Influenced by roots music, folk, rock, blues, and soul, as well as jambands and the original "San Francisco sound", Phil McGee - Almost Acoustic is a warm and friendly mix of homegrown recordings made between October 2008 and October 2010. It is a salute to some of my favorite artists, influences, and music styles, and a personal benchmark in fashoining a complete and satisfying tapestry of tunes without any outside players or production. All instruments - guitars, dobro, mandolin, digital drums, pianos, organ, bass and harmonica and vocals are performed by Phil McGee, except for the addition of guest vocalists Lynne McGee (#8 and 9) and Liz Lewis (#12). TRACK NOTES: 1. NEW MORNING – a favorite by Bob Dylan from 1970, it sets the mood. 2. WRONG SIDE OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS - My take on Dr. John’s funky refashioning from 2000 of a Duke Ellington tune composed for a 1940s musical. It's a paean to a bygone era of African American community and soul. 3. FOOLISH HEART – a classic Garcia/Hunter composition from 1988. I love how this one turned out. 4. HOLD TO A DREAM – a pretty Tim O’Brien bluegrass composition that I learned 20 years ago from Laurie Lewis’s version, as a solo guitar piece. 5. DO ME A FAVOR – A catchy tune by the Subdudes, an under-appreciated New Orleans soul-rock group that is still going strong 20 years on. 6. PERFECT IMPERFECTION – A moody ballad written by Little Feat’s Paul Barrére & Tom Snow. A prime example of concise and effective songwriting. 7. LAZY RIVER ROAD – another Garcia/Hunter chestnut from their final collaborative period in the 1990s. I’ve sped it up, adding a gypsy-swing 2-step feel. 8. ANGEL FROM MONTGOMERY – Introducing Lynne McGee on lead vocals on this classic folk ballad by John Prine. 9. CAN’T FIND MY WAY HOME – Lynne again featured with me on the vocals of this Stevie Winwood composition. 10. CORINNA – A salute to the fabulous version of this traditional tune found on Taj Mahal's second lp. 11. HEAVEN HELP THE FOOL – An alluring instrumental by Bob Weir, performed as a Bass and Guitar duet. 12. MAGNOLIA MOUNTAIN – An evocative composition by Ryan Adams. 13. HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE – A starkly simple love song by a modern master, Van Morrison. 14. SIX FEET OF SNOW – A playful cajun two-step composition from the unlikely songwriting team of Lowell George and Keith Godchaux. 15. TRAIL OF TEARS – A sensitive story of the Cherokee by renowned songwriter, ex-Bluegrass Boy, and cosmic cowboy, Peter Rowan. 16. WATER SONG – A personal rendering of the phenomenal Jorma Kaukonen instrumental made famous by Hot Tuna, with an emphasis on the interplay of the Bass and Acoustic Guitar. 17. BUCKETS OF RAIN – I've arranged this Dylan classic as an open tuned guitar piece, again with a strong improvised bass accompaniment. This one recording actually dates back to 1988, but caps off the set perfectly.