I wanted to record a great song demo. My model was Gordon Lightfoot's first album - his guitar, a lead guitar, and upright bass. My songs spanned my life from age 22 to last month. I've never been in a band and performed rarely so the big moment came blessedly early. We nailed"Cockroach Fever" on the first take, but Big John suggested one more go at it. From there we had real ensemble playing and I felt like - that's it - that's my performance. I hung with Big John Mills and Sterling Finlay.I recorded the rhythm of the two waltzes to a click track (metronome) so that Big John would have to follow my little musical lilts. He and Sterling filled the room with their playing. At the end of one Big John said,"Your fill before the second verse is way too long." He'd tell me where he wanted his leads when I wasn't sure. Big John just is music. He made everything Texas and everything dance. I love Sterling Finlay's finger snapping, full-throated attack on his upright.