Blue Country – liner notes

In a sense, Blue Country is a follow up to Undiscovered Art, my first release on Warrant Music that has focused on my singer/songwriter years.  

In truth, although my jazz guitar reputation is what most people know me by, I began writing pop songs fifty years ago.   This album contains fourteen compositions and the recordings span the years from 1971-2015.  Except for the two Robert Johnson staples. ”Crossroads” and “Sweet Home Chicago” all of the songs are mine.

The musicians that came along for the ride on five of these recordings were Lynn Blessing and Bill Plummer.  A trio I put together to record at famed, Wally Heider’s Hollywood studios in 1971.  Robert “Bobby” Morin engineered the songs that are just guitar and vocal, and the rest of the pieces were done recently in my European studio in Nice and Monaco.

I had to smile as I listened to the master of this album.  The statement is true.  “You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.”

                               Art Johnson – Monaco

In a sense, Blue Country, is a follow up to "Undiscovered Art", my first release on Warrant Music that has focused on my singer/songwriter years.

1. When I Wanna 2:54 (Art Johnson) ITI Music Corporation BMI

2. Look Inside Yourself 3:04 (Art Johnson) ITI Music Corporation BMI

3. Let's Make Our Love Right 5:11 (Art Johnson) ITI Music Corporation BMI

4. Every Fool Has a Rainbow 3:36 (Merle Haggard) Sony/ATV Tree Pub BMI

5. Crossroads 7:30 (Robert Johnson) Cakepop Pub ASCAP, Handlebar Music ASCAP

6. Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate 2:14 (Jackson Browne) Swallow Turn Music ASCAP

7. When You See Me Comin' 4:16 (Art Johnson) ITI Music Corporation BMI

8. Where's My Buffalo 2:34 (Art Johnson, Lynn Blessing) ITI Music Corporation BMI

9. Send Your Lovin' 3:39 (Art Johnson) ITI Music Corporation BMI

10. Our Disco Lives 2:56 (Art Johnson) ITI Music Corporation BMI

11. Sweet Home Chicago 3:53 (Robert Johnson) DJS Music BMI, Lehsem II LLC BMI

12. The Marriage 4:28 (Art Johnson) ITI Music Corporation BMI

13. I Can Feel 3:01 (Art Johnson) ITI Music Corporation BMI

14. Land of Broken Dreams 3:52 (Art Johnson) ITI Music Corporation BMI