SEVEN SWANS REIMAGINED

1. All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands [Bonnie 'Prince' Billy]
2. The Dress Looks Nice On You [The Gregory Brothers]
3. In The Devil's Territory [Derek Webb]
4. To Be Alone With You [Joshua James]
5. Abraham [Denison Witmer]
6. Sister [Unwed Sailor]
7. Size Too Small [Wakey!Wakey!]
8. We Won't Need Legs To Stand [Elin K. Smith]
9. A Good Man Is Hard To Find [DM Stith]
10. He Woke Me Up Again [Half-Handed Cloud]
11. Seven Swans [Carl Hauck]
12. The Transfiguration [David Crowder*Band]
b-sides
13. I Went Dancing With My Sister [Jason Harrod]
14. Waste Of What Your Kids Won't Have [Shannon Stephens with Gregory Paul]
15. Borderline [Inlets]

***artwork by Vesper Stamper***

Album will be available for download on March 22, 2011.
Please help us spread the word!

Get On With It

We apologize for our lack of information on the new release, however we felt we needed to take a step away to figure out the best plan for getting information about the album out.

If you are new to the page you may be unaware with what is going on. In March of 2011, we will be releasing our 2nd charity album, entitled "Seven Swans Reimagination", which happens to be a song-by-song recreation of Sufjan Stevens' Seven Swans. We have found 15 amazing artists willing to donate their time and a song to this project, helping us cover the 12 album tracks and 3 b-sides from the album. As with the first album, all profits from the sale of this project will be donated to the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Look for a full track-listing to be released this weekend. In the meantime, if you'd be so generous, please help us by spreading the word, and check out our facebook page to stay up to date.

peace and love

Raise Your Hands!

To my unexpected amazement, joy, etc I woke to find that Sufjan put out a new ep today. At the moment you can download this amazing [I've listened, it is amazing] ep on bandcamp. Includes a studio version of All Delighted People which you saw him perform on his writer's showcase tour last year; also included are 6 new songs. Worth the wait. Raise your hands!

Regarding the Seven Swans project we are working on, all songs are spoken for, some are even recorded. Right now, we have a tentative release date of March 15, 2011 but hopefully we can get this thing out even earlier. We also are looking at options to release a vinyl and Cd version so long as we can come up with the money down.

Beginning next week Tuesday, we will be revealing the tracklisting for this project. Starting with All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands on August 31 and continuing through the b-side Borderline, we will feature one track each week along with a look at the artist covering said track. Stay tuned for that.

On Joyful Wings presents: Seven Swans Reimagined

In 2004, Sufjan Stevens took a break from his states project and released what, in my mind, is his greatest album to date, Seven Swans. When tossing around ideas of albums to cover, Seven Swans stood out amongst all the others. Described by one of the artists involved in this project as "essential and quietly strong", Seven Swans is one of those albums that reveals something new and different to each of us with every listen.

We have spent the last few months talking with Lenny Smith at Sounds Familyre Records, and Sufjan through him. With their help, we have been able to compile what we believe to be a very impressive and exciting group of artists.

On Joyful Wings presents: Seven Swans Reimagined will be released in March of 2011. We know that is a long ways away, we are looking into ways to make the time go faster. As before, proceeds from the sale of this album will be given to the Susan G Komen breast cancer foundation. We hope to have physical copies of the album available this year for those who still like to buy Cd's [like us]. Stay tuned to this blog as very shortly we will begin to release names of the artists involved. And if you don't own a copy, brush up on this amazing album by picking up a copy, or download it from iTunes.

A Review!

"On Joyful Wing's compilation We Were Lost, We Were Free is the best compilation I've ever heard, bar none."

It's nice to wake on a Monday to that kind of a review. Check out the review in it's entirety by clicking the title above.

Thank you to Stephen for the kind words, and support his blog Independent Clauses; this guy obviously has an ear for great music.

Info on our next release coming tomorrow!

Drum Roll, Please?!

We told you we have been working on a very special follow-up to this year's Cd release. I am pleased to inform you that the sequel has far exceeded even our own expectations.

For the second release by On Joyful Wings, we wanted to put together a track-by-track recreation of an album that was very special to us. Some of the albums considered were Neutral Milk Hotel's "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea"; The Flaming Lips' "The Soft Bulletin"; The Postal Service's "Give Up". Much of our inspiration for the idea came from the tribute to Radiohead's "OK Computer" put together by Stereogum. You can check that out here.

After much debate, and many unreturned emails, we finally came up with the perfect album. The last few months have been spent trying to secure artists to cover the tracks from this album, and I am happy to say we are only 1 song away from completing our task.

Return to the blog next week Tuesday when we will reveal the details of our next album. And shortly after that, we will begin to unveil the artists involved.

Thanks again for all your support!!

Hope Isn't A Word

Emails are being typed, lists are being made, contacts are being contacted; we have begun work on our next project.

This year's compilation is taking a little different form in that it is a track-by-track recreation of an album. After much deliberation, we have settled on the album and are now reaching out to artists to get involved.

At this moment, we are not sharing the album that is being reimagined or the artists involved, but keep checking back for updates.

Thanks for your support and keep spreading the word.

Thank You / You Live, You Learn, You Go To Bandcamp

Thanks to everyone who has downloaded the album thus far and supported breast cancer research. Keep telling your friends, join the fight.

We are moving away from our current site where the album is hosted and switching to bandcamp.com [which we love and it is free]. The site allows you to listen to all the songs as well as download the album in any style you wish [wav, mp3, flac]. Just hit the download button on the bottom of the music player in the top right corner of this page.

Stay tuned as we have exciting news coming soon about next years release.

~On Joyful Wings

Tracks

1. Jeremy Larson <> All But One Saint

2. The Rest <> Over The Hill

3. Carl Hauck <> To Coast

4. Chasing The Sky <> Certain Degree

5. Holcombe Waller <> Risk Of Change

6. Fireflies <> The Pull

7. Casey Shea <> Good Man

8. Chris Andrus <> No Idea

9. The Bloodsugars <> One Of The Grateful

10. Ikaik <> Nothing Broken, Nothing Missing

11. Josh Woodward <> Across The Dusty Plains

12. Sleeping At Last <> Umbrellas [acoustic]

13. Jesse Nesbitt <> The Christening

14. Cool Hand Luke <> NHR.2

15. Tom Hoekstra <> Be Still My Soul

16. Matthew de Zoete <> Colour Film

17. John Kite <> Magnolia Drive

18. She's Themorning And Thenight <> Little Piece Of Heaven

19. Will Stratton <> Bluebells

20. TW Walsh <> The Polite Way To Rob A Bank

21. Aaron Strumpel <> This Can't Last

The Players, The End

The Bloodsugars / Tom Hoekstra

We Were Lost, We Were Free

The album is officially 'on the shelf', so to speak. If you click on the 'Add To Cart' button in the upper right corner of this page you will be taken to a page to donate your $5 (or more if you wish). Remember, everything you give goes directly to fund breast cancer research.

After your payment goes thru make sure to click on the 'complete your purchase' option, which takes you to a link to download the album. If you have any troubles please send us an email and we can clear everything up. Thanks in advance for helping the fight. Enjoy the music. Support the artists. Keep checking back for info on next year's release.

In conclusion, here's a poem that served as inspiration for this year's release:

The fields were empty

as we took hold of the grace that awaited us

the rain formed around our heads

and decided not to fall

all the chances we had

nodded and went to bed

i took my hat off and left it by the stream

"unless we return here, i won't need to hide"

the others took my advice

and we shed our clothes

we travelled for years

to find, to remember

the peace we once embraced

and together we screamed

we were lost

we were free.

~Nick Verburg

And One For You

(artwork by Jessica Leigh Verburg)

Here is the artwork for the album. Tunes are on the way, we promise. We are waiting (with held breath) for the Cd to be finished, and can't wait to share it with everyone. Keep checking back as any day now it will drop.

The Players, Part 5

Holcombe Waller / TW Walsh / Ikaik / Josh Woodward / Chris Andrus

Someday Buddy, Someday

Unfortunately we are still waiting for the final master of the Cd to be returned. The moment we receive that from our guy, we will post it online. I can't tell you exactly when that will be but we are hoping any day now. We will have a demo copy of the Cd at our guitar hero tournament today. You can listen to the Cd and preorder a copy for $5.

Speaking of guitar hero tournament; that is today from 1-5p at Play N Trade in Comstock Park, MI. Prizes for the top 3 finishers (1 night stay at a motel, restaurant gift cards). Please come out support the fight, hear some good music and have some fun; $15 gets you into the tournament and also a t-shirt which I am told is pretty awesome.

All I Want To Do Is Rock

We are having a guitar hero tournament / Cd release show this Saturday. Check out the facebook page for all the info. Hope you all can make it.

Cd is in being mastered. We hope to have it back soon so we can get it online by Saturday.

While this Cd is still being finished, we have already turned our thoughts to next year; more details on what is in store as we figure them out.

The Players, Part 4

Cool Hand Luke / She's Themorning And Thenight / Fireflies / Carl Hauck

Ode To New Grass

All the songs are in, the track list is set, the artwork is done, the Cd is being mixed/mastered, and the sun is shining. It's amazing how much we worry about everything only to have it all work out even better than we could have planned.

People have been asking about the title of this project. On Joyful Wings is the title to a hymn by Fanny J Crosby. Though I was unfamiliar with this song, from "To God Be The Glory" to "Blessed Assurance", Ms Crosby has always been my favorite hymnist. There is a verse in this song which is just beautiful, and I believe it speaks to anyone struggling, not just with breast cancer but with anything, and that is why I chose On Joyful Wings as the title of our charity albums.

O Blessed hope that bears us up,
And stills each throb of care!
The night will pass, the morn will come,
And we shall soon be there.

~Fanny J Crosby

The Players, Part 3

Will Stratton / The Rest / Jesse Nesbitt / Aaron Strumpel

Quick Update, or, What Happens When Trying To Kill Time At Work

We are receiving the final song submissions for the album today, then it's off to be mastered. Things appear on schedule for the March 6th release. Keep checking back, and log on this Saturday to buy the album. Cheers.

The Players, Part 2

Casey Shea / The Bloodsugars / Matthew de Zoete / John Kite

I've Got My Wings, I'm On My Way

Our dear friend, Holcombe Waller, is putting together his new album and he needs our help. Watch the video below then click the link to go to the home page to learn more. There are lots of great rewards for helping out. If he doesn't meet the goal I don't get my rewards so let's help everyone out and get this thing funded.

Help fund Holcombe Waller's new album.

I Came Here To Say I'm [not] Going Away

Just set up a link to our brand new facebook page, not to be missed. Check it out, become our fan [friend], and help spread the word.

Our hope is this page can become a refuge for those battling breast cancer and a community of support for anyone affected by the disease.

The Players, Part 1

Many people have been involved in the making of "We Were Lost...We Were Free". Please check them out and support them. Thanks.
















(l-r: Sleeping At Last, Jeremy Larson, Chasing The Sky)

I Felt Really Good This Day, Yes

Breakthrough on the Cd front: we may have found someone to master the album at no cost to us!! This is huge as we were looking at the possibility of paying a couple hundred dollars to get the thing mastered. More news on that if it goes through.

So my son has scarlet fever!?! Isn't that an Oregon Trail sickness? Who gets scarlet fever these days? Funny thing is, I think he is more upset that he can't play his Wii then the fact that he is super sick. Antibiotics are kicking in and he is turning the corner so that is good news.

Now that we have a lead on getting the Cd mastered we move on to album artwork. Anyone out there reading this willing to submit a cover design? We only ask that it be the coolest thing ever.

Listening to a ton of Castanets in the last few days. Ray Raposa's music always takes awhile to get into, but once it hits, you are left with some of the most beautiful and affecting music being made. Check out his new album "Texas Rose, The Thaw & The Beasts".

We have close to 20 amazing artists willing to donate a song to our compilation and beginning next week we are going to preview each artist.

on joyful wings
Jim

Rockers For Knockers

On March 6th we are holding a guitar hero tournament at Play N Trade in Comstock Park. If you click on the title of this blog it will take you to the facebook event page where you can confirm your attendance. Hurry, we only have room for the first 100 people.

The event costs $15 which includes entrance into the tournament, snacks and an awesome t-shirt. All proceeds go to benefit the Susan G Komen breast cancer foundation. If you want to attend, please send an email to maymejoy@yahoo.com and tell us your t-shirt size.

The top 3 finishers will receive a prize!!

We Kept Our Kitchen Clean And Our Dreaming Quiet

I remember (probably in one of my psychology classes) reading that you can predict a nervous breakdown by looking at outside factors and which apply to you. Each event was given a certain score--from something like having a cold all the way to dealing with the loss of a loved one. I don't remember the scores but I know that starting a new job and selling your home both carried high scores. If we are to believe that scale then instead of going to work tomorrow I think I will just check in to the nearest psychiatric ward.

I love when you spend all day (your only day off in the last 8) cleaning your home only to have the people who requested a showing spend 3 minutes marching through your house, judging everything, leaving and never making any kind of offer. I love having our house on the market.

But we march on. Cd is coming along nicely. We are looking at our options for mastering of the final product as well as trying to find artwork for the project. The release date for the CD is set at the first week of March. Keep an eye out for that, it's going to be awesome, trust me.

peace and love

Hope Is Grief's Best Music

Why do a charity album? I was given many reasons not to undertake this process; people won't buy it, all your work will be unappreciated and undiscovered, you won't get anything out of this. True, I am not getting anything out of this.



I was golfing with my father, cousin and uncle when we got the call that my grandma was sent home from the hospital with a week to live. I knew this day was coming but was not prepared for how hard it would be. We drove the 3 hours home and went straight to my grandparents house, I stayed in the garage out of fear--I don't think anyone knew I was missing except my grandfather. I was trying to hide my sadness, he came into the garage, hugged me harder than I have ever been hugged then said something I will never forget. It's okay to cry, I cry every night, but you need to go in there now and be with her. I cried.


Sometimes I look at my kids and think of my grandma and how much fun she would have with them and how much they missed out not knowing her. Maybe this album, or more accurately the work that is being put into this album, as well as all the work done every year to raise money for breast cancer research, will show my kids just how loved Phyllis Slagter was and keep her memory alive forevermore.


Grandma, I miss you.