August 2017
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 22, No. 8
Next Meeting Sunday August 6th 5:00pm.
The International Songwriter’s Guild meets at 5 PM on the first Sunday of every
month at the Central Florida Musician’s Union building, 3020 East Robinson St.,
Orlando, FL 32803 (at the extreme east end of Robinson, near Orlando Executive
Airport)
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to
join us. Non-members are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our
group and what we do. If you wish to join, there is an annual fee of only $5. For
more information, visit our website at www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs or myspace page at
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business and
introductions. 5:30 to 6:00, presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled), 5:30
or 6:00 to 8:00, song critiques. Please bring a CD or I-phone or mp3 player or
perform your song live, and bring 10 or more lyric sheets. If we have at least 5
songs by members who wish to be scored, and 6 members scoring, then we will have
them entered in the Monthly competition. Everyone is encouraged to write
constructive comments on the lyric sheets.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
WebChatter
by CyberToad
If you are interested in playing House Concerts, here is a blog from Ari Herstand.
http://aristake.com/post/how-to-book-house-concerts-without-a-fanbase
Brothers In Arms
by Jeff Mason
I first heard of Shawn Phillips when I was sixteen. A friend of mine played guitar and he knew a
song called “Hey Nelly Nelly.” A civil rights song written by Jim Friedman and Shel Silverstein. It follows
a chronological pattern and each verse ends with a date. The first verse “He’s got a tall black hat and
he looks like a fool, He sure is talkin’ like he’s been to school, and it’s 1853.” Verse 2 continues,
“They're all puttin' on their coats of blue, I can't sit around here and talk to you, and it's 1861.”
By now we know the man in the tall black hat is Abraham Lincoln. It continues in the third verse,
”And the man in the tall black hat is dead, But we sure will remember all the things he said, in 1865.”
And finally to the last verse and we finish, “Thy're walking in a column that's a century wide, It was a
long and a hard and a bloody ride, in 1963.”
Shawn covered it on his 1964 album “I’m A Loner.” I have loved the song for all these years. I was
particularly captured by it’s chronological pattern and form of story telling. I was also enthralled with
Shawn’s guitar playing and singing. In 1970 he released an album titled “Second Contribution.”
This is Shawn’s masterpiece. As one reviewer says it’s “timeless.” Ranging in styles from folk, rock,
jazz and classical, with magnificent orchestral arrangements and featuring Shawn’s 12 string Gibson
guitar and soaring vocals. It has one of the coolest album covers I have ever seen. He is a musician
who is unafraid to use silence as a dynamic within his songs.
I met a couple who had been hanging out with Shawn on the Moody Blues Cruise that sails from
Miami to Grand Cayman and Mexico. My curiosity was piqued and I wanted to learn more about this
ever evolving artist. Once described by rock promoter Bill Graham as “The best kept secret in the music
business.” The more things change the more they stay the same. He is still an unknown artist but one
glance at his pedigree and you’ll shake your head in disbelief. Born in Fort Worth, Texas he moved to
England in the 1960s where he lived with Donovan. He worked as a session musician on the Donovan
albums “Fairytale,” “Sunshine Superman” and “Mellow Yellow.” He is the uncredited composer of
“Season of the Witch.” This song was covered by Donovan who later acknowledged Shawn’s contribution.
Other artists who have covered this song include Julie Driscoll, Robert Plant and Richard Thompson.
This is the man reputed to have given George Harrison his first sitar lesson. He is reputed to have to
have taught Joni Mitchell how to play 12 string guitar. He is still a secret.
Shawn is still out there using loopers and building sonic masterpieces and if you are lucky, you might
get to hang out with him on a slow cruise.http://www.shawnphillips.com/band.htm
Another musician, songwriter and guitar player who has come to my attention is Jason Isbell.
I caught a fascinating interview with him on the Charlie Rose PBS show. Jason, formerly a member of
Drive By Truckers, has been successfully pursuing a solo career. “His new album is called “The Nashville Sound.”
“It was included in “Rolling Stone” Magazine’s list of the 50 best albums of 2017.” The album title is a “direct
reference, we made that in Studio A, RCA Studio A in Nashville, which Chet Atkins was making records
down there and Owen Bradley.” https://charlierose.com/videos/30668
In this short interview we hear Isbell’s views on the state of the music business. We hear about his
approach to songwriting and hear two of his songs “If We Were Vampires” and “The Last of My Kind.”
He is a descendant of earlier singer/songwriters like Bonnie Raitt and John Prine in the Americana tradition.
I leave you with two memorable quotes. The first from painter Chuck Close, “Inspiration is for amateurs,
the rest of us just show up and get to work.” The second from Jason Isbell, “I have heard it said that the
muse likes to find you working.” See you next month.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig announced here? Members in good standing
call SusieCool with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153
Jeff Mason with Maggie Dawn Alias Jackie and Maggie
Sunday Aug 13 At Bru Tap House 3pm to 6pm
143 E. Main St Tavares, Fl, 32778,
352 508 9321
Jerry Waller is organizing a Singer /Songwriter Showcase Aug 20th @ Shovelhead Lounge in Longwood, Fl.
Performing artist will be interviewed and promoted on local radio. This charity event has sponsorship from
Lakehouse Records, Tito's Vodka and Full Sail University.
Please send your indication of interest to Jerry@orlandobluesjam.com
If you want to join us at the Central Florida Folk song circle, please show up at
Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux at 3022 Corrine Drive on the last Wednesday of each month
from 6 to 8:30pm. The BBB has many delicious items on their menu, and also have some vegetarian stuff.
They also serve beer and wine.
On August 16th we have a playing circle with the Fingerstyle Guitar Group
in the Community room of the winter Park Library. This is usually on 3rd Wednesdays.
460 E. New England Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789. 6 to 8:30pm. Songwriters are welcome,
but we do try to play our fingerstyle songs and not use picks. There is more info on the facebook group page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/228147620559285/?fref=nf
SusieCool has become the organizer of a Meetup.com group called
"Orlando Creative Music Network". Please check out the webpage
for all sorts of upcoming events. It is free to join.
https://www.meetup.com/Orlando-Creative-Music-Network/
We also have a Facebook page for this group if you are not in meetup, but want info.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be
listed in the ISG members page.
https://sites.google.com/site/isgsusiecool/home/links-and-recommended-reading/member-websites
Also if you have any songs that have placed first in the monthly critiques, please
send the mp3's to isgorlando@gmail.com if you would like to have them featured in
the ISG MySpace page. https://myspace.com/21075001
July 2017 Critique Results:
1. Let's Don't and Say we Did Will Campbell 15.00
2. What Would He Say Fred Cantor 14.14
3. Good Dog Fred Cantor 13.71
New members always welcome!
© 2017 ISG