The View from the studio in Alamosa
Here’s a brief sampling of some recent projects Don has engineered, as well as produced or co-produced.
Eliza Gilkyson – Songs From the River Wind and Home
Twice Grammy nominated Eliza Gilkyson is one of the most beloved singer-songwriters in the folk/Americana/roots music world today. Her songs have been covered by Joan Baez, Bob Geldof, The Conspirare Choir, Tom Rush and Rosanne Cash and have appeared in films, PBS specials and on primetime TV. A member of the Austin Music Hall of Fame, and an inductee into the Austin Songwriter Hall of Fame, she has won countless Folk Alliance and Austin Music awards, including 2014’s Songwriter of the Year and the “Song of the Year” Award at the Folk Alliance International Conference in 2021. Eliza is known for her compassionate take on the human condition and her story-songs that celebrate and grieve for the natural world and the critical times to which her music bears witness. Don is listed as producer on Songs From the River Wind and co-producer (with Eliza) on Home, and played many instruments on both projects, as well as engineering and mixing.
Song credits -
True North – Eliza Gilkyson – acoustic guitar, lead vocal Don Richmond – banjo, mandolin, bass, electric guitars, pedal steel guitar, Weissenborn slide guitar, harmony vocal Rod Taylor – harmony vocal
World Keeps on Singing - Eliza Gilkyson – acoustic guitar, lead vocal Nina Gerber – 12 string acoustic guitar, electric guitar Don Richmond – 12 string electric guitar, bass, pedal steel guitar, harmony vocal Jim Bradley – harmony vocal Cisco Ryder – drums
Don't Stop Lovin' Me - Eliza Gilkyson – acoustic guitar, lead vocal, Don Richmond – bass, pedal steel guitar, electric guitars, fiddle Jim Bradley – harmony vocal Rod Taylor – harmony vocal
Michael Hearne and Shake Russell - Only as Strong as Your Dreams
Only as Strong as Your Dreams is the long awaited first duo release of these two old friends and long-time collaborators and co-writers. Hearne and Russell are truly a powerhouse duo, with two long lifetimes spent writing, singing and playing the songs of Texas and the great Southwest. Shake’s deep poetry, beautiful love songs and delightfully expressive vocal and guitar work are perfectly complemented by Michael’s blazing musicianship, “whiskey-velvet voice” (as friend Eliza Gilkyson described it), and his own rich and varied songwriting. Shake recently had a song land on Miranda Lambert’s platinum selling “The Weight of These Wings” and has previously had songs covered by Ricky Skaggs, Waylon Jennings, and Clint Black. Michael is widely credited with establishing the sound of “Southwest Americana” in northern New Mexico and across Texas, and has songs recorded by Gary P. Nunn, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Johnny Rodriguez.
Song credits -
I Got News for You - Shake Russell – acoustic guitar, lead vocal Michael Hearne – acoustic guitar, harmony vocal Don Richmond – acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, string bass, harmony vocal James Doyle – drums
The Girl Just Loves to Dance - Michael Hearne – acoustic guitars, vocal Shake Russell – vocal Don Richmond – string bass, harmony vocal Jimmy Stadler – piano Carmen Acciaioli – steel guitar James Doyle – drums
Michael Hearne – High Road to Taos and Red River Dreams
Michael Hearne is widely credited as being one of the creators of the airy, high altitude “Southwestern Americana” sound popular in northern New Mexico, where he lived for 35 years before returning to his native Texas. Don recorded and co-produced his last few albums, most notably the luminous “High Road to Taos” and his newest release “Red River Dreams”, as well as his duo album with Shake Russell, “Only as Strong as Your Dreams”.
Song credits -
Red Willow Way – Michael Hearne – acoustic guitars, synth, bass, lead vocal Robert Mirabal – native wooden flutes Don Richmond – fiddle, pedal steel, percussion Jimmy Stadler – piano Craig Neil – background vocals
The Highway Is a Friend of Mine - Michael Hearne – acoustic guitars, lead vocal Don Richmond – string bass, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, dobro, harmony vocal James Doyle – drums
Blue Enough - Michael Hearne – acoustic guitar, lead vocal Don Richmond – string bass, Weissenborn guitar, accordion, electric guitar, background vocals Kelley Mickwee – harmony vocals James Doyle – cajon
Bob Livingston - Up the Flatland Stairs
Bob Livingston is one of the founders of the “Austin Sound” that emerged in the early 70s and established Austin, Texas as a national music center. Bob was a member of the seminal group “The Lost Gonzo Band” that toured and recorded with both Jerry Jeff Walker and Michael Murphey and were part of some of the most influential country-rock albums of that period, such as “Viva Terlingua” (with Walker) and “Geronimo’s Cadillac” (with Murphey). Don co-produced this new album from Bob that is both a look back down the trail and as new as tomorrow, in many ways encapsulating his entire journey and career.
Song credits -
Can’t Get Enough of It - Bob Livingston – acoustic guitar, harmonica, lead vocals Don Richmond – bass, electric guitars, organ, pedal steel, harmony vocals James Doyle – drums
The Early Days - Bob Livingston – acoustic guitar, lead vocals Kelley Mickwee – harmony vocals Don Richmond – bass, electric guitar, dobro, harmony vocals Warren Hood – fiddle Jimmy Stadler – piano James Doyle – drums
Caution to the Wind - Bob Livingston – acoustic guitar, harmonica, percussion, lead vocals Kelley Mickwee – harmony vocals Don Richmond – bass, electric guitars, organ, lap steel, percussion, loops, harmony vocals John Michel – drums James Doyle – riq, dumbek
Bill Hearne - All That’s Real
Bill Hearne is an icon of New Mexico and Texas music, cited as influential in the careers of artists like Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovett, who used to open shows for Bill and his wife Bonnie when they played as a duo in Austin in the mid 1970s. Bill is often referred to as “the Doc Watson of the Southwest”, referring both to his visual impairment (legally blind) but mostly to his phenomenal flatpicking prowess, regularly both holding down a danceable rhythm while playing creative and distinctive lead runs simultaneously. Don has co-produced his last three releases, playing many of the backing and color instruments in the productions.
Song credits -
On a Dream With You - Bill Hearne – lead and rhythm acoustic guitars, lead vocal; Don Richmond – mandolin, Weissenborn slide guitar, accordion, violins, shaker; Jim Bradley – bass; Robin James – harmony vocal; Brett Davis – electric guitar; James Doyle – drums
Truck Song - Bill Hearne – lead and rhythm acoustic guitars, lead vocal; Michael Hearne - acoustic guitar, Bob Goldstein – electric guitar, harmonica, harmony vocal; Don Richmond - fiddle, pedal steel guitar, snare, harmony vocal; Dave Toland – bass
Chris Arellano - Nuevo Americana
Chris Arellano is a musician and songwriter of rare talent and a remarkable blend of influences, gathered from playing drums in his father’s Spanish band at 8 years of age, to absorbing the airy northern New Mexico southwestern folk-Americana being played in Red River, to his years in Nashville as a musician and producer, to his years running his “School of Rock” program in Oregon, helping young musicians to achieve their dreams of playing music. Don co-produced his new release “Nuevo Americana”, showcasing Chris’s breadth of expression from Spanish Norteno tunes to beautiful folk-Americana to driving blues-rock.
Song credits -
Diamond Jane - Chris Arellano - lead vocal, acoustic guitar, baritone guitar Rodney Arellano - bass, harmony vocals Don Richmond - banjo, harmony vocals Paul Pearcy – drums Scott Harris – pedal steel
Despidida - Chris Arellano – vocal, guitar Rodney Arellano – vocal, bass Paul Pearcy – drums Scott Harris – pedal steel Don Richmond – trumpet, organ Jordan Wax – accordion
Jordyn Pepper - Mountain Rain
Mountain Rain is the new Howlin’ Dog Records release from a brand-new rising star in the country/Americana music world by the name of Jordyn Pepper. Jordyn was the winner of the 2016 Josie Award for solo vocalist in the Folk/Americana/Bluegrass category. Don co-produced the project and played most of the instruments on the songs.
Song credits -
You Could Be the One – Jordyn Pepper – lead and background vocals Don Richmond – acoustic and electric guitars, lap steel, mandolin, bass, banjo, organ, harmony vocals James Doyle – drums
Back to My Roots – Jordyn Pepper – lead vocal Don Richmond – electric and acoustic guitars, lap steel, bass, organ, banjo, harmony vocals Robin James – harmony vocal James Doyle - drums
Susan Gibson - Remember Who You Are
Susan Gibson is widely known as the writer of the Dixie Chicks smash hit “Wide Open Spaces”. She is also one of the hardest-working troubadours anywhere, touring all over the western US. Don produced her recent EP “Remember Who You Are”, and played most of the instruments on the tunes, other than Susan’s guitar and banjo and James Doyle’s percussion.
Song credits -
Put the Shovel Down – Susan Gibson – acoustic guitar, lead vocal Don Richmond – electric guitars, lap steel, organ , harmony vocals James Doyle - drums
Shoulda - Susan Gibson – acoustic guitar, lead vocal Don Richmond – electric guitars, mandolin, bass, pedal steel, fiddle, harmony vocals James Doyle - drums
Remember Who You Are – Susan Gibson – acoustic guitar, lead vocal, Don Richmond – banjitar, string bass, dobro, accordion, harmony vocals James Doyle - cajon
Ry Taylor - Take Out Your Tongue
Ry Taylor is a young rising star in his genre he calls “acoustic groove”, delightfully blending influences from Latin jazz to folk to reggae to rock in an amalgam that is definitely Ry Taylor. Don produced this 2016 release, crafting the arrangements and playing a large share of the instruments.
Song credits -
Take Out Your Tongue - Ry Taylor – acoustic guitar, vocal Dana Louise – harmony vocal Don Richmond – string bass, pedal steel James Doyle – drums Adams Collins – vibes Dexter Payne – clarinet
How Do You Feel - Ry Taylor – acoustic guitar, vocal James Doyle – drums Don Richmond – bass, electric guitars, organ, fiddle, harmony vocal Dana Louise – harmony vocal
Rifters - Architecture of a Fire
The Rifters is Don’s main performing group, consisting of well-known western singer Rod Taylor, on guitar, mandolin, and vocals, and Jim Bradley on bass and vocals, with Don adding guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, dobro, pedal steel, accordion and keyboards to the mix. Don recorded and co-produced all of the four Rifters releases.
Song credits -
A Hundred Miles - Don Richmond - acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, pedal steel guitar, lead vocal Rod Taylor - acoustic guitar, harmony vocal Jim Bradley - bass, harmony vocal
Architecture of a Fire - Rod Taylor - acoustic guitar, lead vocal Don Richmond - mandolin, acoustic guitar, violin, pedal steel guitar, harmony vocal Jim Bradley - bass, piano, harmony vocal
Don Richmond – Like Lazarus
“Like Lazarus” is one of Don’s solo projects. He engineered and produced the project and played most of the instruments.
Song credits -
Before I Know Who You Are - John Michel – drums Jim Bradley – bass Don Conoscenti – electric guitars Creed de Avanzar – congas Don Richmond – acoustic and rhythm electric guitars, bottleneck slide guitar, mandolin, banjo, organ, vocals
Holy Water - John Michel – drums Jim Bradley – bass Matt Schildt – piano Don Richmond – acoustic guitar, Weissenborn guitar, bouzouki, organ, vocals Mark Dudrow – cello Corliss Taylor-Dunn – vocals Beth Quist - vocals
