Lonnie Knight Through the Years - Disc 1
LONNIE KNIGHT THROUGH THE YEARS CREDITS (BY TRACK)
DISC ONE - TRACK 1
Track 1 – WHENEVER
Music & Lyrics by: Lonnie Knight, Harry Nehls, and G. Garrett
Label: Twin Town Records
Recorded at: Kay Bank Studios in Minneapolis
Performed by: The Rave-Ons (originally released in 1965)
Guitar and vocals: Lonnie Knight
Bass and vocals: Larry Wiegand
Guitar: Dick Wiegand
Drums and vocals: Harry Nehls
Background Notes:
In 1962, the escalating involvement of the US in the “conflict” in Viet Nam saw tens of thousands of young American boys drafted and shipped out to Southeast Asia. Included in this group were several original members of the Rave-Ons.
Guitarist Chris Katsamedus was one of those called to serve. He was replaced by Lonnie, his Richfield High School classmate. Lonnie had previously been a founding member of the Castaways (Liar, Liar). In 1964, when lead singer Robbie Hardell left to serve in Viet Nam, Lonnie took over Robbie’s role. Decades later, Lonnie revealed that he got that gig as a result of being the only band member with a microphone – having borrowed the mic from former Castaways bandmate, Roy Hensley.
In 1965, the Rave-Ons went into Kay Bank Studios in Minneapolis to record their original Beatlesesque tune Whenever with producer George Garrett (Nik’O’Lake Records owner). Whenever received airplay on local Twin Cities radio stations.
Source: minniepaulmusic.com
DISC ONE - TRACK 2
Track 2 – CANDY DAYS
Music & Lyrics by: Lonnie Knight
Live performance on WCCO radio
Guitar and vocals: Lonnie Knight
Background Notes:
This was a live broadcast on WCCO radio some time in the late 1960s. Lonnie provides background information about Candy Days at the beginning of this track.
DISC ONE - TRACK 3
Track 3 – OLD BROWN CASE
Music by: Norman Blake
Live performance on KDWB radio in 1976
Guitar: Lonnie Knight
Background Notes:
This recording is from the Blueberry Bill Show (BBS), named after host Blueberry Bill Hood. The show featured Twin Cities premier acoustic musicians every Sunday night on KDWB from 1976-1979.
Listen to this clip of Norman Blake being interviewed on an episode of the BBS in which Lonnie’s performance of this tune is referenced.
DISC ONE - TRACK 4
Track 4 – LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT
Music by: Lonnie Knight
Label: Electrosonic Studio – University of Wisconsin, Madison
Recorded at: Sound 80 Studios in Minneapolis (Originally released in 1978)
Lonnie Knight : Acoustic & electric guitars, harp, Arp Avatar, mandolin, knees
Bill Barber: Keyboards
Jimmy “Flim” Johnson: Bass
Gordy Knudtson: Drums
Background Notes:
This is an instrumental track from the vinyl album Guitar Instant Production Music Vol. 11. It features prominent members of the Sound 80 session musicians from the studio’s heyday. Lonnie composed and produced two albums of instrumental music for this label (Volumes 7 & 11). For those who don’t know, “production music” is also referred to as “needle drops.” These compositions are purchased outright or licensed per use in commercials, films, television and corporate-industrial productions.
Lonnie wrote, “Long After Midnight is a jazz-flavored ballad that I wrote while reading a collection of Ray Bradbury stories under the same name.”
DISC ONE - TRACK 5
Track 5 – PICKER’S LULLABY
Music and lyrics by: Lonnie Knight
Performed by: Arizona
Recorded by: Denny Johnson
Lonnie Knight : Guitar and vocals
Dave Reid: Rhythm guitar and vocals
Reid Papke: Bass and vocals
Jim Dahl: Drums
Background Notes: Arizona toured Norway in August of 1984, one of their performances being at the Hawk Club, Fredrikstad, Norway. Watch this clip of the band performing a cover of Merle Haggard’s Reasons to Quit live at the the Hawk Club.
DISC ONE - TRACK 6
Track 6 – IT’S RAINING
Music and lyrics by: Lonnie Knight
Performed by: Arizona
Recorded by: Denny Johnson
Lonnie Knight : Guitar and vocals
Dave Reid: Rhythm guitar and vocals
Reid Papke: Bass and vocals
Jim Dahl: Drums
Background Notes: Arizona toured Norway in August of 1984, one of their performances being at the Hawk Club, Fredrikstad, Norway.
Watch this clip of the band performing Merle Haggard’s Big City. Lonnie posted it on YouTube in July of 2013, writing this comment about the recently deceased Dave Reid: “Thank you, Dave, for the friendship and the music. Via con Dios, amigo.”
DISC ONE - TRACK 7
Track 7 -DANGEROUS MOOD
Music and Lyrics by: K. Moore and C. Parton
Live Performance by: Lonnie Knight and Big Shoes
Lonnie Knight : Guitar and vocals
Bruce Pedalty: Piano and keys
Reid Papke: Bass and vocals
Michael Velasquez: Drums
Background Notes:
This track was performed by the Lonnie Knight and Big Shoes band at Corn Fest in Mankato, Minnesota in 2004.
Lonnie Knight Through the Years - Disc 1
DISC ONE - TRACK 8
Track 8 – LET ME DOWN EASY
Music & Lyrics by: Gus Dewey
Live Performance by: The Knight-Henley Band, 1981
Recording Engineer: Tom “Zeeth” Klugherz
Lonnie Knight : Guitar and vocals
Mark Henley: Guitar, harmonica, vocals
Bill Busch: Piano and keys
Reid Papke: Bass and vocals
Tom Eckhoff: Drums and vocals
Background Notes: Greg Duffy handled the lights and Tom “Zeeth” Klugherz, the sound. Both were equal partners in the Knight-Henley Band.
Composer Gus Dewey, deceased, was a beloved bandmate and friend. He copyrighted this song in 1976.
DISC ONE - TRACK 9
Track 9 – BIRDLAND
Music by: Josef Zawinul Lyrics by: Jon Hendricks
Live Performance by: The Knight-Henley Band, 1981
Recording Engineer: Tom “Zeeth” Klugherz
Lonnie Knight : Guitar
Mark Henley: Guitar, harmonica
Bill Busch: Piano and keys
Reid Papke: Bass
Tom Eckhoff: Drums
Background Notes: Birdland is the first track of the album Heavy Weather, the Weather Report’s seventh album, released in 1977 through Columbia Records. Some say it’s the track that put Weather Report on the map. One listener wrote, “So this is why birds bob their heads when they walk.”
DISC ONE - TRACK 10
Track 10 – FEELS LIKE RAIN
Music and lyrics by: John Hiatt
Live Performance by: Lonnie Knight & Big Shoes
Lonnie Knight : Guitar and vocals
Bruce Pedalty: Piano and keys
Reid Papke: Bass and vocals
Michael Velasquez: Drums
Background Notes:
This John Hiatt classic was recorded live at Corn Fest, Mankato, Minnesota in 2004.
Lonnie Knight Through the Years - Disc 1
DISC ONE - TRACK 11
Track 11 – HALLELUJAH
Music and lyrics by: Leonard Cohen
Lonnie Knight : Guitar and vocals
Background Notes:
This Leonard Cohen masterpiece is regarded as the baseline for all secular hymns. It’s one of the most covered songs in history of songwriting with more than 300 different documented versions (including Lonnie’s). Cohen wrote around 80 draft verses for Hallelujah. –Source: wikipedia.com
Lonnie was asked to sing Hallelujah at a friend’s funeral in the late 1990s. He made this recording, in case he got choked up from emotion and couldn’t perform, but he did not need to use it.
This recording was used as the background music of a slide show of Lonnie’s photography which was played during his memorial service on June 10, 2017.
DISC TWO - TRACK 1
Track 1 – SULTANS OF SWING
Music & Lyrics by: Mark Knopfler
Recorded at: Hammer Studios 2012
Performed by: The Mark Knopfler Tribute Project
Lead Guitar and vocals: Lonnie Knight
Bass: Reid Papke
2nd Guitar: Robert Branch
Drums, percussion, engineer: Gary Haberman
Background Notes: This track and Track 4, Postcards from Paraguay, were recorded at Hammer Studios as demos when Gary Haberman was in discussion with a booking agent. The agent was interested in Gary’s proposal to develop a Knopfler tribute band but, unfortunately, the project didn’t come to fruition.
Sultans of Swing became a signature song of Lonnie’s and was among the most requested tunes at his electric gigs.
Lonnie Knight Through the Years - Disc 2
DISC TWO - TRACK 2
Track 2 – GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN
Music & Lyrics by: Vince Gill
Live Performance by: Connie Lee and Friends
Recorded by: Troy Bjorkland
Guitar and vocals: Lonnie Knight
Bass: Jim Farber
Guitar and background vocals: Connie Lee
Drums: Roy Holdren
Background Notes: Lonnie performed with Connie Lee’s band from 2011-2014. This performance was about 2012.
The night before he died, this is one of the three songs Lonnie asked to be played at his memorial service. “…Vince Gill’s version or my version,” he said. Vince Gill’s version was played at the service. The version on this track is Lonnie’s, which was not discovered until after the service.
DISC TWO - TRACK 3
Track 3 – LIVING IN THE PROMISE LAND
Music & Lyrics by: C. Monday, L. Davis, M. Johnson
Live Performance by: Connie Lee and Friends
Recorded by: Troy Bjorkland
Guitar and vocals: Lonnie Knight
Bass: Jim Farber
Guitar and vocals: Connie Lee
Drums: Roy Holdren
Background Notes: Lonnie performed with Connie Lee’s band, Connie Lee and Friends, from 2011-2014. This was recorded at a 2012 gig at the Tennessee Roadhouse in Minnesota.
Lonnie Knight Through the Years - Disc 2
DISC TWO - TRACK 4
Track 4 – POSTCARDS FROM PARAGUAY
Music & Lyrics by: Mark Knopfler
Recorded at: Hammer Studios, Maple Plain, Minn., June 2012
Performed by: Mark Knopfler Tribute Project
Lead guitar and vocals: Lonnie Knight
Bass: Reid Papke
Second guitar: Robert Branch
Drums, percussion, engineer: Gary Haberman
Background Notes: This track and Track 1, Sultans of Swing, were work products from Hammer Studios as demos when Gary Haberman was in discussion with a booking agent. The agent was interested Gary’s proposal to develop a Knopfler tribute band. It’s unfortunate that such an excellent idea didn’t go beyond creating demos, but thankful to have them!
DISC TWO - TRACK 5
Track 5 – GRACE
Instrumental adaptation of Amazing Grace by: Lonnie Knight
Guitar: Lonnie Knight
Piano/Keys: Ricky Peterson
Background Notes: Lonnie composed this beautiful song around the late 1970s. The second of the three songs that Lonnie requested be played at his memorial service, it wasn’t found in time, so Hallelujah was chosen in its place.
DISC TWO - TRACK 6
Track 6 – HOLD ON
Music & Lyrics by: Lonnie Knight
Live performance by: The Knight-Henley Band, 1981
Recording Engineer: Tom “Zeeth” Klugherz
Lonnie Knight: Guitar and vocals
Mark Henley: Guitar, harmonica, vocals
Bill Busch: Piano and keys
Reid Papke: Bass and vocals
Tom Eckhoff: Drums and vocals
Background Notes: Greg Duffy handled the lights and Tom “Zeeth” Klugherz, the sound. Both were equal partners in the Knight-Henley Band.
Zeeth was also the sound man at the “Lonnie Knight Through the Years” CD Release Party on July 7, 2019.
DISC TWO - TRACK 7
Track 7 – COMMON GROUND
Music & Lyrics by: J. DeSouza, I Lins, J. Gunth, M. Holmes, P. Winter
Guitar and vocals: Lonnie Knight
Background Notes: Vocal arrangement and recording by Lonnie in 2014. He was taken with the tune and its message when he heard it at a Barbara Meyer gig in that same year.
Lonnie Knight Through the Years - Disc 2
DISC TWO - TRACK 8
Track 8 – RIVER
Music & Lyrics by: Lonnie Knight
Recorded at: Micside Recording Studios
Guitar and vocals: Lonnie Knight
Bass and vocals: Denny Johnson
Drums and vocals: Pete Huber
Background Notes: One of the criteria for this album (“previously unreleased…”) was waived in order to include a track from Jokers Wild, a hugely popular band in its day. Previously released on Jokers Wild-Liquid Giraffe 1968; re-released 2012.
DISC TWO - TRACK 9
Track 9 – KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART
Music & Lyrics by: Warren Zevon and Jorge Calderon
Performed by: James Loney and Lolo’s Ghost
Recorded at Star Vu & The Brewhouse Studios by: Matt Fink and Rob Genedek
Guitar and vocals: James Loney
Guitar, background vocals, lead vocal on verse 3: Lonnie Knight
Bass: Paul McFarland
Guitar: David Ernest Bennett
Piano/Keys: GR Svenddal
Drums: Joe Scanlan
Vocals: Colleen Martin Oake and Edie Rae
Background Vocals: Mick Sterling
Background Notes: Previously released on Lolo’s Ghost–The Darker the Night, the Brighter the Stars – 2016
This is the third of the three songs Lonnie asked to be played at his memorial service. “He said, “…Keep Me in Your Heart, James Loney’s version or my version.” Consequently, James, Colleen Martin-Oake, Edie Rae, and Jim Steinworth performed this song live at the service.
DISC TWO - TRACK 10
Track 10 – IF I GO
Music by: Lonnie Knight and Richard Grossman | Lyrics by: Lonnie Knight
Recorded at: Crocus Hill Studios in St. Paul
Keyboards and Vocal: Richard Grossman
Acoustic guitar and dobro: Dale Strength
Bass: Reid Papke
Background Notes:
As far as anyone knows, If I Go was the last song Lonnie ever wrote. According to at least two reliable sources, the song was performed once at a Lonnie and Reid Papke gig, but the only documentation was a lyric sheet, a video selfie of Lonnie humming the melody to the chorus accompanied by his guitar and a first-draft audio clip of Lonnie singing the chorus (Included below).
Patti hoped to see this gift to her from Lonnie come to final fruition. She asked Richard Grossman, a long-time friend and musical collaborator of Lonnie’s, to take a stab at constructing a completed song working with the three ‘clues’ Lonnie had left behind.
Knowing he couldn’t carry Lonnie’s case when it comes to the guitar, Richard focused on the piano as the primary accompaniment to the chorus melody. As for the verses, not having any specific guidance from Lonnie or not knowing what he had originally written in terms of the music, Richard came up with the chord changes and melody for the verses on mostly blind faith, but also by trying to channel Lonnie through meditation. There was encouragement from Reid Pakpe, Dale Strength and Madeleine Hart in their validation that Lonnie would have been pleased with the results. But the greatest validation came from Lonnie himself, who, in a dream, paid a visit to Richard encircled in radiant light with a warm smile, assuring him he approved of the final version.
A very special thank you goes out to Dale and Reid for sharing their talents so freely and with such heart and soulfulness to this project. Patti was truly surprised when she first heard it. The tears flowed freely as one would expect. The entire experience was quite surreal, yet extremely rewarding.
DISC TWO - TRACK 11
Track 11 – BAD LUCK
Music & Lyrics by: V. Carstarphen, G. McFadden, J. Whitehead
Live Performance at the 2015 Bayfront Blues Festival, Duluth, Minnesota
Guitar and vocals: Lonnie Knight
Guitar: Bobby Schnitzer
Background Notes: This first Knight-Schnitzer duo show was a huge success at the Bayfront Blues Festival, after which Lonnie and Bobby received a well-deserved standing ovation from an appreciative crowd. Photo by Patti Patton.