Regarding  "FSP".
"The tracks sound great, you should be proud."
-Derek Sherinian

Regarding "Thinking Out Loud"
"Killer track."
-Derek Sherinian

Regarding "The Big Crunch"
"Sounds huge!"
-Derek Sherinian

Regarding "Singularity".
"It has a really cool vibe."
-Brian Tichy

THE BIG TRACKS

 After putting some of my guitar instrumentals online, I received an email from Derek Sherinian, ex-keyboardist of Dream Theater. He offered to play keyboards and produce my guitar originals.. Obviously I was shocked and amazed! He also recommended Brian Tichy for drums. So in between his touring schedule and as my writing inspiration and schedule permitted I began work on this album. What an honor to work with these two "A-list" progressive rock musicians, their work ethics and amazing talents were just off the charts!

THE LOST DEMOS

 The lost demos were a group of tracks that were in the writing phase and in the process of being finished, when a series of unique obstacles came into play. A few of these were the guitar originals that were online when Derek emailed me. During the transfer from one recording console to another, the console died. It was impossible to find another at that time, and parts or repair were even more improbable. Yet another track, "Nitro Groove" was accidentally deleted after it was thought to be sent and received by another engineer. That track and it's performances were gone forever, only the demo remains. 

 The demos were a bit lacking in fidelity but I had found some great software which smoothed out the rough edges. After some tweaking they really held up well along side the big tracks, not as polished, but good enough and clear enough to have on the cd. So I decided to include these writing demos and lost tracks on this limited edition release. Some of these tracks will be re-recorded or eventually mixed down and mastered. Some will stay forever in the land of lost demos. What they lack in mastering they make up for in emotion and that special spark that is only found on the original writing demo.  -FS

THE BIG CRUNCH

  The Big Crunch is a big fast paced Yngwie style song, it was born from the initial riff. Derek heard this track first and I have a distinct feeling it was the song that prompted him to contact me. He wrote the breathy keyboard intro and on the phone even described it as an "Yngwie" style intro. Brian Tichy's monstrous double-bass pedal skills are another highlight.

SINGULARITY

 Singularity is a modern techno-metal song with a drop "D" tuning and a unique melody and descending riff. Derek decided to double the melody on keyboards and add his flare throughout the song. Brian's double bass work makes yet another appearance. Influenced, like so many of my originals by the great Ronnie Montrose and his "Open Fire" album. 

THINKING OUT LOUD

 Going for a bit of a Dimeola approach here. This was born from a three voice Brian Moore guitar. I had an electric gain sound, acoustic sound, and bass sound going all at once when this eclectic riff machine was born. Some of the more difficult and technical riffs on the cd are in this song. The sitar section in the middle is yet another example of the three voice Brian Moore guitars.

RUBBER RAT JIVE

 A tribute to the worlds most famous unfamous band, The Good Rats. An amazing Long Island band which featured a famous song called "Tasty". It's about musicians who couldn't make the band because they couldn't play tasty. How do you fill an entire song with melody and guitar phrases? This song demonstrates how. Like most of these originals the song played itself, my heart, soul and fingers were shown the way. Nothing pre-conceived, this song happened in real time. 

YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE

 A gut wrenching slow melodic guitar instrumental. You can't play fast all the time, progressive rock musicians love playing slow and melodic. This song is from deep down, influenced by players like Steve Vai, Santana, and Ronnie Montrose, and Yngwie Malmsteen,  who all frequently demonstrate what it means to play slow and melodic. I play the piano part on this track, and I purposely highlighted the rhythm guitar parts on the chorus. 

BACKLASH

 A deep "drop C" tuning on this mainstream style progressive guitar rocker. This is a demo version where Derek and I try trading on the melody. My original written version had the guitar playing the melody, not sure how the final version will end up, but enjoy this demo version. Inspired by Kings X and Satriani.

NITRO GROOVE

 Here is the most famous of the lost demos. This was the writing phase version, we were in the middle of writing when the folder was deleted and accidentally lost. We tried to re-record but it just did not come out anything like the original. The trading solos at the end were fun, and  this one will not be re-released so this demo is the only remaining copy. A demo of a truly lost moment in time and performance.

WINDOWS IN TIME

 Windows in time is the very theme of the lost demos. Each time you write a song, that particular guitar, that amp, those settings, that mood captures a moment in time. When you want to go back and master or re-record that song, often it is very hard to duplicate. This song captures an emotion that was running through me at that time. I've played more polished newer versions, but there is some special essence in the original that is very hard to capture.

ACOUSTIC SKIES

 This is the only "Live" track on the cd, done in one take. This take was recorded in real time while I was writing the song. I had a chance to fly out to Vegas and California to jam with my buddy Joey Fulco. He's the first bassist, and was in the first real band I was in at age 16. Played my first live gig with him. During the California trip he handed me his Martin guitar and I just followed his song list. Most of the songs I didn't even know but just playing behind his performance was effortless. The action was a bit high and gave my fingers a good workout and I really enjoyed the gig. The memories of the sunset in the mountain desert and playing that acoustic inspired me to write this when I got home. 

PANORAMA

 Trevor Rabin's solo album, Can't Look Away, is the inspiration for this song. When that cd came out I could not listen to anything else for months. I was hooked on his writing and his production values. While in Morrisound studios I was talking with Jim Morris and discussing Trevor's solo album. Jim once said to me, "Frank, you could record an album like that". Very inspiring words for sure, Jim thank you for that vote of confidence. .

 When I listened to Ronnie Montrose's album "Open Fire" as a teen I had vowed to someday record an album like that. Now I have realized that dream. Thank you for listening. 

-Frankie Stephens