Twelve women, twelve songs, twelve guitars. That was my concept. The stories of a dozen Kalamazoo Gals would not be completed without adding the voices they produced through the Banner Gibsons. So I assembled my own meager collection and put the word out to the collectors that I’d be organizing a recording project for a CD to accompany this book. Next I convinced my friend Eric Dawson Tate to serve as engineer and co-producer of this album. Fresh off engineering work for the score to the Hollywood blockbuster, “Looper,” I caught Eric at the beginning of what is certain to be a very steep career arc. Lauren Sheehan’s contribution of “technique, style, grit, and soul,” both as a vocalist and guitar player made her the perfect artist for this project. Grammy-winning engineer, Charlie Pilzer did the mastering.
The guitars-we ended up using fifteen two, on a duet and three on a medley-feature every variant and wood combination that Gibson employed while striving to produce instruments under the challenges of wartime circumstances.
The CD takes its name from a Gibson advertisement that appeared in the October, 1943 issue of Metronome Magazine.
We offer these songs in honor of the women who remained back home, built guitars anonymously, and kept the Gibson’s and America’s lights burning.
CD’s can be ordered directly from www.laurensheehanmusic.com
The guitars:
1. I Wish that I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate. Guitar: 1943 Southerner Jumbo, Factory Order Number (FON) 2426-13, mahogany back and sides and Adirondack spruce top.
2. Precious Lord. Guitar: 1942 LG-2, FON 2122-38, mahogany back and sides and Adirondack spruce top.
3. Old Folks at Home (Stephen foster). Guitar: 1943 LG-1, FON 7706H-25, all-mahogany construction.
4. Bearcat Blues. Guitar: 1944 J-45. FON 2944-18, laminated maple backhand sides and Sitka spruce top.
5. C Medley. Guitars: Going Down the Road Feeling Bad (1944 J-45. FON 2944-18, laminated maple backhand sides and Sitka spruce top), Railroad Rill (1944J-45, FON 1012, all mahogany construction), Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down (1943 LG-2, FON 2521-18, mahogany back and sides and four piece Adirondack spruce top).
6. Sweet By and By/Sunny Side. Guitar: 1945 LG-2, FON 642, mahogany back and sides and Sitka spruce top.
7. Soldier’s Joy. Guitars: (John Schwab, rhythm guitar,1943 L-50, No FON, maple back and sides and Adirondack spruce top; Lauren, lead guitar, 1943 Southerner Jumbo, FON 2110-8, mahogany back and sides and Adirondack spruce top)
8. When Johnny Comes Marching Home/Johnny I Hardly Knew You. Guitar: 1943 Southerner Jumbo, FON unreadable, mahogany back and sides and Adirondack spruce top.
9. America the Beautiful. Guitar: 1942 J-45 FON 923-45, mahogany back and sides and Adirondack spruce top.
10. Home on the Range (Brewster M. Higley/Daniel E. Kelley). Guitar: (1943 J-45, FON 2221-23). Velura Wood
11. Hard Times. Guitar: 1943 Southerner Jumbo, FON 910, East Indian rosewood back and sides an Adirondack spruce top
12. So Sweet. Guitar: 1943 Southerner Jumbo, FON 2735-12, mahogany back and sides and four piece Adirondack spruce top.
