Cover design by Jeff Foster.
Foster’s friendship with Ruthie Allen Lincoln dates from the mid-70s, when they were both hungry little hippie musicians banging around the backstreets of Bloomington, Indiana. Their casual acquaintance matured into a closer friendship as a result of their mutual association with the Rudrananda Ashram, where it was not uncommon for them to sit in lotus for 6 hours at a stretch sometimes, practicing their kundalini yoga while echoes of funky folk-rock danced in their heads. Clearly, they were better at making music than seducing the serpent of enlightenment. Those were the daze.
A band called Soma eventually ensued, a quartet with Ruthie, Jeff, former Mason Proffit drummer Art Nash and bassist Rick Kinser. While memory suggests that demos were recorded back then, to date nothing has surfaced to substantiate the notion.
Flash forward, oh… 30 years or so. Jeff had returned to Bloomington, as had Ruthie. They reconnected, and Ruthie, being an amazingly prolific songwriter, approached Foster with the idea of producing a new CD together. The prospect pleased him no end. As preps came together, yet another old friend from the aforementioned halcyon days, the ever-erudite Ron Keithe (of the Keithe-Lowrie Duet, a phenomenal 70s celebration of acoustic guitar wizardry showcasing the work of Ron and fellow fingerstylist John Patrick Lowrie) was invited in to co-produce. With an incredible ear for sonic detail, a knack for coordinating talent, arranging parts and overall production management (plus a bag full of really cool microphones in the backseat), Ron proved to be an invaluable asset.
The troika of Ruthie, Jeff and Ron set to work in early 2011, recording all the tracks in Jeff’s home studio, utilizing the talents of some of Bloomington’s finest players, including David Gulyas (guitars, upright bass), Ron Kadish (upright bass), John ‘Orie’ Stith (electric bass), TJ Jones (electric guitar), Nate Johnson (sax), Jamey Reid (drums/percussion), Rich Morpurgo (guitars), and the multi-instrumental prowess of Slats Klug on keys, squeeze and harmonica. Also featured prominently were Ruthie’s two talented kids, Tim and Grace Lincoln, on bass and background vocals, respectively. Ruthie played acoustic guitar, keys and various percussion instruments (and sang all lead vocals, of course), Ron played acoustic and electric guitars and percussion, and Foster added acoustic, classic and electric guitars, banjo, guitar synth and percussion.
It took nine months of musical gestation to birth the 12 tunes… but it was an easy labor. Blissful in many respects, actually, and the final product is in many ways Jeff’s favorite to date. A few tunes featuring Foster’s instrumentation are featured below.
Back In The Day
Back In The Day
Fascination
Fascination
Tonight
Tonight
Rain On The Window
Rain On The Window
Falling
Falling
Railroad Jim
Railroad Jim
When The Storm Is Over
When The Storm Is Over