Mark Belaire, our “Keeper Of The Keys” for the past three years, is packing up and heading south. Opportunity (and a lot of hard work) will lead him and his family to sunny California. We wish Mark all the best in his new endeavours, and thank him profoundly for his beautiful, soulful, ass-kicking music. We also thank him for: his love and friendship through good times and hard times, his “Do It Till It’s Right” work ethic, his “Smile In The Face Of Adversity” positive attitude, his exuberance for life, his beautiful family, his brother and sonic partner, for bringing Papa Belaire to The Tank, for driving from The Triple Door to Issaquah and back during rush hour to get some gear that was left behind, for his piano, organ, harmonica, strings and voice, all of which made Random Manor a better band, playing better music. We have been lucky to have Mark aboard.

So long, Brother, but not goodbye. It has truly been an awesome ride!

Love and praises,

Don, Rick, Mark & Ronnie

Our stockings are hung by the chimney with care…

2011 was, like Frank said, “a very good year”. The completion of our LP, “Big Dog Run”, with the release show at The Triple Door, was truly special. We thought it only fitting to bring forth some holiday cheer with a musical offering. With I at my pen and Rick at the dials (and orchestra!), we present “Favorite Year”. Mixed and mastered by Tom Hall. We wish you all the best this holiday season and look forward to the New Year!

Download and enjoy,

Don, Rick, Mark M., Ronnie & Mark B.

 This song is another one from the “Personal Files”. When I got back into songwriting, I made myself a promise: I was going to go where the songs took me…no matter what. This required commitment and faith in the process. I remember having a little apprehension about the idea of exposing oneself in song. When I presented Long Way Back (off the first record) to Rick and Mark, I was more than a bit nervous. It was such a reflection of my own “stuff”. I think my knees were knocking…but I remember glancing at Rick while playing and he was looking at me…smiling. Chris Martin from Coldplay said he’s terrified when introducing a new song to the band…it’s good to be among friends!

Along For The Ride is like a big smile to me and some lines of the lyric are like photographs of my life…a story of love found when love was not sought. I hope some of you can relate.

We’ve been playing this song for a long time. It was our closer at Ste. Michelle in ‘07 (2nd gig!). It was supposed to be on the first record but we were only doing 6 songs and it took a back seat. It’s a favorite on this one, however (Rick has the opening riff for his ringtone!) and was a blast to record.

We had some fun at The Shack tracking…the effect we used on the verse before the last chorus was a nod to Richard Dodd and Boz Scaggs. The vocal track was played through headphones that were mounted on a vocal mic and recorded to get that “far away” sound that fit so well with the track. I also put in a little guitar homage to Johnny Rivers (“The Poor Side Of Town”…great song!). Rick’s drums really lift the song up and Mark M’s bass has such a great feel…including a “Down Under” riff…care to guess?  As always, Ronnie brings his sweet slide guitar and brother Mark B. delivers a truckload of soul on the organ. All tracks, save drums, recorded at The Shack.

Turn it up and get happy!

Next…Elizabeth and I do the math…

Till then,

Don

Friday, July 10th, 2009. We recorded this song a number of times that night at The Tank. Live. The best take is what you hear on the record. The mood was loose…swampy and lubricated…cheap cactus juice courtesy of Tom P. Papa Belaire was there (rest his soul), just hanging out in the control room. I asked him if he wanted to sing, but he politely declined…he seemed genuinely happy to be there.

When we all gathered around for the background vocals, we were running late. Tom offered “you guys should just stay here tonight”. T.P. was into it, playing “air guitar” and lending his trademark vocal.

The next day we were done. The last band to record at The Tank with Tom. Ever.

Mark Belaire’s harp brings the feel up front and Ronnie’s slide lays down the Delta vibe. Rick and Mark M. give a rhythm section from somewhere down the river. The background vocal choir is nothin’ but love. I could listen to this song a thousand times and want a thousand more.

At the time I wrote this song, I wasn’t exactly sure what it was about. It came very quickly, and when that happens, I don’t ask a lot of questions…the road goes where it goes. At the end of the day, as they say, I came to realize the gift of this song and its true meaning.

Next up…”side two”…

Till then,

Don

Thanks to all for a truly wonderful night at The Triple Door for our long awaited CD release party. With a big full moon above the clouds and big vibe in the room, it was a time I did not want to end. The culmination of two years work…and more fun than I’ve ever had on stage. A band of brothers in the moment.  

Thanks to the T-Door staff for all their help and we look forward to the next time.

See you all down the road,

Don

A good song stands the test of time. I wrote this song 23 years ago. I was playing in a band with Rick and Mark called Living Out Loud. Sometimes we performed under other names and sometimes no name, but LOL was the moniker when we first recorded Say When. The lyric was relevant yesterday and rings true today. The crime report is front and center, happening all the time. This is as close as I get to a social comment. Sinkin’ Into Stone is the bookend.

The drums were recorded at The Tank and all else at Random Manor Studios (aka: The Shack). I remember things getting a little LOUD during my guitar solo takes. Love the wah. Great “grind” on Mark B’s organ and a very cool fretless bass on the breakdown from Mark M. And, as always, a stellar mix from Tom Hall.

Since I wrote this song, there’s been a lot of water under the bridge, and a lot of other stuff, too (as Dylan said). Things change. Things stay the same. The world and its ways are a daily reminder that fair isn’t always fair. And the clock on the wall does not stop. A colleague of Tom Pfaeffle’s, speaking at his memorial, offered: We can do better. Tick tock, people.

Love and happiness,

Don

There’s a songwriters’ ”code” that says, simply, “Write what you know”. When I started writing songs again, I wanted this mantra to be mine. Life is short, so run what you brung. This song was one of my first attempts at telling “The Story Of”. Like they say in those movie trailers…”This time…it’s personal”. I wanted to bring the power of the music in a simple way to support the relentless imagery of the lyric. I remember presenting a rough demo for Rick and Mark M. back in ‘06…just me and an acoustic guitar. We’ve been playing this song ever since and it’s become a set favorite.

Rick and I actually recorded the basic for All The Way To Love at The Tank by ourselves, with Tom P. at the helm. We did this on a few songs…just Rick going for a drum take with me on guitar and a scratch vocal. The rest of the band tracks came later. We paired it down a bit from the extended live versions with a great mix by Tom Hall. While going through The Tank guitar takes, we found my solo, which I had done at the board with Tom P., as well as a bit TP had kept of me in between takes. These were blended in the final mix with a nice edit by RB. The drums really shine, as do Mark B’s keys/string parts…Ronnie’s soul-slide…Mark M’s brilliant bass…GREAT band track!

So, let the story be told. The boy who meets the girl who meets the boy…hold hands…and together, they wade in…

Next up…an old song gets a reprise.

Till then,

Don

Our good friend (and designer of our first EP) Kurt Reifschneider, has once again hit it out of the park for us with this cover for Big Dog Run. Many dogs were interviewed for the cover shot, and the finals came down to two, but this hound won the spot with his focused enthusiasm and vintage look. A paw print and a few bags of marrow bones sealed the deal.

We’ll be unveiling the hand-built package at our CD Release Party, Saturday August 13, 2011 at the Triple Door in Seattle. Tickets and info available from the Triple Door’s website here:

http://www.thetripledoor.net/Calendar/Events/August-2011/Random-Manor.aspx?date=2011-08-13

Hope to see you there!

Rick

We send our love to Clarence Clemons’ family and friends. His beautiful presence will be missed. Thanks, Big Man, for your powerful life.

RM