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| 50's night scene looking east from 9th and Main Streets, Boise, Idaho |
Copyright©2013 (Charlie Coe Music,
LLC™) All Rights Reserved
Release date: July 6, 2013
Thank you to everyone
who’s been following my blogs and the progress of my project, the release of my
first original song: “Main Streets U. S.
of A”.
“It’s Saturday night, - everything is
alright,
out on the Main Streets in U. S. of A.”
The inspiration for
this song came to me one January afternoon while I was driving east on Main
Street at 10th in Boise. By the time I reached Capitol Blvd, three
blocks later, I had the song concept clear in my mind. To the best of my
knowledge, no one grown up cruising on Friday and Saturday nights all over the
country. It’s something we all have in common, regardless of regional local
cultures.
“Yesterday, today, we’re cruising in the U. S. of A”. 
I went home and wrote
the song in 15 minutes. The original pencil manuscript is dated January 21,
1980. During the past 30 years, I’ve only changed a handful of words. Some
songs write themselves.
When I was cruising there
was only radio, and everyone had their music blaring, yelling at each other in
their cars or standing on the sidewalks, impressing girls, and having fun in
the hot summer nights, driving round and round a specific block route. It was
the place to be, to be seen, and to meet friends. It was the same on Main
Streets all over the country. I wanted to write an anthem about a social phenomenon
unique to the U.S.A., begun in the 50’s that continues today.
About three weeks after I finished the original verses, I realized that I wanted to add a narrative to name specific main streets in cities and towns to personalize the experience. I didn’t complete that final part of the song until 2012. I recorded the basic lyrics with my friend Ron King on the drums, on a borrowed 4-track tape recorder in an apartment in Boise in 1980 and put it aside, not knowing how long it would be until I decided to finish it.
About three weeks after I finished the original verses, I realized that I wanted to add a narrative to name specific main streets in cities and towns to personalize the experience. I didn’t complete that final part of the song until 2012. I recorded the basic lyrics with my friend Ron King on the drums, on a borrowed 4-track tape recorder in an apartment in Boise in 1980 and put it aside, not knowing how long it would be until I decided to finish it.
A couple of months
later, listening to the song on a cassette in my car, I ran into Paul Revere
and played it for him. He said that he liked it and “Hey,that has a really good hook, Chas.” When I visited my friend
Steve Eaton in Pocatello in 1981, we recorded a version of it in his studio. In
Steve’s words: “Hey man, I really think
this song could be a hit.” But it wasn’t ready for release, I stopped
playing music, and it sat in a drawer for about 25 years.
In 2010 when I decided to
record a number of my old original songs using today’s music production technology,
all I had in mind was a digital four track recorder. I learned quickly that in
order to get back into music, I’d first need to learn to use a computer, then
music production software, and finally, revive my guitar, bass, and keyboard
skills, and … would my voice still be strong enough for the lyrics?
My wife provided the
IMac, software, and instructions about how to turn on the computer, then left
me to figure out Garage Band, interfaces, MIDI, and multi-track recording. Welcome
to the 21st century!
At Guitar Center in
Boise I met Shaun Fitzgerald, who sold me new equipment to get started. He patiently
coached me on Apple’s basic Garage Band program for over a year while I
practiced to regain the skills to play all of the instruments for the recording.
When I was ready to upgrade from the ’50 Studebaker version (Garage Band) to
the Ferrari (LOGIC Pro 9, a professional audio recording package), Shaun was
there to answer questions again and again. Without Sean’s personal expertise
and patience, I’d still be tearing my hair out rather than utilizing LOGIC to
produce my first song’s final tracks. Now,
two years after I began my digital recording adventure, Don Cunningham of Cunningham
Audio Production here in Boise, helped me with the final mix and provided
terrific mastering talent. Thanks to Don and all the people who’ve supported my
dream, I have my first release. I hope you like it and will recommend it to
your friends. Let me know what you think and post your comments.Here I am today with my 1966 Epiphone Sheraton.
There’s more to come
soon in the form of an album of original, never-before recorded songs. I think
they’re great – I hope you do too. This is just the beginning – and that’s show
biz!
Charlie
Hey Charlie! Looking forward to hearing your new endeavors. Glad to find you on Facebook.
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