SONG LIST includes: EAGLES, JIM CROCE JIMMY BUFFETT GORDON LIGHTFOOT CREEDENCE, CASH WILLIE & WAYLON NEIL YOUNG JAMES TAYLOR JOHN PRINE VAN MORRISON + country & pop music of the 70's, 80's & 90's.
album credits
Black Sheep Rebel, Chattanooga Rhythm Man
Tennessee Christmas Soiree, Lisa, Dogs Like Me, Fishin' Maniacs, Donna Reid written by
Wendell Matthews Bad Memory- Steven McLendon, W. Matthews My Money's In Birmingham- W. Matthews Tim McDonald, Brad Matthews; Bundle of Nerves- Sally Lewis, Cathy & Tommy Tackett, W. Matthews
Lead Vocals - Wendell Matthews Electric guitar - David Reynolds, Rick Mariner Harmonica - H B Beverly Cello - Kerrine Gifford Accordion - Michael Delgardo Fiddle - Shawn Snyder Bass guitar - Eli Weed, Clark Sullivan, Claude Cormier Vocals - Tim Richey, Steven McLendon, Sheryta Spears Drums - Frank Sorrell Keyboards - Joel Phillips, Tim Richey Acoustic guitar - Tim Richey, Jody Creel, W. Matthews
Produced by wendell matthews Recorded, mixed and mastered by Seth Funderburk Sea Note Recording, Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Additional Engineering by Jeff Costa Photography by C.E. Chip Smith Thanks to Ann Matthews, Sally Lewis, Ken Spiehler, Wynn Vickers, H. David Henson, Jaynie Trudell & Harvey
- MUSIC RELATED LINKS - wendell_songs@yahoo.com copy and paste to contact me
1997- "ANGEL ON THE WATER"
Wendell Matthews first self-produced CD.
recorded with six other musicians in Burns, TN. on an 8-track reel. He wrote the title cut about the late Katie Collier who died suddenly at age 17, the daughter of Wendell's girlfriend. This 10 song disc includes, "Stand Up Man", written for his late friend, Bill (Fish) Prince, "Ol' Buffalo", written with his late father, J.O. Matthews Jr., which denotes the recollection of his dad's childhood huntin' dog. The first recording of his rap song "Fishin' Maniacs" and the doleful tale of the "Chattanooga Rhythm Man", as well as "I Love Her Late At Night", written with his brother, Brad.
2003- "THE BALLAD OF ALICE FLAGG"
Wendell Matthews produces his first digital recording. Forming a duo with fellow acoustic guitarist and vocalist Jody Creel of Chapin, S.C., the two musicians recorded 10 tracks in under a week's time in Charlotte, N.C. The title cut is Wendell's take on the century-old story of legendary ghost, Alice of Murrells Inlet, S.C. "Dogs Like Me" was first released on this disc, as well as their version of "I Love Her Late At Night". Creel lends lead vocals on two of his original songs.
2007- "DAMAGE CONTROL"
A 24-track digital recording completed during a four month period in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Wendell Matthews handled lead vocals on this 10-song project, arranging and producing the tracks with a crew of 15 musicians. A collaboration with Myrtle Beach based Stevie Mac of the band "EASON" and support from guitar-obsessed Tim Richey from Estill Springs, TN yielded the waning "Bad Memory". Fresh interpretations of "Dogs Like Me", "Chattanooga Rhythm Man" and "Fishin' Maniacs" round out this work which includes "My Money's In Birmingham", Wendell's first blues recording, written with Brad and cousin Tim, the Cajun toe-tapper "Donna Reid" and a 'when Wendell met Sally' story titled "Tennessee Christmas Soiree".
2008- "WENDELL MATTHEWS RECAPTURED"
Compilation CD 1- Black Sheep Rebel 2- Lisa 3- Dogs Like Me 4- Chattanooga Rhythm Man 5- Bad Memory 6- Donna Reid 7- Birmingham 8- Fishin' Maniacs 9- Bundle Of Nerves 10- Tennessee Christmas Soiree 11- Alice Flagg 12- Back Home 13- Playboy Life 14- I Love Her Late At Night 15- Little Seed 16- Aimless Rider 17- Angel On The Water 18- Ol' Buffalo 19- Friends
Along with Wendell's original songs, he covers pop, rock, country and folk music spanning five decades. He frequently uses a wireless rig that allows him to stroll among the crowd, making new friends and winning new fans.
Born and raised in Cowan, Tenn., which is 30 miles from Lynchburg where they make Jack Daniel's whiskey, "I'm the one in my family who doesn't have a real job, but they don't play the guitar; I've got the blessing and the curse."
He remembers listening to the radio as a small child and wondering about the lyrics to songs, asking his parents questions like, Why did Roger Miller say They ought to take a rope and hang me? Why did he have lipstick on his collar? Why does he want to dance with that girl? People would tell me, They are just songs, but I wanted to know where those words came from.
In high school, Wendell worked on his skills as a musician in the school band and playing guitar and singing with friends in several Country/Rock bands. Never standardized, his tastes in music varied. "I listened to and played everything from Black Sabbath to Doc Watson- Ray Charles to Hendrix. I liked Hank Williams Sr. as well as Allman Brothers."
Moving to Chattanooga after high school, he honed his craft before traveling the country, taking his music from Florida to California- New York to Texas.
Matthews eventually moved to Nashville, where he joined the songwriting community. He had several songs published, but decided to move to an area that allowed him to "just pick and sing and get back into writing my own songs."
A friend in Nashville told him about the Grand Strand and after a visit, Matthews moved there. (The Grand Strand covers the east coast from Calabash, North Carolina to Georgetown, South Carolina. The center of this stretch is Myrtle Beach.)
Entertaining on the Grand Strand for ten years, Wendell Matthews calls Murrells Inlet home and still writes, performs and appreciates many different genres of music.
Now, after recording "damage control" his 3rd CD of original music, those eclectic influences come through loud and clear.
This is by far the biggest project I've ever done. With the support of my fans, it was a team effort with more than 25 very talented artists, technicians, family and friends working to put it together.
With everything from a heart-felt tribute to a lost friend, musician Lisa Hudson, to a Rock/Country song called "Dogs Like Me" and a redneck fishing rap, Matthews' "damage control" has something for everyone on this album.
Written by Clayton Stairs Georgetown Times, South Carolina
