You won't see visible vinyl grooves on these new releases, but the digital format of the single recording fits well into the current practice of downloading music into portable players. "Mr.Sputnik" and "Tater Gun Strut" were the first members to join Richard's bag of tunes. Both tunes have great stories behind their inception and were recorded on the 6 and 12-string guitar. Now, Richard has added additional singles as duets as he continues to expand his library.

Singles

Fuschia Circle North

I lived on Fuschia Circle North in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida as a 13 and 14-year old, one year before I began playing the guitar.  When I titled the tune I had in mind that many tunes had the names of colors, drives or streets, or directions.  The variations on that theme rang true with this tune as I fell into this title with the memories of my earlier years. In Clonakilty, Ireland my friend Margaret Kennedy came up with a beautiful melody on flute to fit the tune.  I had always felt that it needed that and our mutual friend Stephen Housden from the Little River Band joined in on guitar. We recorded the entire project in a single night - bidding farewell from Stephen's studio at 3am. I also discovered during recording that the Fuschia flower is the local flower of Clonakilty. The timing and situation could not have been more apropos.

Available at Bandcamp

The Lilas

Available for Download at

https://open.spotify.com/album/5F3GbRJX55v15hskx8Ycni
 

https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-lilas-single/1623903507

 

Mr. Sputnik

Mr. Sputnik was born in a hospital.  Not quite a birth, but more of a rebirth.  

My friend Waz, William Arthur Ziehl, called me late one night and left the message on my phone. “Yo Bro. I just died.”  Of course I did what any good friend would do.  I called him back to see how he was doing. Apparently some heart medication collided and his tongue swelled enough to get him, shall we say, all choked up. According to Waz, he temporarily flat-lined, and before returning to the land of the uprights, had a dream that he was a robot – admittedly a reaction to hearing the machinery in the ER.Proud of his 10 seconds of fame in the netherworld, he wrote a slew of letters to all of his doctors requesting to now be known as Mr. Sputnik. Claiming if he ever did croak and return to the robot world, he figured the name would serve him well. But, fearing he would not know how to properly defend himself among the robots, he began studying robotics.   

Elated that my friend Waz was still alive and currently my only musician friend with an unofficial robot name, I wrote just about the happiest tune I could - rumored to be in the Key of A although it starts on an E chord.  I thought it was only proper to include a minor chord within the tune to properly acknowledge his temporary demise, but being merely a 10 second episode, I only allowed for two beats out of a bar during a transitional move. The tune, which will more than likely be arranged and rearranged for the duration of my career, seems to sit very well on both a 6 and 12- string guitar.  I also noted a cozy spot existed on the 6-string with a capo placed at the 3rd fret.

Both the 6 and 12-string tracks were recorded in impromptu fashion in only two takes each at my friend Kim Quick’s home studio, “Over the Edge Studio” in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. While in route to West Palm Beach to perform a show at the Kravis Center, I stopped to try out Kim’s gear and the tunes took on a life of their own. Since I really liked the variations between the 6 and 12-string tracks, I elected to record both.  If Waz can live in two worlds, then the tune can live on two guitars. Long live Mr. Sputnik!

 Mr. Sputnik was brilliantly mixed and mastered by Tim Roberts of Nashville, Tennessee, who worked on my two previous releases, “Strings for a Season” and “Tasmania Live”.

This release is the 6-string version.

Downloads available at CDBaby
Downloads available at iTunes

Available at Bandcamp

Mr. Sputnik:

Duet with Richard Gilewitz and Michael Fix

Mister Sputnik, a single released by Richard in 2013, takes a spin out into the universe with the addition of an Aussie as part of the crew to deliver a delightful and bouncy tune. This time, Australian guitarist Michael Fix joins Richard in a 6-string duet when they recorded this version while on tour together in Australia.  As a tune that is forever expanding, much like the vast universe, the stories and music of this piece will continually take off into space with other artists joining Mr. Sputnik's crew of robots. 

About Michael Fix: Michael Fix is widely acclaimed as one of the world’s finest acoustic guitarists.  He has won three Golden Guitars and numerous other awards in Australia, and tours widely throughout the world, particularly Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, and elsewhere in Europe. In 2012 he made his first trip to South Africa, where he performed to standing ovations in every venue. Over the past two decades, he’s released 13 albums, together with several singles and EPs, and has established himself globally as a leading performer, appearing at festivals and concert venues across Australia, Europe and Asia. His latest release is the evocative Time Lines, featuring a collection of exquisite new pieces, inspired by Michael’s travels over the past few years as well as experiences closer to home, together with unique arrangements of some of the songs that have inspired him over the years. See more at: http://www.michaelfix.com

Downloads available at CDBaby
Downloads available at iTunes