ROOFTOP - Demo

New music for the New Moon! The Droge & Summers Blend Rarities album news!

On 06/02/23, I released the single “Rooftop.”

Today is the New Moon. And that means new music.

Here is “Rooftop” in early rough demo form:

Like “Only Have Eyes” that came before it, “Rooftop” is an outtake from The Droge & Summers Blend. Blend was my harmony-rich side project with Elaine Summers. We were active from 2008 until 2015. We released two five-song EPs: Volume One (2009) and Volume Two (2014). Volume Three was derailed when my fatigue issues began in September 2015.

Coffee break at Puzzle Tree Studio, 2008.

After conducting a massive archeological dig through old hard drives, we have unearthed a load of material from various Blend sessions. Elaine and I have been combing through it all and selecting cuts for a 14-song album we are tentatively calling Blend Rarities.

The collection will include six outtakes, four demos, three alternate versions and one rehearsal tape. We’ve been working on the sequence. Sequencing is fun. A real sense of satisfaction comes from getting all the tracks in one place and hearing how they flow one into another.

Here is the running order as it stands at the moment:

01 Two of the Lucky Ones (Alternate Version)
02 Northern Lights (Outtake)
03 Hang on to Me (Outtake)
04 The Choice (Outtake)
05 Rooftop (Outtake)
06 Plans (Outtake)
07 Only Have Eyes (Outtake)
08 Wonder (Alternate Version)
09 Island (Demo)
10 Wicked World (Demo)
11 It’s Hard for You (Demo)
12 How Long (Demo)
13 Banks of the Ohio (Rehearsal Tape)
14 Northern Lights (Alternate Version) [Instrumental]

As you can see from the track listing, the “Rooftop (Demo)” above will not be included on the Blend Rarities album. It’s available exclusively on Substack. For now, anyhow. At some point, it may be available for sale on Bandcamp too.

For now, paid subscribers can stream &/or download the track by visiting my “Rarities” bonus link page HERE.

We’re releasing Blend Rarities on our Mom & Pop label, Puzzle Tree Records. As a small label, we are confronted with a big question:

To CD? Or not to CD?

I know at least a few of you would prefer the good ol’ compact disc. Let me know in the comments if the record being available on CD is important to you or not. Sorry vinyl lovers, no plans for vinyl at this time.

Peace & Love Songs,

Pete