And the Horse You Rode in On

Ray Barnard

And The Horse You Rode In On is my fifth solo LP. It is a fusion of reggae, roots, and soul grooves. Whereas my last LP, Radicalized, was more experimental, this one is nuts and bolts, meat & potatoes – the rhythm tracks were all cut live (at Jeremy Johnson & Greg Schutte’s studios). Overdubs were minimal ( cut at my home studio). I wrote, arranged, and produced it myself – with some help writing the songs.

Thematically, it’s a lot about the love/hate relationship I have with the city I work in (excepting Frogtown, the least pretentious neighborhood I know). Some say I suffer from small fish/big pond syndrome. I call it ‘casting pearls before swine’ syndrome. Suffice it to say I worked very hard on this LP & I’m proud of it. The rhythm section is 2nd to none and the songs are too, dammit!

ATHYRIO leads off with Scufflin’ – the protagonist is stuck in self-preservation mode, beset by injustice and indignity all around. But he learns misery always has company. Said I Wouldn’t Do It makes big talk about change sound more fun than actually doing it. What’s In A Picture questions our use of phone videos and social media to determine truth & justice.

And Greenlight is a straight up country-soul love song, the ‘she makes my life real good’ kind.

  1. Scufflin
  2. What’s in a Picture
  3. Home in Your Heart
  4. Said I Wouldn’t Do It
  5. Pistol Pete
  6. Gone Again
  7. L.A. Hangover feat. Jimmy Witherspoon Jr.
  8. Closer to God
  9. Will 2 Be Wild
  10. Greenlight feat. Clark Adams

Musicians

  • Drums: Greg Schutte, Jordan Carlson
  • Guitar: Blair Krivanek, Jeremy Johnson, Erik Koskinen, Ray
  • Bass: Nick Salisbury, Ray
  • Wurlitzer, B3, piano: Ray
  • Horns: Bill Davis, Ray
  • Singers: Ray, Clark Adams, James Witherspoon Jr., Bridgette Kelly
  • Pedal Steel: Jim Nee
  • Guiro, tambourine, conga: Ramon M. Benitez

Credits

  • All songs written by Ray Barnard
  • Co-writes: Said I Wouldn’t Do It – Graham Bramblett,  Gone Again – JJ Longmuir,  Home In Your Heart – Eric Foss
  • Greenlight – Clark Adams,  Pistol Pete – Ray, Jeremy Johnson, Nick Salisbury, and Greg Schutte
  • Will 2 B Wild – Ray, Blair Krivanek, Marc Johnson-Pencook, Nick Salisbury, and Greg Schutte
  • Recorded at: 706 VB, Barking Jack, and Bathtub Shrine studios
  • Mixing: all songs by Ray except: Scufflin’– Erik Koskinen. Greenlight – Jeremy Johnson
  • Mastering: Bruce Templeton
  • All songs © 2025 FartherAlong Songs (ASCAP)
Bartered Soul Records

2025
Bartered Soul

all albums
Ray Barnard Radicalized
when the sun goes down - ray barnard
Where Would I Be Without You - Ray Barnard
Tinted Windows To the Soul - Ray Barnard & The Reverberation
The Copperheads - Cold Mississippi
The Copperheads - This Train is Gainin'