I wrote There Was A Time in 2012. I was getting ready to make a trip to Syracuse, NY, my old stomping grounds. I had arranged for two live performance dates while there and I wanted a couple of new tunes to perform. When the drummer heard my version he said, "Is this how you want the drums played?" It kind of hurt my feelings so I decided not to perform the tune and sat on it for the next eight years. And, during the recording process, I did remove the entire drum section except for at the very end. While it is a bit outside the theme of Park North, lyrically and musically I believe it is a very powerful song. Somehow it did not end up in my Poetry from a Road Scholar book. I don't know how that happened. Also, yes, it is more of a blues tune, it does not follow the traditional 'blues lead' paradigm and the simple piano in the bridge knocks it out of the park.

There Was A Time

One of my favorite songs to play, Curtis Mayfield's People Get Ready was selected as the final track for the Park North project. Again, not really fitting in with the theme, I have always wanted to record it so, here we are. Frank Zona jumped in on the saxophone and again, Ruben Gutierrez is on piano and organ. The James Murphy Chorus adds that old southern church feel. This is that traditional 7-minute song that hopes to portray the visuality of the tough but beautiful ride through life and eventual acceptance into heaven.

People Get Ready

I woke up one evening and had the beginning riff to Jazz 31 in my mind. Once I gathered myself together I searched for a likable rhythm track and quickly organized the tune. I have always enjoyed performing it because it flows so well and the segments are so friendly to one other ... and it is short and sweet.

Jazz 31

I wrote Don't Lie To Me when I was 21 years old. The guitar work, which you can barely pick out, is a rather nice fingerpicking piece. During production, I created the melody line, added piano, strings and bass, and did what I could do for the vocals. While I truly like this song in its most simple form - guitar and vocals - I chose to do a larger production. The 'raw' version will appear on some future project.

Don't Lie To Me

Two Flames Burning is a song I wrote in the 80s. I've always liked the progression and was proud to have Monica Gutierrez stop in and embellish the vocal for me. Curt Bushaw adds the bass guitar. There are more verses than what we perform here, but I think this single verse stands on its own.

Two Flames Burning

I like to refer to this sang as a lazy swing tune. Even after I put the pieces together I kept thinking, "Is this too slow?" But, you know what? I kind of like it. Ruben Gutierrez is on the piano, Frank Zona plays the lazy sax and I get to play my 1963 Guild Starfire III. I'm liking it.

Be Flat

This proved to be an interesting day at the studio. I used to play the Saint James Infirmary Blues way back in the day. Lyrically, it is one of my favorite songs, and musically too I suppose. So, without a click track, I just played the song on my Guild D-40C. I remembered an old bass trick "Hungry" Larry Stringer from Syracuse, NY showed me - stuffing an old rag under the bass strings by the bridge gives your electric bass and muted, standup bass tone. I used a beer koozie instead of a raq. I love this bass tone. I added the vocals, added the keys and I was done. I took about two hours in total.

Saint James Infirmary

Love is Broken is in a unique guitar tuning (D, A, D, Gb, B, E). I'm not sure what it is but it is beautiful. I wrote this song in 1980. The woman I was going out with at the time was older than me and wanted me all to herself. I felt as though she was wrapping me up just a little too tight. She eventually left me not for another man, but for a woman. How's that for an ego booster? While I like the lyrics, I have always liked the music. Again, the guitar was played freelance without a click-track. The drums were added later by Eric Boseman. He reminded me that there was no click-track. He felt it would have gone better if there were. I agreed and began using one right after that session.

Love Is Broken

Wherever, Whenever, words and music by James Robert Murphy, vocals by Joshua Lucero.

1 Donde Sea Cuando Sea

Ese Tiempo Jamas Vendra or That Time Will Never Come is a 'wish' song. Wishing that you could see someone, kiss someone, touch someone, and love someone once more. You messed up. You were given several opportunities to get your shit together, and now....it's over. It is over.

02 - Ese Tiempo Jamas Vendra

Composed in1991 by Austin Jimmy Murphy. It was recorded at 820 Avery Ave in Syracuse, NY, mixed at Screaming Skull Studio in Syracuse, NY - Steve Lloyd, engineer and co-producer. It was a part of the 820 Sessions. Austin on guitar and vocals, Tom Townsley on harmonica, Mark Tiffault on snare and hi-hat, TA James ob bass and Little Georgie Rossi on piano. Available at www.jamesrobertmurphy.com

She's Alright She's Alright

This is a favorite of mine. It has a great hook and cool lyrics, and actually foretold the future...it talks about owning a house 'way up high' owning 'brand new car' having 'a diamond on her hand' ...all this has come true, and we just need one more part to come true...having 'a pile of cash a mile high'. Available on A History of Blues - Austin Jimmy Murphy.

My Baby Says She Loves Me

Austin Jimmy Murphy...Another pretty sad tune about a guy hitting rock bottom. A very simple song, again, pretty much repeating a simple rhythm pattern. The beautiful, melodic harmonica work is by Tom Townsley; unbelievable. This is from the 820 Sessions recorded at 820 Avery Ave, Syracuse, NY. Mark Tiffault on snare and hi-hat with brushes, Hungry Larry Stringer on bass. Available on A History of Blues - Austin Jimmy Murphy.

Hey Brother (harmonica and guitar)

I wrote this in March of 1984. I was falling in love ... again. It was recorded in Austin, TX. Jim Stevens does the singing. I don't know what happened to Jim. I've looked for him to no avail.

One More Time with Jim Stevens

Songwriter/producer based in El Paso, TX. Currently producing the 2920 Sessions.

James Robert Murphy

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