NEW SINGLE, "ILLINOIS" out now
I have a mischievious friend, who for years when he went digging through the LP stacks at Amoeba Music in Hollywood would collect all of the Dan Fogelberg records he came across, and, at the end of his search, would stealthily place the dozens of Fogelberg LPs all across the displays on the isles. His identity remained unknown to the Amoeba staff, but they started affectionately (or maybe otherwise) calling him the Fogelberg Bandit. (editor's note, it wasn't me!)
“Illinois” is perhaps my favorite Fogelberg composition. The song is about a half-defeated homecoming, but where silver linings abound.
In retrospect, my interest in the song was foretelling of my own possibly immanent return to my hometown of Nevada City CA. Collateral damage of the unstable and outragous housing market in Southern California post Eaton Fire, my rental and studio space is now being sold out from under me.
I’m from California, not Illinois, so I relate to this song in multifaceted ways, and even hold my own interpretations of these lyrics. “Open the curtains and let the rest wait” is a favorite line, oft remembered when enjoying coffee in bed (as often as possible), and the hand drawn artwork by my friend Amy Blaschke is done in the arched shape of the windows on my rented Spanish house here in “South California”. Dan's vocal arrangement on the chorus is so cool, the low harmony part comes within a mere single step away from the melody, creating an.. almost rub. I carefully recreated that here. My version is faster, in a different key, and has an extended instrumental outro and slide solo at the end. It features two dear friends and collaborators: Justin Smith on drums, who played this track with his broken kick drum foot in a cast! The other key collaborator, on Emmons pedal steel guitar, is Catfish Connor Gallaher. He possesses boundless melodic and rhythmic ideas and applies them liberally here. We hope you enjoy. Thanks to all.
lyrics
‘Illinois’ by Dan Fogelberg
Dusty days dawning, three hours late
Open the curtains, let the rest wait
My mind goes runnin’, three thousand miles east
I may miss the harvest, but I won’t miss the feast
And it looks like your gonna have to see me again
And it looks like your gonna have to see me again
And it looks like your gonna have to see me again
Illinois, oh Illinois, Illinois, oh Illinois
South California sun is too cold
Looks like your hills have been raped of their gold
I should have come bank, when I was first told
This lamb has got too, return to the fold
And it looks like your gonna have to see me again
And it looks like your gonna have to see me again
And it looks like your gonna have to see me again
Illinois, oh Illinois, Illinois, I’m you boy
Light on the prairie, soil and stone
Stretching forever, taking me home
I’ve got a woman who waits for me there
And I need a breath of that sweet country air
And it looks like your gonna have to see me again
And it looks like your gonna have to see me again
And it looks like your gonna have to see me again
Illinois, oh Illinois, Illinois, oh Illinois
credits
released May 22, 2025
Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Joe Bourdet at his studio, Mountain Sounds Recorders in Alhambra, CA.
The players:
Justin Smith - Drums
Catfish Connor Gallaher - Pedal Steel Guitar
Joe - Guitars, Vocals, Bass, Piano
“Illinois” written by Dan Fogelberg (EMI April Music Inc. and Hickory Grove Music Co.)
Artwork and visual design by Amy Blaschke
Medium format film photography by Justin Daniels
Media by Kim Grant at KG Music Press
Released on the label Mountain Sounds Recorders
Copyright (c) 2025