This album is something I’ve wanted to do ever since I moved down to Nashville. Publishers and writers that I’d been working with over the years all commented to me how much they liked my kid’s songs and that I needed to do something with them. Then one fateful day Annie showed up in my life and the first order of business, (after falling head over teacup for each other) was at her great urging, to go into the studio and cut all these songs! So that’s what we did! The whole process was so easy and effortless mainly because I had Mills at the helm, hiring all his favorite players that he thought would fit this type of music and who all happened to be the top session players in Nashville, which didn’t hurt at all! They’ve played on albums from Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and George Jones to Elton John, Sting, and Bob Dylan. These guys are at the top of their game and beyond! I can’t say enough good things about them and the fact that they’re all as nice and laid back as can be. Just my style. The process of recording started with just me laying down basic guitar and vocal tracks as a guide and then to bring each musician in on separate sessions to build each track. The magic started to take place immediately. I really didn’t dictate to any of them what they should play. I thought it best to trust their instincts and ears on all of the songs, so I pretty much just stayed out of their way. As each of them finished a song I couldn’t imagine how the track could possibly sound any better and then the next player would come in a few days later and add his tracks and again, I’d be blown away! The highlight for me was Paul Franklin coming in to record his pedal steel guitar parts. I was looking forward to this from the day he agreed to help with the project! Paul had played on a couple of my all time favorite albums, Ten Summoner’s Tales by Sting and On Every Street by Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler, the leader of that band is also one of my favorite guitar players and uses Paul Franklin on a lot of his projects. Paul was really the cherry on top of the frosting on top of this cake!

Once everything was recorded, Mills then went back to the beginning to EQ and mix each track to get the best out of each instrument and out of each track as a whole. The entire project took about a year from start to finish.

When I went to pick up the final mastered CD from MasterMix Studio, Ken Love who does mastering for everybody in this town came out of his studio as I was leaving and said he just wanted to thank me for letting him master this project and what a pleasure it was to spend the day working on it! 

I fell in love with Cranberry Red Balloon the same day I fell in love with Tab Laven.  It was the day before, in Houston, that I had been introduced to Tab by a mutual friend, John Cowsill, who was in town playing the drums for the Beach Boys.   John and I had just gone for a long walk and as we trekked across the street back to the venue, I looked up and there was Tab standing outside of the venue.   I didn’t recognize him from past visits with John.   I knew I didn’t know him, but I also knew I was curious. He was so tall and quiet.  There was something quite lovely about him.  John introduced us, and Tab nodded.  I nodded back.   John seemed surprised we had never met.  Little did I know in that moment that I had just met the man I would soon fall deeply in love with, marry and share a life with.  

            Our paths crossed several times that afternoon peaking with the awkward, verbal realization by John that we were both available, and in his eyes perfect for each other.   We managed to recover from the awkward moment and Tab and I found time to visit for a bit after the show.   Tab mentioned music he had written and that it was on his myspace page.  In our time together, he left out very unimportant little things like his extraordinary talent and career as a songwriter and guitar player.  But that’s so Tab. 

            Upon my arrival home, I looked up his myspace page and clicked play.  As an earlier and very fun recording of the song Cranberry Red Balloon tumbled out of my speakers I fell in love…with his music and the man.  Who wrote songs like this?  Lost in a Daydream, Ship of Dreams and Mesmerized!  I was and still am putty in his hands.  Over the following months Tab proved to be everything I imagined he was in those first moments I met him; wise, gentle, kind, funny and ever so steady. 

            As we talked about life and the future, Tab mentioned his desire to one day take all of his songs and bring them into the studio.  He wanted the world to hear what he heard.  So months later, after I had moved to Nashville, Tab called Mills Logan, a long time friend of his and one of the top sound engineers in Nashville.   We met and discussed what it would take financially to put the project together.  Mills gave us a budget and I told Tab it was time to begin. 

            It was one of the easiest investments I have ever made.   I wanted Tab to achieve his goal.  I wanted the world to hear what he heard.  I wanted to hear what he heard.  I wanted to help create meaningful songs that make you happy.  As a widowed mother of four, I knew what kind of music I had purchased for my kids and my family.  I knew how important uplifting music was in creating a magical childhood and environment for the family.  I knew parents needed this music as much as the kids needed it.  These were family songs!   I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would have bought this music for my family.  

            Helping make this album come to life has been one of the most gratifying experiences in my life.  Thanks, Tab for letting me help.

Working on Tab’s album was the perfect combination of high fidelity and great songs. Tab’s smooth singing voice was as pleasing to record as it is to listen to on the finished record. When Tab approached me about engineering and co-producing the project with him, I immediately started to envision the musicians who would contribute to the magic. Each musician who became a part of the recording process, remarked at how wonderful it was for them to be able to musically depart from what they’re accustomed to. Tabs use of alternate guitar tunings and uniquely structured chords makes for a listening experience unlike anything heard before.