I'm Going To Miss Her (Big Stir Digital Single No. 15)
Clifford Ulrich
The BIG STIR DIGITAL SINGLES SERIES continues with our 15th release, as CLIFFORD ULRICH, best known as the bassist and harmonica player for THE ARMOIRES, steps out of the shadows with a pair of jangly and heartfelt solo tunes on "I'm Going to Miss Her" b/w "Like a River Glorious". The single is available on Friday, February 1 and up for pre-order
The BIG STIR DIGITAL SINGLES SERIES continues with our 15th release, as CLIFFORD ULRICH, best known as the bassist and harmonica player for THE ARMOIRES, steps out of the shadows with a pair of jangly and heartfelt solo tunes on "I'm Going to Miss Her" b/w "Like a River Glorious". The single is available on Friday, February 1 and up for pre-order now!
A long standing part of THE ARMOIRES' musical family (as a core member of SKATES & RAYS with the band's guitarist REX BROOME and drummer DEREK HANNA), ULRICH, whose harmonies are among the secret weapons in the current band's arsenal, is an accomplished singer-songwriter and guitarist in his own right. As a solo artist, the frontman of OWENSMOUTH, and a contributing songwriter to Skates & Rays, Cliff's rock, soul, gospel and country influences reach well beyond the guitar-pop idiom. The songs on display here, though, are pure hooks, harmony and jangle in a distinctly Byrdsy manner and sure to delight the pop and folk rock fans who follow BSR.
Ulrich's original "I'm Going to Miss Her", cut with Broome and Hanna as his backing band, is a breezy jewel first aired on Skates & Rays' You Are My Home album and released here under his own name for the first time. Broome has often cited his electric 12-string contributions to the tune has his "best opportunity to play Jim McGuinn to someone else's Gene Clark". The B-Side, a folk-rock interpretation of "Like a River Glorious" by songwriters James Mountain and Frances Ridley Havergal, was recorded as part of a collection of reimagined hymns in the diverse styles Cliff employs, intended to be simply given to friends as a gift. It appears here for the first time ever, and also evokes the Byrds in their traditional mode with nods to the country rock sounds of the early '70s in its heartfelt rootsiness.
Both tunes were recorded by WAYNE PEET (noted for work with Nels and Alex Cline as well as a number of jazz greats). Cliff handles all of the instrumental and vocal duties on the B-side with Wayne's son ELLINGTON PEET on drums. Cover art is provided by Rex's daughter RIDLEY BROOME with a wink toward the A-side's origins in the Skates & Rays catalog.
Did BSR's Christina and Rex need to prevail upon the ever-humble Clifford to arrange this release? Yes. Was that somewhat of a reversal of our usual roles as gatekeepers of the Digitial Singles Series? Yes, it was. Are we pleased and proud to be able to present these glimpses into the talents of a dear fellow traveler on our musical journey? Yes, indeed, and, we're sure you'll be happy we did.