THE PLAYERS
Ron Wilson - Song writer, Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Editing
Jim Byrge - Song writer, Guitar, Bass, Group founder
Woody Hayes Jr. - Drums, Vocals, Vocal remixing, Co-writer
Kathy Hayes - Common Ground Bass, Co-writer
Lester Kennedy - C. G. Lead Guitar, Co-writer
Thurston Hammersley - C. G. Lead Guitar, Co-writer, Vocals
Roger Wolfrum - C. G. Guitar, Vocals
John Kniffin - C. G. Guitar, Vocals
Clifford “Stoney” Stonerock - C. G. Piano, Vocals
David Byrge - Drummer on “Wil-Byr” recordings,
Don Byrge - Sound man on live and studio recordings
BLUEGRASS BLUES (Wilson)
I recorded this song sometime after leaving Common Ground in 1979. It has a
bluegrass feel because I didn’t have any drums or bass for it. I love this song;
the lyrics; the vocals; the lead solo. It’s just fun!
IT’S IN MY ROOM (Wilson, Byrge)
This song was recorded by Common Ground live at Brookwood Hall in Northridge on
Oct. 6, 1973. The band’s first gig featured: Woody Hayes, drums and vocals; wife
Kathy Hayes, bass; Lester “Crawdad” Kennedy, lead guitar: Jim Byrge, rhythm
guitar and that’s me singing and playing guitar. Jim’s brother Don was our sound
man.
COMMON GROUND (Wilson, Byrge, Kennedy, Hayes)
This was our theme song. We got a big kick out of watching people try to dance
to it. This also was recorded live at Brookwood.
FU - KING (Wilson, Byrge)
In the mid-eighties Jim Byrge and I, calling ourselves Wil-Byr, wrote and
recorded songs like FU - KING. We used a Sequential Circuits Drumtraks machine.
I played lead. Jim played rhythm and bass.
MY DAY OFF (Wilson, Byrge)
Jim and I recorded this using the Drumtraks around 1983-ish. Part of the master
tape got erased so I re-edited it to start with Jim’s bass.
(LOST ON) HEMP ISLAND (Wilson, Byrge)
This was one of Wilson & Byrge’s oldest compositions. I play lead with Kathy and
Woody Hayes on bass and drums. The other guitar is probably Woody’s cousin Roger
Wolfrum.
I WON’T BE COMING HOME TODAY (Wilson, Byrge)
Another old song, a practice tape from Common Ground’s studio. Lead guitar is
Thurston Hammersley, rhythm is Roger Wolfrum. I am playing piano and singing
with Woody. Kathy plays the bass.
LOVE FOR TWO (Wilson, Byrge)
Recorded by Wil-Byr in Jim’s basement. I sing and play lead. Jim plays rhythm
and bass. His teenage son David plays the drums.
MY HEART BELONGS TO
NANCY (Wilson, Byrge)
Nancy is Jim’s wife’s name. We recorded this in my music room. (now my
granddaughter’s toy room). The Drumtraks is being used. I am singing and playing
keyboard while Jim plays guitar and bass.
THAT SUNDAY (Wilson, Byrge)
This is Wil-Byr’s tribute to The Beatles. There are dozens of Beatles references
in the music and lyrics. I sang, Jim played bass, we both played guitar and Dave
Byrge played drums for us.
THE ROCKETS (Wilson)
This was written to complete a medley along with Followed Directly and By The
Blues. Woody and I sing lead vocal while Roger and Thurston play guitars and
sing backup. I played rhythm guitar and Kathy plays bass.
FOLLOWED DIRECTLY (Wilson. Byrge, Kennedy, Hayes)
The original title, “Followed Directly By The Blues”, was later shortened and
“By The Blues” became a separate composition. It was recorded by the original
five in the first year of our rural New Carlisle studio.
BY THE BLUES (Wilson, Hammersley)
After Jim and Lester left, Thurston and Roger joined the group. We recorded this
song in the studio, Thurston plays lead. Woody, Roger and Thurston dubbed the
backup to my lead vocal.
BLACK SNOW (Wilson, Byrge)
Jim and I used to write “problem songs” like Black Snow. Lester plays lead
guitar. I play guitar and sing with Woody the drummer. Jim plays rhythm and
Kathy plays the bass and drums. Recorded in the studio.
X (Wilson)
This is about the 1974 Xenia tornado, Recorded in the studio by Kathy. Woody,
myself, and I believe that’s John Kniffin playing rhythm.
(THEY SIMPLY CALL HIM) E (Wilson)
In 1987 my godson Luke wanted to make a video about Eric Davis of the Reds. This
song was the big finale of the project. I played all the instruments using the
drum machine. The slide and rhythm guitar was recorded all in the same take.
That was fun.
COUNTRYSIDE (Wilson, Byrge)
This is the studio version of the song. I play the first half of the solo then
Lester finishes it with his big hairy Telecaster. Jim plays rhythm and Kathy
bass. Woody plays drums and sings harmony with me.
CYCLES (Wilson, Byrge, Kennedy, Hayes)
I played a baby grand on the rhythm track and overdubbed a guitar part later.
Woody and Kathy play the drums and bass.
JESUS JESUS JESUS (Wilson, Byrge)
This bonus cut is also the title song on my 2000 album despite emanating deep in
my “heathen” past. Jim plays bass, Dave is the drummer and I am on guitar and
vocals.
MUST BE CHRISTMAS (Wilson, Byrge)
Jim’s idea was to write a “modern” Christmas song and the first ever to feature a curse word. Jim plays
the bass; Dave Byrge is on drums, I’m playing the guitar, a keyboard and my vocal is harmonized by
a pitch transposer.
AMERICAN WAY (Wilson, Byrge)
The subject of this song is not what you may think. Ask Jim or me if you want to
know what this song is really about. Jim plays bass, Dave the drums and I sing
and play guitar.