My Musician Friends Rock!

All you amazing musicians - this is the best gift ever! Give a listen and check out what you all did. I love ya! Can't wait to see you again and play some tunes . . . Rhine

To download, right click or ctrl click or touch (mp3) and save.
Scroll down for "liner notes" from the CD. Well worth a read!

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1. 100 Feet Above the Ground
Gary Fuges - guitar and vocals. "Hot off the virtual press. Raw version. No cowbell."

2. Hangin'
Ritt Dietz - "I did all the parts on this one but tried to Ritt-and-Craig it up as much as possible for the old man. Give him a hug for me, I know Farmer Craig will have one for him, too."

3. Waitin'
Chris Thompson - guitar and vocals. "I chose "Waitin" because I like the tune and the rhythm switch from the verse to the chorus. This song reminded me of when I first heard Rhine perform back in 1994 (!), and how I really liked the blues influences in his songs. Perhaps the subconscious theme is around the small innocent crush I had on Rhine (my Ecology TA) which lasted until I met April, and then was replaced by a crush on *both* Rhine and April (hee hee!). You both are so awesome to keep such strong ties of music and friendship going for all these years! I'm grateful to be included in that group. Though I cannot always be there in person, I am always with you in spirit."

4. Somethin' Funky Goin' On
Jim Harrington - guitar, bass, vocals; Danny Harrington - drums. "A slightly more funky interpretation. Kitchen Sync says go big or go home!"

5. Seven Hours 'Til Dawn
The Bitter Liberals.

6. Ghosts On The Farm
Mike Getchell - guitar and vocals. "Rhine writes more songs in your average weekend than I write in a year! "Ghosts on the Farm" has an earthy, honest, mysterious feel to it. Like an old Johnny Cash song. And, really, who among us doesn't want to be Johnny Cash? Plus it only had three chords, so I knew I could play it. I threw in a fourth, just to show off."

7. Constant Necessity
Charlie Barnett - electric guitar, Wurlitzer piano, and vocals; Meg Guroff - bass and bvox. "The chorus is evocative and catchy, and we liked the groove that he implied with just a solo guitar. Charlie felt that the song was begging to be filled out with a JJ Cale style rhythm section. Although we don't see Rhine as someone who's ever at a loss to explain either his world or his girl, as the chorus suggests, we know there are many people out there who can relate to the lyrics."

8. I Can't
Delaney Wiggins - vocals; Donny Wiggins - production (piano/strings); Gary Fuges - guitar. "Delaney and I (Laurie) chose this beautiful song because we fell in love with it the very first time we heard it. Haunting, intimate and achingly powerful, the song truly spoke to us. It's an exquisite piece of music."

9. Quarter For Your Smile
Jeff Nicholson - guitar and vocals. "I clearly remember the first time I heard this song at The Tavern (in Mark's Basement). I was blown away. At the time I don't think there was even a title, so for a while I kept referring to it as "The Loose Change Song". Quarter For Your Smile is much better. I knew I had to learn the song and have since played it many, many, many times. I wish I wrote it! This song has everything you'd want in a song; love, feeling, mystery, a cool riff, interesting structure - I never tire of playing, singing, hearing and pondering what I believe to be one of the best songs Rhine has ever written and certainly one of the best song anyone I personally know has written. This version was recorded by me for a CD I did for my wife on our 15th Wedding Anniversary (10 years ago). It was of course a perfect fit."

10. Fire
Gary McGraw - 2nd violin; Janet Bailey - 1st violin; John Bailey - cello; Recorded and engineered by Gary McGraw and Will Shenk at National Media Services. "This song always invokes a flood of memories from early years at the Stick. For my own reasons, I also think about Junior, the fire inside. "Fire" was arranged by Gary McGraw, John Bailey and some bourbon."

11. Talkin' Don't Count For Nothin'
Jim Harrington - lead and rhythm guitar, vocals; Danny Harrinton - drums; Bob Bolt - bass. "This song totally speaks to my sensitive side."

12. Eli's Song
Gina Faber - bazouki; Amy Barley - vocals, guitar. "In the kitchen a year or so ago. 'Which one is that?' 'Huh? Oh, that one is called Too Long. Also known as The Eli Song.' 'Really? Is it easy? Sounds like not too many chords, and I like the melody.' 'Yeah, it's easy. That would be a good one for you to do.' So I had it. So many Rhine Songs I'd like to sing on, but this is the one for the Rhine Album. Knowing Gina Faber loves Rhine Songs and is a hell of a musician, I asked, and she jumped right in. Love and lyrics to Baby Rhine!"

13. Before My Eyes
Tony Mann - keyboards, vocals and revised lyrics.

14. Catch The Sky
Bob Bolt - bass and acoustic guitar; Stephanie Hurley - vocals; Lin Van Allen - oboe; Beth Anne West - flute; Don Selby - hand drum.

15. Someday
Bob Bolt - bass and acoustic guitar; Stephanie Hurley - vocals; Lin Van Allen - oboe; Beth Anne West - flute; Don Selby - hand drum. "Stephanie was performing classical music with her friends, Lin Van Allen and Beth Anne West, last winter. At that time, Beth Anne told Stephanie that she was a huge fan of Bare Bones, had seen them at the Keene Music Festival, and thought they were the best band there. Steph mentioned that she was married to the bass player. Lin and her husband, Don Selby, had followed Bare Bones for quite a while already, so when April proposed contributing to a an album for Rhine's 50th birthday, they quickly joined forces with Bob Bolt to arrange and record two Bare Bones favorites that would lend themselves to an interpretation featuring the oboe & flute."

16. Ghosts On The Farm
Tasha Nicholson - vocals; Mark Nicholson - acoustic guitar, lead vocal, bass, mandolin, bvox; Recorded in The Tavern Studio, Harrisville, NH. October 12, 2015. "This song reminds me of being on my Pappy's farm and hearing the ghosts bang around the old farm house, when I was a young boy.... oh wait, that wasn't me. Maybe I just like hearing and playing this great song of Rhine's!"

17. Time Only Flies
Mark Lazen - guitar and vocals; Max Lazen - production.

18. Your Lies Are Gone
April Claggett - stand-up bass and vocals; Danny Harrington- drums; Jim Harrington- guitar. "I had to do one, because it was my damned idea! I chose this song as a Bessie the Bass vehicle. Danny laid down the drums just before taking off to college, and Jim and I worked around it. Danny's groove pretty much determined everything."

19. El Hombre
Tim Smith - ukelele and vocals. "I took great liberties with my selection, changing up one of my favorite early Rhine tunes "El Hombre". I've never actually spoken with Rhine about this song, but I imagine it is about a musician he came across while in Costa Rica many years ago. A musician who brought joy to those who heard him play. Well, Rhine, or Tomas as they would call him down there, is our "Hombre". Since I met Rhine almost 40 years ago, he is as likely to have a guitar in his hands as not, and has been spreading his music all around, in many formats, for a very long time. But it goes further. With the music party, Oopstock, Rhinestock, or whatever you like to call it, not only does he throw it down with such passion, he provides the venue for all us to do the same. That is so powerful! I fear that my bass could possibly be sitting in a closet unplayed for months or years were it not for Rhine, and of course April, organizing his awesome event, year after year, and motivating us all to practice up and create and enjoy that most beautiful thing we all love so much- music... Happy Birthday, Rhine.... Feliz Cumpleanos, Tomas!! El Hombre...The Man!!"