About Journal Entry

Many songs on Journal Entry were part of a second wave of creativity after I finished college having graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree after 10 long years of night school. I basically stopped playing music during the time I was going to school and working full time. Not that I didn't love music, only that it seemed there wasn't enough hours in the day. Work, school, being a single parent, playing guitar, writing, playing gigs, it was just all too much for me at the time. When I finished college, my daughter and I took a trip to Nashville together and I traded in one guitar for a new Martin. A graduation present from me to me. The flood gates of creativity opened and the surge of songwriting began.

The recording of Journal Entry came about because of a newly developed friendship with Singer/Songwriter Kevin Meisel. One day, I was attending a party at Kevin's house after being invited through a mutual friend. I spotted an old Guild acoustic guitar sitting in the corner of the room. I asked Kevin if I would be ok if I could play and he said "sure". I played a couple of songs for him and others in the room. He later asked if I was recorded and I told him "no" but I would like to create my own CD someday. Kevin had a small recording rig in his upstairs room and offered to record me. I jumped at the chance and started recording with him. It took several weeks to record the tracks, many late nights. At first, it didn't go so well. I couldn't separate my "singing sense" from my "guitar playing sense" as he wanted me to play the guitar track first and then sing. I couldn't do it! Not having done it before, it was very foreign to me and I really didn't like it. I got frustrated and asked him to just let me sing and play at the same time and that is how we recorded from then on.

The mixing of Journal Entry came through a friend of Kevin's, Marshall Block of Real II Reel Studios. I hired Marshall to mix the album. While mixing Journal Entry it became clear to me that I didn't have a complete album. Marshall suggested I give a few songs to his friend Larry Prentiss and bring in some studio musicians to play. The first song we did together was "Candy", the 3rd song on the album. That turned out so well that I did two more songs with Larry, "Restless Longing" and "No Takers". All recorded at Marshall's studio. During the recording, I also talked with Marshall about my poetry. We brought in Gary La Croix, a friend of Marshall's, to play the keyboard for three poems I had composed. This became the title track of the album.

I am very proud of the CD as my first effort. My next release will be "Watercolor", the next installment in the Journey.

Journal Entry Credits

Produced by:
GARY CHARLES and LARRY PRENTISS

All music and lyrics by:
GARY CHARLES except Journal Entry
words by GARY CHARLES
music by GARY LA CROIX

Musical Director for Restless Longing, Candy,
and No Takers: LARRY PRENTISS

Recorded at:
JANUS STUDIOS, Belleville, Michigan and
FENTON WOODS DIGITAL RECORDING,
Fenton, Michigan

Mixed by:
MARSHALL BLOCK, GARY CHARLES,
and LARRY PRENTISS

Engineered by:
KEVIN MEISEL and MARSHALL BLOCK

Mastered by:
MARSHALL BLOCK for Papa Gary Records
At Real II Reel Productions, Inc.
Fenton Michigan

Musicians:
GARY CHARLES - acoustic guitar & Voice
PAT CROWLEY, - keyboards
ROB EMANUEL - Drums
CHARLIE GEHRINGER - Keyboards
TINA GREELY - Background Vocal
GARY LA CROIX - Keyboards
FRANK MARINELLO - Acoustic & Electric Guitars
KEVIN MEISEL - Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
LARRY PRENTISS - Bass & Keyboards
DAVID TAYLOR, Drums

Photography:
DALE PERRY

Design by:
MARTY SOMBERG
Plymouth, Michigan