#johnralston

The “Golden Greats”: It’s a name that came to me as a self-deprecating joke. Like Phil Ochs “Greatest Hits”. That was the spirit. I had a hard drive (and cassette tapes) full of songs. The problem is that I think of every song in the context of an album. And if an album doesn’t make itself known to me, then the songs hit that junkyard. I think in album. Not song. If Neil Young released a new song tomorrow, I’m not going to rush out to listen. But if he releases an album....you get it.

So, I was thinking about all these songs. And they were prohibiting me from moving forward. Every time I went to record a new songs, there they were. Blocking my path. Sometimes, I even found myself wishing my hard drive would crap out just so I could start over. I know how ridiculous that sounds. Just telling you.

I talked to Jacob Kaplan, who designed the “Shadows of the Summertime” and “Jesus Christ/A Marigny Xmas” covers. We decided to do this. Every month, 2 new songs. Monica McGivern was the first person I thought of next. Her photography is so imaginative, inspirational, vibrant. These people are so good at what they do, you see? Once I knew they were on board, I knew I couldn’t just quite halfway through the year.