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I Wanted to Fly - Sandy Reay & Friends

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Article in the Tri-Lakes Tribune by Ryan Boldrey

BJ,
I just listened to Sandy Reay's CD 'I Wanted to Fly".
My favorite track was probably Free Fall.
Nice job both vocally and on piano!
Gary Barker, Loose Cannon Bluegrass Band

Sandy,
I just finished listening to your CD.
WOW!
There are some great songs on there.
You have a great way with lyrics and it was nice that so many other musicians thought so too, to be a part of it.
Congrats!
Gary Barker, Loose Cannon Bluegrass Band

I've just finished playing your CD through TWICE, so I get all the nuances and flavors.
MY COMPLIMENTS.......IT'S GREAT!
Thank you for recording all that good stuff.
Best wishes and keep well
— Ed Hawkins, e-Books Inc.

Your CD is so good. I love it!
— Sunny Jung, Gold Label Cleaners

I love your CD.
— Emily Miller Bond, composer

You're CD's got a coffee house feel, like you're listening to friends playing music.
It took me a while to listen to the whole thing. I kept playing the first track [I Wanted to Fly] over and over.
— Sandee

I listened to your CD again the other day and I'm blown away by the production values. Everyone you picked ... did an amazing job on this CD. well done!
I would love to start work on more of your songs.
And I'm gonna try to get my band to cover the Black Leather jacket song :)
Love it!
— Michi Regier (of Water Street Bridge)

Nice array of tunes and performances. Didn't know BJ has such a pleasant singing voice.
I'll play State Line Cafe on Feb 28 bewteen 9 &10a
— Jerry Mills, radio show host of Rocky Mountain Bluegrass on KOLT FM, 100.7 FM, out of Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming, on Sunday mornings 8-10 a.m.

the cd is Wonderful, Thank you so very much...i love it...how creative and evolving you are ! you go girl !
— Betty Spreen, entertainment director, Colorado Renaissance Festival

And, enjoying I am. You are a genius!
— John L.

Hi San:
We sure enjoyed listening to your CD on our way back to Steamboat on Sunday morning. Way to go!
By the way, when "Hitchhiker" came on, we passed a fellow that was hitchhiking. The truck was full of instruments, etc., so we couldn't stop, but, talk about timing.
Anyway, there are a couple of songs that I/we would like to work up and put into our shows--with your permission, of course. They are "Already Gone" and "One Lonely Rider".
— Steve Jones, of the Yampa Valley Boys

I was listening again to "I Wanted to Fly" last night, and it sure is a fine album!
— J.J. Fraser

Hi San,
Finally had time to sit down and listen to your CD - great stuff! Really some nice performances by you and your guest musicians. My very 2 favorites are "Black Leather Coat" and "Whole Lotta Pain". "Black Leather Coat" sounds like something Lyle Lovett would write and sing - I really loved the lyrics, beat, feel, and vibe of the tune. Some country artist should get a hold of this - maybe Kenny Chesney or Lyle himself? Got any Nashville contacts? On "Whole Lotta Pain", that would make a great modern blues tune for somebody. I thought "I Wanted to Fly" would also be a good tune for some country artist - I could hear a male vocalist on it as well. Loved the Pedal steel on it!
I loved the Dobro on "Already Gone" - that is a nice tune in the folk vein. I liked the Spanish flavor of "Red Shoes". I also really liked "State Line Café" - again, seems like it would be a good one for some country artist. Kathy Mattea sort of popped into my head for that one. Nice tune and nice harmonies on it.
"Hitchhiker" was a fun song, and I thought "Car Full of Collies " was cute. "Sandstorm From Sedona" was also fun and I liked the feel of it.
Overall, I like how you have little harmonic twists in a lot of the songs - you think they might be pretty straight ahead, but then you throw in something that takes you off guard (in a good way!) and you go - cool!
So, congratulations! I know it was a ton of work and expense (can relate!) but you should be thrilled with the results! I really hope someone who has some big visibility in the music world might pick up a few of your songs and give you some nice royalty money!
— Cindy Egger

The CD lived in my car for a week and I listened to it constantly.
You should be very proud of this piece of work. I know it took along time, but the effort was well worth it. I will be loading it into my new i-pod nano soon. I really feel honored to have been a part of your music.
— Jeff Ingram

I LOVE the CD and it is in my favorite collection of wonderful musicians that I've been fortunate enough to know all these years.
I'm listening to your CD (again) and I gotta tell you that it's really wonderful (again). I don't recall meeting Mr. Fraser but he's got a very mellow voice. Your collection of people for this artistic beauty is wonderful. Turner is just great and if we must be relegated to remember him through the recordings we have, then I'm glad you got the last one.
You have a lot of love invested in this CD and I thank you (again)....
I commend you for giving all of us a great slice of American music the way we love to hear it.
— Bob Wheeler (Just another Sandy Reay fan), author of "The Daddy Book" and "The Stress Book" available at Clear Creek Books, Golden, and some Borders Book Stores.

Sandy, I like your CD.
My favorites are I Wanted to Fly and Whole Lotta Pain.
— Louren M.

The new CD is sooo good….I play it in my car every day!
I want to perform some of your songs. May I have the chord charts for Already Gone and I'll Hold You Close?
— Jim Malatchi

I listened to [your CD] on the way over the mountain, found it pleasant listening, some nice lyrics.
— Katie Lee

I also listened to the CD the first time twice straight through and thoroughly enjoyed it. The quality and diversity of songs, song styles, singers and arrangements is really captivating. Very impressive and quite an accomplishment! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! I hope it goes platinum and every song is picked up by many other artists to record. When are you starting on the next one?
— B.J. Suter

I finally had a chance to audition my new gift [thank you] and very much enjoyed it, especially "Already Gone", and "One Lonely Rider" (but then I'm biased).
— Bill Barwick

I am thinking Lyle Lovett needs to record Black Leather Coat. I'll Hold You Close caused me heart flutters. Your stories are genuine and touching ! Thanks for this wonderful project !
— Shawn Winchester

Hey, Sandy...Great to see you at the Lakewood Center. ... I've listened to I Wanted to Fly several times, and think you've put together a great collection. I generally try to put together a blurb or review of things I like, so the attached pdf file is my attempt to let folks know what I think of your work. Take care, Sandy, and we'll talk soon.
— Jon Chandler

Jon Chandler's PDF:

I WANTED TO FLY Sandy Reay & Friends So, while America tunes in each week to watch extravagant productions aimed at creating flamboyant “stars” who have plenty of moxie but absolutely no soul, there are hundreds of singer/songwriters (if not thousands) who fly under the radar, plying their trade with purity and intelligence. It’s a true pleasure to discover one. Sandy Reay is a fixture in Colorado’s acoustic music scene, playing upright bass and singing in venues ranging from dusty watering holes to elegant amphitheaters. She’s also an exquisite songwriter. Several years ago, she shared the lyrics to a song entitled Sandstorm From Sedona with me, and I was struck by her lyrical integrity and insight. Well, actually I was struck by how fun the lyrics were. When I heard the jazzy-swingy recorded version, I was surprised and delighted at how Sandy had taken a western theme, rejected its minor-chord stereotype and given it a new, intriguing, and yes, purely western aspect. Her vocal is answered by Bill Barwick’s thundering bass warbling, a flute twitters around the edges, and the whole thing works. On this CD, she lends several of her songs to lead vocalists who do them justice. From the opening track (I Wanted to Fly), with Christy Wessler singing like Emmylou in her prime, the songs are captivating and ultimately interesting. The good time folk song blast from the past of Already Gone features an iconic vocal from Bob Turner and has the listener unconsciously looking for the car keys, ready to hit the road. Sandy’s songs rank with those penned by many of the best western songwriters…Chris Wall comes to mind. I love Red Shoes, and I love Car Full of Collies. I’m humming Maybe This Time as I write. In the spirit of full disclosure, I also love my harmonica part on One Lonely Rider. But that’s just my opinion.

Hi Sandy,
I received the CD, and listened to most of it (but want to listen to it more). It is really very good! I like the variety of songs, and the way that the songs feature different singers and instrumentation. Very nice! ... Say "hi" to Ernie for me (tell him great job - good playing and singing too, and producing of course). Thanks again for the CD. Good work!
— Peter Schwimmer

Love the new CD! Looking forward to making more music with you!
— Brandy Herbert

Hi Sandy,
Cheryl and I listened to your new CD today on the way over to Summit County. WOW! It brought tears to our eyes! Thanks for putting it together. We want 12 copies to give to family and friends.
Merry Christmas!
— Mike and Cheryl Q.

[I] listened to your new cd and you all did such a great job. I was impressed with how it all came together.
— Sylvia Murray

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Other Feedback:

Videos:
The Boogeyman	"I can see why you're having fun with this!" — Cindy Egger. "Well done!! Very impressive." — Brandy Herbert
Song Reviews:
Addicted	"Isn't that the truth. Good story."
Already Gone	"Lovely sensory language" "I was right there with you" "Nice lyrics and composition"
Car Full of Collies	"Great nonsensical lyrics. Lots of fun...it's a great song..." "A first class treatment of nonsense lyrics. The chorus is just right for contrast-just precious."
Heading East	"Pretty melody, nice scene here. You portrayed a good feeling about starting over."
I'll Hold You Close	"Very romantic. I like the way you encompass the enduring part of love and use such a tender theme. Lyrics fall very nicely into the phrases." "Sweet idea for a song"
Lady of the Valley	"Very nice song. The tune is simple but not boring. Your song structure and crafting are very good."
Maybe This Time	"This song REALLY moved me, it was SO REAL" "Interesting melody, like the 'stairstep' quality to it" "Beautiful and haunting."
One Lonely Rider	"This is a GREAT story and song." "Good cowboy song." "This is a classic heroic song...like the old Marty Robbins gunfighter songs. Good job."
Sandstorm From Sedona	"Good melody" "Liked the metaphors in the chorus" "Nice song."
State Line Café	"I filtered the whole song through thoughts of another old truck stop I've watched disappear. Very bittersweet." "I love this story...is it true? Sounds like it is. Good writing."
Letters:
"Congratulations!! I read in the Winfield Occasional that you were a winner for 'Apache Plume'. That's FANTASTIC! (I sing that song to myself all the time) (Along with 'Already Gone' and 'Woman Warrior') Thank you again for the tape. The songs are great. ... Well good luck to you and keep up the great songwriting. — Jim
"Thank you for sending the words and chords to 'Cabin on the Prairie'. I love the words. My husband plays with a group of retired 'learners'. He played it for them and each week they ask him to play it again but they all had trouble with the chords. It is a beautiful song and we play it often. You were deserving to be the Songwriters Showcase winner!" — Jane