Welcome to “BOOKENDS” by Jack Atkinson & The Studio Gang – A Country Pop Sound
TRACKS: (1) It’s Christmas – Make a Joyful Noise • (2) Woop Woop Your Wild Yelp • (3) Southern Flavors of Childhood • (4) Morning Solitude • (5) Life Gets In The Way • (6) Chasing Dreams • (7) Grateful Birthday Blues • (8) For the Love of My Lady and My Child • (9) Success Is A Mindset • (10) Finding the Light Within • (11) Always Be at the Beginning of Your Story • (12) Freedom’s Anthem • (13) Families Are Forever • (14) Create a Good Life & Treat Good People Good
HELLO – This is ARTS&FOOD® Editor, Jack Atkinson.
I have spent much of my adult working life in the Visual Arts and Publishing, but my first income in the arts came as a musician. I was a member of a rock group back in the day. Our group played all over the mid-South, and we made three records. Now, at the other end of my career, I have returned to music with this album, bookending my work life.
Below are the songs I produced recently—the concepts and lyrics are mine with some editing help, and (The Studio Gang) is 100% virtual. These ideas and the energy behind each song is like me singing, yet my voice and range were much better when I was young. The world of recorded music has always given the songwriter/composer credit for the work. I sat down and wrote the words, did several iterations and edits, then I used my computer as my production and recording studio. Thus, the vocals and the musical instruments are created within the computer. The process is incredible. I could get my old band back together and record these songs, but I’m likely to think these tracks are better than we could create. New technology enabled me to produce this music by myself with my computer as my production assistant. I certainly enjoyed making these new, never-heard-before songs, and I hope you enjoy them, too.
Note: The Album can be played nonstop if you find it on Soundcloud.com — search for the (Album) Bookends By Jack Atkinson & The Studio Gang. The process will allow the entire album to play, like albums should. You, of course, can play the songs on this individually one at a time here.
THE TRACKS: (Players for each song are below.)
DEBUT OF THE ALBUM
“BOOKENDS”
Performed by Jack Atkinson & The Studio Band
Lyrics by Jack Atkinson
Woop Woop Your Wild Yelp – When you are young or young at heart, sometimes you want to just let out a WOOP and a YELP! The deeper meaning behind the song is to seize the day — do what you want to do, before the time slips away.
Southern Flavors of Childhood – I was born and raised in the south, enough said.
Morning Solitude – I am a morning person.
Life Gets In The Way – Albert Einstein said, “If a messy desk represents a messy mind, then what does an empty desk represent?”
Chasing Dreams – Making a conscious decision to be an artist means swimming upstream your entire life.
Grateful Birthday Blues – I recently had a birthday, so the subject was on my mind.
For the Love of My Lady and My Child – Our family of three has experienced many life events and travels together. I am grateful these two women are at the center of my life.
Success Is A Mindset – We have all learned – you become what you think about.
Finding the Light Within – In the pivotal year (2025), To-Thy-Own-Self-Be-True is everyone’s quest. Looking within, finding and presenting your authentic self is a requirement in this new age.
Always Be at the Beginning of Your Story – A philosophy adapted from actor Jim Carey. It is a concept I have incorporated into every aspect of my life. Here, I applied it to long-term marriages.
Freedom’s Anthem – Freedom is the foundation of the USA – a song for all Americans!
Families Are Forever – The song is about families and our deep genetic and emotional histories.
Create a Good Life & Treat Good People Good – Here I write of my most deeply held principle (The Golden Rule).
It’s Christmas – Make a Joyful Noise!
All songs on this post are © Jack A. Atkinson 2025.
