Music to Squeak By (2021)by Vic DillahaySufficient guitar.
There are two great loves in my life: instrumental guitar records and the animals I annoy by playing them.
This album is a tribute to both.
Vic Dillahay
Credits
- Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Bass VI, Programming, Keyboards, Electronic Drums, Percussion, and Counting Aloud:Vic Dillahay
Tracks
- Grin (3:50)© 2021 Victor Carlton Dillahay US‑DHM‑21‑04020
A triadic melody with unexpected resolutions, too many solo sections, and my favorite drum groove in the outro. This one always makes me smile.
- Penguin Eddie (4:11)© 2021 Victor Carlton Dillahay US‑DHM‑21‑04021
Eddie was a local bar-fly I met after a gig. He told me a tipsy tale of his exploits catching a penguin ("It was an emperor penguin!") out of a zoo's exhibit. I wrote this as a tribute to his brilliant comedic timing and syncopated phrasing.
- Laetitia's Lost Chords (2:05)© 2021 Victor Carlton Dillahay US‑DHM‑21‑04022
As a teen in the 90s, I learned a Maj7 barre chord and promptly wrote "Song for Laetitia". My dad always poked fun at its naive harmony so I reworked it with hipper chords. Years later I missed the original's simplicity and inadvertent mixed-meter so I wrote them into this cut.
- Serva Jugum (3:23)© 2021 Victor Carlton Dillahay US‑DHM‑21‑04023
Clan Hay's motto, "Keep the Yoke" provides the title for this one. It's a standard gopuccha yati cycle for the head and a funk waltz in the solo.
- Kiddo (4:30)© 2021 Victor Carlton Dillahay US‑DHM‑21‑04024
Side A ends with a dedication to my Grandpa John. The melody is a tone row but it's harmonized as a jazz ballad in E-flat. Grandpa would have loved this as he was both a lover of irony and completely tone deaf.
- Smolkin's Boogie (1:35)© 2021 Victor Carlton Dillahay US‑DHM‑21‑04025
Every instrumental guitar album needs a boogie. This one is just a bit confused about where it's going.
- Half the Times I've Failed (4:18)© 2021 Victor Carlton Dillahay US‑DHM‑21‑04026
Written in a lesson to demonstrate writing to a prompt. Played on my early-2000s "Electric Memory" rig.
- Frickle Frackle (2:44)© 2021 Victor Carlton Dillahay US‑DHM‑21‑04027
Because I really wanted a minor Blues.
- Somewhere East of Omaha (4:16)© 2021 Victor Carlton Dillahay US‑DHM‑21‑04028
As my late friend Ward Harston put it: "That's not really a rhythm."
- Ricky Loves LuLu (3:54)© 2021 Victor Carlton Dillahay US‑DHM‑21‑04029
There used to be a bridge by Erie, Colorado with this graffiti on it. When the railroad removed it someone painted "Ricky Still Loves LuLu". That deserves a song.
Thanks
Thanks to Richard Ellis for reminding me B-flat is always the best choice and to Charlie Bear for making sure I focus on what is truly important in life: chasing squirrels.
Apologies to Nate Smith for mangling his excellent drum loops.
Dedication
For Rockett Poochy (2007-2020)
Music supervisor, Charlie's best brother, and the most glorious cover Poochy ever. I love you and I miss you.
Technical Data
- Label: Curious Automata
- Catalog Number: 210630A
- Catalog Number (Lathe Cut): 210630B
- Released: June 20th, 2021
- Format: Lathe Cut Vinyl, CD, and Digital
- Total Tracks: 10
- Duration: 34:50
- UPC (Lathe-Cut Vinyl): 756839548311
- UPC (Digital): 638865196479
- UPC (CD): 885007844266
