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Back Room Trax - Vol. 7

by Phil Keaggy - Back Room Trax

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I'm Special 02:22
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6.
Happy Are We 02:49
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Alaska 03:45
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15.

about

**STATE OF LEISURE**
About 1987 - demo - drum machine, bass, guitars and vocal by PK. I believe I was playing my 1986 Zion, which I still have to this day. The lyrics were just an exercise in so-called "cleverness" - tongue-in-cheek nonsense. This may have been a tune I was writing for the "Sunday's Child" album, and fortunately didn't make the grade. Haha - PK.

**WHEN I CONSIDER**
Originally written in the 80's, I re-recorded this piece in Nashville around 1992 with drummer Pino Squillace and bassist Chris Kent - the organist's name escapes my memory, sadly as he also mixed this song, as I recall. Chris passed away years ago - he was a brilliant bass player who also played on the "Invention" album released in 1998. The lyrics were inspired by Psalm 8.

**MAKE A CHANGE**
This is an early demo from 1981 that I recorded on my Teac 144 Porta Studio. The song was then chosen to go on the "Play Thru Me" album. I lived in Leawood, KS at the time. I was 30 at the time and learning how to multi-track, rather than sound-on-sound technique.

**I'M SPECIAL**
John Painter produced this track. I believe this was a tune that was to be a part of a Max Lucado children's audio book. There's a slower version of this piece somewhere. The voice at the beginning is Ken Lewis. He and I recorded a lot together in those days, and he drums on many of my songs. John plays horns and mando, and this piece is a real gem in my opinion.

**FOONSPOOL JAM**
This jam is me playing with friend and drummer Dennis Holt in upstate New York. We may have been on tour - can't quite remember. I added the bass later in my home studio. This was recorded initially by Paul Maillis on his "high tech" cassette recorder during a sound check. I was playing my Zion through a Marshall amp that was provided at the concert. Sounds like I had to let off some steam - Haha!

**HAPPY ARE WE**
This is the song I sang to Bernadette as she walked up the aisle with her mom & dad - to become my wife on July 14, 1973. We are going on our 46th year of marriage. This recording I did in the early 2000's as I recall. There is a demo from 1972 somewhere. Bern has been my companion and closest friend all these years, and I truly cherish her!

**GET UP AND GO**
This is about 1983 - I did on my Teac 144 Porta Studio. Bern on this with me doing the refrain. I wrote it for her exercise class - sounds like "Ghostbusters" theme was an inspiration - haha. This tune was re-recorded for the "Getting Closer" LP, but wasn't chosen for the final master. I'm playing The Fernando Villarreal special electric on this, which I also used on "Underground" and "Getting Closer".

**WHEN SILENCE SPEAKS (STILL WATERS)**
Paul Field wrote these lyrics and I put the tune to it. It was originally on the "Inseparable" album - 2000 thereabouts. I thought the melody was hymn-like, so here it is without the fake drums.

**HIGHLAND ROCK**
This is the demo I recorded that eventually was re-recorded for the "220" album in 1995. I haven't heard this in all these years, so it was fun to hear again! The "220" version has bagpipes - this is just a good ole rocker.

**I'M NOT INTO LEAVING YOU (WITH TIM MINOR)**
In 1984, I was on tour with a band - it was called the "Underground Tour". Tim Minor was our opening artist, and what a talent (he still is)! This low-fi recording was done on a moving tour bus - recorded to a Fostex X-15 4-track cassette. Dave Spurr programmed the drum, Richard Souther played keys, me on guitar - Tim and I on vocals.

**SALVATION ARMY BAND (WITH DAUGHTER OLIVIA)**
In 1994, Alan Shacklock produced my "True Believer" album for Sparrow Records. We worked out the arrangement. Cheryl Bliss sang on the final version for the album. I had a working track on reel-to-reel and had my 10 year old daughter Olivia sings on it with me. I was going for that "Deep Forest" feel with vocal samples. I still love hearing this demo!

**TRAIN TO GLORY**
1982 demo recording - done in my basement in Leawood, KS. It was then recorded again on my "Play Thru Me" album. I was on drums, bass and guitars. You can tell I was a younger man by the continual high notes I'm singing! I love the message of this tune.

**ALASKA**
In 2008, Bernadette and I were invited to go on an Alaskan Cruise with other artists and their wives. I recorded the basic tracks to this piece in our cabin - hence the title. About six years later, I added the lead guitar parts to this piece. It has a spaghetti western vibe to it. Kinda fun...

**JOHN THE REVELATOR**
I've done a few different versions of this song - originally penned by blues singer, Son House. After visiting the actual island of Patmos around 2009, I went to our cabin on the ship and wrote new verses - about John the apostle. On this demo, I went for a Cream/Clapton feel. I drummed and played guitars and bass and sang the new verses. It's a nice change-up from the old "Crimson and Blue" version i.m.o.

**HAPPENS EVERYDAY**
When I did my demo of "Sounds" in 1984, I did this little reprise for fun with multiple vocals. "Sounds" on "Getting Closer" is still one of my favorite recordings!

credits

released January 16, 2019

Cover photo by Robin Mawdsley

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Phil Keaggy - Back Room Trax Nashville, Tennessee

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