Compact Disc of 'The Journey' album in 4-Panel Eco-Wallet with full artwork and liner notes.
Includes unlimited streaming of The Journey
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 3 days
Purchasable with gift card
$12USDor more
about
I began writing a version of this song in 1980, finally revising and finishing it in 1996. Some things take a little time to develope I guess. I had been thinking about certain family members, friends and loved ones who have moved on in one way or another, either in death or in distance of some kind. I realized how each person we meet on our journey becomes a part of the fabric of our lives for better or worse, and in my case it's been mostly for the better. I wanted to acknowledge that it has been good to have crossed paths with these brothers and sisters, and thank them for their contribution to who I am and for playing some part in my story. After all, we are all part of each others stories and journey when all is said and done. And whatever the circumstances of our relationships' ascent or demise, I only wish for them many blessings, and hope we meet again down the line.
About the recording: Fast forward to 2021. I was just about finished writing and recording the songs for my 7th album but felt it needed something more. I couldn't put my finger on it but followed my intuition as usual. That led me to search the AT song archives for older tunes written but never recorded, in a studio setting at least. I found around ten songs that I thought had potential and sent them to my buddy and longtime co-writer and keyboard player on my last 6 albums, Michael Ruff. He really loved 'The Journey' and wanted to arrange it as well. I had released The Journey in 2009 on a Best Of Unreleased Recordings for download only called Brooklyn Boy In Paradise. That version was an acoustic guitar, vocal, drum machine only demo I had recorded in 1996. At the time I had been in an open tuning guitar frenzy for the previous few years when I stumbled upon this one: EADEAE, and I don't remember where or how I came across it but it had such a sad retrospective aura about it when I delved into it's mystery that it led me on to the lyric content pretty quick.
For this 2021 version I sent Ruff the original demo and he started his arrangement with my original slack key acoustic guitar part which I re-recorded after he sent me his amazing parts. He asked me to change a few rhythm guitar accents which I gladly did. We followed my parts up with Jimmy Johnson on bass, Keith Carlock on drums and Olivia Ruff's backing vocals, and man was I beyond stoked with the recording.
The idea struck me that 2021 was the 50th anniversary of the release of my 1st album on Sire Records; 'A Picture' and thought I'd use 'The Journey' as a concept for the release of this album as a journey of my recording career, hence the front cover with myself in current times and the back cover with a black and white photo from 1963 when I first started playing guitar in earnest.
Enjoy...
lyrics
The Journey
words and music Allan Thomas
I’d like to go back in time in my life
Visit with all my old friends and relations
Talk to those I miss on the journey
I know we all had our own roads to travel
Briefly meeting by chance along the way
We go it alone we gave it everything
Via Condos Mi Amigo
May you find your way on the winding road
May we meet again on the journey
Somewhere on the journey
You and I we had our moment
When the world stood still but for the wind
The destination never mattered
It was always the journey
So we wound up going down different highways
Wish you well wherever you go
Better to have lived and loved you
Than never loved you at all
We chose the road less traveled
Always having to let go
Via Condos Mi Amigo
Via Condos Mi Amiga
May you find your way on the winding road
May we meet again down the line
Somewhere on the journey
So Many crossroads
And strange pilgrims on the way
from The Journey,
released August 2, 2021
Allan Thomas vocals and acoustic guitar.
Michael Ruff keyboards and arrangement
Keith Carlock drums
Jimmy Johnson bass
Olivia Ruff backing vocals
Aloha and welcome to my Bandcamp Music Store home page. Here you can listen to full-length samples of all seven Allan Thomas albums and three singles. Also to be found are credits, photos, stories and lyrics for all songs. Dig in...
Waiting For Love is my least favorite because it's a cover...The rest of the songs are perfectly written, produced and recorded! I think this is their best album of all. Cyriel van Kappel aka Cy Vanka
A slow drip of Tropicália-infused psychedelia from New Orleans rock outfit Blue Basin: balmy one moment, aggressive the next. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 22, 2022
Driven by guitars that are by turns intricately melodic and gravelly, Kaz Mirblouk's sophomore album is highly enjoyable rock music. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 7, 2021
