Introduction
The stories that inspired many of my songs are included in the book "In the Land of Used to Be." After writing the lyrics, I made the songs using digital music production techniques.
To play a song, click the cover artwork image. On computers, a menu allows downloading so you can add songs to the music app on your computer, tablet, or cell phone.
Lannie Dietle
Applejack
This Irish folk-style song was inspired by the homemade liquor I encountered as a teenager in the 1960s.
Birds of a Feather
This Bluegrass song is about my life as a hunting dog.
Ham on the Run
This Bluegrass song was inspired by the day my cousin and I were searching for an escaped sow and her wild litter of pigs.
Take time when it comes
This Bluegrass song is about my first paying job, as a youngster. Victor Marburger, the neighbor who paid me to drive his tractor to bale hay when I was six years old, is featured on the cover artwork.
The invisible car
This Bluegrass song is a tribute to the only invisible car I've ever owned.
Almost thirteen
This is a Bluegrass love song to my wife, and a testament to how horrible I am at telling stories in person. It was inspired by the day I clumsily tried to explain how far back her and I go. I began the story with, "I started dating my second wife when she was twelve," which drew a disgusted look. What I should have said is we started dating back in 1968, when we were both kids!
The Painter Cat
This Irish folk-style song was inspired by Lester Korns's encounter with a Panther. I only know a few of the details of the encounter, which is described on page 194 of "In the Land of Used to Be." The rest of the lyrics are drawn from my imagination, and knowledge of the area. Click here to see a map of Lester's ride. I never was able to get the horse to look right on the somewhat fantastical cover artwork!
The 1964 Corvair
This Irish folk-style song is about some of the frightening experiences I had with my first car.
The Pennsy Aerotrain
This folk song is about watching the Pennsy Streamliner passing through the Horseshoe Curve in Altoona circa 1956.
Angels on the wing
This country-western song is the story of how my life was mysteriously spared in a deadly situation.
Ode to Big Savage
This Bluegrass song was inspired by the various runaway truck accidents on the steep and winding descent from the crest of Big Savage Mountain on Route 160. Part of that descent follows a spur of Big Savage Mountain that is locally (but unofficially) known as Wellersburg Mountain. Several versions of the song are included below, under different titles.
"Wellersburg" is simply a Country Music version of "Ode to Big Savage".
The Bluegrass song "From Big Savage Mountain Ridge" is an extended version of "Ode to Big Savage," and in my view embodies the preferred lyrics.
"Steep and Winding Road" is essentially a Country Music version of "From Big Savage Mountain Ridge", although the first verse is slightly different.
