"And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age."
(Matthew 28:20)

Hi everybody!

No denying, I’ve been negligent in keepin’ ya updated. Dan Michaels, keeper of our web site, has got a pair of binoculars, a rubber hammer, and a lasso… and he’s hunting me down. Sorry. A lot is going on.

As I mentioned before, I’ve got a project under way called, "City On A Hill," involving various artists, and scheduled for release on Essential Records this fall. Derri is engineering and Marc Byrd is co-producing with us. Anyhow, here’s what’s happened so far:

We tracked five tunes that Marc and/or I wrote, just to get our feet wet, so to speak (uh-oh, I’m feeling an uncharacteristic inclination to mix metaphors!) … get the ball rolling etc.

I asked Leigh Nash to write a song for the album, and busy as she was, she found time to bring in a beautiful, spooky tune with a very personal, moving lyric. Gracious person. Stunning talent. Dale Baker (Sixpence’s drummer) came in and played on several tracks, and we made "the rhythm connection," he and I. We got out all the neat ethnic stuff and grooved with one accord. It’s on video! Matt Slocum even came over to play a bit of guitar. Sure, I paid him considerably more than I did for playing cello on, "Skinny." A lot of difference a year can make! Yeah, and I remember when those guys opened for The Choir. Kiss me?! Kiss my…only jesting. Lovely people. And by the way, Sixpence is working on another album and the new songs I’ve heard are brilliant.

Next, the guys from FFH came in with a nice, mellow song about intimacy with God, called "Where You Are." Mike played acoustic guitar to a click track with impressive dexterity; and Jeromy and Brian sang the lead vocals. Splendid singers. After they left, I brought in Phil Madeira on accordion and lap steel, Chris Donohue on stand-up bass…and I added some percussive textures. You may have heard FFH a lot on the radio. They’ve got a good thing going…sold a whole bunch of records and everything. I sure hope we don’t ruin their song.

Yeah, the dirty ol’ road! We went down to Atlanta -- Derri, Marc and I – to record Third Day at Southern Tracks, the famous studio where they like to work. Nice place! Mac Powell had written a song called, "City On A Hill," the title track no less! The lyric is perfect, and the music, spirited, which is good, ‘cause we need some rock. It’s southern rock…no surprise…it’s Third Day. And that’s all right (I actually owned an 8-track cassette of Leonard Skynard’s Greatest Hits in 1976 when I was 16, driving my Dad’s ’66 Lincoln Continental). But I’m from California…so I’ll admit to being a little confused when their friend, Scotty, was playing the B3, and Ty, the bass guitarist, kept pushing the talk-back button imploring, "Spank! Spank!" while slapping his own butt. I just thought a subtle counter melody would suffice. Nicest guys you’d ever care to meet. Fun two days!

I met Jars Of Clay for the third time the other day. The first time was a few years ago when they were getting ready to begin their first album. They came over to Neverland where I was working with Hoi Polloi (hope they’re happy back home in New Zealand – love them, miss them) and described their style as "acoustic guitars and drum machine" etc., which didn’t appeal to me so much at the time, being fond of real percussion and electric guitars. So I didn’t show any interest -- shrewd opportunist that I am. Then I got to observe from afar as they sold a couple million. Of course, had I been involved they likely wouldn’t have. It wasn’t meant to be. The second time I met them was at a gig where they were debuting songs from "Much Afraid." They were kind enough to approach me afterward to say something nice about our "Circle Slide" album. Thanks, you guys. So last week I spent about an hour with Dan, Steve and Charlie discussing their potential involvement on this "City On A Hill" project. These guys are busy beyond belief (like all these bands, truly) but I was touched by their enthusiasm. I know they’ll bring a lot of creativity and depth to the project. The next day (last Friday), Dan Haseltine came in and sang on a wonderful worship song called, "With Every Breath," written by Marc Byrd. Leigh Nash had already sung the lead vocal. Now it’s an amazing duet. Alleluia! Wait ‘til the orchestra joins in!

In two weeks I’ll be working with Caedmon’s Call. I’ve been interacting a bit with Cliff Young. He’s a freak and an inspiration. I’m completely looking forward to making music with those people! Interesting folk. And good players, all of them! I’m so blessed.

Yes, and The Choir gets to do a song too, but shhhhhhh don’t tell anyone. We want this record to sell.

But seriously, we are so humbled and grateful to be working with such genuine and talented artists -- striving together to offer something beautiful and inspiring to the body of Christ -- for the glory of our Lord, the living savior – of the world, and of our souls. "A city on a hill cannot be hidden…let your light so shine…"

Peace, grace and marvelous light!

Steve 2/17/00