant Samantha Wade caught every voice, every instrument, every song in sonic splendor. 
When you listen to "Rangely A-Caroling at The TANK," you will hear the big heart of a small town, high in the desert, singing out and ringing out within the walls of an old steel water tank that was recognized, saved, and is loved as an acoustical treasure. 

Come visit soon (we’re open May though October). Bring your voice, bring an instrument, bring your ears.