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High Desert Fever

by Ted Russell Kamp

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second single from the upcoming album California Son out March 22, 2024
tedrussellkamp.com/product/california-son-album-cd-pre-order

I originally wrote this song with Ted Wulfers about 10 years ago. It was actually about meeting a biker woman up in Joshua Tree and having a short but memorable romance. Then, as the idea for the California Son record started taking shape in my mind, I wanted to add some songs about specific beautiful places in and around L.A. I had the idea of re-writing this song to make it about the power and beauty of the desert so I called Ted and asked him if he would want to re-write the lyrics with me. He sad yes, and this is what we got!

I started the recording playing acoustic guitar and singing vocals down in The Den.
Then I went to Jim Doyle's studio in Santa Monica to record the drums and bass live together. We actually recorded this song, on the same day we did "You Can Go To Hell, I'm Going To Texas" and "The Spark" from Solitaire. Then I played most of the instruments and sang my lead vocal before bringing it to John Schreffler's home studio where we recorded the lead guitar and pedal steel. John and I have played thousands of shows and many recording sessions together both in each other's bands, as well as band members for Shooter Jennings.
The final touch was having Brian Whelan come over for an afternoon to sing all of the gospel harmony vocals.

This song was originally recorded to be on Solitaire but I decided it was too upbeat and fun and didn't fit well with the moodiness and intimacy of the other songs on that record so I saved it for the next record which evolved into California Son.

The music and mood of the song was inspired by one of my favorite artists of all time, Leon Russell. He was a master at blending genres as well as giving powerful high energy shows and I wanted to combine country and gospel to capture some of that joy and energy.

lyrics

I got that high desert fever
Feel it from my head to my toes
I got that high desert fever
How I got it heaven only knows

I’m rolling down Highway 29
Headed to a place that would ease my mind
Some mountains and a full moon
A ghost town and a bar room
Will help me find a reason and a rhyme

Once you see those million dollar skies
You’ll get caught dreaming with that look in your eyes
Every time I start to slip
I just take another trip     
That desert always takes me by surprise

I got that high desert fever
Feel it from my head to my toes
I got that high desert fever
How I got it heaven only knows

Well this fever that I feel is nothing new
But you know it’s as contagious as the sky is blue
The cactus and the sand are gonna take you by the hand
And those coyotes have you howling at the moon

Yeah I got that high desert fever
Feel it from my head to my toes
I got that high desert fever
How I got it heaven only knows

Hey come on

Well those California Stars up in the sky
That desert air alone can almost get you high
If you’ve been there then you’d know
That it’s the only place to go
Don’t let another chance just pass you by

‘Cause I got that high desert fever
Feel it from my head to my toes
I got that high desert fever
How I got it heaven only knows
How I got it heaven only knows
I got that high desert fever
Feel it from my head to my toes
I got that high desert fever
How I got it heaven only knows knows knows
I keep moving but it never let's me go
I keep moving but it never let's me go go go
How I got it heaven only knows

credits

released February 27, 2024
written by Ted Russell Kamp & Ted Wulfers

Ted - vocals, bass, acoustic & electric guitar, Hammond, percussion
John Schreffler - lead electric guitar & pedal steel
Brian Whelan - harmony vocals
Jim Doyle - drums

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Ted Russell Kamp Los Angeles, California

Ted is a Grammy winning musician, singer songwriter & producer.
Featured in Rolling Stone Country, American Songwriter and on the Sirius XM Outlaw channel, Ted's albums, 2020's Down In The Den & 2021's critically acclaimed Solitaire,have debuted on EuroAmericana Radio chart at #1. Rolling Stone has called Kamp an MVP of the California Roots Music scene.
He is a member of the Shooter Jennings band. ... more

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