All Wood and Stones

Just the FAQs

1. What is All Wood and Stones?
All Wood and Stones is a recording project created by James Lee Stanley and John Batdorf, who picked 11 of their favorite classic Rolling Stones songs and re-arranged them for acoustic guitars and voices. John and James sat in the studio facing each other and played the songs until they evolved into the songs you hear on the CD today, and then worked out wonderful vocal harmonies and background vocal parts.

2. What kind of instrumentation is used on the CD?
All of John's Martin acoustic guitars. The complete list is in the Instruments page. James used his Taylor® 810 CE and both John and James Lee use Elixir® Strings exclusively. Fretless bass and live percussion. No synths, just live musicians making live music.

3. Who did the vocals?
James Lee and John shared the lead vocal and lead guitar chores and they did the backgrounds themselves. On As Tears Go By and Last Time, Timothy B Schmit of the Eagles added his wonderful high tenor to the backing vocals.

4. Who are these guys?
James Lee Stanley has quite a bio, which can be accessed on his site www.jamesleestanley.com The same is true of John Batdorf at www.johnbatdorfmusic.com. John and James Lee met in Los Angeles in the '70's and have been friends ever since. Between them they have recorded over 30 albums from 1972 til now, a body of work supported by critical acclaim and a broad base of patrons who love what they do.

B&W press photos: tif version; jpg version

5. Why should I buy your CD?
You should buy this cd if you love acoustic guitars; if you love tight harmonies, great lead vocals and fantastic vocal harmonies à la The Beatles, the Beach Boys or Crosby Stills & Nash; if you love the classic Rolling Stones songs; and if you love clean recording and brilliant production.

6. How am I going to buy it?
Just click on the PayPal button on the Order Here page and away you go. Or you can send us a check for $18.45 ($15.00 plus $3.45 shipping and handling) payable to James Lee Stanley (it's important that it be made out to James Lee Stanley) at:

Beachwood Recordings
P.O. Box 4848
West Hills, CA 91308

7. When did this band start playing together?
John played and sang on the first two Wooden Nickel/RCA recordings that James Lee made in 1972. At the time, John was in a band on Atlantic called Batdorf & Rodney. James Lee was a solo artist on RCA/Wooden Nickel.

8. Where is this band from?
While both John and James Lee reside in the Los Angeles area, John is from Ohio and James Lee is from Virginia by way of Pennsylvania.

9. Who produced the CD?
James Lee Stanley and John Batdorf co-produced the CD at Beachwood Recording Studio from March 2 through August 15, 2004, with some additional recording done at BatMac Studio.

10. Does this band have any other CDs on the market?
Yes, James Lee has 16 solo recordings, as well as two duet CD's with Peter Tork and one duet CD with Michael Smith. John has three as Batdorf and Rodney, one as the band Silver and two duet CD's with Michael McLean. Check their respective websites for details.

11. How did they come up with the title of the CD?
Because the recording was acoustic guitar-based and the songs are all classic Rolling Stones songs, the title All Wood and Stones just seemed like exactly the right thing to say.

12. What is the message of the band?
That we believe in great songs, great vocals and vocal harmonies and great sounding acoustic guitars played well, and that's what we aspire to do whenever we go into the studio. We wanted to hear these classic Rolling Stones songs done in this kind of atmosphere. And we wanted to have grand fun doing it.

13. Where and when is the band playing live?
Right now, we are focusing on getting the world to know about the CD. Then we expect to go on the road and do concerts, at intimate theaters and perhaps concerts under the stars at various wineries in California.

14. What is the press saying about the CD?
We have had nothing but rave reviews from every single person who's heard this CD. We back it up. We guarantee it. If you don't like it, you have 60 days to send it back, no questions asked, and get a full refund on the price of the CD.