Works In Progress ● Celo Conley - Phonorecord Copyright 2012The First Album of Original Songs by Celo Conley Celo Conley is:Alan Tinney - Lead Vocals & Harmonies, Acoustic Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards, Lyricist & ComposerKirk Banner - Lead Vocals & Harmonies, Acoustic Rhythm & Lead Guitar, 12-String Guitar, Lyricist & Composer Ron Johnson - Lyricist, Lead Vocals, Sound Engineer, Producer, Roadie and General Comic ReliefVisit us on Facebook: Celo Conley ● Look for us on YouTube!Celo Conley - Original Songs about, among other things, living in our mountains, from wistful and haunting ballads to high-energy blues and rock. The band started the way most bands do, playing cover songs at occasional gigs, for love of the music and a little extra cash. Then, late in the fall of 2010, while sitting around “practicing,” (Actually, listening to local music on Public Radio), somebody said, once too often, “You know, we’re just as good as most of these bands.” By the end of the night, we had a plan, a timeline, and our first two songs half-done. We went a little past our self-imposed deadline, because, you know, life is what happens while you’re making other plans. We lucked into a digital recorder, then had to teach ourselves to run it, and how to use the mixing software. Family crises, job demands, and schedule conflicts all arose, especially with Kirk being a chef, Alan a building contractor, and Ron a graphic designer. As we became more proficient with the mixing and writing, we had to go back and redo some of the early songs, which were only “good enough.”As to our musical influences, we look mostly to the great singer/songwriters as examples; John Prine, Lyle Lovett, and Michael Reno Harrell, just to name a few. Our voice is our own, however, and we do not want to pigeonhole ourselves into any one musical genre. We get our main inspiration from the mountains we live in and love, and the families and friends that love and support us. To coin a word, perhaps “Appalachiacana” would be a way to describe most of our songs. Work on the second album is wrapping up, here in the Spring of 2016. This one will have a more electric sound to it, with some of our old favorites and many new, exciting songs! (ONE of which is a bonus track on this album!)We also specialize in what we call “Eclectic Covers,” great songs that haven’t been played to death from bands that you definitely know! ON THIS CD - Track 01 - Coming Home (5:05) ● (Original Lyrics & Music by Kirk Banner; Additional Lyrics by Alan Tinney & Ron Johnson)“Coming Home” was inspired by Kirk’s 10-year exile to the big city. As he puts it, “Happiness is Atlanta in your rear-view mirror.” The bridge at the end was Alan’s inspiration, and made a big difference.Track 02 - Diogenes (6:00) ● (Original Lyrics & Music by Kirk Banner; Additional Lyrics by Alan Tinney & Ron Johnson)Written about Kirk’s favorite philosopher; Kirk has been kicking this song around in rough form for almost 40 years. As a team, Celo Conley had it faceted and polished into the diamond it is now in just days. One of the first songs laid down.Track 03 - Acey-Deucey Blues (3:16) ● (Original Lyrics by Ron Johnson; Music & Additional Lyrics by Kirk Banner & Alan Tinney)When practice is over, the backgammon board comes out, and there are some truly cut-throat tournaments. Ron wrote this to express some frustration at a long losing streak. There is also an alternative version, not on this album, called, “Natural Twenty Blues.”Track 04 - Apart (4:39) ● (Original Lyrics by Lynda Banner; Music & Additional Lyrics by Kirk Banner, Alan Tinney & Ron Johnson)The distaff side of “Coming Home,” from a poem by Kirk’s lovely wife, Lynda, who has been an inspiration through this entire process. While Kirk came up here to build a new home for the Banners, (with Alan’s expertise and Ron’s occasional help), Lynda was still stuck in Atlanta working and raising two teen-age girls. Everybody lived, and a song was born.Track 05 - Dusty Roses (5:45) ● (Original Lyrics by Ron Johnson; Music & Additional Lyrics by Kirk Banner & Alan Tinney)The road Alan lives off of is gravel, and there’s a big, beautiful multiflora rose bush at the bottom of the drive where Ron usually parks. Leaving practice one night, Ron got the words, “Dusty Roses” stuck in his mind. By the time he made it home, the song was roughed out. He put it in an email that night, and the next practice session saw it brain-stormed into shape.Track 06 - All (3:48) ● (Original Lyrics & Music by Alan Tinney; Additional Lyrics by Kirk Banner & Ron Johnson)Alan’s tribute to Mother Earth, and a wake-up call for us all.Track 07 - Purple and Gold (6:08) ● (Original Lyrics & Music by Kirk Banner; Additional Lyrics by Alan Tinney & Ron Johnson)Another example of the strength of teamwork. Kirk started with eight lines of a poem he had written, threw it in the air, and by the time it hit ground, we had fleshed it out into this wonderful, spiritual song.Track 08 - Ice Cream (6:43) ● (Original Lyrics & Music by Alan Tinney; Additional Lyrics by Kirk Banner & Ron Johnson)This song is almost pure Alan. His mother was so sick for so long, and Alan was the family’s rock during this time. During his constant efforts to make sure she was given proper care, and through his grief at her passing, he wrote this song. He hopes it can give others some of the solace it has given him. We’re very proud of our brother. (These lyrics show a final verse added by Alan after his mother passed)Track 09 - The Ballad of Caleb Lowe( 4:17) ● (Original Lyrics by Ron Johnson; Music & Additional Lyrics by Kirk Banner & Alan Tinney)Kirk lives in the shadow of Celo Knob in Yancey County. There are a lot of stories about where the name “Celo” came from, but Ron’s favorite is this one. Back in the early 1800’s, a hunting party found a dead man at the top of the mountain. No one knew him, and nobody ever figured out where he was from, or how he came to be there. The only clue to his identity was an old rifle, with “C. Lowe” carved into the stock.Track 10 - Bump The Ditch! (4:20) ● (Original Lyrics by Ron Johnson; Music & Additional Lyrics by Kirk Banner & Alan Tinney)One of our members is prone to Spoonerisms, you know, where you get your tang tongueled up? Strangely enough, it doesn’t affect his public speaking or singing voices, but in casual conversation he can occasionally come up with a lulu. This song was inspired by some tongue-in-cheek advice he received about a soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend.Track 11 - Cain’t Dig (3:20) ● (Original Lyrics by Ron Johnson; Music & Additional Lyrics by Kirk Banner & Alan Tinney)As someone once said, “It’s a right hard scrabble up in them hills.” Kirk Banner added the bridge to this song, to bring it from good to great.Track 12 - Can I Borrow One Of Yours? (4:28) ● (Original Lyrics by Ron Johnson; Music & Additional Lyrics by Kirk Banner & Alan Tinney)Possibly the darkest song on the album, and yet one of the most powerful. Disclaimer: Celo Conley does not recommend taking the law into your own hands. (There. We’re covered.)FINAL NOTE: We are actively working on the next album. We thank you for listening to our songs, and we hope to see you soon!