In May of 2020, we were set to produce the “Biggest Dylanfest Ever!”, our 30th annual, 8-hour musical celebration of Bob Dylan, when the COVID pandemic shook everyone’s foundation to its core. Many lost their lives; we were all frightened, as the world’s population was thrown into isolation from each other and their livelihoods. We knew that music

In May of 2020, we were set to produce the “Biggest Dylanfest Ever!”, our 30th annual, 8-hour musical celebration of Bob Dylan, when the COVID pandemic shook everyone’s foundation to its core. Many lost their lives; we were all frightened, as the world’s population was thrown into isolation from each other and their livelihoods. We knew that music was a way to connect people, so, we embarked on a journey to learn how to bring the festival into people’s homes virtually. We produced 9 hours of music spread over 3 days, with live performances from our studio by us, Andy & Renee, 40 different artists doing their videoed versions of great Dylan songs, and 6 music videos recorded remotely by our band, Hard Rain. These tracks were knitted together by our friend and producer, Marty Rifkin. Realizing we had 6 songs “in the can”, we added 4 more songs to make The Wheel And The Plow, a tribute not only to the music of Bob Dylan, but to the tenacity of musicians and their audiences, and to the power of music and its unifying qualities.

Fixtures on the Southern California music scene, Andy Hill & Renee Safier, have just issued their 16th audio CD title, Fuse32. The talented duo's wide-ranging sonic spirit extends from uptempo classic rock-styled material to affecting ballads. It is the diversity of material, their wonderful voices (whether solo and or when harmonizing

Fixtures on the Southern California music scene, Andy Hill & Renee Safier, have just issued their 16th audio CD title, Fuse32. The talented duo's wide-ranging sonic spirit extends from uptempo classic rock-styled material to affecting ballads. It is the diversity of material, their wonderful voices (whether solo and or when harmonizing together) and their ability to tap into compelling songwriting traditions that make the album such a great listen. The riff rocker "Jack (Get Me Out of the Hole)," electronic-draped "It's Fine," Bob Dylan-worthy "Blood On The Tracks," the country tearjerker "I Fall Apart" (showcasing Safier's lovely soprano), opulent "Great Big Light" and ambitious roots rocker "Fuse32" are among the excellent songs on the album.

"This is a beautiful collection of songs by musicians who knows a lot about what makes songs great." – Paul Zollo, American Songwriter Magazine

We also have some amazing musicians playing with us on the project... Marty Rifkin- Bass, Pedal Steel, Guitars (Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Elton John) , Kirk Makin- Electric Guitar (Hard Rain), Nelson

"This is a beautiful collection of songs by musicians who knows a lot about what makes songs great." – Paul Zollo, American Songwriter Magazine

We also have some amazing musicians playing with us on the project... Marty Rifkin- Bass, Pedal Steel, Guitars (Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Elton John) , Kirk Makin- Electric Guitar (Hard Rain), Nelson Rangell- Saxophone (David Sanborn, Patti Austin) Gabe Witcher- Violin (Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett) , Martin Tillman- Cello (Sting, Elton John, Alison Krauss, Beck, BB King), John Hoke-Drums (John Stewart) , Voyce McGinley-Drums (Kitaro) , Tom Fillman-drums (Spencer Davis Group). Produced by Marty Rifkin, Andy Hill & Renee Safier Recorded, Mixed and Mastered By Marty Rifkin, Rifkin Productions, Santa Monica, CA Additional Recording by Tyler Sofier, Side 3 Studios, Denver, CO. Interior Graphics: Shoshannah Strauss Front & Back Cover Art: Mark Wagner, www.heartsandbones.com Photography: Front & Back Cover: Jacki Sackheim; Interior photos: Ron Belliveau, Tess Inman, Renee Safier, Paul Friel & Laura Stone, Patrick Summar, Trish Tokar, and many unidentified others…

Poet Brian Michael Tracy put together The Mystical Prism of Being, a fifteen poem chapbook and accompanying CD where he worked with a group of extremely talented musicians to produce a beautiful album that illustrates the classic cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Produced by longtime Bruce Springsteen collaborator Marty Rifkin, Tracy is joined by

Poet Brian Michael Tracy put together The Mystical Prism of Being, a fifteen poem chapbook and accompanying CD where he worked with a group of extremely talented musicians to produce a beautiful album that illustrates the classic cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Produced by longtime Bruce Springsteen collaborator Marty Rifkin, Tracy is joined by noted Los Angeles musicians Andy Hill and Renee Safier, and up and comer Edoardo Tancredi on drums.

With three thirteen to seventeen minute tracks, The Mystical Prism of Being juxtaposes Brian’s poems with a variety of beloved songs including The Beatles’ “Across the Universe,” Sting’s “Sister Moon,” Van Morrison’s “Inarticulate Speech of the Heart,” Leonard Cohen’s “Alexandra Leaving,” Robbie Robertson’s “Fallen Angel,” Bob Dylan’s “Every Grain of Sand,” and more. The Grateful Dead’s “Brokedown Palace” also appears and profoundly influenced the project’s graphics. It is a continuous braiding of poem and song resulting in poetry like you have never heard it before.

This CD is a compilation of Hard Rain tracks from Dylanfest from both 2015 and 2016. If you haven’t yet been to a Dylanfest, we hope this will inspire you to attend. If you’ve been to one or many, may this collection of performances be an exciting reminder both of the phenomenal body of work composed by the hand of Bob Dylan, and the great spirit

This CD is a compilation of Hard Rain tracks from Dylanfest from both 2015 and 2016. If you haven’t yet been to a Dylanfest, we hope this will inspire you to attend. If you’ve been to one or many, may this collection of performances be an exciting reminder both of the phenomenal body of work composed by the hand of Bob Dylan, and the great spirit of celebration his music has inspired in our local community.

This album is the brainchild of our friend and patron, Richard Strom. We have been singing some of these songs since we were children; a few got the thumbs-up when Richard first heard us perform them live in concert, and a couple are especially meaningful to Richard, and we learned them especially for this project at his urging. The result is a

This album is the brainchild of our friend and patron, Richard Strom. We have been singing some of these songs since we were children; a few got the thumbs-up when Richard first heard us perform them live in concert, and a couple are especially meaningful to Richard, and we learned them especially for this project at his urging. The result is a collection of our take on songs that are a part of the colorful fabric of American Country music. It was a pleasure to record and get to know these songs more intimately. The enthusiasm of one audience member makes a big difference.

"Anytime that Andy Hill and Renee Safier make music together, it sounds great – whether it’s on one of their originals, or in one of a thousand Bob Dylan songs they do so beautifully in their annual Dylan festivals. This collection of songs are ones they have done live for years, according to their liner notes, but never recorded. “We have had a

"Anytime that Andy Hill and Renee Safier make music together, it sounds great – whether it’s on one of their originals, or in one of a thousand Bob Dylan songs they do so beautifully in their annual Dylan festivals. This collection of songs are ones they have done live for years, according to their liner notes, but never recorded. “We have had a difficult time,” they wrote, “finding the courage to include them on collections in the past. We thought it best to make you suffer through them all at once.” So we get some very funny songs, including “Free Bird,” which isn’t that “Free Bird” but is a tribute of sorts to that song, remarkably. Songs written by Andy alone and also by Andy and Renee together, even when they’re joking, the thing is, it sounds great. Like when Dylan and The Band made up funny songs in the basement just to have fun and to make music, there is an infectious joy in these tracks like those ones – and also great musicianship throughout. This is produced by Andy and Renee with their good friend, the great Marty Rifkin, who plays astounding pedal steel – but also a lot of bass here – and with fine drumming by the always great John Hoke. So there’s not really a lot of suffering required when listening to this – this is a lot of fun – like a great show, with wonderful duets throughout. “A Habit That’s Goin’ Around” is especially delicious, with great rhymes that would have made Sammy Cahn proud: “He’s a slippery snake/an anaconda/On the make he’s fond of the double entendre…” You can tell all the involved had a lot of fun making this, and that fun comes across in each of these tracks. If you’re in the mood for a party with some fun and funny people – and one hell of a great band – put on KELP!." Paul Zolo, American Songwriter

Produced by Marty Rifkin, Andy Hill & Renee Safier Recorded, Mixed and Mastered By Marty Rifkin, Rifkin Productions, Santa Monica, CA CD Graphics: www.acreativeexperience.com Back Cover Art: Heather UpChurch, www.artanddesignstudios.net Cover Photography: Donna Butts Additional photography: Jacki Sackheim, Donna Butts, Tess Inman The New Hard Rain Singers are: : KC & Ev Hill, Howard Safier, Jacqui Rafferty, Chase Keepe Hill, Chuck Wigley & Patrick Summar Special thanks to: Our families, friends and fans for all your love and support…We couldn’t do it without you; Patrick Summar for all his guidance and work on our behalf; Chuck Wigley for his “Chuckinating Skills”; Tony Sotos for his work on the website; Donna Butts, Jacki Sackheim and all the other photographers for their wonderful images; the New Hard Rain Singers for some of the heartiest laughs and most precious times we’ve ever had in the studio. Lastly, we’d like to thank Marty Rifkin for his talent, time and his faith in us!