David Correia recorded the basic tracks (and mastered the finished recordings) along with Vinny Pagano(drums), Marty Ballou (electric and stand-up bass), and my piano, guitar, harp and vocals live at Celebration Sound in three evening sessions in November, 2005.  Marty in particular enjoyed working on "Ezmerelda" and wanted to keep doing more takes.  If I can't find the song in the first few tries, I have to either abandon the tune or come back to it another day.   We did edit two versions of "Us and Them" together to get the best of both takes. 

There was a lot of overdubbing at home, as you can read in the CD liner notes, though only one lead vocal phrase was an over-dub.   "The Fire and the Rose" required a similar preliminary  as I took with "69er Diner" and "Crossroads Where I Stand" during the Angels on the Road sessions.   Songs this long, I told everybody, can be stopped by anyone in the first minute and a half or so-- after that, if I haven't called a halt, we go on to the finish.  It simply isn't practical or "artistic" to fool around... "mistakes" are part of the process.  And you can hear a few once in a while.  My concern is getting the heart of the song across.... and it sure does concentrate the attention of everyone involved, especially when there is minimal preparation! -- as anyone who's worked with me will attest.

Magical Thinking is dedicated to the memory of Barry Cowsill.  "Time is a trick."

Produced by JP Jones with Andy Jones.
JP Jones:electric guitars and keyboards, harmonica, background vocal on "Prophet in His Prime."
Paul Geremia: harmonica on "Ezmerelda," "Wreck the Bed," and "That's All Right."
Mike Barrett: electric guitar on "Loaded Question," "Prophet in His Prime," "Sufficient," and National slide guitar on "That's All Right."
Barb Schloff-Arietta: accompanying vocals on "That's All Right," "Fool in Love."
Gianna Sullivan and Lisette Saint Germain: background vocals on "Sufficient" and "That's All Right."
Kevin Sullivan played a second bass on "A Man Stands Up," and sang with Andy Jones and JP on "That's All Right."
Johnny Juxo: accordion.
Jay White: congas.
John Hillman: electric guitar on "that's All Right."
Andy Jones: paint brushes on a cardboard box.

Claude Verdier took the cover portrait.

Special thanks to Marilyn Edge of The Marilyn Edge Agency, Donn Watson, Scott Menchin (graphic advice), Mark Quinn, Thom McCarthy, Doug and Ellen of Ontario.

Music and performances © 2012 JP Jones. Site Design, Publishing © 2012 Vision Company Records. All Rights reserved.