Album Archives: Nice Weather We're Having 1990

In some ways Nice Weather was an improvement over Purseyors Of The Truth, at least for a recording viewpoint.  I ended up getting a new four track after the Fostex fell apart (throwing it against the wall will do that) and finally figuring out how to record without tracks bleeding into one another.  Trial and error more or less.

Dave Crossant was gone, replaced by Robert Knowles who went under the alias of Mike Brookins, simply of the reason that he wanted to remain incognito, never quite figure out the reason anyway.  Neil Delanie remained on board to produced and Hugh McConnell came in to record the record, with mixed results.  Even he was trying to figure out how to record the album.  Later on, we blamed it on dirty recording heads and later versions of the album has a much clearer sound although a bit more in the treble side.

When I think about this album 25 years onward, I'm amazed on how well the songs came out to be.  In the October recordings sessions I had about four tapes worth of music and the best songs made it to the record.

The songs themselves; Jeanette 15 Years Ago (now 40 years ago), basically a song about me returning back to her home stomping grounds and seeing all the changes abound and wondering why the hell I wasted my years thinking that she was the one.  Out of all the all time worst GFs, she's number one on the list.  Not because of who she was or are but rather me bullshitting myself she was the one.

Last Of The Warm Days is such a fun song, I had a Rockpile vibe going on.  Perhaps it contains the best lyric line I ever written: Sometimes it pays to be mysterious.

A Different Shade Of Blue was inspired by Blood On The Tracks and me trying to come up with a story song of sorts.  More like Maquoketa Woman a few years later to which the woman shows up at a gig, talks of old times with her love interest which leads to a private moment to which she tells to the singer of the song that she played their song over and over.  Which leads to a imitate moment to which singer of song stops himself before the moment of passion and noticing she has a wedding band on her finger.  Then tells her to be on her way.  In other words, another patented love gone wrong song done story time.

One early October morning I managed to get out of bed at 8 AM and proceeded to write up and record Old Fart Rock And Roller and Don't Let My Love Pass You By.   The former song about turning 30 and wondering if I will continue to rock on (I'm still am 25 years after the fact, where does the time fly).  I love the call and response of Don't Let My Love Pass You By, with me leading off Don't Let Love, and have the guys reply back Pass You By. The vocals really go back to Can't Seem To Make You Mine, kinda deadpan.  Look Out For My Love was thought up on the spot.  No idea how that came to be but we just went with it.

So Far Away continues to be a problem song.  Originally recorded the lead vocals were buried in the mix, so Richard Dennanbaugh and I recorded them again.  How Are Things is a guitar riff through the digital delay, Geoff Redding adding a counterpoint guitar riff, it was a song welcoming back Jack into the fold.  The Renaissance Park segment with the baby call and response was tacked on.  It sounded good at the time.

Eternal Youth and Route 66 were recorded live in the garage before our fucking neighbor Sally Sunshine called the cops on us. For many many years, I had to deal with Miss Sally complained about us doing anything outside the house, be it basketball, football or acoustic guitar, so we turned the whole thing up to ten and churned out Route 66 before a small gathering.  The thank you at the end was directed at Sally Sunshine and the one finger salute.  You should have been there.

In other words, Nice Weather We're Having begins a new era of The Townedgers sound and while it's in need a new mix (the 2004 mix was devoid of any bottom sound) the album came out really really well.  But at the time I was disappointed in the end results that I pretty much put everything in storage for a while and returned back to my day job, not knowing that my boss would lead me back into playing again, and perhaps beginning what is considered the classic years of The Townedgers.


The Songs:

Black Girlfriend (Smith/Redding)  3:00
Jeanette Fifteen Years Later (R.Smith)  4:26
Last Of The Warm Days (R.Smith)  5:25
Forever Days (Smith/Redding)  3:30
So Far Away (Smith/Orbit)  4:55
The Late Show (R.Smith) 5:50
Highway Of Love (Smith/Orbit)  3:33
Different Shade Of Blue (R.Smith)  8:00
Old Fart Rock And Roller (R.Smith) 3:35
Don't Let My Love Pass You By (R.Smith)  3:45
Look Out For My Love (Smith/Orbit/Redding/Knowles)  1:25
How Are Things (Smith/Orbit/Redding) 2:55
Country Boy (R.Smith)  2:15
Life Is The Blues (R.Smith)  4:25
Eternal Youth (R.Smith)  5:02
Route 66 (Bobby Troup)  3:03

Lyrics written by Rodney Smith, music by those credited. (C) 1990 Townedgers Music Emporium
Except Route 66 which is written by the late great Bobby Troup (C) Londontown Music ASCAP


Album recorded at Maier Studios, Marion Iowa October-November 1990
Recorded by Hugh McConnell with Ned Jackson
So Far Away-vocals recorded by Richard Dennanbaugh

Rodney Smith-Vocals, guitars and drums
Geoff Redding-Lead guitar and backing vocals
Jack Orbit-Guitars and backing vocals
Robert Knowles-Bass guitar and vocals
John Castleman-Bass on Highway Of Love, Eternal Youth and Route 66 

Produced by Rodney Smith and Neil Delanie

Issued as Maier Records MRK 24603  November 1990