By ROBIN CAUDELL
PLATTSBURGH — Thirteen is a charm for Roy Hurd's new CD release, "Chronicles From The Love Shack."
The 11-track electrified gem was masterfully and lovingly produced by Hurd's nephew, Tully Kennedy; Kurt Allison; Rich Redmond; and David Fanning — of NV (New Voice) Entertainment in Nashville.
"Tully had a real vision for it," Hurd said. "He put his heart into it. They all did."
When Kennedy was a wide-eyed, round-spectacled boy, he was a roadie for Hurd as he Adirondack-blued the region with his smooth, mountain-grounded storytelling, until he left to spend 11 years as a staffer at Sony Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music.
Now, in a twinkling of their blue eyes, Kennedy and his studio-sessionists crew are carving out their own Nashville history.
In the liner notes, Kennedy writes:
"When you see Roy perform, you will see a singer/songwriter who puts his heart and soul into every word and breath. We set out to make a record that combines Roy's music with new sounds and textures. What we ended up with is Roy giving the performance of a lifetime ... enjoy."
SONGS IN HAND
"Chronicles From The Love Shack" started with a batch of songs Hurd wanted to record. He taped the guitar vocals of 20 or so tunes, conducted his own listener survey and made his selections.
"One or two didn't fall in that bracket," Hurd said. "I wanted to see what the consensus was across the board. It was kind of a neat exercise."
Next, Hurd spoke with Kennedy to make it clear his intent was first and foremost a songwriter's album, no matter the production treatment. Songs in hand, Hurd and his wife, Amy Kohanski, went to Nashville in January. There, he recorded at Verge Recording.
"Recording in a studio in 10 days is very ambitious," Hurd said. "We worked really hard and got it done. It's a very well-oiled machine no matter who you work with in Nashville. I got special treatment because of these guys."
Track 1, "Roll Back Home To You," is a haunting road song, with a great hook and on which Kennedy sang harmony vocals.
"Email Letter" is a catchy send-by-send account of how Hurd and Kohanski cybered and fell in love.
"I e-mailed her out of the blue. Here we are."
MEADOW MUSIC
Hurd and his daughter, singer/songwriter Meadow Merry, co-penned "Her Love," inspired by their respective loves. Merry is in the Ithaca-based Americana/rock band Teachers' Lounge.
"Having Meadow on my project again is beyond words. It's so beautiful. No one has supported my music more than her."
"Rainbow Man" (track 5) is an up-tempo, uplifting, philosophical tune Hurd penned when he first returned from Nashville in 2001.
"Between Your Heart And Mine" is a touching ballad about keeping the channels of communication open between hearts.
He wrote the contemplative "Light On The Shadows" with Kohanski.
"It's my favorite song lyrically. It's about the healing aspect of loving someone and honoring them. Like Tom Porter says, 'Music is medicine.' My music has saved my life. I had been down not so futuristic paths. My music and songwriting became very important to me to do right and with integrity. It got me out of things I shouldn't have been doing."
"Two Wheel Hillbilly Outlaw" is a rousing, raucous "keep it rubber side down and shiny side up" tribute to Hurd's Harley Davidson buds, Chuck, Carl and Charlie.
LUSH ARRANGEMENT
"Joyce and Ricky" is a vibrantly textured track about child-abuse vigilantes, written by Hurd and Kohanski.
"We had a lot of fun with that song. It was going to be a lighthearted song about a couple hanging out. It ended up in a totally different place, wild and crazy. Doing what you had to do to get things right."
The last two tracks, "Found My Paradise" and "Lady In The Garden," are signature Hurd. The former is a lush arrangement of a love song he wrote on his old D18 Martin. The latter is a tightly rhythmic homage to the fecundity of woman and Earth.
"Chronicles From The Love Shack" is electric, and so is the environmental friendly packaging featuring the photography of Shaun Heffernan of PHOTOPIA and the computer play of Amanda Palmer.
"I think it really raises the bar," Hurd said. "I'm excited about the stuff in this record. It's a step into a different realm for me, not that I haven't played electric music before. I played with Junior Barber, Johnny Keese and those guys."
"Chronicles From The Love Shack" buzz should be deafening.
"I'm excited to hear what the people think about it. I think people will appreciate it. I'm so thankful again to have the privilege to do what I do. It takes the people who want to hire me for their events, private parties, coffeehouses, concerts and buy my CDs. I'm real thankful I'm allowed to do that, and people support me."
Ever since Kennedy played bass on Hurd's "Mountain Thunder," recorded at Charles Eller Studios in Charlotte, he's wanted to produce a record with his uncle.
"Now, he has," Hurd said.
E-mail Robin Caudell at: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com
