Jacob  Hoggard: vocal
Dave Rosin: guitars
Tommy Mac: bass
Chris Crippin: drums

Produced by Brian Howes.  Recorded by Jay Van Poederooyen at Armoury Studios, Greenhouse Studios and Hipposonic Studios (Vancouver). Mixed by Randy Staub at The Warehouse Studios (Vancouver).

	Hedley CD cover, 2005

I hadn't written a song in nearly two years when, in June 2005, I got a call from my old friend Brian Howes. Brian was producing the band "Hedley" at The Armoury, a Vancouver recording studio I'd built in the early 90's.  He invited me to drop by and have a listen. 

When I arrived, I expected to hear a completed song on the big studio speakers.  Instead, Brian pulled out his acoustic guitar. Sitting on the edge of a couch in the studio reception area, he sang me an unfinished song.

I've spent most of the past 35 years writing music, and to be honest, I was a bit burned out ... I'd even considered retiring ... so songwriting was the last thing on my mind when I arrived at the studio that day.

When he finished playing the song, Brian asked me if I had any comments.  For starters, it was obvious the song had some minor structural problems, which I pointed out.  Brian picked up his guitar and tried my suggestion, which seemed to work. 

There were also some gaps in the lyric, and Brian asked me if I had any ideas. Again, I made a few small suggestions ... most significantly, I noted that the lyric "3-2-1" was tucked away and I thought it deserved more prominence.  In fact, I thought "3-2-1" would make a great title.

Once again, Brian picked up his guitar and graciously tried my suggestion.

And so it went, for the next hour or two ... Brian asking me what I thought, and me making small suggestions, to the best of my burned-out ability.

There's a fairy tale I recall from my childhood ...

A weary traveller arrives in a village and asks for food ... but the stingy villagers tell him their cupboards are empty.

"Well then", says the traveller, "I suppose I'll just have to make some Stone Soup". 

He asks if he can borrow a pot of water and a small quantity of firewood, which the villagers grudgingly supply.  The traveller lights a fire, and as the water begins to boil he takes a small stone from his pocket and drops it in the pot.  Curious, the villagers draw nearer. 

After a while the traveller tastes the water and says, "Not bad ... but a bit of celery would certainly make a difference". 

One of the curious villagers produces a few stalks of celery, which the traveller adds to the boiling water.  He takes another taste. 

"Not bad", he says, "But a carrot or two would certainly make a difference". 

Another villager produces a handful of carrots, which are also added to the pot. 

To make a long story short, over the course of an hour or two the traveller tricks the villagers into contributing a variety of ingredients. When the recipe is complete, he invites them to share his very tasty pot of "Stone Soup".

Not unlike the soup story, Brian Howes piqued my curiosity and drew me into his song, to the point where I ending up contributing a few ingredients. 

And the truth is, I enjoyed every minute of it.