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It has been said that as a songwriter, I've been more
inspired by cars I've owned than by women I've known. In my own
defense I must say that many of the finest guitar players I've
met also seem to have a thing about cars, old cars in particular.
The cover photo of my mom and me alongside my '52 Chevy pick-up
was taken in August of 1965. Two childhood friends and I had
just completed a 10,000 mile trek around the US of A from New
York to L.A. in that old truck.
It wasn't always old or red for that matter. My brother Jim bought
it brand new (and black) in 1952. Some years later my dad bought
it from him and it was used and abused by family and friends
alike until 1964. As soon as I was driving, my buddies George
and Pete, and I were dreaming of having a camper on the truck
heading into the great "out west"! (Much work was to
be done and of course black was just so un-cool.) We were soon
playing and singing our way coast to coast in that old red truck,
staying in tune together, through the summer of '65.
Then it was up to Nova Scotia in '66 and back and forth from
N.J. to Texas for two years, courtesy of the USAF. Uncle Sam
then arranged my return to California. In '69, before venturing
further west for my Uncle, I parked the old red truck for the
last time on my brother Bob's acreage in Pennsylvania.
A year later I resumed my life as a civilian but the old red
truck had reached a dead end. As a result of having had temporary
titles in two states with residency transitions through four
states, I had lost my proof of title. Hence my truck could not
be registered in my resident state of Oregon. I think there's
a song coming on: "How the great state of Texas stole my
pick-up truck!". Alas, all good things must come to an end,
so it was with this faithful friend.
Oregrown Music: 3305 NW Grant; Corvallis,OR 97330
(541) 752-4250
www.oregrownmusic.com
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