Eric Marienthal Interview Page 4

Smitty:  I know.

EM:  And so if you can make the packaging of a record more appealing so that people are more apt to do it.  The hard thing, obviously, is to find a place to go buy a record.

Smitty:  Yeah.

EM:  It’s ironic when it’s harder and harder to buy a record in stores because there are fewer and fewer stores, but record sales at live gigs is at an all-time high because, obviously, you can actually buy the record, maybe meet the artist and get it signed perhaps or whatever. But if people can actually see your CD, you want them to say “Hey, that looks pretty cool.  Hopefully it sounds good, but it looks good.  I’ll buy it.”  (Both laugh.)  “I’ll buy it.”

Smitty:  Yeah, and I think you’re right on because the packaging should be the invitation to what’s inside and it should be such a great lead-in to what you’re going to hear, and I think you’ve accomplished that with this, and my compliments to Peak for the great job that they did with this fantastic packaging.

EM:  Yeah, cool, thank you.

Smitty:  Yeah, absolutely.  Well, you know what, Eric, I tell you, man, I could go on for the next four hours about this great record, man, and your marvelous career, and thanks for being such a cool cat and doing your thing and doing it well, and I congratulate you on this record and wish you well with it and your tour and the upcoming year of 2008, my friend.

EM:  Well, thanks.  Right back at you, man, and thank you for all your support with all the musicians.  We all love you very much and you’ve been such a great supporter of everybody’s projects.  We just think of you very fondly, man, that’s for sure.

Smitty:  Well, thank you, man.  Don’t make me start sobbing now.  (Both laugh.)

EM:  “I love you, man!”

Smitty:  Yeah, “We love you, man!”  Hey, man, thanks again and once again hopefully I’ll catch up with you.  I think I did bump into you—I think the last time I saw you was where?  Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

EM:  That’s right.  That’s right, yeah.

Smitty:  How ‘bout that?

EM:  Well, hey, let’s meet somewhere exotic again.

Smitty:  Yeah, I’m all for that!

EM:  Let’s go to Hawaii, let’s go to Japan.

Smitty:  Yeah, Japan, Italy, France…yeah, I’d love to.  We’ll have to work on that.  All right, Eric, thanks again, my friend, and hopefully we’ll bump into each other soon and congratulations again on this great record.

EM:  Hey, man, thanks so much.

Smitty:  All right, we’ve been talking with the fantastic Mr. Eric Marienthal.  His great new record is called Just Around the Corner and I’m sure it’s just around the corner from wherever you are.  Please pick this one up.  I highly recommend it.  Eric, thanks again, man, and all the very best.

EM:  My pleasure.  Thanks, man.

Baldwin “Smitty” Smith

For More Information Visit www.ericmarienthal.com and www.peakrecords.com