Saratoga Springs singer-songwriter Michael Jerling has been making records for nearly 30 years, which means that those early albums were honest-to-goodness vinyl records. It also means that he's been making music for long enough that it's time for him to take a look back and survey his repertoire. So, yes, you could call this album a career retrospective, except that Jerling certainly isn't ready to sit back and rest on his laurels. Rather than taking the easy way out and slapping together old tracks for a greatest-hits or best-of compilation, Jerling decided to revisit some of his favorite tunes and record them anew in one of his favorite settings - that cozy little second-floor coffeehouse on Phila Street, Caffe Lena. The recording took place in a single evening's performance just three months ago on June 30, and Jerling brought along a couple of ace musicians and longtime friends - bassist Tony Markellis and keyboardist-accordionist Teresina Huxtable (who also happens to be his wife) - to back him up. And Jerling didn't skimp on the music. For the album, which clocks in at more than 70 minutes, he culled 18 of his finest original tunes full of poignant poetry, wry humor and some rock 'n' roll heart. Many of the tunes were selected by fans on his email list. The touching, small-town tribute to aging dreamers, "Bush League Hero," is the oldest tune on the disc, dating back to 1975. It doesn't sound one bit dated. The album also features one brand new song - the earnest but genuinely moving ode to Saratoga's legendary coffeehouse. "I should probably be wearing my Greek fisherman's hat for this one," Jerling explains to the amused crowd by way of an introduction. "This is way folkie, way folkie. I've never written anything like this before. It's a hootenanny." And it's perfect. Greg Haymes, Nippertown.com.

Tracklist:

Blue Heartland
North Country Jukebox
Wide Awake In Parsippany
Old Henry's House
These Old Photographs
In The Middle Ages
Old Stones
Wollensak Tape Recorder
Pinto Pony
Jimmy & Jerry Lee
Dawn Patrol
Fishtrap Lake
Why They Run The Race
How Can People Live Like That
The Weather Channel
Doubter's Prayer
My Evil Twin
Intro: Music Here Tonight
Music Here Tonight
Bush League Hero

UPC: 700261282961
Label: Cd Baby
Release Date: 9.24.09
Format: CD

Michael Jerling - Music Here Tonight (CD)