"The Last Kamikaze" is a hefty, 15-track collection of 12 original tunes - 11 from "Little Buford" (Lee Schappell in deep disguise!) and one song from his friend and ally, Nova Scotia singer-songwriter David R. Smith - plus three old, traditional Gospel hymns from generations gone by. The range of musical genres on "The Last Kamikaze" extends from traditional country, to a little bit of folk, to the title track's much more contemporary feel, to the crisp, easy jazz flavor of "Brand New Heart". The name "Little Buford"? That's an amusing story. For many years, Lee would label his demo recordings "Little Buford & the Hicks", partly for a chuckle and partly to preserve anonymity. One evening, while sitting in on a circle-jam with a dozen or more graybeard guitar-pickers at Alvernia University, one particularly brassy mandolin-plucker, intending to introduce Lee to fellow musician, couldn't remember Lee's name - so, of all the earthly names from which to choose, he called Lee "Buford" - a handle that Lee has not been able to shake since then! "The Last Kamikaze", the third album under the banner of The New Earth Band, is actually a solo effort, coming at a time of major reconfiguration of the Band in the wake of the losses of two members, both for health reasons. All fifteen tracks in the album feature Lee on the guitars, bass and light percussion, as well as the vocals. The title song,"The Last Kamikaze", rings rich with four guitar tracks, a good driving bass, soaring melody and 'into-the-wild-blue-yonder' lyrics, engineered to light a fire in your belly. 'Sanctified' is a mellow, country-flavored statement of new beginnings, while 'Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing' is a joyful rural re-offering of the great old Gospel hymn. 'Walk By Faith (Not By Sight)' was inspired by Lee's nifty little unsighted cat, who tears throughout the house like a bull in a China shop, although she's blind as a stone. 'She goes by what she knows and acts on it with total confidence', he testifies. 'Hold To God's Unchanging Hand' and ' 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus', a pair of old Gospel hymns with sound messages for these times, sandwiched around 'Sheep and Goats', resurrected and re-recorded from the first CD, which simply 'cooks it down and tells it like it is!' Then, 'Show Me' presses home the message of 'let the walk match the talk'. 'The Joy Yeshua Brings To Me', reminiscent of Barry McGuire's 'Eve Of Destruction', comes from the pen of Canadian David R. Smith, and can also be found on his 'Songs Of Deliverance' album. In 'The Light Is Out In the Lighthouse' , the writer longs to rekindle the extinguished flame of one who had, years back, been influential in bringing him in from the storm. 'Brand New Heart' was inspired by the experience of a dear 66-year-old gentleman who had just received the transplanted heart of a 22-year-old, after having dealt wih his own mortality and made his funeral arrangements. God continue to bless you, Arthur! And 'Monkey See, Monkey Do' is less Gospel-themed and really more of a 'get yer act together' butt-whuppin'. 'Doot-Doot-Doot Deuteronomy' is about hard times befalling stubborn folks - sounds like excerpts from your life and mine, eh? But more than that, it's about God's goodness in serving up second chances. ''This Old World' only serves to prove that John Fogarty does a far-better Creedence Clearwater Revival tha Little Buford! That said, in view of the astounding current events in this staggering world, these lyrics go well beyond prophetic, because we're actually watching them play out on the 'big, wide-screen HD' in real-time! 'The Devil's Cadillac' is a contemporary parable with which every soul that draws breath can honestly identify. The adversary teases and tempts, but offers nothing but puffed air - fluff for the soul - just tricks and traps, with a payment plan that's designed to wipe you out. Tell him to hang it 'n his nose'! All in all, if you've got a pulse, there's most decidedly something musically good in here just for your ears. And if there's the slightest shred of human DNA inside you, the warm and genuine Gospel thread that's woven throughout the fabric of "The Last Kamikaze" will lift your spirit and ignite your genuine desire to know the goodness and all-sufficiency of our Heavenly Father.

Tracklist:

The Last Kamikaze
Sanctified
Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
Walk By Faith (Not By Sight)
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Sheep And Goats
'tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
Show Me
The Joy Yeshua Brings To Me (What Do You See?)
The Light Is Out In The Lighthouse
Brand New Heart
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Doot-Doot-Doot-Deuteronomy
This Old World
The Devil's Cadillac

UPC: 884501502443
Label: Cd Baby
Release Date: 4.5.11
Format: CD

New Earth Band - Last Kamikaze (CD)