“Well they say that good intentions pave the road to hell
I can’t believe the complications I’ve made for myself
I can see my destination but there’s no end that I can tell
They say that good intentions pave the road straight to hell…”
They say you have your entire life to write your first record.
Six months to write your second.
After I finished recording “Songs From A Northern Town”, I figured I was on my way.
There’d be no stopping me.
Well, that’s not quite how it worked out
Click on the link to hear the stories behind the 1996 album “Jump Back, Kerouac” in episode two of the Revisited Series.
Mike
“Songs From A Northern Town” Revisited
“Well me, I was born and raised in these here parts
Where those cold northern winds can put a chill on the warmest of hearts…”
Hard to believe but, but it’s been 28 years since I drove to Dallas, Texas to record “Songs From A Northern Town”.
If you’re interested in the story and stories behind the “Northern Town” album, click on the link to check out episode one of the Revisited Series.
Mike
“More Than A Game”
I’ve always been a fan of Curtis Irving Johnson’s hockey paintings.
Whenever I look at his work, I’m transported back to my youth.
Instantly.
I could live in his paintings.
Forever.
I wrote the song “More Than A Game” in McKellar, Ontario, back in the summer of 2008, at Camp Manitou on Lake Manitouwabing.
As I was writing it,
I knew that not only did I have a cool little song about hockey,
I also had a cool little idea for a kids book about hockey.
I just needed someone who could bring the lyrics to life.
Hmmmmmm…
A couple years ago I ran into Curtis at Canadian Tire.
I hadn’t seen him in probably 20 years.
We swapped numbers.
A couple days later, we went for a beer.
“Hey man, I’ve got an idea for a kids book about hockey…”
To preorder your copy, click on the link below.
The book ships on December 1st.
https://mikeplume.bandcamp.com/merch/more-than-a-game-childrens-book-about-hockey
“Lonesome Stretch of Highway” Merchandise Now Available!!!
Hey gang!
Welp.
Finally.
CDs.
Vinyl.
T-shirts and Hoodies.
Available now.
Thanks!
MP
Click on link
https://mikeplume.bandcamp.com/merch
“The Border – Los Angeles, October 1990”
“Where are you traveling to today?”
“Los Angeles.”
“Proof of Citizenship?”
“Canadian.”
“I said, ‘Proof of Citizenship.’”
I pulled out my driver’s license.
“This just proves that you have an Alberta driver’s license. You don’t have to be Canadian to have an Alberta driver’s license…”
This… was news to me.
“I need proof that you’re a Canadian. Birth certificate. Passport. Something. Anything…”
Honest to God, the only other piece of I.D. that I had was a Blockbuster Video card.
What’s more embarrassing is that I honestly figured my Blockbuster card would more than suffice.
“Dylan, JFK and the Fine Art of Time Travel…”
I am a massive Bob Dylan fan.
I always have been.
I always will be.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s a non-negotiable.
Anyway, there’s been a lot of talk concerning his song released in late March called “Murder Most Foul”.
It’s about the Kennedy Assassination.
But yet, for some reason, it is the perfect song for the times that we are in right now.
I can’t put my finger on it.
It’s like stepping, fully clothed, into the deep end of a swimming pool and sinking to the bottom.
It’s embarrassing how many times I’ve listened to this song already.
I can’t get enough of it.
All 16 minutes and 55 seconds of it.
Listening to Dylan’s albums from the ‘60s, like “The Freewheelin’ Dylan” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’” is like time traveling to me.
Traveling back through time to a beautiful Autumn day in New York City in October, 1963.
Chapter 7
About a week after we’d recorded “Streets Of The Night”, Curt and I were asked to write a Graduation song.
“Graduation, comes once in a lifetime
Graduation, the beginning of a lifetime
Now its time to say goodbye to our friends… to our friends…”
Not exactly “Blowing In The Wind” but hey, for a second song, it wasn’t too bad.
New album “Lonesome Stretch Of Highway” 05/22/20…
Hey gang!
So, last November, we went in the studio to record a new album.
Me, Ernie, Derek, Dave, Ben, Jeff and Ryan along with Marek producing and Scotty recording the whole thing.
It felt more like a family reunion than a recording session.
We’ve always been more of a family than a band anyway…
Marek said it was like hanging out with the Marx Brothers.
Lots of laughs.
Great times.
Anyway, with the craziness going on in the world over the last couple months, I almost forgot about the record.
Almost, but not quite.
So, on Friday, May 22, our new album “Lonesome Stretch Of Highway” will finally see the light of day.
Yeah man!
Keep yer powder dry!
Mike
p.s. Click on album cover to to pre-save the record!
p.p.s. Painting by Steve Coffey!
Mike Plume – The Story Behind The Song – “(We Are One) Dandelions”
Hey there,
So I started the song “We Are One” about four years ago.
But I couldn’t find my way through the fog.
I had the title, the melody and the chord progression…
Yet, I couldn’t settle on a lyric.
Recent global events, have helped me to find those lyrics and to continually remind me,
just how much,
we, truly, are one.
Mike Plume
May 6, 2020
Stories From A Lonesome Stretch Of Highway – Episode 6 – “Coming Home Again”
Hey gang!
How’s it going?
Me too.
A quick question.
Raise yer hands.
Who here’s ever driven across Canada?
Me too, a couple times.
If by “a couple times” you mean north of 40 round trips.
Anyway, here’s the latest episode of “Stories From A Lonesome Stretch Of Highway”.
If you’ve got the time, check it out.
Yeah buddy.
See you around.
Mike