Dusty and the LoveNotes

How to describe Dusty and the LoveNotes?  “The lovechild of Sheryl Crow and Mick Jagger”

On the debut CD, What Did You Expect?, Dusty and the LoveNotes take us on a trail ride full of heart-felt stories about love, longing, being true to our beliefs and finally, finding ourselves. In the tradition of folk and country music, Dusty reaches out with her voice and lyrics telling compelling stories and singing them with a raw sincerity. Her guitar teacher and lead guitar player, Indian Joe, inspired Dusty’s recent journey into songwriting and recording. “Indian Joe got me out singing,” said Dusty, “we did duo gigs and he even put me in his classic rock and roll band for a little while. He has the incredible ability to take my melodies and lyrics and create the most perfect guitar parts.” A newcomer to the music scene late in her life, Dusty embraced singing, playing guitar and songwriting with the passion of a seasoned artist. The songs on this CD are a collection of original music written over the past four years. According to Dusty the title, “What Did You Expect?,” came from a reaction from one of her friends when she heard Dusty’s songs for the first time. She told Dusty, “It’s not what I expected!”

The new release, on That Other Label (TOL), delivers a blend of original and retro folk rock and country-inflected songs prepared with a combination of acoustic and electric instruments tastefully played by Indian Joe (lead guitar and bass), Dusty (rhythm guitar and flute) and Sam Sailors (drums). Their concept is fresh and simple providing a basic musical foundation that showcases the lyrics and melodies of each tune. From the first track, “Antigua,” written in the cockpit of a friend’s sailboat, to the humorous yet poignant “Blue Satin Thong,” a song about leaving your lover and knowing they will miss you, Dusty paints sonic pictures of real life experiences. Living in the rural areas of southern California where she is surrounded by the voices of nature, Dusty has learned to listen to the poetry in her soul instead of relying on the status quo. “Starting a music career and learning to play guitar, sing and perform in the second half of my life isn’t the normal thing most women do,” commented Dusty. “I want to be a positive example for my “sisters” to show that a person can do anything they want to do at any moment in their life. We truly create our own reality every day with every breath we take.” An honest statement from this modern day minstrel. After all, what did you expect?

For more information go to, www.Dustyandthelovenotes.com or www.ThatOtherLabel.com.

TRACK INFORMATION FOR What Did You Expect from Dusty & the LoveNotes:

1) Antigua – This first track was written in the cockpit of a friend’s sailboat the evening before I was to take a flight back to California. Antigua is a gorgeous island way down in the West Indies. I spend as much time as I can in the Caribbean and I am particularly fond of that island. The song reflects the huge delta between the two existences.

2) Heart – Everyone gets a broken heart at least once in this life. You either let the experience cripple you or you learn from it. Some use it as an excuse not to continue to grow. I think that’s a cop-out.

3) Not Necessarily –I wrote this one morning because Joe wanted me to write something with a more conventional rhythm. It’s simple, but it’s true that love is often better expressed in actions than words.

4) Serendipity – I wrote this while renting a house on the water in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. I lived for years on a boat in a harbor of St. Croix. I sailed everywhere and truly loved it and never thought I would leave. But I did and I have missed it ever since.

5) Tell Me – I have done more than my fair share of partying and though these days I am more sedate it sure wouldn’t take much to get me out there again.

6) Recipe – This is a song that is a theme for many women of my age. Our culture ingrains us to behave a certain way and men too. Most of us eventually decide we deserve to concentrate on our own selves and it would be a dishonor to ourselves if we didn’t.

7) Geordie’s Song – My brother was an incredible human being devoured by alcoholism. It is horrible for the person who has the disease and equally horrible for the people who love them.

8) S.P.C.A. – I wrote this fictional song in bed one morning after a gig. I love the chorus.

9) It’s Over – This song was written after the demise of my marriage. He is a wonderful person but we grew apart and I couldn’t stay. This one is truly heartfelt.

10) Gravity – Some people think chemistry is what attracts one individual to another. My theory is that it’s gravity.

11) Blue Satin Thong – This is my official “leaving” song. You may say you don’t love me or want me anymore but you are going to miss me!

Label: That Other Label
Street Date: August 10, 2010
Dusty: rhythm guitar, flute & lead vocal
Indian Joe: lead guitar, bass & back up vocals
Sam Sailors: drums