read between the lines

Collection Contents

#		Title	Length
1		Why, I Oughta . . .	1:07	Play
2		Circle's End	3:09	Play
3		Splash Rag	2:11	Play
4		Kentucky Summer	2:05	Play
5		In the Out Door	3:40	Play
6		You're the One	3:33	Play
7		Wayfaring Stranger	4:39	Play
8		Odyssey	2:07	Play
9		Then and Now	4:26	Play
10		Trail of Tears	2:05	Play
11		With God All Things Are Possible	4:36	Play

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Description

An electric guitar tapestry that is woven around themes of classic rock, meditative "new age" solos, and touches of jazz/rock fusion - "read between the lines" surprisingly but skillfully combines these styles into a unified whole. West Virginia guitarist Charlie Read, a veteran of the explosive Ohio rock scene of the early 70s, felt "It was about time to contribute my own musical two cents' worth." One track from the CD, a quirky little piece with pentatonic and whole tone scales called "Splash Rag", was written almost 30 years ago - while other tunes like "Circle's End" and "Then and Now" were completed just weeks before the recording session. The album's intro ("Why, I Oughta . . .") sends forth a blistering barrage of distorted harmonic minor notes accompanied by a simple but unusual harmony bass line. After this initial attack on the senses, the listener is drawn into one tune after another in a diverse mixture that defies simplistic categorization. Charlie's influences (Hendrix, Clapton, Phil Keaggy, Leslie West, Satriani, etc.) shine through in his debut all-instrumental guitar CD. No need to "read between the lines" though - the musical joy and artistry are plain to hear.

Charlie Read started playing guitar after his family relocated to Brisbane, Australia. With no friends and nothing to do, he picked up his sister's Silvertone acoustic and learned to play a few chords (just as well - she never used it anyway). Within a year he was writing his own songs and playing in local bands (who could ever forget the Psychedelic Construction Gang?). Back in the U.S.A. he got high school out of the way, and spent several years traveling a 7-state region playing full time with a band called Mickey Blizzard (http://ohiorock.tripod.com). The group was part of the prolific Ohio rock scene which produced so many great artists in the early 70s. But setting aside the glories of seedy bars, fleabag hotels, smoky frat parties, and drunken demands for "Sweet Home Alabama" twenty times a night, Charlie settled down to marriage and a family. He began a career in music instruction which was interrupted for a few years by a stint as a photographer (he finally gave up the photo business because he was "too positive to think about negatives"). He teaches 60+ students in his adopted state West Virginia, is working on a baccalaureate degree, and has been known to operatically sing out "Oh what a beautiful day!" from his vehicle window while cruising down I-77 with a van-load of bemused kids. His guitar of choice, a Les Paul, was mysteriously replaced by a new American Deluxe Strat on this recording for undivulged reasons (no comment from the lonely, dejected Les Paul).