It’s Always the Liner Notes

by Quayle Smithers

It’s always: “When are you going to get it done?” It’s as if the project’s completion rests on what I have to say. You want liner notes? Here’s your goddamn liner notes. We’re talking “poetry album” here. So, really? You need more words? Remember the spoken word craze of the 90’s? David Craig didn’t realize he was doing that. He kept thinking--poetry album. It came to him on the rocky beach of Cedar Island near Portland, Oregon in August of 2020. That summer afternoon sunlight and the Willamette River spoke to him. “Make a poetry album with flutes on it,” a voice said. The daydreaming and conceptualizing started then but a mention to Willard Simmons got the project rolling. 

In January of 2021, these dates are historical, Willard sent Craig a music track that inspired lyrics, and magic! Craig talked of getting others involved but Willard said, “I thought WE were making the poetry album.” This struck Craig as brilliant. One musician and one voice for the poetry, no need for flute symphonies, dobro rentals, and key transpositions from bass and guitar tracks recorded by two different people in two different places. Craig’s original dream to employ a cut up method from many contributors might have been an impossible dream. Willard, who has been cranking out material consistently his whole life was willing and dependable. He made a dream reality. “Dream reality.” Damn, I could have written this while taking a nap.  

Audio tracks went back and forth by text and email. Poetry, goddamn poetry, I listened to a poetry album. I need another way to make a living. Admittedly, the voices, the music and the words are a winning combination. One couldn’t exist without the other. Would anyone want to listen to someone reading poetry or an album of instrumentals? 

On this weirdly titled album you get multiple shape shifting genres--cinematic soundtrack: “Pink Mountain,” Dylanesque: “World is Any Shape,” paranoia/psychological thriller: “A Madness,” musique concrete: “The Spirit is Strong,” protest anthem: “Paul,” fairy bells!!!!!! “You Won’t Forget,” indie polka: “Gertrude Stein’s In A Bad Mood,” Borscht Belt comedy: “Let’s Enjoy the Time We Have,” the requisite Wire homage: “Unknown,” Philly Soul: “Drift Away” and probably a few more unascertainable genres included on your average poetry album.

Who would have imagined this? At one point this wasn’t an idea in anyone’s mind and now it’s a cassette tape!* With this combination of words and music it’s obvious that Willard Simmons carried Craig. A trip to the beach with Willard means there will only ever be one set of footprints--like an insane “Footprints” poster come to life. Willard did the heavy lifting but he’d carry anybody--he’s that kind of guy. The music support gave Craig the freedom to do his thing. Musical gold from Willard meant every text and email Craig opened felt like a Christmas present. Even if you’re a pagan, you, too, will get that Christmas morning feeling from these tracks. Ho, ho, ho and all that, the holidays have arrived early with Santa Claus delivering this off beat, but somehow satisfying poetry album. 

*Depending on your format choice.