As we record our new disc/cassette/record/8-Track?  (what the hell format do we release this on anyway?) I’ve spent a few late nights poking round’ the ole’ net, looking for inspiration for a CD cover (maybe the last EGB recording to ever be released with a “physical” cover.

This is the best link that I’ve found:

VIEW THE WORST RECORD COVERS EVER!!!

Much thanks to the Boston globe and BRILLIANT text by Ian Rider: Boston.com Correspondent.

I have the best job in the world.  I write, record, and perform music for people.  I get to travel around, meet lots of exciting people, and oh, the stories.  But it wasn’t always this way.  Hey, just because I may make it “look” easy, doesn’t mean it always “was” easy.   There were the hard years.  The growing years.  And through them all: Turning points.

There’s been times in my life as though it feels that everything I had been doing had been culminating “to” something.   In a greater sense, this is always the case.  We’re always “on” the journey, whether we know it or not.   And at times, there are turning points.  There’s another turning point coming ahead (initiated by the new recording no doubt).

I’m not clairvoyant, but I am intuitive and aware.  And I’ve seen, felt, these things before.  And so, it’s exciting and scary at the same time.  And anyone who has read this far is more than likely on the journey with me!

Let’s see where this new music brings us…

This is one of the new ones coming on the new recording (people ask for it) so I thought I’d post this from the last show with B.B.King.

While rescuing a crashed hard drive I come across a transcriptionof an interview that was aired years ago (when “FLY” was released) by a radio station that is now defunct (WBOQ based on the north shore of Boston) and insisted that I get myself out of bed at an ungodly hour to make a 7am interview (I still remember doubling up on coffee that morning).  I have posted the best (and random moments below).

INTERVIEW
Thanks to Brad M. for this interview transcription from late 2005 WBRQ.

WB: I’d like to ask you about your rendition of “It’s probably me” by Sting, partly because it’s the only song that our readers may know off of this record you just put out (FLY 2004).

EG: Well, he’s been a big influence on me, not only musically, but concerning his attitude. As an artist if you’ve decided to hang yourself “out there” and bear your soul to the world you need a bit of attitude. His biographies show that aspect of him, but more importantly you can find it in the music. That’s always where it really matters.

WB: Having said that, would you feel comfortable sharing a stage with him?

EG: Are you kidding? (laughs all around) No, but seriously, the only thing I really did to that song was rewrite some of the chord changes (substituting a B-7 for D7sus11 in the verse) and other technicalities that most listeners probably wouldn’t pick up on-consciously speaking. Also, I changed the lyric “hate to say it” to “had to say it.” Small changes to a great song that gets more ignored than his other hits. The man is a wonder. “Brand New Day” (2000) is still in my CD rotation.

WB: Do you play anything else by him live?

EG: Yeah, sometimes we’ll rip into our own funk version of “set them Free,” that song was probably his greatest gift to late 1980’s MTV!

WB: Ok, back to your music. What do you like most about your recent recording “FLY?”

EG: Lots. I think the songwriting is a little tighter than in previous EGB records. The lyric writing is more focused and maybe a bit more specific, for example, “There’s No Reason” is obviously a break-up song, “Out of Control” is a song about destiny and helplessness -to a certain degree. The lyric writing on RED and GETTUP are much more open to interpretation and really allow listeners to place their own meanings on some of the subject material. I don’t if that was as much intentional as it was, just a young me trying to figure out what I wanted to say. And after growing up with Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead records it’s easy to say, “that’s what they were talking about?” I thought it was something else!

WB: I hear Dylan too. And what about love themes in your songs?

EG: Love is this, love is that. So much has been said. Take your pick!

WB: and if you had to quote one of the lyrics from any of the songs, what would you quote to describe love?

EG: Maybe “You, you, you” has the best line. “I thought I was someone else, until you turned around and showed me myself.” Isn’t true love the reflection of your values in another person? Isn’t that what it’s all about?

WB: I had heard that you don’t like to be quoted to much and I apologize, but I’m going to do that now…to quote you, “Rock and Roll used to satisfy my soul, Now it don’t give me nothing”…the first line from “Gettup” (the song, not the record). Are you fed up with Rock and roll?

EG: No, not necessarily. I just think rock and roll business has killed everything good about the music, and now I’m quoting Cameron Crowe from his autobiographical movie “Almost Famous.”

WB: Is it the music business in general or is it just the bloodsucking corporations?

EG: Bloodsucking corporations…that’s catchy, even if it is a cliché. You said it, not me.
I think everything is upside down right now and for so many reasons; Music burning (pirating), corporate control over radio, and the constant Wal-Mart-ization of artists.
I mean, c’mon. A major record company lawyer told me last year that he could sell me to the public if I was an eighteen year old black girl with pumped-up breasts. You can guess my response to that. I told him I would think about it and get back to him.