Sampler

I wrote the first couple verses of this song within a day or two of my wife's passing, which was one year ago today  (on January 18th 2021).  The opening verse "It's only been a day or two, perhaps a little more" is both literal, given when it was written and metaphorical in the sense that it always seems like just a day or two ago.  

Her name was Rea, and she was my best friend and near constant companion for twenty seven years and wife for just shy of twenty two.  She died due to complications from Creutzfeldt-Jakob (KROITS-felt YAH-kobe) disease.  

To Quote the Mayo Clinic...

"(CJD) is a degenerative brain disorder that leads to dementia and, ultimately, death. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease symptoms can be similar to those of other dementia-like brain disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. But Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease usually progresses much more rapidly.

...  All types of CJD are serious, but very rare. Worldwide, about one to two cases of CJD are diagnosed per million people each year, most often in older adults."

There is no treatment, there is no cure.  Victims seldom live even a year after diagnosis and Rea was no different.  Her diagnosis came on April 10th 2020, just as Covid was starting to hit big.

I am not a cinematographer, but when it came time to put together a video for this song I knew I had to do it.  

The images and video were almost all taken with my phone between 2015 and early 2021.  This spanned three generations of iPhones from the iPhone 6 to the iPhone 6S and finally, the iPhone SE 2020.  The sources vary in quality, but they all tell part of our story and give a glimpse of who she was.

With a couple of exceptions Rea is either in the included media or was nearby when I took it.  She loved to drive and was prone to motion sickness when a passenger.  It was my job to chronicle our adventures together.  

As an aside, anyone who tells you not to bother to take pictures of people, and the places you visit is clueless.  Those people and places may someday be gone or changed forever.  You will be glad you have something to remember them by.  Seeing her image and hearing her voice is both painful and comforting.  It reminds me of what I lost but also, how lucky I was.

In regards to the song, I have two very talented Brian's to thank for the non vocal performances and  the production.

Brian Hazard, better known as "Color Theory" created the Piano track which is featured throughout the song as well as the string parts which are present both in the instrumental section and at the end.  If you're a fan of 80's style synth driven music then look for "Color Theory" on any of the streaming services or any place you purchase music.  "This whole nothing" is my current favorite, but he has an extensive and impressive catalog.  

Brian Walters plays multiple guitars and bass.  He was also the Mix Engineer, Mastering Engineer and co Producer on the track.  Brian can be found professionally via a search for "SingleTrack Sound".

Not only are they talented, they are both great to work with and I am very grateful to know and get to work with them.

I'm in the process of setting up a not for profit in Rea's memory that will be aimed at helping to find treatments, or preferably a cure for CJD. In the meantime, please consider making a donation to the CJD Foundation in Rea's name.

Rea's Song (Love True)

Featuring:
Mike Miller: Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar
Ben Bernstein: Bass, Keyboard, Organ, Electric Guitar
Mike Stevens: Drums

Lyrics:
Marbles on the playground                           
Cats eyes made of glass 
Childhood surfaces
Pavement, sand and grass

Out in the back yard                        
Playing some hoops
Circling the bases
Spinning in loops

Chorus
Build a building, build a fence
One for living, one defense 
Climbing up a ladder                            
By degrees

Don't spend your lifetime
Waiting to be free

Middle comes between us
building a divide
Friendships come and they go
Secrets to divide

Wanting to be wanted
Do they feel the same
Social ladder climbing
It’s all a shell game

Bridge
Schooling’s done it’s history
You talk about your destiny
But you don’t know you at all

Suddenly you’re in control
Now you’ve got to pay the toll
Will you stand up or fall?

Finished with your childhood 
Seeing where you’ve been
No time to recover
Second phase begins

Searching for that first job
Chasing down the dream
Focused or unfocused
Living the extremes

Childhood surfaces
Pavement, sand and grass

Campground Stories EP

Surfaces

Campground Stories

Pictures & Voices

Pictures & Voices (Remaster)

Featuring...
Mike Miller: Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar
Ben Bernstein: Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Banjitar
Mike Stevens: Drums, Percussion
Gordon Allen - Fiddle

Lyrics
There are two kinds of memories
Some take you in, some take you out
When I’m feeling blue
I know the right route

Spring of 1980
We set out on a course
A stop near Mt. St. Helen's
Before it blew full force

Chorus
Summer in a circle
I remember feeling fine
Campground stories
No pine, sunshine

Verse 2
Lone pine restaurant
Was the only pine around
Food was kind of greasy
The building rundown 

Columbia River
It was windy it was hot
New friends, adventures
Escaping, being caught

Repeat Chorus

I was looking for something
For which I could atone
We were homeless in transition
We were not alone

Bridge
Moments and memories
Receding from our source
Lost and falling one day 
The next find a course

All things must end
Even perfect summers

Verse 3
October is not summer
It was time to  leave
A house and a yard
No reason to grieve

All things must end
Even perfect summers 

All things must end
Even perfect summers 

Repeat Chorus

Campground Stories (Remix/Remaster)

It's upbeat, philosophical and shiny.

Written By: Mike Miller
Produced By: Mike Miller, Ben Bernstein

Performed By:
Mike Miller: Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Bridge Strings
Ben Bernstein: Bass, Lead Guitar, Percussion
Brian Hazard: Piano, Chorus Strings

Plato's Cave

Mike Miller: Acoustic Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Ben Bernstein: Bass, Organ, Acoustic Lead
Gordon Allen: Fiddle
Mike Stevens: Drums & Percussion

Words & Music: Mike Miller
Mixed & Mastered: Brian Hazard

Heartland

Acoustic Rhythm & Vocals: Mike Miller
Bass, Electric Guitar and Lead Acoustic: Ben Bernstein
Drums & Percussion: Mike Stevens

Travel On

Credits:
Mike Miller: Words, Music & Vocal,
Ben Bernstein: Bass & Guitars,
Mike Stevens: Drums,
Brian Hazard: Piano

Lyrics
Verse 1 
I’ve heard it said
A butterfly
Flap of wings
Force applies

Thus created
This small change
Magnified 
At long range

Verse 2
Are we like 
The Butterfly
A small action
Realized

Carried forth
Multiplied
When it ends
Undefined

Chorus
It’s a never ending ride
We sometimes wish
Other times we’ve driven
in a ditch
No matter what we try 
Life
Becomes the by and by 
And
Hindsight is just a thin disguise
Looking back we see the butterflies  

Verse 3
Wings and ripples
Thoughts and change
Take a step
Or remain

Strategize or
Run ahead
Choices made
Have been read

Verse 4
Sound of water
Wind that sings
See stone skip
Rippling

Sinks beneath 
Surface fast
Hits the bottom
Then the past

Repeat Chorus

Bridge 
If I could live my life again
I’d dance a bit, in the rain

Enjoy my peace a little more 
Worry less, about my score

Butterfly Effect

Verse 1
My name is William Warner
I’m no one you'd know
Sleeping on sidewalks
Counter to the flow

Where I rest is always home
City streets lights aglow 
When you’re with yourself
You’re never alone

Verse 2
My name is William Warner
I’m sometimes unsure
Living on these streets
Is something I endure

Standing in waning light
Fortune played me for a fool
Lay on an old bench
Feel the air grow cool

Chorus  
Some people think I’m crazy
Maybe that’s true
But there’s crazy you live
And crazy you do

Verse 3
My name is William Warner
Somewhere I have a son
Dark hair and gray eyes
Laughing while he’d run

Lost track of him somehow
Guess I couldn’t stay
Sometimes think I see him
But then he fades away

Repeat Chorus

Bridge
Sometimes somebody sees me
But they seldom let me say
My name is William Warner
Hope you have a nice day

Verse 4
My name is William Warner
I’m following a trail
Waypoints in my mind
Lead me without fail

Sometimes I hear a train
I hear it soft and true
It may be bound for glory
Perhaps I will be too

Repeat Chorus

My name is William Warner

William Warner

Creating songs, mostly about stuff other than love.  

The name "Page One Project" reflects a determination to make music part of my personal front page.

The singing and playing are important, but it's mostly about the songs.

PageOneProject

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