The Early Years

The story begins somewhere along the line, way out in the cold, strip-mined mountains of Western Maryland. In the college town of Frostburg, a young kid sat with blues on his mind and angst in his heart. With trouble on his mind, he had a burning desire to play the old songs. Paying respect to the originals, he fashioned a precision in vocal and musical style that would imitate the masters. Maybe singing the blues would deliver this boy from whatever troubles were on his mind.

Mark Carroll was a student at the college and had already embarked on musical adventures of another variety. The tunes of the Smack Boys are a musical experience unto themselves and warrant exploration in another venue. At college, he found himself still searching for his musical voice when he stumbled on another troubled character. In short order, the journey began in earnest.

Wally had been known by many names in his storied past with so many more monikers to come. He had that same allegiance to music and he and Mark were hungry to lay down some tunes together. There was no great epiphany or meeting of the minds down at that proverbial crossroad for these boys. Still, with some old harps, a guitar, and a few bottles of Mickeys, the music began.

The two stumbled and played with some ideas and found that both had some stories to tell. Later, as the semester wound down, Mark introduced Wally to his cousins from back east. He suggested maybe getting together after college to see what might come about. Unknown to all, one of the greatest musical journeys was about to begin. Freedom Alley was born out of this desire to nail a feeling and no one has ever been the same.

All these many years later, long after Freedom Alley has disbanded and everyone has drifted on to become ghost riders on the four winds, the story is being retold through the ears and eyes of The Archive Series. Gathered together on multiple volumes and culled from countless hours of practice sessions, private parties, and live concerts, The Archive Series painstakingly captures the essence of Freedom Alley.

Contained in the recordings are a representative sampling of what went down when these four lads joined forces and set about forming their own brand of blues and reverie for the new age with a reverent nod to the masters and a bit of their own signature sound.

Collected in Volume I, The Early Years, is the genesis of that Freedom Alley sound that will musically explain the great mystery and expansive talent of one of the best basement bands to never make it out of the basement. Volume I emphasizes the roots of the early years with only a hint of what was to come.

God willing, you’ll enjoy what you hear, note a taste of yourself in the songs, and be hungry to hear more.

Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Freedom Alley.