Tom Farley; Tania Farley; Gerry Herndon; Steve Gallagher; Steve Ihlenburg; Cam Head; Tom Lavin; Greg Ferris; Todd Gallagher; Donnie Satterwhite; B.J. Liederman; Mike Munden; Mike Gosey; Tom Jones
Influences
Bob Dylan; Paul Simon; Cat Stevens; Crosby, Stills and Nash; Neil Young; Led Zeppelin; The Beatles; James Taylor; Dan Fogelberg; Hank Williams; The Police; Bonnie Raitt; Joan Armatrading; Allison Krauss and Union Station; The Duchs; Monte Montgomery; Tommy Emmanuel
The Songsmyth album was my first attempt at a major studio recording. When it was produced, my thoughts were to bring together some of the most endearing musical friends I had known over the years and to let the magic happen. The end result was a labor of fun and shear joy.
At my side ..boards and vocals, as in every musical group I was connected to, was Tania Farley....the one who believed in me the most. My brother-in-law, Steve Ihlenburg, who would later bring his energy and humor to The Tom Farley-Cam Head Band, was our drummer. Steve and Todd Gallagher, whom I had developed a rich writing and recording tradition, accompanied me on lead guitar, keyboards and flute. Donnie Satterwhite, known for his tours with Thunder Road, The Ill-Eagles and duo with Jim Cootes, has been a part of every major studio situation in my career. From my earlier days of Cimarron was Tom Lavin, a bassist steeped in the Southern Rock tradition. Denny Smith of the Blacksburg-based band Happy was the fellow background vocalist, responsible for all of the background vocal arrangements. Just back from the road was Cam Head, whose collaboration in both duo and band I would cherish for nearly a decade. Rounding off the list would be Jim Cummins on harmonica, Greg Ferris on guitar and Mike Gosey on acoustic lead.
The final mixing and mastering were done in Nashville. I chose Quadrafonic Studios because I was a real Fogelberg freak at the time, and, I wanted to be surrounded by the people and equipment he worked with on his earlier albums. To have the chance to experience the atmosphere and spirit of Nashville was a real education. Thanks to Tania, our families, our friends (especially Beetle Bailey, Laura Kesser, Debbie Hazelwood, Sharon Kelley, Charlie Scott, Pat and Beau Ludwig, Lloyd Stone and Kristin Phillips), and the many fans and supporters, I had the rare chance to have a dream come true. Little did I know that it would open other doors that would continue to enrich my life in ways that I could never have imagined.
Fifteen years later, I decided to archive the master tapes into a CD for my own pleasure and for their preservation. When I heard how good the original cuts transferred to CD format, I decided to work to add additional "basement cuts" and make a fuller, 72 minute CD product....Songsmyth and the Basement Cuts. The result is a history and compilation of established and never-before-heard cuts that will please fans and newcomers alike. It is my pleasure to re-release the Songsmyth album on CD and to share with you some of the best memories and moments I have savored over the years.
The Calm Before the Storm CD is the definitive performance of The Tom Farley Band captured in the studio. Produced by Tom, engineered and recorded at Earworks Studio with Bob Smith, it was the end result of many years of playing, writing and technical experience. Tom, Tania and Gerry had been performing live in local clubs for about eighteen months before going into the studio. Using a combination of sequenced rhythms and live performance, the band was not only able to achieve a dynamic recording, but also reproduced the album-quality performance consistently in all the venues they played.
The Over the Falls CD was a long time comin.....but worth the wait. I recorded the entire CD at the house...using Acid Pro...with the help of Steve Gallagher as engineer, Tania on background vocals and Greg Ferris on Electric Guitar and Mandolin. Greg and I collaborated long distance through software and wave files...a first for me, but really successful.
Great too find you here at myspace and be friends!!! Would love to know where Mike Munden and Jim Cootes are these days and what the hey they're up to! I was a frequent Ramblin' Conrads visitor and a Christ The King student with Jim where he used to play the folk Masses. Wow, what a blast from the past! If you will let me know...Thanks Tom and Tania!
Hello there! Orders are flying in thru paypal! I am so proud of you! I have always believed in you and thought you were an awesome songwriter! Much love!
