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<h6>Twentynine Palms</h6>
03:20:16 - Contemporary Country <br />
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Many of my songs start while I am driving, especially so on this album.  I had always envisioned Twentynine Palms as this magical 1950’s resort place near sand dunes where Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra would sip martinis with Elvis and beautiful Technicolor women with 50’s polkadot bathing suits would jump off tall diving boards.  I was driving past the Twentynine Palms Marine Air Base on I-15 and while thinking about that and this song and character started to form.  <br />
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The character is 60'ish and remembering his first wedding and how wonderful that time of his life was before they let it slip away years later.  He says, "It's funny how time slips away.  Man that line is so cliché, but it is what it is 'cause it's true.  And when that sun is floating high, sometimes the road ahead shines and I see you."  I took the album title from this song.  It has a triple meaning; Shines as in optimism, Shines as in a mirage, Shines in sadness / reflection.  In this song his eyes tear up as he sees his first wife in the mirage on the road ahead.  <br />
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I think this could be the best country song I’ve written. <br />
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Recording notes ~ 29 Palms<br />
I wanted a Jimmy Webb Wichita Lineman feel combined with some vintage George Strait so Pat borrowed an old Jerry Jones Baritone Electric Guitar with rusted out strings and played it through a Fulltone Supa-Trem. <br />
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Credits:<br />
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John Gardner - Drums/Percussion<br />
David Francis - Bass<br />
Jeff Roach – Grand Piano<br />
Rob McNelley - Electric Guitars<br />
Pat McGrath - Acoustic Guitar/Baritone Electric Guitar/Background Vocals<br />
Steve Hinson - Steel Guitar<br />
Tammy Pierce - Background Vocals<br />
Chris Heers – Vocals/Background Vocals<br />
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