Singled Out: Big Jim Brown “Richard”

October 30, 2018 Brian Carroll

From: Pensacola, FL

Song: “Richard”

Latest Album: The Devil on the Other Shoulder (out December 7th)

What About It: “The process of recording “Richard” was a bit different then the other tracks on the album…

Usually there will be adjustments made throughout the recording process, either to chord structure, arrangement, or the lyrics…. but song sprung into my mind fully formed lyrically. It was as if it wanted to be exactly like it is – it was a strong little song that wouldn’t allow and didn’t need any adjustments from me! The chords in the arrangement came together day of the recording session. As a matter fact, the version on the record is not only a first take, but it’s the first time the chords and the words were played together. It was meant to be a rehearsal but the emotion was so strong that we had to keep it. It’s just an acoustic guitar and vocal with a very faint track of a telecaster with a very wet delay (A very sad and haunted sound that suits the song).

It was written in the voice of the main character and based on true events. A guy that I know… Older guy (73)… Really old school (in good and not so good ways). Rides a Triumph motorcycle and actually has ongoing relationships with prostitutes. (Who really does that?) A real life Fonz…

Anyway, he had trouble with his eyes a few years ago. A very painful and debilitating condition …actually the first health problem he’d ever had.

He is also friends with Richard who is an adult student of mine. One night, his pain and fear got so bad in the midst of his illness that he actually called Richard and asked him to come to his house and take his pistol away because he didn’t trust himself to be left alone with a gun.

That had a profound effect on me. No matter how cool and tough you think you are, shit can get really bad, really fast. It’s a very emotional song… It wasn’t crafted so much as it came out all at once – fully formed. The strong language is a result of the authenticity of speaking in the guy’s voice…. vulnerable – but still a tough guy. It’s the sound of a man questioning himself for the first time in his life… A time when it’s really too late to change. Maybe women aren’t just objects… maybe he wouldn’t be so alone and afraid if he’d let real love into his life?”