Press Release
Source: Kari Estrin Mgt/Consulting & Radio Promo
Muriel Anderson’s Sailing Dreams is based on Muriel’s sailing adventures with her partner Bryan Allen, sailing from Long Island to Maine’s Penobscot Bay, while documenting their travels in song, video and photography. But wait – there’s also a board game based on her journey! (board game separate!)
Named by Guitar Player magazine as one of the “50 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” in July 2021 and last month as one of “The Top 10 Female Guitarists of all Time” Muriel also delights us with her unique harp guitar – designed together with the builder and made for Muriel, the arrangements, and Muriel’s gorgeous vocals not usually heard on her releases.
And with a lifetime in music, Muriel invited some of her friends as special guests – Suzy Bogguss (“Sailing Dream” lead vocals), as well as Tommy Emmanuel, Phil Keaggy and others!
“Just one hell of a great player.” – Les Paul
Muriel reveals new levels of depth and nuance in Sailing Dreams. The boundaries of her creativity and positive energy are further stretched with Muriel’s new release, inspired by sailing from Fire Island, New York, to Maine. It is proof positive of her enduring legacy as a composer and lyricist.
Each of the tracks has a story attached. Muriel and her partner, Cap’n Bryan, saw a schooner from 1871 emerge from the fog, anchored near them. They rowed over, pretending to be pirates and shouted,“Who’s your captain, we’re taking over the ship!”
To their surprise, a man came to the side and said, “I’m Captain Noah, and I need a day off, so come onboard.”
They climbed up the rigging to find that he was a blues player, and a jam session ensued. The experience is captured in the tune “Captain Noah,” with the help of the bluesy virtuosity of guest guitarist, Phil Keaggy, and Take 6’s Mark Kibble.
“…a great guitarist. She deserves national recognition. – Chet Atkins
Muriel Anderson – photo credit; Bryan Allen
The song “Sailing Dream” came to Muriel entirely in a dream, complete with the voice of Suzy Bogguss, who sings it on the album. While listening to the instrumental “Perseid,” you can hear the sounds of the owls, and virtually see the starry sky and shooting stars. “Rainy Harbor” captures the beautiful melody of raindrops on the deck.
And, of course, no maritime album is complete without epic sea shanties like “Sailing to Yesterday” and “Favorable Winds,” with a cameo appearance by Tommy Emmanuel. Muriel invites you on her journey, and even designed a board game that follows her adventures, as a companion to the album!
SAILING DREAMS – TRACK CARD
1. Tides (3:35) Hopeful, reflective, featuring vocals by Tommy Emmanuel. The tides rise and fall by 11 feet or more in Penobscott Bay. I see parallels in life.
2. Let Loose & Fly (4:11) Happy, uplifting instrumental. Written while underway on Cap’n Bryan’s sailboat, hot air balloons overhead.
3. Sailing Dream (3:44) Freedom, longing featuring vocals by Suzy Bogguss. When I woke from my dream, I could remember a melody, lyrics, guitar parts, bass, drums and a voice like Suzy Bogguss singing. This is nearly exactly the way it sounded in the dream.
4. Perseid (3:29) Moody, reflective, hopeful instrumental. I was awakened by two owls singing to each other. I opened the hatch and saw a sky full of stars and the Perseid meteor shower.
5. Captain Noah (5:17) Bluesy, fun. Bryan and I pretended to be pirates and rowed over to a schooner from 1871, claiming “Who’s your captain, we’re taking over your ship!” A voice answered, “I’m Captain Noah and I need a day off, so come on board!” We climbed up the rigging, Noah took out his guitar and harmonica, and a blues jam ensued.
6. Rainy Harbor (3:05) Dreamy instrumental – I was entranced by the melodies of the rain on the deck.
7. Sailing to Yesterday (4:14) Joyfully anthemic sea shanty. The further we sailed “down east,” the more it felt like we were going back in time.
8. The Drunken Wellerman (4:33) Anthemic instrumental shanty. An improv with Phil Keaggy, based on the shanties, “The Drunken Sailor” and “The Wellerman.”
9. Favorable Winds (5:29) Anthemic sea journey. I thought I’d write a song to the wind, beseeching it to go in the right direction. The song sketches our trip from Fire Island to Maine.
10. Friendship (4:42) Nostalgic, reflective instr. I’m thankful for friendships, many were made on our journey. I recorded this together with my longtime friend, Phil Keaggy.
11. Silver Wind (3:50) Hopeful, uplifting instrumental. I originally wrote this for guitar and flute, and it took a new shape with Phil Keaggy’s improvisations.
12. I’m Sailing, I’m Sailing (3:06) Wistful, leaving troubles behind. The title is a quote from the movie “What About Bob?” (1991), yet the lyrics are personal. Mark Kibble adds his “Take 6” harmonies.
13. Captain Noah Instrumental (5:18) Relaxed, bluesy instrumental.Our original improv I call “Captain Noah,” recorded just before the birth of Phil Keaggy’s grandson, coincidentally named Noah.
Top 10 fun facts about Muriel Anderson!
1. After having vowed she would never learn “Stairway to Heaven,” she swapped guitar tunes for an hour with Jimmy Page in a lobby where she was performing, and yes, he taught her “Stairway to Heaven.”
2. She became the first woman and the first nylon-string player to win the National Fingerstyle Championship in 1989.
3. Known only as the “cookie lady” to Andres Segovia, as she used to bake cookies for him every time he came to Chicago.
4. Her multi-award winning CD, Nightlight Daylight, has a cover with choreographed lights, a design she conceived. Among a dozen top honors, Guitar Player magazine listed it as one of the Noteworthy Guitar Albums of the Past 50 Years. The artist she hired to do the cover later became her partner, Cap’n Bryan Allen, who introduced her to sailing.
5. While in college, her mandolin teacher, Jethro Burns, after hearing Muriel play “Nola” on the guitar responded, “You have to meet my brother-in-law, Chet Atkins!” The introduction was made, and her new mentor sent cassette tapes of tunes he recorded in his basement for her to learn. She recorded many on her Heartstrings release.
6. Upon playing at the Fajita Fest for the astronauts in Houston, Susan Helms bought her Heartstrings recording and took it up with her on the space shuttle. She said, “It’s good music to watch the earth by.”
7 The Acoustic Chef book/CD comes with music for each recipe. Recipes were gathered from Muriel’s travels around the world, and the music featured guest musicians from each country, including Django Reinhardt’s grandson, Lulo Reinhardt.
8. “Monday Live” was started to bring people together in a positive way every week during the pandemic and Muriel continues it to this day.
9. She produced, hosted, and performed in over 50 All Star Guitar Night shows over the past 30+ years, featuring such icons as Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Duane Eddy, along with many excellent lesser-known guitarists.
10. She started the Music for Life Alliance charity, supporting music education for kids.
