Description

From the album notes:

I want to thank Matt Nakoa for prodding me to make this all happen. I think he got tired of hearing me talk about maybe-someday making another album, went ahead and booked a great studio, lined up some brilliant players, a fabulous sound engineer and a great video guy. Next thing I knew, I’m sitting in an old barn in Connecticut strumming my guitar and having the time of my life! (Besides honoring me by being my accompanist for close to a decade now, Matt has his own burgeoning career going – check him out at www.MattNakoa.com!)

The album’s title, Gardens Old, Flowers New, is a line that appears in two of the songs here. I mean to convey the idea that many things in life – watching your child learn about the world, or falling in love – have happened millions on millions of times through the eons, but each time is always fresh and different.

Matt, however, pointed out (in the kindest way) that, while I’m no spring chicken now, I’ve been coming up with new songs that he genuinely seems to enjoy. As you will see in the album notes download, some of these tunes have, in fact, been lurking in the shadows for a long time. But at one time or another I wrote all of them – except for “Gimme Some of It” where I put new words to an old, traditional blues tune called “Custard Pie.”

As always with my record projects, the songs run the gamut from light-hearted and cheerful to sad and lonely. (I’ve been accused of seeking emotional whiplash – I deny everything. I was never indicted!)

In any case, if you enjoy listening to these songs anywhere near as much as I enjoyed recording them, I will regard it a huge success!

Thank you!
Tom

the players

Tom Rush: vocals, acoustic guitar
Matt Nakoa: keyboards, guitars, slice trombone, additional percussion, harmonics
Mike Reilly: drums, percussion, harmonies Graig Aikin: clectric & upright bass,
Abbie Gardner: dobro, harmonies
Joe Nerney: sax, mouth harp, pennywhistle, harmonies Monica Rizzio: fiddle, harmonies
Seth Glier: accordion, harmonium, harmonies
Dave Eggar; cello
Mikhail Pivovarov: baritone guitar, hurdy-gurdy, additional percussion
Vlad Tipicidi: video recording & editing
 
Recorded by Mikhail Pivovarov at Carriage House Studios, March 29th – April 3rd, 2023
Mixed & mastered by Mikhail Pivovarov at Black Rock Sound
 
All songs written by Tom Rush (BMI), and published by BMG Rights Management
except “Gimme Some of It,” a traditional blues with new lyries by Tom Rush. 

Album artwork & design Christopher Wolfgang Mauch
 

tracklist

1. Sailing
2. Glory Road
3. Gimme Some of It
4. Nothin’ But A Man
5. If You Will Love Me
6. Lullaby in E
7. Toy Boat Song
8. One More Time Around the Sun
9. It All Comes Down to Love
10. Sienna’s Song
11. The Harbor
12. To See My Baby Smile
13. Won’t Be Back at All
14. I Quit

 
Produced by Matt Nakoa