In last year’s Strange Brew Podcast, Jim McCarty talked about his time in The Yardbirds, Shoot and Renaissance. Tantalisingly he briefly trailed his forthcoming solo album.
One year on, Jason Barnard catches up with Jim about the long awaited release of Walking in the Wild Land and acclaimed autobiography Nobody Told Me.
Hi, Jim. You have an excellent new album out ‘Walking in the Wild Land’ on Angel Air. What was the writing process – how long did it take to write and what has inspired you in this period?
Thanks for the thumbs- up; it’s taken about 3/4 years – started when George Koller called me up when I was in Toronto in 2014. He said he had an arrangement with no 9 studios, and invited me to come down and work on some ideas! Of course that was a great incentive!
The songs were written down here in France- all about Nature and other similar philosophy. There is a lovely connection with the landscape and the nature here – I always find it very healing.
Are there any particular tracks you would recommend readers seek out as a taster and why? ‘Mountain Song’ and the title track are two of my favourites.
“Walking in the Wild Land”, “Mountain Song”, “Charmed” and “Soft in a Hard Place” I think come off best.
‘Changing Times’ has a superb string arrangement – was that something you envisioned?
“Changing Times” also comes off very nicely. Hugh Syme did the great string arrangement which was a big surprise! He actually is an album designer, doing them for Rush and Aerosmith, so I was surprised he could be so musical.
When we spoke last year for the podcast you mentioned that you recorded this album in Toronto.
Toronto fitted in like it did for the previous album- recording some sessions when I could and going off to do the occasional US tour.
Do you have a clear idea of how you want to arrange a song before you go into the studio?
The songs were very simple initially, with myself on acoustic, George on bass, and Tom Reynolds on keyboards, one of the nicest guys I have met. Once we had the tracks Terry Brown got involved, and we added some other musicians- Ben Riley, Alex Lifeson and a great guy on flugel horn (name coming in next installment). Also Ray Montford and Drew Jurecka, a great violin prodigy! Flugel horn- Guido Basso.
Former Renaissance bandmate John Hawken plays on ‘Right on the Road’ and ‘Connected’, and Rush’s Alex Lifeson plays on ‘Soft In A Hard Place’. How did they get involved?
Alex was a contact from Terry Brown, who produced Rush, and John Hawken was there as we had done a short tour of Ontario in 2013, and laid down a couple of tracks at that time.
Did looking back at your life for your new autobiography ‘Nobody Told Me’, influence the record at all?
The book seems to be something quite independent, though George Koller has been very keen on the idea for a while. I did some work on it with Rob Bowman in Toronto and ended up working with Dave Thompson, who is also a Brit, and understands all that history!
Was ‘Nobody Told Me’ an opportunity to put the past to bed and look to future? That seems to be one of the key themes of your new album.
I guess unconsciously the book does put a certain era to rest, and then one can move on.
Did you see it was a chance to set the record straight with your autobiography on any misconceptions/myths – such as Keith Relf’s tragic death?
There’s a lot of “inside” info I can light up, including Keith’s death, which maybe can be put to rest. It is quite funny the number of things I still remember that didn’t go in!
Did the memories come flooding back when you listened to the remastered Yardbirds ‘68 material and worked again with Jimmy Page and Chris Dreja on the release? What was it like meeting up together again?
Great meeting up with Jimmy and Chris especially on such a good project- sounding good, nice presentation plus some extra dosh! Jimmy has been very kind with the book intro.
It’s clear in your autobiography the influential role that Paul Samwell-Smith played in the formative days of The Yardbirds and Renaissance. What was the most important contribution he made for both groups?
Paul was a very important member of the original band, being part of the decision to make that early “Blues” influence a bit different. He was in the line- up that established the sound that we’re famous for. Production wise- making sure the band sounded great on that first Renaissance recording particularly.
And/or will there be new Yardbirds material/albums given the current line-up has been so well received?
No real plans for the moment – we shall see……
‘Charmed’ from ‘Walking in the Wild Land’ seems to summarise your current outlook on life. Am I right to assume that you have no plans to ‘retire’?
I’m happy that I’ve had a good life in music, able to still contribute ideas and songs- very proud of being part of “Shapes of Things”, such a good song, and always aware of being “Charmed”.
Further information
Walking in the Wild Land is available through Angel Air Records.
Nobody Told Me: My Life with the Yardbirds, Renaissance and Other Stories by Jim McCarty & Dave Thompson is available through Lulu.
Further information on all of Jim’s activities including The Yardbirds can be found at his official website.
The Strange Brew Podcast show with Jim McCarty is available here.
