Endless Road – T. Emmanuel
This song is about a journey. It was written during a time of great change in Tommy’s life and has many moods and movements. The song says that as we go down the road we encounter problems and changes and we weather through them and then get on track.
Tall Fiddler – T. Emmanuel
This song is a tribute to a great Fiddler from Oklahoma named Byron Berline. He’s about 6 foot and then wears a big tall cowboy hat. Tommy first met him at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield Kansas and Tommy has played with him many times.
(The Man With The) Green Thumb – T. Emmanuel
Chet Atkins is The Man With The Green Thumb. His thumb and fingerstyle method has been a powerful influence on guitarists everywhere and the following continues to grow. Hence the “Green Thumb”.
Bella Soave – T. Emmanuel
Soave is an ancient walled village in the Northeast of Italy surrounded by wine vineyards. It is the location of a wonderful guitar festival, which happens at the beginning of each April. Tommy has played there several times and it is always an experience of fun and reverie and great wine and lots of guitarists playing all hours of the night and day.
Morning Aire – T. Emmanuel
This song was written during a turbulent and busy tour schedule in Australia. There were film crews waiting in a queue for him, he had very little sleep and it was very noisy. He took his guitar and retreated to the empty kitchen of the place all this was happening, and retreated to himself to get some rejuvenation. This song came from that retreat and it echoes the serenity and peace of a crisp, dew-laden morning in the Scottish Highlands; mist flowing through the hills.
Angelina – T. Emmanuel
Angelina is Tommy’s youngest daughter. There was a break of 10 years between his first daughter Amanda and the birth of Angelina. She is a very different spirit than her sister and brought a new joy to Tommy’s life. Her energy and innate rhythm and musicality remind Tommy of himself at that age. This is a song for her.
Windy & Warm – John D. Loudermilk
Tommy’s version of a classic. It was due for reinterpretation as it had become a “textbook” fingerstyle tune. Tommy took it and “funked it up”.
Sanitarium Shuffle – T. Emmanuel
This track was written at the home of a great friend of Tommy’s in Lippstadt, Germany. He was spending time there after a difficult period in his life so he likened the home and the care he received there to a Sanitarium. It’s a whimsical, kind of crazy piece.
La Visita – T. Emmanuel
La Visita means “The Visit” and invokes a mystical image of discovery and grandeur; taking in the beauty of an ancient city such as Venice or Florence.
Mona Lisa – J. Livingston, R. Evans
A brilliant arrangement and interpretation of the classic melody made famous by Nat King Cole.
Christmas Memories/Wheels – T. Emmanuel/N. Petty, R Stephen, J. Torres
This song was, of course, written at Christmas and invokes the image of a sleigh racing across a snowy plain and spending time with family. As a result, Tommy is reminded of Christmas with his family and then is lead to the memory of his late mother Virginia. Wheels was her favourite song.
Old Town – T. Emmanuel
This song is dedicated to the memory of guitarist Tommy Jones, who was a great guitarist and friend of Tommy’s. He died after a long and painful illness. Tommy pays homage to his style of songwriting.
Son Of A Gun – T. Emmanuel
This song is a tribute to Thom Bresh, the son of legendary guitarist Merle Travis. This song pays homage to both the father and the son and their Kentucky Bluegrass roots.
Chet’s Ramble – T. Emmanuel/C. Atkins
While Tommy was working with Chet Atkins on “The Day The Fingerpickers Took Over The World” CD back a few years ago, they would send each other tapes back and forth trying out songs. A year to the day after Chet’s death, Tommy found the box of tapes and found a melody that Chet was working on. Tommy has take that melody and embellished it in tribute to his mentor.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg
A brilliant arrangement of the theme from “The Wizard of Oz”. It evokes the peace and brilliance of a world “way up high” free from care and worry.
I Still Can’t Say Goodbye – R. Binn, J. Moore
The legendary Chet Atkins made this song famous and he performed it during his shows. He asked Tommy to continue singing it for him. It is a song about a father and son. Tommy and Chet had similar stories about their fathers. And both of their fathers wore the exact same hat, which is referred to in the song. And Chet was very much like a father to Tommy so it’s a fitting homage all the way around.
Today is Mine – Jerry Reed
Tommy loves the message of this song written by the great fingerstyle guitarist and songwriter Jerry Reed. It says to make the most of every day, to be the master of your own destiny, to guide your life and be guided by it. Tommy has made this his creed.