Three Guitar Journey (c2019)
I didn’t know what I was doing the day I put on my father’s shoes and stuffed a few cloths into the traveling satchel that Dad left behind from his hobo days. The next thing I knew I was boarding a plane in Philadelphia with the intention of keeping my father’s memory alive. I was on my way to the little town of McLouth, Kansas to meet luthier, Leo Posch.
Leo and I spent a morning together talking about the custom guitars I was commissioning. I told Leo that the instruments that he would be building would be handed down to future generations of family. Each guitar would bear a dedication and an illustration depicting my father’s life on the road. I wanted an artistic testament acknowledging my Dad’s perseverance during the Great Depression.
Considering all the time I’ve spent thinking about my father’s depression era hobo days, it seems perfectly logical to me now that songs of the road would drift into my mind and eventually find a permanent place in my lexicon of listening. The songs on this recording relate to either a real or a metaphorical journey. Many themes emerge in this collection. Liberation, freedom, rebellion, independence, as well as angst and the trials and tribulations of everyday life all have a voice here.
The majority of songs on the recording come out of New York’s Greenwich Village Folk Revival of the 1960s. The mix however would be incomplete without mention of two additional songs that did not come out of that period but are at the heart of this project. “Moon River” was my Dad’s favorite song and “Looking For Moon” is a song I wrote about my father’s travels. Together these songs led me on a journey of deep personal reflection and meaningful self-discovery.
Bob Fournier, November 2019
Available through Spotify and other streaming services.
1. Moon River Part 1 (Henry Mancini and John Mercer) 1960
Bob Fournier, 12-string guitar2. Driftin’ Way Of Life (Jerry Jeff Walker) 1969
Bob Fournier, vocals, guitar, double bass Jim Cohen, pedal-steel guitar Nick D’Orsaneo, drums3. King Of The Road (Roger Miller) 1964
Bob Fournier, lead vocals, double bass Gabe Esposito, background vocals Nike D’Orsaneo, drums and percussion4. Long Lonesome Highway (James Hendricks) 1969
Bob Fournier, vocals, guitar, double bass Nick D’Orsaneo, drums Chris Idzik, harmonica5. Many A Mile (Patrick Sky) 1965
Bob Fournier, lead vocals, 6 and12-string guitars, double bass Gabe Esposito, background vocals Jim Cohen, pedal-steel guitar Nike D’Orsaneo, drums and percussion Cortney D’Orsaneo, background vocals6. Looking For Moon (Robert Fournier) 1992
Bob Fournier, lead vocals, guitar, double bass Phil Romeo, background vocals percussion Bryce Milano, mandolin Chris Idzik, harmonica7. Moon River Part 2 (Henry Mancini and John Mercer) 1960
Bob Fournier, guitars and double bass8. Everybody’s Talkin’ (Fred Neil) 1968
Bob Fournier, lead vocals, 12-string guitar double bass Gabe Esposito, background vocals guitar Nick D’Orsaneo, drums Chris Idzik, harmonica9. Other Side Of This Life (Fred Neil) 1965
Bob Fournier, lead vocals, guitar, double bass Gabe Esposito, background vocals, guitar Jim Cohen, pedal-steel guitar Nick D’Orsaneo, drums Cortney D’Orsaneo, background vocals10. Wasn’t Born To Follow (Gerry Goffin and Carole King) 1967
Bob Fournier, lead vocals, 6 and 12-string guitars, double bass Gabe Esposito, background vocals Jim Cohen, pedal-steel guitar Nick D’Orsaneo, drums Cortney D’Orsaneo, background vocals11. Moon River Part 3 (Henry Mancini and John Mercer) 1960
Bob Fournier, lead vocals, guitar Gabe Esposito, background vocals