Americana Highways brings you this song premiere of Pete Mancini’s “Back in Bakersfield” from his forthcoming release Flying First Class due out on May 3rd on Diversion Records. The album was recorded and mixed by Mick Hargreaves at Lantern Sound Recording and mastered by Scott Simon at Process Haus. “Back in Bakersfield” is Pete Mancini on vocals, acoustic guitar and bass, Buddy Woodward on mandolin, banjo, and acoustic guitar, Jenny Obert on fiddle with Mick Hargreaves on harmony vocals.
“The fossilized remains of young and carefree days, I’m back in Bakersfield” are the lyrics at the heart of this old-timey bluegrass song. A bluegrass track might be the last thing you expect in the middle of the rock ‘n roll album, but it makes sense when you remember, it’s all Americana roots. Flying First Class is a first-rate roots rock album, and reveals Mancini’s considerable flair over a range of songwriting styles.
When I was down in Nashville, Buddy Woodward challenged me to write lyrics to an old fiddle tune we were jamming on. I called my buddy Travis McKeveny and we ended up with the story of a homeless veteran. Sadly this is an all too common problem in our society, as we don’t put enough emphasis on taking care of the men and women who protect us everyday. I have had the opportunity to play music for veterans in recovery at the local VA and it was an experience I won’t soon forget.
As the album came together, I thought it would be funny to drop a hardcore traditional bluegrass track in the middle of a rock record, and that’s exactly what ended up happening. Buddy and Jenny took the song to another level with their amazing playing. — Pete Mancini
Order the album here: http://www.diversion-records.com/album-pm-ffc