Better known as just Owsley on his albums, I was sad to read the news courtesy of my friend Mark M regarding his recent suicide. A damned shame because he was a very talented musician even if he wasn’t famous to the public at large. For me, he was a great studio/helper artist to respect and enjoy in the same vein as Jason Falkner (recently got his new record out). Many bios about him always mentioned his gig as Amy Grant’s touring guitarist.
I stumbled upon his work through one of my favorite means…a tribute album. About 10 years ago I scored Listen to What the Man Said which was an unauthorized tribute to Paul McCartney and Wings. Despite Sir Paul not condoning it, all proceeds went toward cancer research, the same kind that killed Linda. For something the source didn’t approve, it sure did have Owsley in some awesome company: Semisonic, Matthew Sweet, They Might be Giants, Sloan, Robyn Hitchcock, Barenaked Ladies, JudyBats (reunited) and World Party; it was practically a who’s who in great music. To make him one of the most memorable, he received the opening track on the CD, “Band on the Run” which he did very well. His liner notes to it were amusing; memories of the song playing at the local pool one particular Summer in the Seventies.
This prompted me to gobble up his debut solo record when I found it at Cheapo. Sadly, I can’t remember much of it but I kept it.
Then he fell off my mental radar until he re-appeared as the free download on iTunes with “Undone.” Naturally I grabbed it and took up a quest to find a physical copy of The Hard Way, the CD the track was from. This release I know better. Part of the song “Dude” is the ringtone I have designated for my friend Jose, his catchphrase from college.
I think over the next couple weeks, I will finally get acquainted with the self-named debut and Mark wants to check out his body of work, namely the McCartney & Wings cover.