Tom's Blog

January 18, 2022

He Was A Friend Of Mine – Happy Holidays

I hope this finds you well and sweet and your life complete. These are not easy times, but we shall count our blessings. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you. As I hinted in my last email: NEW SINGLE ALERT with my all time chum Ben Harper! Also below, a stellar review for “Disneys America” released on Dec 10th. This one-two musical punch has brought me some good excitement for the holidays. Best to you and yours, Tom

“He Was A Friend Of Mine” – Tom Freund and Ben Harper

Proud to say that I recorded, mixed and produced this track from my studio…

December 17, 2021, Mad Bunny Records is proud to announce the release of “He Was A Friend of Mine”, a fresh take on a traditional folk song created by longtime friends and fellow musicians Tom Freund and Ben Harper. The earliest known version of the song is titled “Shorty George,” and it was first collected by ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax in 1939, describing it as a “blues” that was “a dirge for a dead comrade”…
Freund and Harper’s arrangement, and the musical interplay of their voices, as well as Tom’s guitar and Ben’s unmistakable lap-steel slide, give this traditional tale new warmth and sentiment. Lush and masterful, it is enhanced by the long and endearing real friendship between the two who met 30 years ago and have collaborated many times over the years.
It was recorded at Freund’s Venice beach studio and is being released digitally on Harper’s own Mad Bunny Records.

And From Ben’s Post:

In 2022 it will be 30 years since Tom and I released our duo album “Pleasure and Pain.” We have continued to collaborate consistently off and on since then, both recording and touring together. I’ve known Tom longer now than I haven’t known him, and that’s long. To have a friend to walk through the world with is rare and something I hold most dear. Something I cherish more each passing day.
Hey Tom, let’s do another 30.
#duet #tomfreund #folk #americana #acoustic #slideguitar #fric

“Disney’s America” News:

This is the first single from the album ‘The Year I Spent In Space,” coming out in Feb/March of the 2022!! Here is the Premier from Glide Magazine:

Also read here from Americana UK

And listen away on all channels here

Tonight is the final Holdstrong Thursday of 2021. It’s gonna be a hoot and a holler! We had so much fun doing this this residency at The Venice West with so many friends and guests & gr8 people in the crowd. #Holdstrong Thursdays #VeniceVibes Tix: https://thevenicewest.com


And to all a goodnight, Hugs, Tom

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