When You Said Hello

This was the first Collectors Edition project that AIX Records has ever produced. It was one of the most fun to do and also presented some of the greatest pressure that we’ve encountered during one of our shoots. After all, it’s not every day that Willie Nelson and The Great Gonzo participate in our unique style of music-making. We had recorded 8 tracks with Paul and his band the week before complete with a string section. Now it was time to pull off duets with Willie and Gonzo. What a treat! Everything went smoothly thanks to the focus on the music and the magic that stems from everyone having fun. Dave Goelz [the associate for Gonzo] told he thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The track that he did with Paul, “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday” is a masterpiece of songwriting and this rendition is one of my favorites.

The tune “Rainbow Connection” was sung by Paul and Willie Nelson. Another classic tune pulled from Paul’s songbook written for the Muppets and usually associated with Kermit the frog. These two artists made it their own with the gentle back and forth of each verse and chorus. We were fortunate to have Melissa Manchester perform two songs with Paul during another session.

The singers, the arrangements, the musicianship…everything came together in these sessions. When Paul first came to the studio to hear what we had captured, he turned around and told me, “now I know what you’ve been talking about”. As much as one tries to describe how incredible real HD-Audio in full surround sound can be, you won’t know until you’ve experienced it for yourself.