The entire (physical) EP is available at campstoverecords.com/store

A word from Johnny:

I began work on this record last autumn on breaks between Cracker tours and my own solo tours. It was made possible in no small part by my fortuitous, close friendship with producer and pedal steel ace Phillip Broste who moved here with his young family to Colorado a few years back. The record was recorded entirely in Philip’s home studio here in the hills above Fort Collins. We recorded the lion’s share of the instruments with me playing them as a ‘blue print’ reference on “Dear John” as we laid the foundation, but as I did with my last record “Tilting”, we replaced several of my tracks with more wonderfully proficient players, instrument by instrument. Some of the songs are new, written specifically for “Dear John” (The Killer Of Highway 64, God Dammed Shame and Styling The Dead) while others (Catholic Girl, Cartoon Life) were songs I had roughed out for my 2nd solo record “Tilting” but which I didn’t feel were quite ready at those sessions. With “Dear John”, every night as I drove back down through the hills above Fort C in the wintery wee hours there were deer appearing and disappearing in and out of the darkness like spirits. Moving slowly, our just standing, staring at me through the moonlit snowy gloom. They would regard me with an eerie intensity as I drove along listening to roughs on my car stereo. I had no choice. It was as if they decided to occupy the record like elegant, cloven hoofed sentinels.


Phil Broste (Producer):

I met Johnny Hickman's music when my dad and I started covering Cracker songs while I was in college. I met Johnny a decade later when I showed up to his high desert “porchstock” jam with a pedal steel guitar. The steel may have been the reason he took a shine to me, I don’t know… it’s an unusual instrument. We kept in touch over the years, and I sat in with Johnny for the occasional barn-burning show. Another decade later found us both living in Colorado, discussing Johnny’s solo material.

Imagine sitting in your house across from your favorite songwriter and hearing the material he’s never shown to anyone. Goosebumps doesn’t describe it. More like, instant creative lightning. We went right to work, and Johnny generously dubbed me producer. The truth is though, producing a true professional like him is mostly a matter of setting the stage and getting out of the way. We tried to move fast and capture all of the ghosts in the room, and there were plenty. That kind of spontaneity only works if you have a great team and good vibe. Luckily, we were able to call on some amazing players who were up to the task and provided both in spades.