Taxi Interview

The following interview pretty much explains how the CD "ALL BY MYSELF" came into being. The interview was
conducted by Jon Barnes, the owner of The Ultimate Taxi, located in Aspen Colorado and myself just prior to the
taping of The Travel Channel episode about unique Limousines of the world.

The Travel Channel used the song YOU CAN'T FOOL ME from the "ALL BY MYSELF" CD for the Ultimate Taxi
segment.

Barnes: What made you decide to record these tracks all by yourself?

Ferren: Because I can. No just kidding. It was mainly because after many years of playing in bands, cover bands,
original bands, and bands that played both covers and originals, I was tired of having all that good music disappear
into thin air. And, the technology was available.

Barnes: I know a little bit about technology, my cab's full of it! So I guess what
you're saying is that tech. helped?

Ferren: Absolutely! In fact it made ALL BY MYSELF possible. You see in the old days you had to go to the
studio, and for people like my friends in Aerosmith, who were signed to Columbia Records, that was OK. But, for
the rest of us it was pretty much cost prohibitive. I mean we went to various studios around New England when we
could afford it. But it was always a compromise. For instance, if you blocked an 8-hour session you'd be spending
an inordinate amount of time on the drums. Not that you were aware of this 'cause I think they're most important as
far as sound is concerned. Then you'd look up at the clock and realize… Hey, we only have 5-hours left to do
everything else. Needless to say the results were often disappointing.

Barnes: And now?

Ferren: And now you get to take as much time as you want. These little recording boxes they make now a days
are out of hand. There's more inside them than the Beatles and Sir George Martin ever dreamed of having when
they recorded Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. The trade off of course is that you have to learn how to use
them, and the learning curve can be steep.

Barnes: Is it worth it?

Ferren: Indeed it is. I enjoy learning the mechanics of it all. However, if I had my druthers and my budget allowed,
I would prefer to just concentrate on the performance and let someone else engineer.

Barnes: Tell us about the songs.

Ferren: What songs?

Barnes: You know, the ones on your CD?

Ferren: Oh, those songs. OK. From the top?

Barnes: Yup.

Ferren: OK here we go. #1 Mean Mutha. Co-written by Don Solomon who used to be Steve (Talarico before
Aerosmith fame) Tyler's partner in the old days. In fact some of the first Rock 'n' Roll I'd ever seen were these two
guys, in either the Strangers, or The Chain Reaction playing in this little BYOB joint called The Barn, which in fact it
was, in Sunapee, NH. As these different bands' personnel kept changing, at one point I wound up with Don. Lucky
me! I learned a LOT from this guy, as he is incredibly talented. He had the bass lick and a few verses he had penned
with some buddy of his. I arranged it for the band, added a bridge with my lyrics, put solos in etc. We tried it a few
times and it went by the wayside. Many years later, after I got my Korg sequencer keyboard I thought this would be
the perfect song to learn how to use it. Sounded pretty good so I kept working on it and… We'll you know, you've
heard it.

Barnes: Next?

Ferren: #2 The Price You Pay. Came in two parts. I had the chord changes to the chorus kicking around for a few
years. You know trying them with different things that never seemed to click. Then one day I came up with the verse
chords and stuck the two together. Nice! Needed some lyrics though. I was listening to a lot of Don Henley of the
Eagles back then. He's got a house nearby. Anyway, he uses a lot of clichés so I thought I'd try that technique,
hence the lyric for the chorus. After that it was just a matter of fleshing it out with Keyboards bass and drums leads
etc. A process that took about three weeks! (laughs)

Barnes: And now for my favorite. YOU CAN'T FOOL ME.

Ferren: Oh yes I can. Oh… You mean the song? Right? Well, this one was written way back. We tried it with
Trapper back in the 80's somewhere but it never caught on. Decided to try it again with the acoustic guitar solo.
Kind of like a Ramsey Lewis Trio thing. With me being the trio.
My apologies to Gilligan

Barnes: Gilligan? As in Gilligan's Island?

Ferren: Think about it!

Barnes: What about JUST A FEELING? I understand this isn't exactly the version
you had in mind when you first wrote the song.

Ferren: That's right Jon. This song originally had lyrics. Or should I say it still has lyrics. But one day when I was
fiddling around with the sequencer in my Korg, I recorded the chords to this old song. Then I took out my guitar
and just for fun, tried to play the melody line that I used to sing. Made up a few new licks, from the Jeff Beck
school, liked what I heard so to hell with singing. I might do a vocal version of this song some day, but I won't be
singing it. I think my biggest thrill in life would be to play this song in front of a full orchestra. Who knows? Maybe
some day it will be a movie theme.

Barnes: What's in the future?

Ferren: Volume II of course. I think I'll call it STILL BY MYSELF. Imagine that!

Barnes: Thanks a lot for your time Dwight.

Ferren: No Jon, it's THANK YOU! My songs never sound better than when I'm listening to them while riding in
THE ULTIMATE TAXI!

All content Copyright 2004 Dwight F. Ferren