All songs on the CD are originals all but three written by Carleton alone, And the other is co written with Alan. Globekar.This is excellent and intricate song writing with plenty of nuance and thoughtful lyrics. Song is a well constructed and spotlessly recorded in fact the whole package is beautifully produced from the cover art to the sound quality.
1.Shadowlands is a Warren Zevon-esque opener that set the tone and puts the concept in place they don’t listen but they have ears that’s how it goes in this valley of tears
2.Welcome to my world opens with an intro played on a child’s toy xylophone and a short history lesson good inspirational pop
3.Here comes the rain country influence with the tip of the hat to the music of the Beatles great guitar pickin and some tasty fiddlin )Tom Brehm ) add a Cajun flavor .Nice use of accordion (John Hlavka
4.I can see a rainbow a beautiful ballad an ode to the earth and all that is good on it. A gorgeous guitar solo
5.Twilight zone a stand out tribute to 60s TV Patsy Cline Lawrence Welk’s bubble machine Fred And Ethel Lucy and Desi, Dobie Gillis and Maynard G Krebs are all mention in this, comical little ditty about pop-culture .Saxophone work for the late Norman Tischler is worth the price of admission all by itself!
6 This is forever another step in the journey presumably the last one destiination in lifes universe a plan augmented by harmonious violin Carol Linsenmeier
7.Remember me clever little homage to the Beatles Johnny Cash Bob Marley and other great influences great guitar work on the song love the Beatles lick and the solo remember me when you right you’re songs remember me when the day is long
8.Swords into plowshares message of peace and brotherhood referencing Isaiah 2-4 famous Verse about a concept in which weapons of war are converted to be used for peace background vocals by a chorus of angels
9. Beautiful spring A really remarkable track out of the ordinary and reminiscent of the talking Blues style of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott highlights an ugly bit of Ohio’s history he retelling the story of Colonel David Williamson who led the expedition that murdered 100 innocent Delaware Indians In the town of Gnadenhutten Ohio the betrayal became known as the Gnadenhutten massacre . Excellent arrangement enhanced by roto toms and maracas ( Dave Alexy) Beautiful flute work by Diane Leonardi my personal favorite track on the CD
10.Big wheel the wheel of fortune with its pitfalls and triumphs lessons learned and love ones lost the cycle of life round and round like a wheel
11.Get back to the garden Neil Young style grunge with a message about mother earth and getting back to basics Koehler Hammond B3 à la Mr. Moss Stanley
12.Light at the end of the tunnel although Al Globekar is all over the CD with his guitars acoustic and electric lap steel baritone Nashville tuned bass and joins in on background vocals we only hear his lead vocal on the first verse of the closing track an interesting touch journey concludes with Hope for finding spirituality at the end of the tunnel
Denny Carleton is a survivor of some of the most important cultural episodes of our life times and has come out of it with a unique understanding of the past and a vision for the future Shadowlands is a commentary for our time a musical story of one pilgrims journey in a conflicted world Shadowlands is a concept album while shedding light on life’s harsh realities and disappointments the pretty pop harmonies is uplifting melodies and inspirational lyrics manage to leave us with a sense of optimism and lightheartedness