"Latitude 62 is Don Paul Way’s latest recording, the follow-up CD to his 2005 release, Burning Daylight. Latitude 62 features an all-star cast of central New York musicians: George Deveny (Dobro®, electric and slide guitar); Steve Durr (on loan from Alaska, electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals); David Liddy (piano and keyboards); Oscar Crandall (drums); Bruce Tetley (guitar, backing vocals); Darryl Mattison (percussion); Sandy Shoulders (violin and viola); Steve Quenneville and Alesha Gonyea (backing vocals).

 

D.P. in the Alaska Range


Alaska - Morrisville Connection Brings Latitude 62 Songs All Together(/b)


"Latitude 62 is a collection of songs about old friends, and many places I think about from time to time. “The songs on this CD were written about growing up in Morrisville, going to Alaska, lovers and great friends; the people and places that are a part of your life that make you feel great, sometimes sad, but full of life.


"Recording Latitude 62 with great friends and great musicians has been a real joy for me. To write these songs and to see them come together with everyone and bring the songs to life, has, to say the least, been a real rush.


It was great for me for the first time to sit down and write some of these songs with my good friends. “Cyber World Blues” was co-written with Bruce Tetley, “Chinese Cattle Drive” with Steve Durr, and Molly with Alesha Gonyea. While playing in Alaska in 1978, the group I was in, The Great Northern Bean Band, played “Since I held You,” written by our bandmate, Steve Durr. I always loved that song and it was a trip recording it with Steve at the Castle.


I knew going back to Alaska in the summer of 2005 was going to be one of the greatest trips I ever took. But, little did I know when Big Daddy Lee and I boarded the plane for Anchorage, the real impact it would have on me. It had been twenty years since I last saw the mountains, and it's the mountains that always took a hold of me in a way I could never explain. To see “The Great One,” Mt. McKinley, once again, and to land up on a glacier at seven thousand feet really puts you in your place.


Soon, I was back in Talkeetna staying at the Latitude 62, a favorite local watering hole, seeing old friends that go back to the late 70s. I hooked up with my old pals, Steve and Jon Durr, and singer-song-writer (and legendary pilot), Doug Geeting. Sitting in the Latitude on a Marne Monday, playing guitar and singing with my old friends, definitely brought me back to a place where I always felt at home. It was great seeing Baz, Bets, dog-mushers John and Jen Gourley, Maggi, Mark, Mack, Nancy and Marne; such great people to have as friends. We shared many laughs and lots of old stories were told by all.

I have so many great memories of my times in Alaska. I recall playing a gig at a club called Montana Creek in the 1970s. While on break, I was standing on the front steps and an old-boy said to me, “Time to go home.” There in the parking lot was a small plane, and the old-boy gets in, fires it up and takes off down the road. I never did hear if he made it home.


Back in New York in the fall of 2005 I picked up my Martin and these songs just started to come to me. “Latitude 62,” is about a beautiful place and great friends I got to see once again.


“I Hear the Music Still,” is about going back to my early days in Morrisville, playing in a band called Homegrown with George, Bruce, Paul and Oscar. We use to practice in my mom’s barn and drive the neighbors crazy, and we all had a ball doing it. That song is like walking by and looking back to a lot of great times we all had up in that old barn. And to the many friends who came out to hear Homegrown many years ago.


The recording was made with great friends, Bruce Tetley, Dave Liddy, George Deveny, Oscar Crandall, (Blueprints), Steve Durr, Steve Quenneville, Darryl Mattison, Alesha Gonyea and Sandy Shoulders. Recording was handled by Matt Wagner, Shawn and Jeff Avalier at the Castle. I love and appreciate them all. Cheers to all of you!”


D.P.