Recorded spring/summer 2008 at knob and tube recording, Toronto
by David Gavan Baxter
Mixed at the Meat Locker, NYC by Harvey Jay Goldberg
Mastered at the E Room, Toronto by Peter Moore
The band:
David Baxter: vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonium, percussion
Brian Kobayakawa: bass
Treasa Levasseur: accordion, piano, vocals
Justin Rutledge: guitar, harmonica, vocals
Guests:
Burke Carroll: pedal steel guitar
Jenn Grant: vocal on Meet Me in The Willow Grove
Old Man Luedecke: banjo on Thank You Girl
Catherine MacLellan: vocal on How Could I Know?
Blake Manning: vocal, shakers on Maybe We’d Be Lovers, I Had to Believe My Eyes
Paul Reddick: harmonica on Meet me in the Willow Grove, Marching Into Glory,
vocal on Marching into Glory
Soozi Schlanger: fiddle on If I Could See the Future
Ron Sexsmith: vocal on If I Could See the Future
The Glory Chorus: Stacy Burke, Jenn Grant, Treasa Levasseur, Angela L’Italien, Catherine MacLellan, Soozi Schlanger, Lori Yates.
Photography: Soozi Schlanger, David Baxter
Back Cover image: Bob Snider
Design: Chris Peters
Thank you everyone.
Above and beyond the call, all.
All songs composed by David Gavan Baxter and published by Proper Channels (SOCAN), except where noted.
1. If I Could See the Future
2. Do You Think Of Me? ( D. Baxter, S. Huffman, sold for a song ) (SOCAN)
3. Angelina
4. I Had To Believe My Eyes
5. If That’s What You Want
6. Thank You Girl
7. Winter Came Early
8. Meet Me In The Willow Grove (D. Baxter, S. Huffman, sold for a song) (SOCAN)
9. Maybe We’d Be Lovers
10. How Could I Know? (D. Baxter, S. Dibble) (SOCAN)
11. Marching Into Glory
12. Day And Age
Produced by David Gavan Baxter
Copyright, 2008, Proper Channels
This recording is dedicated to the loving memory of Margaret Ruth Gavan Baxter and the stalwart spirit of Edward Albert Baxter.
Influences
Willie Nelson.
So many others.
Everyone I've worked with.
some links: these folks are all amazing, and all either on my record, or knob and tube regulars. please check them out and go to their shows.
www.justinrutledge.com
www.treasalevasseur.com
www.creakingtree.com
www.ronsexsmith.com
www.catherinemaclellan.com
www.jenngrant.com
www.paulreddick.ca
www.loriyates.com
www.oldmanluedecke.ca
www.myspace.com/stacyb
www.bobsnider.ca
www.myspace.com/danielskysongs
www.theundesirables.com
www.corinraymond.com
www.swamperella.com
www.gregcockerill.com
.. David Baxter is a lifer. Journeyman guitarist, award winning songwriter and producer, he has been writing, performing and producing music since childhood. His first gig was conducting the Kindergarten Rhythm Band at a PTA meeting. He has been a professional since 1975, receiving his first break as a member of legendary Toronto band David Wilcox and the Teddy Bears. In the late 70's he was a member of seminal Toronto punk/new wave band The Sharks, 2 members of which went on to found Blue Rodeo. . He was married to singer Sherry Kean with whom he shared considerable success , (and a JUNO award) in the 1980’s. He collaborates still with country singer Lori Yates, a partnership that dates back to 1990.
As a producer, he has overseen 3 albums for peerless Canadian songwriter Bob Snider. Other productions include records with Yates, Justin Rutledge, Northern Pikes, Treasa Levasseur, The Undesirables, Catherine MacLellan, Penny Lang, Michael Laderoute, and a number of others. He won a Juno with Kean, and had seen Juno nominations for Snider and Rutledge albums. He tours as guitarist with Yates, Rutledge and Levasseur. His guitar can be heard weekly on the soundtrack to CTV series, Degrassi: the Next Generation, and on many records as a sideman.
Day & Age is, however, Baxter’s debut album as a singer. In a career of working with great voices, he had always left that job to the experts. “I was politely encouraged to stick to the guitar,” says Baxter, “but I always wrote songs, as a collaborator.” He and Yates saw a translation of one of their songs reach 1 in Quebec, and a Kean co-write was named country song of the year by the CMPA.
“Besides music, the one thing I’ve spent a lifetime doing is trying to get a relationship right. Day & Age is a collection of songs about that. About two years ago, my mother passed away, and I suffered a very painful breakup. In the aftermath, I put together my studio, Knob & Tube, found a great old Martin guitar, and I was writing simple, broken-hearted country songs. I love those traditional forms. They’re so trustworthy. Ranging from 2 months to 20 years old, these songs seemed to hang together as a group” says Baxter. “I set out to make a Willie Nelson record, basically, but had to make do with the singer I had. It’s a sad record, but it’s true.” The album is all-acoustic, which may surprise some who are familiar with Baxter’s signature electric guitar style. “It’s how I play and sing at home,” he says.
The band on Day & Age consists of Baxter, Justin Ruteldge, Treasa Levasseur, and Creaking Tree String Quartet bassist Brian Kobayakawa, live off the floor. “We recorded very quickly. We didn’t even wear headphones. I added a few overdubs later, but only a few.” Guests include Ron Sexsmith, Lori Yates, Catherine MacLellan, Jenn Grant, Paul Reddick, Old Man Luedecke, Burke Carroll, and Soozi Schlanger, of Swamperella. “It wasn’t easy to finally step up to the mic, but these are my friends, and I’d worked with all of them already”, says Baxter. “It was a very supportive environment for a “ new” singer.”
Day & Age was produced and engineered by Baxter at Knob & Tube in Toronto, and mixed by long-time friend Harvey Goldberg , chief audio engineer at Late Show with David Letterman, at the Meat Locker in New York. Peter Moore of the E Room in Toronto handled the mastering. The album features cover art by Bob Snider.
Day & Age will be released in November 2008 with tour dates to be announced.
You were outstanding at Eaglewood...not a surprise, but an affirmation of your musicianship to us in the audience. (some great versions of Corin's songs too!)
I'm hitting the road in a couple of weeks to raise money for War Child, Coast-to-coast – 50 cities – ALL PROCEEDS TO WARCHILD. Why? 66% of all war victims are CHILDREN. Shocked like me? War Child helps these children that have been affected by war. Check out the new blog – the whole story is up there. Love to have you be a part of it.
You’ll find a Blog, Tour page and a Bio page. I’ll be blogging daily from the road.
