Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Jun 09 - 02:24 PM

Thanks Dan:

After a hit at tennis and a visit to my PO Box, I'm now enjoying my first play of your C.D.

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: olddude
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 03:31 PM

thank you Jeri
so very kind. Maybe next time i will try to do a real one instead of a home recording for the kids

I appreciate you kindness and your friendship

Dan

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: Jeri
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 03:06 PM

Are we talking pubes again!!!???

I just got the CD in the mail today and I've only listened to part of it. The production quality leaves a lot to be desired, but the songs still come across plain and un-futzed with.

I listen to CDs and what used to be called 'folk radio' here. I've heard fairly well known (in the 'F' world) and respected artists sing crap songs I figure came about because the CD needed filling out and people are generally stupid (not so much) and won't notice if an artist writes a song in 15 minutes. I notice.

Dan's songs are sound simple but are more complicated than you'd think. The guitar arrangements are unpretentious and exquisite. Those two words pretty much sum up everything I've heard so far.

When it comes from a heart, that's what you hear it with. "Three wheel bikes and old brown dogs, the way it used to be"--I LOVE that line.

Thank you, Dan.
(Now, consider doing a studio album.)

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: olddude
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 12:13 PM

Can't stop laughing that was great Charles
had me scratching my head there LOL

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 12:31 AM

Now why in hell did I post the above message to this thread? I've been reading and posting to the "Alberta let your hair hang low" thread and in a senior moment posted to this thead, which I've also been following and contributing to, instead.

Charles (doddering a bit)

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 12:28 AM

Or I suppose another way of putting it is the man is asking Alberta to undo her "going out" hairdo in preparation for going to bed--with him, of course. Which all adds up to the same thing.

Charles

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 12:14 AM

Lizzie, I am overwhelmed by the beauty of both sites you have linked, just as I am overwhelmed by the beauty of Dan's music--the guitar playing in "Lonesome Cowboy" is exquisite. And when I first listened in my car--without the distraction of a basketball game--to "Lightning Road," I had a huge grin through the whole song and wished I'd had someone there to "high five" in triumphant appreciation.

Charles

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: olddude
Date: 30 May 09 - 04:54 PM

David
thank you that was very kind of you to listen
Dan

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 30 May 09 - 04:47 PM

Just used the above link and enjoyed Dan/Olddude's songs on Myspace.

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 30 May 09 - 04:32 PM

Mountains and forests as playgrounds...that's a wonderful image, Dan. How lucky you were. And now you pass their inspiration on to others, in your songs. :0)

Here, to take your mind off work for a little while..

Time to stand and stare...

And talking of Thoreau, the lady who runs this beautiful page, in his memory, is a real sweetiepie. Those beautiful photos are hers..and somehow, I bet she'd love your songs too.

Henry David Thoreau - myspace

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: olddude
Date: 30 May 09 - 04:01 PM

I think about that stuff Lizzie when I am writing. Grew up in the country we had the whole mountains and forests as our play ground. Everything today is just so rush ... you are correct ... Wasn't it Thoreau that said keep all our accounts on our thumbnail ...I think that is why I like the old music so much. It is simple yet has a meaning to it that is lost in most modern music ... doesn't bring the simple thoughts to my mind so it doesn't really appeal to me much. Yet an old ballad or cowboy song really gets to me. Listening to Frank Hamilton's ballads and Art Thieme's music all day at work Friday - each song is just moving to my ears because of the beauty in the simplicity of the words and the guitar. I guess that is why I love Folk music

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 30 May 09 - 02:57 PM

'Lonesome Cowboy' ...that's my favourite, Dan. It's just *so* gentle..and it conjours up so many pictures of that man sitting out there on the range, all alone..missing his lady so..and wishing, wishing so hard for a simple life, one that he can spend with her. The two of them, side by side, working the land, living alongside nature, left alone, time to just 'be'...

"All I want is a piece of ground, a gentle hand, a sturdy plough. We could make it somehow, when the night turns into day..." (taken from 'Lonesome Cowboy' by Dan O'Connell)

It's about all the things we've forgotten. All the things that so many people never even think about, as they rush from supermarket to supermarket, being fed by others, living so far away from the land, so far from Mother Nature. Yet there he is, under those stars, listening to the coyotes, the night birds song, his coffe warming on the fire, and his dreams..

You've even got the scent of sage coming into it...drifting up on the air as he listens to the coyote howling...

I love it. :0)

Whatever happened to a simple life?   How did we get to rush, rush, rush?

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 30 May 09 - 01:41 PM

While often I have doubts about my critical abilities, I am incredibly gratified to find that so many rational people of impeccable taste* share my opinion of the beauty of the songs of the olddude,

Charles

*necessary qualifier: at least one person of notably questionable taste agrees with me, too.

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: maeve
Date: 30 May 09 - 11:40 AM

That's a meaningful tribute, Dan. Well done, both Dan and Bruce.

maeve

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: olddude
Date: 30 May 09 - 11:17 AM

It is easy to write a half decent song, when one of the greatest Canadian writers is your brother Bruce Murdoch. In every way that counts in this life, Bruce is my brother, and there would be no music from me ever without his friendship, support and stubborn you can do this attitude when I wanted to give up.

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: olddude
Date: 29 May 09 - 06:54 PM

Man that took a long time Bruce ... gosh they must have walked it there
go figure this mail service. I mean to canada ... takes forever

thank you my brother

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: Peace
Date: 29 May 09 - 06:39 PM

Got it today, listened right away and I love it (to put it briefly). Ya done good, Dan. I'm amazed at the fortitude you've shown by getting both your hands and voice back in shape. Yeah, bro, yeah.

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: Bobert
Date: 28 May 09 - 07:17 PM

Got mine...

Great stuff!!!

B~

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: olddude
Date: 28 May 09 - 07:06 PM

I finished 4 new songs so when I get enough together I will do another CD and another mailing to everyone again. Just having fun .. I had some people ask here it town where to buy a CD. I was overwhelmed and couldn't believe the music store would call me about it ... So i put a stack of them and donating the money to some friends that have two disabled kids, one with severe Autism and another with Cerebral Palsy to help them. That made me smile so maybe it will help them with the terrible costs of therapy. Anyway that is what I am up to and I hope to finish the New CD in a month or two if the pesky day job doesn't get too much in the way. I normally do these things late a night when I can't sleep. It really is a joy however to play again

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: olddude
Date: 28 May 09 - 06:52 PM

Thank you Lizzie, I am overwhelmed for sure
and from my heart I thank you and all of the catter who have been so kind in support of my quest to write and play again

love Dan

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 28 May 09 - 06:43 PM

OK, so I wrote a long piece out about your CD, Dan...but I know you get a little overwhelmed by us praising you too much, so I'll just give you 20/10 for it!

How's that?   ;0) x

Tender, gentle, moving, thought-provoking, loving, smile-bringing....and darned awe-inspiring too! Because those fingers of yours, those 'blind' fingers that can't feel, are dancin' their way across your ol' guitar, knowing every step they're supposed to take, just like Bruce told you they would.

I am just SO pleased you didn't give up, as your talent has finally bubbled out. I know you did this CD for your girls, but I'm sure glad you made enough copies for us too, Dan.

I've a little piece of America over here in Devon...and luckily, I can share some of it with others:

Dan's Myspace

I'll finish this now, as you and Ron are making me roll along those tracks with the 'Southbound Train'...and its whistle is about to make me smile...as it carries that man home to the woman he once loved so much, carrying him home to a new life...perhaps.

You did it, Dan! You *really* did it! :0)

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: olddude
Date: 25 May 09 - 07:39 PM

OH MY GOD
Spaw, I cannot stop laughing ... sorry about that ...

LOL ....   next time I will short them a buck huh ...

thats for not givin me your address on time ...

OK blame the Post office ... can't stop laughing. I wasn't going to write on this thread and just let it go but I had to respond to that one Spaw

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 May 09 - 07:01 PM

I'll tell ya' just how good it is. Karen loaded it onto her mp3 and you are the only folkie sort on there. This is high praise indeed! btw, you do join the likes of Jim Croce, Tom Petty, and latter day Paul Simon, so you're in good company.

From me, all I can say is its great! I think you may have channeled Townes Van Zandt on Lightning Road AND-----

THIS IS THE VERY BEST CD I EVER PAID 78 CENTS FOR!

Yeah folks the CD is free but this cheap-ass SOB skimps on the postage..................


Spaw

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 25 May 09 - 01:41 PM

That indecipherable sentence about "Memorial Day" in my post starting this thread should read:

The song "Memorial Day," lyrics and a link to a recording of which he posted in a thread here a few days ago, isn't on the CD but I'm adding it to my iTunes recording of the CD:

It's still pretty convoluted, but at least I closed the appositive and resolved the disagreement
between subject and verb.

Charles

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 May 09 - 12:49 PM

Yes, and I am sure you will all be pleased to know he's planning to add "Memorial Day" (perhaps by another title) to the next round of CDs he sends out. I'm pestering him to do his own excellent website, too. Time to git on out there, Dan. :~)

love ya,

~Susan & Greg

Subject: RE: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 25 May 09 - 05:44 AM

Hello,

Dan sent me a copy to and I concur with all you say, Charles. I too had it playing in the car as i travelled to work. Well done that man.

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: Mudcat resident poet olddude's CD
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 25 May 09 - 03:08 AM

Dan O'Connell, known as "olddude" here on Mudcat, has cut a CD of ten of his own songs, and he sent me a copy after I had sent him mine. The guy can play the guitar and sing--and he can sure as hell write songs. Here's part of a PM I sent him after I received the CD:


Dan, on Thursdays I do a music therapy thing at a center for brain injured adults across
the bay from me (I'm in El Cerrito, it's in Marin County--California, of course) and it takes
me about a half hour to drive there from home. Today I popped your CD in the car player
and listened to it (actually, on the trip over, the trip back, taking my dogs to the dog park
and bringing them home), and I've now heard it all the way through three times. My
reactions:

First, "Lightning Road"--I love this song. I wish it were longer, another verse--perhaps
telling about a narrow escape from the law or from a near fatal crash while evading the
sheriff and deputy (naming them was a great touch) or the revenue agents.

Another one I love unreservedly is "Katie's Song," and here and in "My Baby's Smile," your
guitar playing really comes to life. [I continued for another few paragraphs}


The song "Memorial Day," lyrics and a link to a recording of which he posted in a thread here a few days ago aren't on the CD but I'm adding it to my iTunes recording of the CD]:

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=121050

The linked thread contains a link to his MySpace page with eight of the songs from the CD plus "Memorial Day." The CD contains 10 songs, two of which aren't on his MySpace page.

Check out the link and the tunes.

Charles