Strictly Pavement Story

In July of 1991 I borrowed a little 4 track cassette recorder (TASCAM "Port-a-studio"... well, "PortaOne Mini Studio" actually) from my good friend Mike Bowen. In the 28 months since I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis my guitar playing skill had markedly deteriorated. I decided to try to record as much as I could for as long as I could.

As I was no longer able to play more than a few songs "in concert", I knew there wasn't much point in trying to make an album for release... you must perform to promote records or there is no point... it won't sell!!! So I didn't do anything for a while... well, a little pre-production in my head but... I needed to find a pretext... an excuse to make a record.

Around Thanksgiving I decided on an "Audio Christmas Card". A little album of Urban Folk tunes to be used as a gift/card to give to friends during the Holidays. I had been using the pseudonym "SIRREEL" since the late 70's, so I decided to create an acoustic persona "SIRREEL Minstral".
It was actually supposed to be "SIRREEL Minstrel" but I misspelled minstrel... oh well!!!

I started to record & over dub. Doing songs I'd been working on. Writing songs straight into the deck. What ever came to me. When I had an album's worth; I took the 4track to my good friend
Bill Park's Welcome Home Studios. There we worked as much "studio magic" as we could to make it sound like it wasn't recorded on a 4track cassette deck!!!

My "Christmas Card" (titled "Strictly Pavement") was so well received that people started asking me when the next tape was coming out. I said,"Well, it's a Christmas thing so... next Christmas? That wasn't good enough for some of them so I said I'd "see what I could do".

As the next holiday was St Valentine's Day; I decided to try and do a "Valentine Card". I'd used most of my songs that were just lying around so I started writing right in to the deck. Many of the songs on, what went on to be called, "Blacktop on Cobblestone" have only been played once... when they were written. Many on the trax at this site are from "Blacktop".

This placated the folks at Chief's Cafe, where I was primarily been giving them out, for the time being. However, having found the pretext to make records, I wanted to continue. As the nation's birthday is July 4th I tried to make a "Birthday Card" next. The 3rd album, "Concrete Zero", wasn't ready until late July so it became a card for my 37th birthday.

As what had become known as the "Minstral Series"(or "Minstral Cycle" in some circles) was still being anticipated by a couple dozen friends I decided my next album would be my birthday card for my late great hero. "John" was the 4th album and was handed out on October 9, 1992. It was the only album that contained none of my original tunes... all covers by the Rock 'n' Roll martyr. These songs are indicated by "*" .

As Christmas 1992 approached, MS continued to take it's toll on my musical performance abilities unabated. However, I was really getting the hang of recording with the "Port-A-Studio" The final album was titled "5th" and completed the series.

Although a select few of my friends received all five cassettes in a plain white box (known as "The Yoko Box") until now little else was done with the five dozen tunes. U.N.I., O.U.R.A., & 12:34 did get tacked on to the tail end my 1996 CD "9X'x(ninecrosses)" but this is my only attempt to bring SIRREEL to the public. I hope you find some enjoyment the music.