Toad The Wet Sprocket – Rings (The Acoustic Sessions)

I’m proud to announce the release of this wonderful album Toad The Wet Sprocket – Rings The Acoustic Sessions. I had the pleasure of recording and co-producing this collection of amazing songs at my studio, Coyote Road Studios in Santa Barbara. The idea was to record acoustic driven versions of Toad’s hits as well as reimagining some of there deeps cuts. So many great songs! It was a wonderful experience to work with such amazingly talented friends!

 I had the pleasure of playing the fingerpicking guitars on “Jam”. Another example is Glen came up with the idea of turning one of their rockers “Rings” into a piano ballad – so good. There are amazing guest musicians on this album as well – See the list below!

Currently streaming on all platforms!

Toad The Wet Sprocket – Rings The Acoustic Sessions

Produced by:
Dean Dinning, Todd Nichols, Glen Phillips, and Sean McCue

Recorded by:
Sean McCue, Glen Phillips, and Todd Nichols

Performed by Toad the Wet Sprocket @toadthewetsprocket
Glen Phillips: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar @glenphillipsmusic
Todd Nichols: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals @nicholsguitars
Dean Dinning: Acoustic Bass Guitar, Piano, and Vocals @deandinning

Guest Musicians:
Carl Thomson: Cajon, Tea Towel Drums, Percussion
Jon Sosin: Mandolin on “Jam”, “Good Intentions” and “Transient Whales”
Sean McCue: Acoustic Guitar on “Jam” @seanmccue

Sara Watkins: Fiddle on “Nanci”, Violin on “Walk on the Ocean” @sarawatkins
Sean Watkins: Mandolin on “Walk on the Ocean’ @seancwatkins
Brian Mann: Accordion on “All I Want” and “Inside”
Daniel Walker: Accordion on “Walk on the Ocean”, “Something’s Always Wrong”, “Nanci”
Elena Shelton: Backup vocals on “Jam” @elenasheltonmusic
Michelle Beauchesne: Cello on “Jam”, “Transient Whales” and “Scenes from a Vinyl Recliner”
Steve Hernandez: Vibraphone on “Little Heaven”
Jon Sosin: Mandolin on “Scenes from a Vinyl Recliner” @jonsosin

Recorded at Coyote Road Studios @coyoteroadstudios

& 100 Acre Wood Studio

Mixed by: Robert Stevenson

Mastered by: Dave McNair

Additional Recording: Piano on “California Wasted”, “Something’s Always Wrong”, “Scenes from a Vinyl Recliner”, “Rings” and “Inside” Recorded by Mikal Blue and Alex Leibowitz at Revolver Recording.

Fun fact: The cover image was taken inside the “Flight Cage” my dad built years ago for his hawks and falcons, on the property where I grew up.

Karla Bonoff “Silent Night”

Download or Stream Karla Bonoff “Silent Night” – CLICK HERE

The album Karla Bonoff and I recorded is NOW AVAILABLE for download and streaming today! Choose your preferred platform by clicking the link below. The album has been recently added to SiriusXM as well. This is what the Program Director, MarySue Twohy at SiriusXM had to say:


“I just want to say this out loud:  Karla’s new album is stunning.  I listen to music for a living – (amazing right?) and I was stopped in my tracks.  I could not do anything else but listen. She sang every word and was invested in every note.  I felt it.  There was so much care and emotion.  And the arrangements, the production values and the authenticity of her delivery – just tears.I am really looking forward to adding this to rotation – I normally shoot for around 4 tracks for an album I enjoy – I am adding 6 of Karla’s new album.  I hope she truly knows how incredible her talent is on this planet. Just beautiful.”
— MarySue Twohy, SiriusXM Program Director

Somewhere in Time

Cello: Michelle Beauchesne. Guitar: Sean McCue. Written by John Barry, from the Somewhere in Time – Soundtrack.

Last night I learned, interpreted and spontaneously recorded this little instrumental called “Somewhere in Time” for a special occasion I was asked to play this weekend. This is a live duet with Michelle Beauchesne playing her cello, while I’m outlining the chords on my acoustic guitar. I like the atmosphere of the live stereo recording, so thought I would share.

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For the audio geeks (like me): I placed an Avantone CK-40 Stereo Multi-Pattern FET Microphone a few feet away in my studio with both capsules set to cardioid in X/Y with the low-cut ON, and ran the signal through a Grace 801 preamp and into Logic Pro.

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