Album Notes: 2016 I am very fortunate to have some of the very-best musicians, background vocal arrangements, background vocals and sound-recording engineering in the business. This is my 6th album and I hope it is acclaimed to be the best to date, in your opinion. Dale Thompson: has played multiple instruments on my songs since 1978, his expertise covers the guitar field from bass, rhythm, lead, dobro, steel guitar, drums as well as arranging the song's instrumentation. He was playing in the studio when I made my first recording “Valdosta Woman”, in 1979. He also suddenly appeared and played lead guitar with me when I appeared with Ernest Tubb, those many years ago. I first heard Dale play when he was around 12 years old and I thought it was a Chuck Berry recording. Joel Key: has also played many instruments and arranged the instruments on many of my songs, Joel is a masterful musician who plays keyboards, guitars ranging from lead, rhythm and bass as well as percussion. I am truly grateful for these two great talents and their help and expertise. The vocal arrangements of the background singers have been produced & sung, by Robbie Hiner, with the able assistance of the golden voices of Joanne Hamilton, Pam Nance and Vanessa Norman at Robbie’s Hambone Recording Studio in Lynchburg, Va. Jacob Clayton: is the sound engineer who puts it all together for us to hear, he controls, mixes and masters each of the sound tracks from vocal to instruments to a fabulous finished product. He is “the sound man”. ************************************************************************************* Harmonica riffs were added by me…Mel Parker The songs: 1. Hey Y’all, we’ve got a good thing going started at E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, VA. sometime in the late 1950’s the music was swinging then and it continues on today…. 2. The Good Guy’s is also based on some of my real life experiences, that I had in my hometown, Lynchburg. It involves my memories as a 4 & 5-year-old, when I was living at 200 Oakley with my aunt Jenny and uncle Raymond Jones and my cousin Bucky, my radio memories of the Friday night fights, and the old maid neighbor, Miss Mamie Morman who claimed her fame along with the witch who lived in the upstairs attic of my cousin’s house…. The house still stands today; it is a cab stand. The folks who live or work there today, are not aware of its witchy history. 3. In the Still of the Night: is my interpretive cover of Fred Parish’s song first recorded by the Satins, it is a mix of the original tune and lost in the Fifties by Mike Reid and Troy Seals, plus my additions, it brings back memories of the first time I sang the song when I was with the 'Chaser’s' Rock and Roll Band at the “Parkway Inn in Lynchburg and later at frat parties at UVA on the 50’s college circuit. I am pleased and truly proud of my version of their song, and I believe they would also approve. 4. The James River Trestle: was written in hopes of keeping people off of high train railroad trestles, especially the one in Lynchburg that runs from Riverside Park 1860 feet across the James River to Madison Heights, VA. at the time I first recorded the song, 13 lives had been lost on the trestle, a short time after it was recorded, the 14th person lost his life, I re-recorded the song to give acknowledgement to victim # 14. 5. Chances Are: is my second cover on the album written by Al Steadman and Robert Allen, I am please and I believe you will be too. 6. Redneck Rose: is another of my lively “old sounding county” toe tapping dance tunes that invites you to and grin along with Rose and her kids… and maybe… if you buy the tune on cdbaby as a download, I can donate some money for their clothes. 7. Back IN Lonesome: is my own tear jerking attempt, it’s a decent song suited for a bar-room and late-night B-movies tracks. 8. Somebody: Is a really good song and will get your attention, because you are somebody, too. 9. Magnificent Lady: is a wonderful song, identifiable to many, sing able to most and dance-able to all. The idea for the song was based on a real life experience, the reason for the grin I mentioned in the song was due to the dabs of mustard on my mouths edge…you need to listen to the song to understand the full meaning. 10. My Intentions: Is a soul touching rendition of life’s experiences and how we learn to accept that we can choose our thoughts along the way. 11. High Time: is based in the factual history of our evolving country, we do need to recognize events and contribution people in our past have made and contributed and many of these people were immigrants and captive slaves in our land of the Free, it is though the respect of art, monuments, publication and historical acknowledgment of our past that we can be reminded not to repeat the mistakes of the past.