By Scott Coner
Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer, and Author
This
week I wanted to do a follow-up on last week’s blog about Carol Chase. Last
week we discussed Carol’s time spent in LA, her transition into Nashville that
finally resulted in joining Lynyrd Skynyrd. Today, I’d like to get into
songwriting and her views on the subject. I think people don’t always consider
the source of a song. We want to believe that every song we hear on the radio
is absolutely based on real life events and this is not always the case.
Last
night I spoke with Carol on the telephone. She told me that from her
perspective, some songs are “made up emotions I haven’t necessarily even felt
before.” These are often songs that show themselves when working with
co-writers. There is a much different climate in the room when working in this
situation. It’s possible that songwriters don’t always get quite as personally
invested when co-writing. But that doesn’t mean the songs lack conviction or
application for the listener.
Carol Chase in the studio
A
great example of a song that Carol co-wrote a while back for Pam Tillis is, “Do
You Know Where Your Man Is Tonight?” She co-wrote the song with Russell Smith,
(Amazing Rhythm Aces/ Third Rate Romance), and Dave Gibson (Queen of Memphis
and It Don’t Come Easy). This song went on to be a top ten hit for Tillis and
obviously connected with many people. I personally believe that if you put two
or three very talented writers in a room for a few hours that a pretty great
song is going to show itself. Songwriters have a way of bouncing ideas off of
each other. While writing with Carol, I have noticed that as the theme of a
song begins to appear, she begins asking what the song means to me. She wants
to understand where I think the song is headed. We discuss some of the points
and immerse ourselves back into the material at hand.
Carol
says that she likes to start a song with a simple idea. “I like to follow the
song and see where it goes. I have written songs and eventually recorded
them. There have been some pretty
emotional moments for me during this process. I have actually had to step away
from the microphone a few times because the song speaks to me so powerfully.
It’s a bit odd, but I think as songwriters we are laying some of our most
personal feelings out there for everyone to see. Broken relationships, failure,
as well as moments of pure bliss often end up in the songs we write. In the
end, we have left all of our secrets written and recorded for the ages.”
Songwriters are like the rest of us. There have been artists that have
impacted them. Carol says that Don Henley, Anita Baker, and Marvin Gay are a
few of those artists that she identifies with. “I like artists that are
soulful,” Carol said. “During my career, I have written country music primarily
but, there have been certain songs that could have easily gone pop or even rock
with the right artist and producer.”
Scott Coner and Carol Chase in the recording of their cover song Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum
I
have been fortunate in the fact that I have been able to write and record with
Carol. Many of the coolest and most important lines in our songs are because of
her. Her natural energy and drive works well with me. I don’t have a habit of
working with people that are too laid back. I enjoy staying focused and on
topic. Carol takes songwriting seriously just like me. I think this is one of
the reasons that I have truly enjoyed working with her. Yes, she is in Skynyrd.
But, there is an awful lot of depth to Carol. I recommend that you take the
time to check her songs out. She is one of those people that you won’t forget.
She is a woman with a legacy.
Keep in touch!
Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at his music page.
