Out Of The Blue was put together over a four year period at Ndlovu Music's Studio 1652, working with friend and producer Doug Ward and a great bunch of musicians. I had an inventory of music I had written over the years based on places I had been, things I knew about and just from watching people. As Doug and I started to put the songs together a few more were written as the album evolved. Storytelling with a link to the past style of country music is what I like and what I am trying to bring to the people who also like this style of music. I enjoy storytelling music, music from Texas, Bakersfield sound, Willie, Dale Watson, Buck Owens, Tom Connors are all artists I have listened to for many hours. I am working to bring a bridge from Canada to Nashville with a little Texas along the way, yippin’ and strummin’ all the way. A few words about the songs: Boots of Mine was inspired one summer afternoon after listening to Johnny Cash sing "Walk The Line". Girl I Sure Like You is an old song I wrote in the 80's after seeing a pick-up truck go by with a girl sitting in the middle and the driver's arm around her. Texas Gruene was written the day after I returned from my first trip to Gruene Hall. If you've never been - go! Missed Missing Me - I was in an airport watching a couple wait for a flight. They did not look happy and I made a note "one of those two missed missing the other". If I Don't Do It, it won't get done at all is a saying I had when I was in high school. My old line came back to me one day and the words to the song quickly followed. Since She Left I can't get right was written while I was driving my truck. Doug mentioned to me that we needed a real sad old country song. I called him when I finished my drive and he said "Yaw, that's country enough!" Casey Jones was a guy I never met but had heard many stories about. Casey built the camp my family has owned for the past 40 plus years. This song is a ballad about Casey and the camp. Honkey Tonk Room. I built a new addition to the camp. It turns out to be the Killarney Honky Tonk Room. Fill-er Up Again is a cover song written by Jerry Dallas (Jerry Groop) who actually played guitar on the Waylon Jennings Honky Tonk Heroes album. This song is one of my all time country favourites. Sadly Jerry is no longer with us. Cowboy As She Gets is a song about a cowboy living in a non-cowboy environment. The Cowboy Who Takes You Home. I just pictured a bar and a couple as I was trying to write a love song. My thanks to the musicians who helped me build this album: - Pedro Fernandez: lead guitar - Steve Smith: pedal steel - Rob Angelow: keyboards - Doug Broadfoot: keyboards - Les Smith: harmonica - Ali Raney: fiddle - Doug Ward: bass and drums - I handled the acoustic guitars and vocals. I hope you enjoy listening to the album as much as we enjoyed making it. Finally, a special thanks to: Doug and his perseverance to get this done and for pushing to always make it better; Pedro for always smiling and being the conduit to a lot of great musicians and ideas; Takamine guitars, Creemore Brewing Company, the cheering party crowd, the great studio musicians who really brought some excitement to the sessions; the team at base 22 and to Chucky for getting it all going for me again. Chris "Buck" Johnsen