suzy's guitar by Olds Sleeper

Suzy Smith is a folk artist from Georgia. We became friends online more than 10 years ago ...we've never met in person, but she has been a constant and supportive presence in my weird world ever since. She does all kinds of dream-like and color-infused folk art, and her works have inspired me repeatedly over the years.

She is a good soul and an earth-goddess of sorts...she brings her full attention to nature and her art reflects a deep seeing of connection among all things-- rivers, animals, trees, people.

More of her work can be found here:
https://www.instagram.com/suzysuesmithster/

In June of 2016, I sent Suzy a cheap nylon-stringed guitar to customize for me. I told her to do whatever she wanted to it. And I told her to take her time...let inspiration come when it does.

One year later, in June 2017, she returned it to me-- a beautiful masterpiece of woodburnt art. Inspiring. Transformed. I was stunned by the design and It felt different in my hands. I strung it up, tuned it to an open tuning, and recorded the first song that came out of it. The first song on this album.

More songs came. It was a comfortable thing to play.

One year after receiving "suzy's" guitar and playing it almost every day..usually early in the morning before the sun rose: I put together this small album. Dreams half unwound. New songs. Some older ones. Mostly recorded very early. Lots of birds on the tracks...the sun coming up.... a connection among all things.

This is a collection of songs written on this weird, sweet little instrument that my old friend designed just for me...I truly believe her art transformed the spirit of this little guitar. It has become one of my cherished possessions.

thanks for listening.
olds

Postscript: Suzy passed away in June 2023. I got the news while I was playing this guitar on my couch on Saturday morning. She is missed.

Tracklist

1.	birds and strings	2:23

2.	calling out	3:38

3.	brown country/ roads	3:02

4.	christine ( run away with me)	3:18

5.	sunlight/ trees	2:06

6.	first friday december	4:20

7.	rivers, moons and moods	2:23

8.	nothing better	4:27

9.	I dont mean to bring you down	4:50

10.	let this day	3:02

11.	time in my mind	2:09

Credits

released June 17, 2018

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