January 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of my first CD, Recital for Guitar. I had such high hopes for the album!
Back then, before the internet was in widespread use and without the backing of a retail distribution network, selling large quantities was always going to be a challenge. I vividly remember waiting for the recording studio producer and being invited to try out a new thing called “The Internet” using a program (what we now call an app) called Altavista. They told me it was “the way of the future,” but I couldn’t find anything of interest and dismissed it as just a curiosity.
Many friends, family, concert attendees, fellow guitarists, and music lovers generously supported my entrepreneurial venture, and I remain deeply grateful to them all. I remember selling the very first signed copy to a delighted work colleague, then visiting local shops to see if they might stock the CD.
One day, while out and about, I bumped into my dentist, Mr. Calder, who obligingly purchased a copy—though only after skeptically asking, “It isn’t all plinky-plonky, is it?” I assured him it was quite the opposite!
A few years later, while sitting in his dentist’s chair, I was surprised to hear stress-relieving background music playing—my own CD. 😊
I suspect Mr. Calder put it on especially for my benefit, though I doubt he played it for his other patients.
As much as I appreciate my music, listening to classical guitar while undergoing dental work isn’t quite how I like to experience it!
Copies of Recital for Guitar were sold at concerts and through local shops, and some of my supporters still treasure their albums — one even requested a replacement when theirs was stolen! While the album isn’t offered online, it remains a cherished milestone in my musical journey. The album cover itself is a work of art — captured by a photographer friend on a Hasselblad in low light, its subtleties perfectly echoing the music within.