What a surprise and a blessing it was to see that “Ancient of Days” was included in this list of worship songs, released this week on CD from Integrity Music. I am honored that after 20 years, the song has risen to this place in history.

I never have recorded the song on any personal projects until I included it as an instrumental on my new project coming out in a week or so.

Our prayers go out to all in Colorado Springs, CO–where coincidentally, Integrity Music is now based as a subsidiary of David C. Cook–who are battling fires that are threatening their homes, communities, churches and livelihoods.

Thanks again, Integrity Music, for blessing the Harvills beyond imagination, and for effecting the way the Church worships God over the past quarter century! I pray “Ancient of Days” is included on the 50th anniversary collection one day!

Check out this promotional video about the release. I believe “Ancient of Days” is number four in the lineup.

Today’s a new day! Yesterday’s worship services went well, but as a former pastor often said during our Monday planning meetings: “The problem with church is that it happens every week!” Without fail, Monday comes and a new set of challenges face us, even though we want to take a bit of a rest. Frankly, I like these type of challenges because I am motivated to complete a task.

Completing something–running over the finish line–is satisfying. Now just because I finish something, it doesn’t mean I came in first place. It does mean, though, that I chose to do something, planned, prepared and pursued it to completion. There is a satisfaction in finishing something, and it can be rejuvenating, too.

When I decided to pursue the instrumental project I’ve been writing about recently, it was in the midst of a personal trial. I made some necessary life changes last spring and was faced with several uncertainties–one of which was financial in nature. Leaving a position that brought provision to my family for 8 years was a tough call, but necessary. I needed, among several other things, to sow into something that stirred my creative imagination. There were several things that I could not control at the time, so I put energies into something I could control.

I love to walk in my neighborhood, listen to music on my headphones and write new melodies for new songs. After several days of walking around the block last summer (not concurrently!), I started hearing melodies without words–melodies that brought up certain emotions. I heard my guitar playing those melodies and soon hatched a plan to record a new project with my guitar as the centerpiece. I also had songs–instrumentals–on the workbench for years, and this was the opportunity to bring them to light.

Yesterday I lined up the finished recordings and created a master disc, ready for replication. It is satisfying to have that dream realized and to hold it in my hand as a completed project. I am ready to move on to another adventure, but first I want to soak in the bliss of finishing what I started!

Here’s one more sample of the instrumental record. This song is called “River Road,” written for a highway that rolls out of Columbus, Ohio called Olentangy River Road, Hwy 315–a beautiful drive that has stayed in my memory since I first drove it over 30 years ago. The song is one of the mellow tunes from the record, in the style of one of my heroes–Earl Klugh–and in the spirit of  one of his greatest records ever, “Heartstring.”

I hope you enjoy it

   River Road by jamieharvill

Here’s another selection from my upcoming instrumental project entitled “Songs Without Words.” I have been influenced by so many guitarists that it’s difficult to limit the styles I wanted to add to the record. I guess some of the songs just dictated how they wanted to be presented–and of course my own style always comes through.

I am going to see ZZ Top tonight in concert, so it’s appropriate that I post a song inspired by the band. I have been a huge fan of Bill Gibbons from the start. In fact, fifteen years ago I had the pleasure of working in the same studio in which much of their classic record “Tres Hombres” was recorded; I imagined Billy’s unmistakable guitar tones still floating in the air there. Also, I can’t help but think of the gigantic Mexican food spread on the inside cover of “Tres Hombres” (Tex Mex food of those proportions are usually found exclusively in Texas and California!).

I call this song “Texas Toast,” because of it’s gritty textures and it’s Texas inspiration.

Again, I will have my full project available in July. I hope you enjoy the song…

Texas Toast by jamieharvill

I’ve been busy this year completing an instrumental guitar project. I am excited to share a song here today that will be a part of the collection called “Songs Without Words.” The following song is entitled “Emerald City;” an ode to heaven, as I imagine it to be even more visually breathtaking than the Land of Oz. I guess the Irish styling helped inspire the name, too.

The songs on the record cover many styles, including rock, light jazz and acoustic. I had a blast recording the project and I hope you enjoy it half as much as I did working on it. I will post another song later this week. The project should be available for download by the first week of July.

 

Emerald City by jamieharvill

Bucket lists are popular these days, probably due to the recent movie of the same name. Everyone has a list of things to do before they die. My list, for the most part, is being steadily filled. I’m a blessed guy!

Blue Bayou, Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland

It seems silly to mention, but I have a bucket list item that has been hanging-on in my sub conscience since I was about seven-years-old. It started when I first stood in line for the then brand-new “Pirates Of the Caribbean” ride at Disneyland (we lived about four miles away, as the crow flies, in Fullerton, so we visited as often as possible). As the line formed and guests were strung-up along the long, wooden fence that corals the queue, there was (and still is) a clear and deliberate sight-line to the restaurant in the middle of the attraction called “The Blue Bayou.”

As a kid, looking at those folks eating in the candle-lit restaurant was like a peak over a neighbor’s fence in the summer time, watching them enjoy a swim in their pool, and longing to join them. A special treat like eating at the “Bayou,” or having our own family pool was beyond my family’s financial reach. I dreamed one day I’d find a way to get my own pool and maybe even a long- shot chance to dine at the Pirates Of the Caribbean and The Blue Bayou.

I got my pool in 2000 and, although I loved it, learned what a challenge it was to keep the water crystal-clear. I still flirt with the idea of a pool where we live now, but I could take it or leave it at this stage in my life.

Brenda and Jamie at the Blue Bayou restaurant, Disneyland

I traveled with my bride–along with both kids and their spouses–to southern California this past week and made our way again to Disneyland. Like me, my son-in-law, Adam, was intrigued with the idea of eating at the “Bayou.” He made a quick phone call the night before our Disney trip and, to my surprise, snagged a reservation.

After a long day at the park, we scurried up to the check-in at the restaurant just before 9PM (a terrible time to eat a full meal, but the only slot they had open) and were soon seated. I ordered short ribs and–as we waited for our meal, munching on hot, fresh bread and enjoying a respite form the long day of combing the park–I gazed toward the area where the line for Pirates winds back and forth, across from the fake swamp and the pretend fireflies. There they were– the folks in line, peeking over at us as we were seated in the restaurant, just like I did for forty-five years!

At that moment I realized: the forty-five-year dream of getting there was much more fun than the experience itself. As I scanned the bill for Brenda and I, totaling just under $100 dollars, I surrendered, then and there, to the fact that when wishes come true, even in Disneyland, they aren’t always as fulfilling as hoped. Still, it was a bucket list item I could finally check off.

My thirst is quenched; I don’t ever need to return to the “Bayou” again. But that doesn’t mean you won’t find me standing in line for Pirates Of the Caribbean again and again like a seven-year-old! Another bucket list item I have is a chance to get off the “doom buggy” at the Haunted Mansion and walk around…but I think that wish list item will most likely stay unchecked.