September 24, 2008

There’s something to be said for “stopping by.”

The Gorge was a busy place this summer for concerts. Karla Bonoff was in Stevenson, but she didn’t stop by here at the Hood River News. I would have loved to ask her about what was it like working with Warren Zevon, and is she still in contact with Linda Ronstadt?

Michael McDonald did a show over at the Maryhill Amphitheater, too. But he didn’t stop by. I tried emailing, and sent interview questions along. I wanted to know what was it like working with Steely Dan? (Did you know he worked with Steely Dan?) Alas, no one answered. 

But, a few weeks ago, Bruce Innes stopped by. I know, I didn’t know him either, but, he did stop by. He was up at the front counter, looking at our paper, inquiring about promoting his show coming up at the Columbia Center for the Arts on Friday (Sept. 26). I was brought into the conversation as I was coming back from lunch, and I gave him my card. He promised to send some stuff in later that week. And then it was on to the normal chaos of the day.

So when I get a few minutes, it’s off to the Internet to get some info about Bruce. He’s a singer/songwriter, who was in some kind of folk/rock band called “The Original Caste” in the mid to late 60s. Hmmm. Never heard of them. Wrote a hit song called “One Tin Soldier.” Nope, haven’t heard of that, either. Delving in a little further, Bruce has worked with and was friends with a whole host of musical folks – John Denver, country artists like Glen Campbell, Mickey Gilley and pop performer Ray Stevens. Hmmm. That’s interesting! (But why haven’t I heard of this guy before?)

So now we fast-forward a few days. You see, I’m a bit of a record collector. And, I know that they’re not called “records” any more, but hey, that’s what we called them, and that’s what I still call them. Anyway, lets just say that I’m “In the process of recording all of my records, cassette tapes, CDs, 8-tracks and any other “thing” that has music on it” onto a computer. After consciously avoiding the ipod for many years, I do have to admit, it’s really kind of cool, to have instant access to all these songs. However, the project is so immensely huge, we’re looking at a project completion date of 2015.

So, where were we? Oh yeah, Bruce. So I’m looking at one of my records. Hmmm. “Coats and Carlson.” Some sort of demo record, probably country or bluegrass, by the look of it. And I turn the cover over, to see what songs and such are on it. And there at the bottom, is a song credit, by B. Innes & D. Coats.

So I get to wondering, what are the chances of meeting someone at the office, and then going home and finding one of his songs on some out-of-print record, from over 30 years ago?

I guess that’s the magic of taking the time to stop by.

Read Jim’s interview with Bruce

Comments? Send them to: jdrake@hoodrivernews.com