Stephen Bennett

About Stephen Bennett

Whether playing his great-grandfather's harp guitar, his 1930 National Steel or a standard 6-string, Stephen Bennett is a musician to hear. His playing has won awards and critical praise. In live performance and on record, his diverse musical influences and interests are joined with a lifelong love affair with the sound of guitar strings.

LINER NOTES FOR TRAIN OF LIFE

1.   Venus

Written by Robbie van Leeuwenhoek, this song was hit by the Dutch band Shocking Blue in 1969 (it reached #1 on the US charts in February 1970. I played it on my Noemi guitar in standard tuning.

2.   Train Of Life 

A small freight train goes by twice a day across the river from our house. I often am playing guitar when it does and when I checked to see what notes its whistle was blowing, it was a B major chord. I knew that day that, at some point, I would compose a tune for the train. One day last May I recorded it going by from my deck. I knew I had to incorporate the sound into the composition. This is what I wound up with. I played my Wingert harp guitar with the sub- basses tuned E A B C# D F#, low to high. While emailing with Sebastien Solignac about doing the graphics for this album he sent me a poem that hangs in his home called The Train Of Life, written by Jean d’Ormessan. While it might be a little cliched – it’s still beautiful. The poem is copied below.

3.   Winter You Done Stayed Too Long

It did truly stick around too long this year. While playing my Wingert harp guitar one evening in early March, the basics of this tune emerged. Within two days, I’d recorded it. The sub-basses were tuned F A B C D G, low to high. I also played my Telecaster.

4.   A Good Man 

A tune for my late friend Kent Redberg. He and his wife Beate were big supporters of mine in Germany. Beate passed away some years back, and last Fall, so did Kent. I’d composed a tune in memory of Beate and wanted to do the same for Kent. I wrote and played it on my newest guitar that I bought last year. It was made by Noemi Schembri. Standard tuning with a capo at the 4th fret, but leaving the 6th string open.

5.   To Be

I’ve reached a point in my life where it’s altogether too common an occurrence that someone I know passes away. While reflecting on what I might title this piece (that happend to be in the key of B), Shakespeare’s phrase “to be or not to be” popped into my head. And I started thinking how it’s better to be than not. So, my friends, take care of yourselves and each other, the best you can – and continue to be. I played my Wingert harp guitar, with the sub-basses tuned, E A# B C# D# F#, low to high. I also used my high-strung guitar (see track 2), with a capo at the 5th fret.

6.   For Minnesota

This tune flowed out of my newest guitar (the Noemi) around the time that Renee Good and Alex Pretti were murdered on the streets of Minneapolis by ICE agents. I’ve been inspired by what I’ve read about the response of residents to the invasion of their city, and so I dedicate this tune to them. Standard tuning with a capo at the 3rd fret, but leaving the 1st string open.

7.   The Sound Of Music

This classic from Rodgers and Hammerstein first came out in 1959. I remember seeing the film with my family at a drive-in Vermont on summer vacation in 1965. It’s such a great melody. Thanks to Kyle Logue for putting it back in my head! I played my Wingert harp guitar with the subs tuned to F A Bb C D G, low to high.

8.   On The Nature Of Clouds

In 2024 my friend Gregg Miner invited harp guitarists to look for inspiration related to the subject of clouds and, if they found it, to compose and record such tunes as might arise. He was proposing to put together a compilation of the results on his Harp Guitar Music label. This tune was my offering.

I started out as I often do, sitting with instrument in hand and thinking about the subject at hand. An idea emerged right away. Further inspiration came from The Book Of Clouds, written by Dr. John A. Day, a friend of my grandfather’s in McMinnville, Oregon. Dr. Day taught at Linfield College there and held a Ph.D in Cloud Physics. Reading about Luke Howard helped me settle on the title. In the late 1700s, Mr. Howard set about trying to classify clouds and, in 1802, presented a paper entitled “On the Modifications of Clouds”. Two centuries later, we’re still using the essence of that paper to classify clouds. I used my Wingert harp guitar with the sub-basses tuned F A Bb C D G, low to high.

9.   Dill Pickles Rag 

This was composed by ragtime pianist Charles Johnson and published in 1906 – which is the same year that the Washburn parlor guitar that I played it on was made. It’s the same as Dill Pickle Rag, but since Johnson called it Dill Pickles, do did I. Standard tuning.

10. The Entertainer 

This classic rag by Scott Joplin dates to 1902. I arranged it for regular guitar long ago but I decided to work up an arrangement for Big Mama. The sub-basses were tuned F A B C D G, low to high.

11. Better Than This

By which I mean to say that I hope my country is actually better than what the current disaster of an administration is doing its best to turn us into. I hope we’re not as racist, misogynistic, narcissistic, or cruel as our president and the rest of his administration is. Although those qualities certainly have all factored into our history, they’re most assuredly not the “better angels of our nature” that President Lincoln appealed to. I played my Noemi guitar with the 6th string tuned up to F.

12.  Thunder Jorge

He’s my grand-dog and quite a character. With a name like that, he ought to be! I played my Noemi guitar with the 6th string tuned to F. I’ll get a photo of Thunder up here soon.

13. June 

A tune composed by my friend Andy McKee. Although Andy’s a very well known guitarist, this is a piano composition he wrote for his grandmother. I played my Wingert harp guitar. The sub- basses were tuned E A B C D G, low to high.

14. Money, Money, Money

I originally composed this in reaction to mr. musk taking an ax to the federal government, at the invitation of mr. trump. I played my baritone guitar that was made by luthier Tony Karol, with a capo at the 2nd fret but leaving the 6th string open. Thanks to my good friend Stephen Bennett (I know, it’s unusual) for the suggestion of the last two lines of the 4th verse. I played slide on my Fender Telecaster.

15. New Year’s Eve

A song composed by my friendGeorge Potts. I fell in love with it the first time I heard him play it (and the second and third times too). While it’s only a couple of years old, this song sounds to me as if it’s from the 19th century, very Stephen Foster-esque. I played Big Mama, my great-grandfather’s harp guitar, now 117 years old. Her sub-basses were tuned F A B C D G, low to high. I also played slide on my 1930 National steel guitar, and added a track with my high-strung guitar (a 150th anniversary limited edition of a C. Bruno parlor guitar put out by Takamine in 1983).

~~~~

Tracks 2,3,4,5,6,8, 11,12 and 14 were composed by Stephen M. Bennett, are published by Greased Pig Music, and registered with BMI.

Recorded by SB in Connecticut, mixed by Kim Person in Virginia, and mastered by Gregg Lukens, also in Virginia. Thanks for another great job by these two brilliant engineers!

Cover art and graphic design by the always amazing Sebastian Solignac! 

Thanks to my family, friends and fans everywhere, and especially you, Nancy B!

You can contact Stephen at sb@harpguitar.com

His website is harpguitar.com

Thanks for listening!

  1. Venus 2:50 (composed by Robbie van Leeuwenhoek)
  2. Train Of Life 4:03 
  3. Winter You Done Stayed Too Long 3:13
  4. A Good Man 3:35
  5. To Be 4:05
  6. For Minnesota 4:19
  7. The Sound Of Music 2:40 (composed by Rogers & Hammerstein)
  8. On The Nature Of Clouds 6:51
  9. Dill Pickles Rag 2:59 (composed by Charles Johnson)
  10. The Entertainer 4:42 (composed by Scott Joplin)
  11. Better Than This
  12. June 3:57 (composed by Andy McKee)
  13. Money, Money, Money 5:50
  14. Thunder Jorge 3:31
  15. New Year’s Eve 3:53 (composed by George Potts)

Copyright 2026 Stephen Bennett

All rights reserved. 

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

The Train Of Life Jean d’Ormessan

Life is like a journey on a train…

With its stations… With changes of routes… And with accidents!

At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant in our journey i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and the love(s) of our life. Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go unnoticed where we don’t realise that they vacated the their seats. Which is very sad when you think about it.

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes and farewell. Success consists of having a good relationship with all the passengers… requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone on their train journey is that we do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way – love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty – we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you a joyful journey this year on the train of life. Reap success and give lots of love. More importantly, give thanks for the journey!

Written by Jean d’Ormesson (1925-2017) titled, LE TRAIN DE LA VIE.