Say-So – Say-So

Say-So
Say-So
1986 (no label)
Nashville, Tennessee, USA

1. Fire Song
2. Celebration Waiting
3. Strengthening My Grip
4. Say-So

There seem to be several Say-So demos out there before the band got signed in 1997 to Organic Records. This one was posted online a while back and I missed it (that is where I got his – the Willfully Obscure blog posts a lot of really cool obscure music). This tape is a bit more progressive new wave than their later albums, which tended to be more alternative rock / pop rock. I am assuming husband and wife duo Kim and Jim Thomas were involved with this, but I don’t know who else might have been. They always put out a quality album, so I wonder why it took nearly 10 years to get signed? There are some great songs on this one that should have gotten them signed in 1986. As far as I know, the next demo by Say-So was You Lift Me Up in 1988. But that could be wrong – who knows what else is lurking out there?

Say-So – Wonderful World

Say-So
Wonderful World
1990 (no label)
Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Kim Thomas – Lead vocals, backing vocals, autoharp
Jim Thomas – Electric guitars, acoustic guitars, autoharp, backing vocals, keyboards, drum programming

Matt Pierson – Bass
Chris Rodriguez – Additional background vocals
Lisa Rodriguez – Additional background vocals
Russ Long – Additional drum programming

Side 1:

1. Wonderful World
2. Taken by the Moment
3. Love is a Word
4. Camella Sings

Side 2:

1. Mercy Me
2. Waiting for You
3. Monday’s Child
4. Beyond the World

Another unknown release from Say-So appears out of nowhere! This makes 4 releases of theirs outside of their two label releases that I have uncovered (still waiting to hear two of those). There are still some gaps in their discography time-line, so there could be even more out there. This particular project is more driven by the husband/wife duo than a fuller band, but the result is still the same. Say-So always seems to produce high quality alternative pop. You can see why they go signed, you just have to wonder what took so many years for it to happen?

Say-So – You Lift Me Up

Say-So
You Lift Me Up
1988 (no label)
Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Kim Thomas – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, background vocals
Jim Thomas – Keyboards, drum programming, background vocals
Dave Perkins – Acoustic & electric guitars
Jerry McPherson – Acoustic & electric guitars
Mark Baldwin – Acoustic & electric guitars
Rick Cua – Bass guitar

Side 1:

1. You Lift Me Up
2. Refuge
3. Just as I am

Side 2:

1. Hokey-Pokey
2. Calling My Name
3. Carry On

This is the same band that signed with Organic Records to release Say-So in 1997 and Still Waters in 1999. Most every band that made it onto a label had at least one demo out before getting signed – some just slip under the radar for some reason. This is one of those, which is odd because it was a Nashville based band that had a lot of big name help. Dave Perkins, Jerry McPherson, and Rick Cua all play on this demo. The music starts off a bit more roots rock than I remember their first full length being, but then seems to kick into a more adult alternative groove after that first song. Say-So was one of many husband/wife duos kicking around the music world in the 90s, but their ability to embrace folk and alternative with pop sensibilities pushes them to the top of the pile quickly. “Carry On” made it on to their second album, while “Calling My Name” made it onto their self-titled debut. I just wonder what happened between 1988 and 1997? More demos? Took a break?