About "Giddy Up to Me" (Michael Connors/Mike Hartnett)

"It began with my producer, Mike Hartnett (Fergie, Yelawolf, Rehab, Cee Lo Green, Travis Barker and other top artists), and me just hanging out in his Nashville studio, jamming on our acoustic guitars.

I had this opening melody stuck in my head for months, but never used it, yet.  Mike started playing a riff on guitar and I started scatting to a verse melody.  It was sounding pretty slammin' so we went to a chorus, while I kept singing the line, 'concrete growing in the city park..' in the Chorus, which may sound stupid, but it felt good, and I kept singing it.

I took the song home because the structure was done - it just needed lyrics.  I took my time, brewed some coffee and sat on the couch in the wee hours of the morning, and KAPOW! - another hit song, boyz!

I was amped to hit Mike's (Hartnett) studio to begin cutting this track for the new album!  Mike rocked Guitars and Bass, Josh Cobb tracked drums, and I recorded the vocals.  We called my buddy Tim Galloway for some acoustic and ganjo tracking that added the 'down-home flavah' we were looking for...but we weren't done, yet.

Andra Durham layed some fiddle down, and we also called in Rob Hajacos to do some 'face melters' on his fiddle the way that only he can.  After that, we cruised over to Brent Radar's house for some B3 keys, and he killed it.

I can't get enough of this one!  It's one of my favorites, and I hope it will be one of yours, as well.  It has the Country, Rock, Blues, HipHop, and even Celtic feel that is 'me' all in a nutshell."  -Michael Connors

Giddy Up To Me

About "Let It Ride" (Michael Connors/Mike Hartnett)

"This was a lot of fun, but such a punk to write!

My producer, Mike Hartnett (Fergie, Yelawolf, Cee Lo Green, Colt Ford...) and I talked about doing some cool hiphop beats to some music, so he sat down with a loop and started playing the main riff - within a few minutes we had the basis for the tune. 

I started throwin' down some lyrics and ideas - bouncing stuff off of Mike, and he started coming up with some direction.  Once we were on the same page, I left his studio to get a bite to eat (I'm ALWAYS hungry - ask the guys in the studio.) and get to work.

I came up with some verses...then the mayhem began.  The lyrics weren't quite sitting right, so we kept rewriting and trying different things, but when I'd sing it some phrases just didn't fit well.  After a while we broke through and the magic happened.

One of my favorite parts of piecing this together was when 'let it ride" comes in and I echoed the lyric, then Mike put some cool effect on it like The Beatles...or maybe an Ozzy track.  I was sold - it was icing on the cake.

Once we finished up the lyrics, Josh Cobb came in to lay the drums - we mixed live drums with a loop.  We did this song the same way we did with the others: Mike, Josh, and I just went all out live and added tracks as needed.  Mike also put the bass tracks down.  We had Brent Radar play some B3 to give it a 'beach' feel.  He did a great job - I remember we were smiling the entire time he was playing.

The next guy we brought in was Robby Turner (Waylon Jennings, Jamey Johnson).  When he sat down to play, Mike and I just looked at each other - grinning ear-to-ear again.  You can just sit and listen to him play solo and it's so dang cool.  Mike put his special mixin' sauce on it and worked with our buddy, Billy Decker (Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Kenny Loggins), on the mix.

Thats how it's done, son!" -Michael Connors

Let It Ride

About "That's a Day I'll Pass On (Featuring Vince Gill)" (Michael Connors/Mike Hartnett):

"I never meant this song to be commercial.  This song was born when a close friend of mine and her brother were killed in an automobile accident.

I remember the night so often it is ingrained in my memory.  I was in the parking lot at the Bluebird Cafe when I got the call. I went home right then and started going through pictures.  The song poured out quickly - maybe took 10 to 15 minutes at the most, so it was very personal and really voiced what I could not say.

When my wife heard it, she said, 'you really need to share this.'  I replied, 'I'm not doing it, I just feel uncomfortable, but you do what you feel is right.'  So, she made a slide show with pictures and put the song with just me and my guitar to it.  Thank God she did. It hit home with everybody and seemed to provide a hope and a voice when no one could really speak about it, or understand why it happened.  When I heard the feedback people were saying, I knew then I would make a recording of it.

While we attended the funeral service, the thought of Vince Gill singing on it was weighing on my heart.  There is no way to express or find words to comfort someone when tragedy hits like this, so it causes us to look deeper for a bigger meaning than this life alone can offer at times.  Those feelings lead me to ask: How can we honor these people cut short?  How can we uplift the Lord in this time?  The answer I arrived at was to go out and make everyday count because it is so short - in the blink of an eye things can change for eternity.

So, to do all I can to honor their lives and comfort their family and friends, I wanted to record the song with Vince Gill, release it and put all the proceeds to the family.  I went straight to Vince who had only met me once before...and with no hesitation he was all-in. 

When the spirit of the Lord moves, all things that are impossible with man are possible with God.  That is what this song is all about. This song has never been for sale to benefit me. All money goes to those in need. This song is mingled with the Word of God.  I know The Kingdom of God has no use for paper money, but the Heart and intent with Faith is a true gift, and what we can do with money with the right Heart can be very uplifting and that's what I hope this song continues to do." -Michael Connors

That's A Day I'll Pass On (Featuring Vince Gill) - Single from 2012 Release "Country 2 the Bone"

About "Here Comes Trouble" (Michael Connors, Trent Willmon, Cole Deggs)

"I knew from the first take that day we had a hit...

My good friend and songwriting partner, Trent Willmon, and I headed to Cole Deggs' place in Leiper's Fork. We walked in, slapped a few hi-fives and bro-hugs, and got straight down to business.

The opening line, 'here comes love smack dab in the middle of a long ole stretch of lonesome...' poured out and we all got excited. It is driven...it has Country, Rock, Blues, and even a little hiphop - lots of flavor with real meat on the bone, son! So we picked out what we thought were the best lines and hooks, because a song can only be so long...I guess [LAUGHS]. We called it a wrap and went straight to record the demo.

During the recording process, it just got better and better. Trent and I went to Philip White's house/studio, The Tater Shack, where we brought in some great session and road warriors to rock out. Wes Little, Derek Wells, David Dorn and some other Nashville cats brought the pepper to this tune! It was a great day...smooth as butter...we cranked a total of 3 tunes out that day in about 2 and a half hours, then headed out for some Mexican food...like we do ;-)

P.S. - this tune is the most-requested at my live shows - acoustic AND with my smokin' electrified band, so it is best enjoyed played LOUD in the car, bar, and wherever you ARE!!!!!!!!!!!" -Michael Connors

Here Comes Trouble (Summer Mix)

Michael's new single has been released! Listen to "Good Life" and find it for download on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Spotify and pretty much everywhere else! Enjoy!

"Good Life" on iTunes!

Good Life *NEW Single*

"South" is Michael Connors' newest single featuring his producer Mike Hartnett on guitar! It is now available on iTunes for purchase.

Follow @MConnorsMusic on Twitter/IG for updates on his tour and releases! OR visit www.michaelconnors.co

"South" (feat. Mike Hartnett) - Single

Official page for Singer + Songwriter + Guitar Slinger Michael Connors | Rock Hard. Rinse. Repeat. | Michael Connors is known for his incendiary live performances fueled by damn good original music.

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