JAG – The Longest Road – 1990

After Billy Smiley heard John Allan Garies’s demo’s this album came to be. A band name was chosen which I absolutely love, JAG. An excellent play on John’s name. Anyway the album is a rock feel with a distinct White Heart feel. Guitar was handled by J. Paul Brittain who I had never heard of before or since. My only real criticism for the album is I wish they Had turned up the Rock & Roll a little bit. The album get’s a little too mellow in places. Ironically my favourite track is “Shake It Off” which is a relatively mellow track. There is a version of this song out there before Smiley got his hands on it and I’d really like to hear it. Strangely the album starts out with a cover of a Smiley song that was released by the Gaither Vocal Band. It provides an excellent introduction to the album and it’s sound. All in all I loved this album.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLqN9XiqvVk8

Tracklist
1 – Highest Place – 4:06
2 – The Longest Road – 4:32
3 – Smile Minded – 4:54
4 – Shake It Off – 4:52
5 – Empty Spaces, Quiet Places – 6:01
6 – 21 Reasons – 4:34
7 – Father Forever – 3:44
8 – Even The Hardest Heart – 4:29
9 – Follow His Heart – 3:57
10 – The Other Side – 5:15

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Diane Painter
Drums – Chuck Connor
Engineer, Mixed By – Lee Groitzsch
Keyboards – Joel McCreight
Lead Guitar – J. Paul Brittain
Lead Vocals – John Garies
Management – Steady Wind
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Other [Hair/Make-Up] – Kim Hunter
Percussion – Chuck Connor
Photography By – Empire Studio
Producer, Mixed By – Billy Smiley
Recorded By – Duane Evans
Rhythm Guitar – Joel McCreight, J. Paul Brittain

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Spectra Distribution
Produced For – BBK Productions, Inc.
Recorded At – OmniSound Studios, Studio 19, Nashville, EBS Studios, Recording Arts
Mixed At – Warner Brothers Studios, Nashville

John Allan Garies – It’s Your Choice – 1987

Before JAG there was John Allan Garies. This was his first album and quite frankly he nailed it. It was a self release but I can’t see if it had any distribution so I have no idea if anyone ever heard it. It was very well produced by Dean Harrington from Mylon & Broken Heart who also supplied some of the guitar licks. The album is a great rock pop effort and quite frankly I think it would have sold well if it had a label behind it. Anyway as the story goes he self released this album but when it came time to shop a single he actually cut a new track called “Shake It Off”. One way or another John ended up in Billy Smiley’s tour bus and gave him a tape of that single. Bill liked what he heard and went on to produce 3 albums for what would be known as JAG. Some good news came in 2020 when Girder re-released the album on CD for the masses that never heard it. Even more good news is that as I write this it’s only $5 at Girder music here. https://girdermusic.com/products/john-a-garies-jag-its-your-choice-cd?srsltid=AfmBOorWMHzoA5AIq_V-hCI35YN1g-1NLOEIQAmAoFH5J4FNA_WMlU5d

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUEGjVS9AGQ4

Tracklist
1 – Road To Babylon – 3:51
2 – This Could Be The Day – 3:12
3 – When The Dawn Breaks Thru – 4:35
4 – Free Indeed – 3:14
5 – I’m So Happy – 3:36
6 – He’s Touching Somebody – 3:39
7 – I Hope You Know Him – 4:26
8 – Psalm Of The Heart – 3:43
9 – It’s Your Choice – 3:58
10 – Selah – 4:04
Bonus
11 – JAG and the Bite – Shake It Off – 4:52

Credits
Design Concept [Cover Concept] – John Allan Garies
Engineer [Basic Tracks] – Duane Evans
Engineer [Vocals] – Glen Marchese
Guitar – Dean “Ceedee” Harrington
Keyboards, Effects [Flight Simulator] – Larry “Lars” Rust
Keyboards, Programmed By [Sequencer Programming] – Roger “Wagons Ho” Lowe
Keyboards, Voice [Impressions] – Duane “Deuce” Evans
Mixed By – Harrington, Marchese, Garies
Percussion – “Rockin” Rob Cali
Producer – Dean Harrington
Vocals, Instruments [Jack Of All Instruments, Master Of None] – John Allan Garies
Words By, Music By – John Allan Garies

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – EBS Studios
Recorded At – Grandslam, West Orange, NJ
Mixed At – Grandslam, West Orange, NJ
Published By – Steady Wind Music