Presented here are the liner notes which were omitted from my first album, "Circular Flight" in order to self-publish it in it's current incarnation...
It exists now only as a CD-R with home printed graphics. If there were ever enough interest, I would have a run of CDs produced and these liner notes would be restored.
First is the copy off the rear of the insert, explaining why I chose the theme of "circles" for my concept:
"THIS ALBUM IS ABOUT CIRCLES.
Native people tell us that all things move in circles and anyone who looks can see that this is so. Nights follow days, season follows season, rain makes its way to the ocean and comes back again as rain. Tides ebb and flow.
Even our lives form circles. We return to the womb each night to be reborn again in the morning. Babies enter our lives and old friends die.
Once I was a musician, then I wasn't, and now I am again. The themes contained in this album are ones that have been recurring throughout my life. I find it both interesting and satisfying to see how they have grown as they find their way into songs over the years.
I hope you will get a sense of that 'interwoveness', not only while listening, but in your own life as well"
In the middle of the insert is the following:
The Songs
The Garden was written from 1980 to sometime in 1981. This was my first reflection on the nature of good and bad quality in the realm of human experience, a subject I have studied intensely for some time since.
Didn't I Tell You? was written in March of 1980.
Autumn Wind The first two verses came while wandering in a semi-wild area on my lunch hours in the fall of 1979. It was completed by the Fall of 1980.
Seasonsong was born on a very bad day in July of 1980. It was completed during 1981.
Lily's Song was written for college friend Lillian Kushi, daughter of Michio Kushi who is a well-known macrobiotic dietician.
The song was essentially completed between May 1979 and September 1980.
When I learned of her death in January 1995 at the age of 41, I changed the last line of the third verse to "You're forever in my heart." It is recorded here in her memory.
Images of Maine Begun during a long period away from the place I longed to be. Intense images of places I'd been and places I loved would flash through my mind. With them came the chorus and bits of verses.
I started it in April of '81 but didn't reach its current state until April of '84.
Empty Spaces is a prayer which came from a dream in 1999.
Let's Fly is based on an original melody my wife made up while singing to herself. The rest is what it inspired in me. Written in 1999.
Losing Game The story behind this song is the story of this album. Originating of music and songs has always been a gift for me, as natural as breathing and as difficult to stop.
But writing, arranging and home-recording my music was so time-consuming, that it left no time for a "normal" life. Professional recording was an expensive proposition at the time. And I had just had a huge disappointment with the 45 rpm record I was trying to promote (CDs had just entered the scene). So I felt I had to stop.
I prayed for no more songs to come to me. And they didn't.
That was in 1989. "Losing Game" had already been conceived, consisting only of a chorus. And for the next 10 years I regarded it as my last great song that no one would ever hear.
I traveled a bit, got married, settled somewhat and grew a little older.
Then over a period of only a few months going into 1999, I suddenly found my point of view turned completely around and aimed again at the making of music.
The songs returned like birds in the spring, and by July 2000, "Losing Game" was finished, and the idea for this album was born.
Earthwind began in a dream and was completed in April 1999.
Many thanks to H.J. Deutchendorff Jr.!
Personnel/Acknowledgments
Written, arranged, recorded, mixed, and all performances by Tom Hawk, (except "Let's Fly" music by Debra Hawk & Tom Hawk, lyrics by Tom Hawk). Occasional assistance: Debra. Thanks to Clyde for the cables!
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