Jim Armstrong
talks about
"Mudtown"
by Johanna J. Bodde
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JIM ARMSTRONG talks about "Mudtown" (Sonic Deli Records)  Jim Armstrong is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer
with decades of performing and recording credits, and the co-founder (with
Andrea Poulis) of the indie Sonic Deli Records
label.Jim lives and works in Toronto with two massive German shepherds,
Seizure, the docile giant, and Dolby, a rescued dog with a crotchety
temper.
An artist speaks:
If, four years ago, someone had told me that I
would be back on a stage performing songs from my own album, I would never have
dared to believe them. Oh, I knew that I wrote some great music and I loved
creating new songs all the time, but I had reached the point where I was
beginning to despair of living any sort of normal life – let alone be out
singing my songs somewhere.
I survived encephalitis when I was about 6 or 7
years old and have lived with severe epilepsy ever since. Growing up, my
seizures were fairly well controlled with various medications; I was always
creating music and was a touring drummer from the age of 10. I was a lifeguard;
I played sports and earned two college degrees. I never let the epilepsy stop me
from accomplishing things even when I was first diagnosed with the condition and
spent many weeks and months in and out of hospitals.
However, by my late 20s, my seizure activity began
to increase and the medications were not working as well anymore. I sometimes
consider it a blessing in disguise as I was forced to stay home and concentrate
solely on my music. As a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and prolific
songwriter, I needed to build my own recording studio and learn how to engineer
and produce because I couldn’t afford to do otherwise (besides, I love recording
and producing).
This worked well for quite some time; I developed
my craft of songwriting, created film soundtracks, learned to produce other
people’s material until I became too overwhelmed by my condition. It had
finally begun interfering with daily living.
 In December of 2003, I underwent brain surgery to
remove the portion of brain tissue where the greatest amount of seizure activity
was originating. It was an unnerving experience because the risks were great –
death obviously, but also paralysis and a possible loss of my musical abilities,
brain damage, etc.
Faced with these risks I began writing a lot of new
material as the surgery date approached. I felt like I needed to stockpile as
many songs as I could in case I could never create music again.
Fortunately, the surgery was fairly successful. I
still need medication and I continue to have some seizures but I can cope. It
wasn’t the easiest recovery though; I was temporarily paralyzed and had to force
my body to pick up the guitar and drum sticks again. Three months after surgery
I began recording and producing our first Sonic Deli Records
release, a compilation CD entitled Brown Bag Lunch.
Four of the songs on Mudtown were first
included on Brown Bag Lunch; "Angel In Our Corner", "Hole In His
Heart", "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Grand" and "Oxygen Kiss". They were from the
pre-surgery time when I was madly stockpiling material. Imagine my surprise
though, when people kept telling me that they loved these songs and why wasn’t I
out there performing them. Well, my performing days had always been spent
behind a drum kit, not singing and playing a guitar or as a front
man!
 So that is what I have been doing for these past 2
years, writing and recording Mudtown, putting a band together and getting out
there and publicly performing the songs. I’ve been asked many, many times over
the years about why my songs weren’t on the radio or why it has taken me so long
to get an album done – well, there’s the answer.
Creating Mudtown has been a real labour of love and
in fact the hardest part was deciding which songs to include (had to pare the
list down from over 30 songs initially) Indeed, I have enough material to do
another 3 or 4 albums without even creating anything new. However, I love
writing songs too much to stop, so by the time we release another Jim
Armstrong CD, I’m really going to be in trouble.
Mostly, I’m just happy to still be alive; able to
do the music I love to do and hope that people will get to hear that music, like
my songs and even come out to hear my band perform them on
occasion.
Before I begin a song-by-song discussion, I do need
to make a few things clear; I am a self-taught multi-instrumentalist with drums
being my first instrument. My mother’s short-lived attempt at sending me off to
a piano teacher as a young boy did not last too long. The teacher soon twigged
to the fact that I was just playing back the songs I learned by ear and not
bothering to learn to read the actual sheet music! By my early twenties I was
also playing guitar, bass, keys, harmonica, sax, etc. and writing and recording
my solo pursuits.
In the early nineties, I met my songwriting and
business partner, Andrea Poulis and I began to collaborate with others.
Together, Andrea and I worked with various singers and musicians in many
different genres, really developing our craft. It was also during the early
nineties that we hooked up with our bass player, Wes Miller. Wes has
played just about everywhere in North America over the years in a number of
hardworking bands. Wes has become an integral part of the writing process and of
our “sound” and co-engineered and co-produced Mudtown with me.
With the exception of the bass guitar and some of
the lead guitar tracks, I play all the instruments on Mudtown. I was very
fortunate to have a few different guitar virtuosos to guest on the various
tracks.
My only regret for this album is that due to
unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to coordinate our recording schedule
with my band drummer, Alvin Lapp. Alvin was Buddy Guy’s drummer for 3
years, and also played for the Goo Goo Dolls for a year or so. He is always in
high demand as a studio session drummer for many, many name artists and I am
indeed fortunate to have him with me!
I include the following from my “official bio” as
it describes Mudtown accurately:
"Mudtown" is a straight ahead
alt-roots-rock album that shoots from the hip and aims at the heart. With his
first solo CD, "Mudtown", Toronto-based musician Jim Armstrong has crafted a
collection of thirteen songs with musical and emotional hooks that stick
unshakably with the listener. Released through Sonic Deli
Records, May 2007.
Armstrong is an accomplished singer/songwriter,
multi-instrumentalist and producer who has spent many years performing (drummer
and/or front man), developing and producing indie artists, as well as writing
and recording for corporate clients. He has also scored films such as Canton
Film Studios’ "The Adulterer's Guide to Toronto" (2007). Now, he’s stepping
authoritatively in front of the curtain to unveil "Mudtown", his solo debut.
The title and driving spirit of "Mudtown" were born
during Armstrong's wanderings through downtown Toronto, where he lives, works
and walks his dogs. Armstrong explains, "Life can be dirty, rough and mean, but
there's a breed of people who struggle against the grind and somehow keep their
humanity. They don't get hard, like the city, and that's what makes
"Mudtown" livable."
"Jim is a genuine hero, an inspiration to all who are faithful to their art.” — Andy Frank, CIUT 89.5 FM He defends the underdog through his music by
dispelling the modern myth of perfection. This is an album that the working
class will understand. He writes songs about real characters from everyday life,
singing their stories with passion.
Early reviews of Armstrong’s new material have
already drawn comparisons to the master singer-songwriters of Americana
roots-rock — Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle, Tom Petty and Canada’s own Fred
Eaglesmith — in that their music shares a working-class sensibility and
honesty.”
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 HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS began as a piece of music I
had kicking around (I have thousands of these “pieces” kicking around so “heaven
only knows” why this one surfaced when it did) but fortunately it did during a
recording session I was doing with a young guitar player, Kenji
Miura. Kenji, or Kenmi Chank, as he prefers to be called, was
here in Canada on a visa and had been playing all over Toronto as a session
musician. He was about to head home for Sapporo, Japan and offered to lay some
tracks down for me on various songs. I truly believe that Kenmi is one of the
world’s finest guitar players and I would do just about anything to work with
him again. With one listen and then with only one take of the lead guitar
track, Kenmi brought that song to life and the lyric followed very quickly.
This is a powerful, bluesy, southern-rock style opener.
MUDTOWN was one of the last songs actually
written for the album – I decided it might be fun to write a “title” track - and
my band’s lead guitar player, Phil Kane (Jeff Healey, Michael Buble) laid
down some excellent tracks. Good friend and fellow singer-songwriter, Rob
Maurin, provides the great backing vocal track. Rob has been a longtime
vocalist and collaborator with us here at the Sonic Deli. Here’s some trivia
for you; Rob was once part of a vocal quartet with the Creegan brothers of Bare
Naked Ladies fame.
I'M COMING HOME was a gift; one of those
songs that just seem to spill out with ease and pretty much complete. I wrote
and recorded it in one night and then Wes came in and laid down his bass line.
One of my favourite ballads.
OXYGEN KISS was one of my four original songs
from the Brown Bag Lunch compilation CD. (Actually, many of the songs from
Brown Bag Lunch were written or co-written by me, but I only sang on those four
tracks) Wes and I remixed this song – I also re-recorded my drum tracks, as I
felt that I had better refined my personal “sound” and style during the
intervening 2 years between releases. This is also one of two co-writes on
Mudtown that I wrote with Andrea. I’d describe this song as a strong “outlaw
rock-alt country” cross.
GYPSY is a really fun song to sing and play;
it’s simple, catchy country and my favourite fact about this song is that the
lead guitar work was provided by my friend, hard-rock-metal guitarist, Ron
Bechard (Edwin & The Pressure, Three Days Grace, Crazy Babies, Sin
Dealer). Ron is also a drummer, multi-instrumentalist turned guitar rock god
(who obviously hides a little country in there under the
tats).
SHE SPINS AROUND is good, twangy, rockin’ fun
and we love playing it live.
TWO SHOOTING STARS also predates
brain surgery; it was mostly complete, but really came into it’s own months
later when I finished it. This track has a little more of a pop, adult
contemporary feel to it. Joining Rob Maurin and me on backing vocals is another
good friend, powerhouse vocalist, Debbie Shessel.
HOLE IN HIS HEART; also from Brown Bag
Lunch. I originally wrote this song using different instrument choices than my
usual rock tendencies. We really featured Wes’ bass line and groove and called
it our “swamp water” tune. When I met singer-songwriter Jennifer
Claveau (lead singer of Likewater) she added the final missing pieces
with a lyrical tweak and the compelling backing vocals and the song became a
highly original track. It has recently been licensed for an independent feature
film, "All Along".
TOMORROW'S GONNA BE GRAND is another
one of those “muse-gifted” songs. It just spilled out of me fully formed and
recorded in one session. It is also the only track where Wes does not play the
bass. Jennifer Claveau again graced the track with her beautiful harmony work.
It’s a piano driven ballad with drum samples and is a true metaphor of my life
and I sometimes think I wrote it for Andrea. The stolen trans am is how I’m
cheating death and how we keep moving forward for the music and all our
un-rewarded, hard work. Or something like that…
HAPPIER TIMES is a song that grew out of one
of the many groove-oriented jam sessions I record when hanging around the studio
with Wes Miller. I think we were feeling inspired that night by how well all
the other songs were coming along for the album. I wrote a lyric, added a
little Jennifer Claveau on backing vocals and there it
was.
RHYTHM OF THE MOON; partly written before surgery. I had the first couple of verses
done but it sat around for a while. Andrea wouldn’t let me forget about it and
pushed me to finish it and I’m glad she did. It’s has a nice pop-country vibe
to it – reminds me a bit of an Eagles type of tune. Rob and Debbie provide some
of those nice harmonies again. Actually Rob is on a few more of the tracks here
and there as well.
WHEN IT RAINS is another song that features
the soaring lead work of guitarist, Kenmi Chank. The grungier guitar work is me
doing my “Neil Young” inspired solos. It’s a down and out story-song with a
powerful, bluesy-rock feel.
I chose to end Mudtown with a re-mixed version of
ANGEL IN OUR CORNER. "Angel" was the leadoff track from Brown Bag Lunch
and has since proven to be very popular. This is a song that Andrea and I had
partially written before the brain surgery. We had the first couple of verses
completed and had nailed the chorus but were unable to finish it at that time.
Later on, after we had co-written another song with Shelley Jacobson, we
invited her to help finish "Angel" with us. Shelley and her co-writer, Lorna
Flowers recently penned UK country artist, Lucie Diamond’s single, Don’t Even
Think About It. Also guest appearing on "Angel In Our Corner" is Amer
Diab on backing vocals. Amer Diab’s 2006 release, There/After is a
critically acclaimed Americana album. Two of the tracks from that CD were first
recorded and produced with Amer by me for Brown Bag Lunch. Check out those
alternate versions of "Champ" and "Backwards Beating Heart" for fun sometime.
Finally, rounding out the guest appearances on this song is lead guitarist,
Bruce Dies (Ozzy Osbourne, Lisa Dalbelo, Lee Aaron). "Mudtown" is available for purchase from CD Baby
& Apple iTunes.
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