Eddy Lee Ryder – “County Fair”
Americana Highways presents this premiere of Eddy Lee Ryder’s song “County Fair” from her forthcoming album Sweet Delusions, which is due to be released on July 19. Sweet Delusions was produced, engineered, and mixed by Dave Cerminara; and mastered by Adam Ayan. Photos for the album cover were taken by Jeff Harris, with hair and makeup by Cindy Adams, and wardrobe by Olga Turka.
“County Fair” is Eddy Lee on vocals; Daniel Chae on bass, guitar, and synths; and Dan Bailey on drums. “If I write you a beautiful song will you call for me today?” starts the song with Eddy Lee’s crystal clear and plaintive vocals, in this song of a county fair and the summertime blues. Affairs of the heart can be painful when there’s uncertainty, and Eddy Lee captures that feeling purely in song.
This song is about letting go of someone you love but still desperately hoping they will reach out. The silence was the most painful experience of my life, so the first line of the song, “If I write you a beautiful song, will you call for me today, I got me a wandering heart that was yours to lock away,” was my way of asking myself, “What do I need to do to hear from him again?”
I’d put up a picture in a mask (ah, the good ol’ days of COVID), five minutes later, he’d put up a picture in a mask. Then I’d share a sunset, and he’d do the same. I’d post a porch, then he’d post a porch. Watching and copying everything I did. It was like we were fully communicating even though no one dared reach out, and this song was me pleading for him to reach out. And reflecting that I’ve changed.
“I’ve given you all that a boy can give you” is my little nod to “Tainted Love.” And tainted it was.
I showed this song to my producer, Dave Cerminara, and saw his jaw drop a little at the first line. He said, “This is the best song you have.” The only problem was it wasn’t finished. I’d sat with it unfinished for a long time and had no idea what to say in the bridge. So he sent me outside to finish. And I was like, “Sure, not gonna happen.” Then I sat down, and the lyrics came immediately. – Eddy Lee Ryder
Find the music here: https://ffm.to/rrpx4w6