Autumn of '25 is here and what a weird time to be alive! Should you need a brief diversion from the insanity, here are some offerings you might enjoy....
Live Video From The Project Studio: Sneak Attack
We first recorded Sneak Attack about twenty years ago and it appeared on our Topsy Turvy album back in 2007. Here's a live version recorded in our project studio this September.
This fourth and final volume in the Organic Software series consists of the tunes that we'd recorded in the late 80's but weren't part of Penny's three Organic Software albums released back then. They've all been remastered, made into and album, and are now on our website for listening or downloading. (They'll also be on the streaming services soon.)
We cheated a bit on this one and included four tunes from the early 1990's, three of which were recorded live at Tamarron Resort in Durango, Colorado. These are some really terrific songs performed beautifully by the author. There's comedy, tragedy, love, anger, and sex — what's not to like?
We've mentioned in previous newsletters that there was a Dan Del Santo documentary in the works and it's out now and free to watch on YouTube. For those of you (most, I'm sure) who've never heard of Dan, he was a man of unique musical talent who arrived in Austin, Texas around the same time we did in the mid 70's. He had an unmistakable voice and unique character to go with it. His music spanned multiple genres (bluegrass, country, jazz, cajun, African, Latin, etc...) and he always worked with killer musicians. He also held down a popular World Beat music radio show in Austin for a number of years.
Dan introduced himself to us at our band's weekly gig at Austin's Split Rail shortly after he moved to town and we were friends until we left town for the east coast at the tail end of '78. In that period Dan's band was playing his country/jazz tunes. Our friendship resumed when we moved back to Texas in the 80's and found Dan was now playing World Beat music with a terrific large band. It was during this period that we were establishing our Marble Falls project studio and Dan started recording at our place with Slim co-producing. All in all, Dan recorded four albums and a single at our place before we moved again, this time back to California.
These were mostly positive experiences for us, but it turns out there was a much darker story to tell. Not long after we left town, a drug bust had Dan fleeing to Mexico and leaving behind his family in the process. And that's just part of the story. "The Last Sunset" doesn't sugar coat any of it or try to substantiate Dan's behavior. Interviewed in the film are Dan's long time best friend, members of his family, various band members, and us.
It's a hell of a story and a must-see for anyone who remembers Dan and his music. Big thanks to Val from Utopia Unearthed for doing the hard work of putting this together.
Utopia Unearthed, in addition to releasing the documentary, has re-released almost the entire catalog of his music, including a bunch of stuff never before released. Just search for Dan Del Santo on any of the streaming services to have a listen.
Finally, our usual reminder that all our published music, bios, and video links can be found on our website:
And our completed albums can be streamed from any of the major streaming services -- just search for "Slide Man Slim & Penny Hanna".
Love & Peace, Slim & Penny
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Slide Man Slim & Penny Hanna Newsletter
July 2025: Latest Releases — What's New Is Old Again
An Occasional Publication
Howdy Folks -
Hope y'all are enjoying summertime and avoiding the floods, fires, and extreme heat. Here along the Monterey Bay coast, we've been super lucky so far this year with mild temps and no smoke (yet).
Since our last installment, we've released a couple of new tunes — one never before released song that is old but newly relevant and one new one telling an old story of teenage infatuation.
There's A Girl
This tune was written last year and recorded this past June. In it, the year is 1973 and our teenage protagonist has fallen head over heels for the girl of his dreams who just happens to be half again his age and currently going out with their mutual friend. A true story.
The video version is complete with lyrics and photos from The Oso Family archive taken at a few different Northern California locations.
While recently reviewing some old live recordings we did at a Durango, Colorado resort in 1990, it dawned on us that it was time to revive this particular recording. This song of Penny's has never been released before in any form, so consider this to be a belated premiere. And since it seems rather relevant at this moment, we threw together a video to go with it. So, time to do some venting — just think of the most revolting shithead in your life and then sing along!
May 2025: "Love's In Need" video, Organic Software Vol. 1
An Occasional Publication
Hello friends, near and far -
Spring is here and we hope you're all doing well (or at least coping somewhat comfortably). Since our last newsletter back in December, we've re-released Penny's 1985 pop album "Organic Software Vol.1 and filmed a brand new rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Love's In Need Of Love Today" in our project studio.
Love's In Need Of Love Today
Stevie Wonder opened his 1976 masterpiece "Songs In The Key Of Life" with this plea to humanity and of course it's still relevant as ever. We released a studio version of it on our 2007 album "Topsy Turvy" and just filmed a new live version in our project studio. In addition to the live elements, guitar looping and programmed percussion are in use.
Or listen and/or download and explore the liner notes and lyrics at our website (see the link below). Note that Volumes 2 and 3 are there was well, having been rereleased earlier:
We have one more volume in the works from that era containing a bunch of terrific individual tunes not included elsewhere, no release date for that one yet...
Finally, a reminder that all our published music, bios, and video links can be found on our website:
