Thanks for stopping by. In Autumn of 1973 into Spring of 1974 I recorded an album of songs I had been writing and wandering around singing for a few years. I had wonderful help on this project from Algis Byla who played bass [later to become a Wisconsin State Fiddle Champ three times], Janice Reek on vocals, Tom Hennick played piano. On the 16 track MCI board was Gerald Block. We hand silscreened each cover at Inky Fingers my favorite Wisconsin hippie commune. George Cramer and John Craig provided the cover art. Later two boutique record labels asked to re-release the rocord: Gear Fab and Lion Productions. I was back in Wisconsin when we did the Lion Productions version so was able to again hand silkscreen each jacket thanks to Ken Garden. No two jackets are the same. Recorded at American Sound Studios, Sauk City, WI.
TRACKS: Additional Tracks on CD
Hey Babe 3:25 Dawn Mist Falls 3:38
Garden 5:35 Don't You Ever Wonder 5:11
Sunny Day 4:05 10,000 Years 5:57
Hungry Horse Montana 11:30
Wavefaring Boy 6:14

The 1970's was a great time to be in a rock band in Wisconsin. Lots of clubs had live music every week. A couple of my bands, Vajra & PUSH, did original songs and we recorded them in a couple studios and lots of clubs. Presented here in two CDs in all their sweat filled analog glory. At the Moon Valley outdoor concert at the Jungle Bar, Hub City, WI, Vajra opened for Cheap Trick on 8/31/1975. Vajra recorded an album at Jamie Goldsmith's studio that was never released but some of the songs appear on these CD's

VAJRA/PUSH PUSH/VAJRA
Brothers 3:47 Welcome
Black Gun 5:09 Golden Throne
Don't You Ever Give Up 4:41 Don't Walk Away
Charge 3:03 Highway Rider
Rhyme or Reason 10:11 Golgotha
Imagine That 5:21 Doreen
Johnny 3:58 We Gotta Get Away
9 to 5 6:21 Tiger's Lair
Starry Eyed Child 4:07 Drive In
She's a Crustacean 3:37 For What
Good Boys 4:31 Say It
Warm Spread 3:02 High
You're Never Too Old For R&R

A move to Connecticut in the early 1980,s had me joining a new band that lasted a summer. I wanted to get into the studio again and ran into a great drummer in one Mr. Bobby 'T' Torello. He liked my songs so we started recording at Trod Nossel Studios in 1984. Two 45s came out of the early sessions and we kept recording as the time and money allowed us eventually moving to Horizon Music Studios and releasing a CD in 1994.

A] Saturday Night
B] Sexy

A] Do You Want To
B] I'm Serious

Saturday Night 3:25
Steaks and Cold Beer 4:10
She's a Crustacean 3:24
Piece of the Action 4:06
For What 3:06
Sometimes I'm Up 4:30
Sweetn' It Up 3:10
I'm Serious 3:54
The Things I've Been Missing 3:56
Don't Walk Away 3:54
Sexy 3:12
The Rain Came Down 3:40

Released in 1994 the title came from Capt. Robert Baker one wild night in Whitewater, WI. Recorded at Trod Nossel to start, then moving over to Horizon Music Studios by Bobby 'T's' recomendation, we tracked and then released this CD through Horizon's label. Vic Steffens at Horizon was great to work with. He was always insightful and worked with us throughout. Richard Robinson at Trod was also instrumental in spinning the knobs and working with the songs. We recorded a video of 'Sometimes I'm Up' at Trod while we recorded it.

Bobby 'T' Torello Drums, bk voc all tracks except 2, 4,7
Moe Potts Drums, asprin bottle, perc 2,4,7
Scott Zito Keys 9,10,12 bk voc 9,10 Gtr & Bass 6
Dui Bass 2,4,7
Terri Beltrane bk voc 4,7
Carolinda Simoes bk voc 4,7
Hal Selzer bass 1,11
Ralph DeLucia keys 8
Chris Hickerson trumpet 9
Wil Parillo sax 1
Vic Steffens keys 9
Michael Oosten all songs, guitar, voc

Studio video shot in 1988

Back in Wisconsin I started to contact old friends for playing and recording. I once again asked John Craig to do the art work based on an idea I had and he produced a beautiful cover. Richard Robinson had moved to LA and I contacted him to engineer. Tracks were recorded at King Size Sound Labs, LA, Tiny Records, Yuba, WI, Randy's Recording, Madison, WI, Bees & Honey Studios, LA, Vintage Pro Audio, FL, Way Gone Studios, WI.

Denny Weston Drums 2/3/9/10/11
John Danforth Drums 1/4/5/7
Rock Williams Drums 6/8
Benjamin Bidlock Drums 12
Martin Buttwinick Bass 3/9/11
Tim Fauver Bass 1/4/7
Todd Miller Sax 3/4/6/7
Ron Solinger Keys 2
Dale Rasmussen Keys 1
Mary Gaines Cello 11
Clara Solinger Bk Voc 1/2/3/4/5/6/10
Jackie Kolenko Bk voc 2
Dave Roberts Bk voc 4/8
Michael Oosten all songs, voc, guitar, bass 2/5/6/8/10/12

Recorded at Charlebois Studios, TN, Deerwood Studio, WI, Chateau Robo, CA, Way Gone Studios, WI. Another fun adventure in the universe of sound. My friend Bob Mason turned me onto Hyram Posey a National Fancy Fiddle champ out of Nashville who lays down some fine fiddling!

Megan Felt voc 7,11
Jackie Kolenko voc 5
Christopher Hickerson trumpet 5
Ben Kuzay bass 1
Bob Mason mandolin 2
Hyram Posey fiddle 2
Crissie Reynolds fiddle 1,9
Julia McConahay violin 1,9 bk voc 1,7,9
Clara Solinger voc 5,6,12
Nicky Sund drums 7
Rock Williams drums 2
Mike & Dave Roberts bk voc 9
Michael Oosten all songs, guitar, voc, bass

Cover artwork by Turi MacCombie

Uncle Lee 5:13
She Said 6:30
Discovery 5:03
My Home 2:31
Friendly Willie 3:08
Wings 4:26
Rachel Corrie 2:27
Sidewalk 3:05
The Storm of '12 3:55
Water 6:28
Des Moines 4:26
Elegy for Earth 7:38

Friends turned me onto some amazing players for this outing. I pulled 'Stuck On You' out from my song vault as it was written in 1977. I got turned onto Justin Lewis for guitar, and he turned me onto Laine Thibodeaux, a master pedal steel player. Laine is a two time Texas steel champ. Together these guys made my 1977 song come to life. I was also fortunate to have Tom Walsh on drums and Yoed Nir on cello, two awesome talents. Richard Robinson engineered.
Recorded in: LA,CA, Nashville, TN, Tel Aviv, Isreal, Laffayette, LA, Bon Aqua, TN, NYC, NY, Hub City, WI

Tom Walsh drums/perc 1-9, 11
Yoed Nir cello 4,5,12
Laine Thibodeaux pedal steel 7
Mella voc 7
Hyram Posey fiddle 7
Justin Lewis guitar 7
Pat Filetti piano 4
Daniel Gonzales cello 1
Michael Oosten all songs, guitar, bass,voc,perc

I Give You A Brick 2:45
Rise 4:40
Keep Movn' 6:40
Before Doves Wake 4:14
Child 4:35
Down 'ol Mexico Way 3:50
Stuck On You 7:30
Wonder 4:09
Off Our Knees 3:06
Arrival 6:02
Empty Days 4:20
Fried 4:57

I was fortunate enough to have Tom Walsh return on drums for this outing. Richard, who engineered again, turned me onto Julie Sussman [Julie Sax] who did a great job on 'This Time Around'. Recorded at: Walshy Boy Studios, LA, Chateau Robo, LA, Way Gone Studios, WI.
Richard mixed through an EMI TG12345 console
courtesy of Vintage Pro Audio. The console came out of Trident Studios, London, England.

Megan Felt voc & bk voc 5,10,11
Elise Nicole bk voc5,6,8.9.11
Julie Sussman sax 1
Tom Walsh drums all tracks
Ben Kuzay bass 1
SunDee Jones bk voc 8
Dave Roberts bk voc 11
Kat Molitor bk voc 5,11
Michael Oosten all songs, guitar, voc, bass, synths

Released in 2020 'Sunset Goes Down Easy' is about transitions, sadness & death. One of my closest brothers on Earth, Algis [Big Al] Byla passed while I was writing these songs. I wrote 'Answer Me This' for Al.
Recorded at: Walshy Boy Studios, West Hills, CA, Casa de Lewis Studio, Lafayette, LA, NYC, NY, Portland, Oregon, Way Gone Studios, WI

Kent Arnsbarger steel drums 2
Ann Christopher bk voc 1,3,5,6
Pat Filleti piano 6, B3 5/10/11
Colin Hocking voice 9
Elan bk voc 2,10
Justin Lewis Guitar & Slide 1, second solo 11
Dave Schmitt bass 1,6
LeClaire Stevensen piano 3
Julie Sussman sax 8
Laine Thibodeaux dobro 1, pedal steel 6
TomWalsh drums, perc all songs
Michael Oosten all songs guitars, voc, bass

This Time Around 4:52
Love You So Hard 2:59
Street Corner 5:52
Vacancy 3:32
I Can See It 4:48
Give It A Go 3:18
I Like It 4:58
Who's Fooln' Who?
Make Some Noize 4:10
Try 5:26
Future Steelers 4:51
Jean 3:50

Poor Baby 3:12
My Island Home 4:38
We Gotta Get Away 3:24
Trouble Is 4:48
Sunset Goes Down Easy 5:55
Faded Star 3:49
Answer Me This 3:40
Fifty 6:27
Daylight's Retreat 4:41
How Precious Our Love Is 5:14
Know What I'm Sayn' 8:21
Done 4:29

Freedom 3:50
Home 3:17
Back To The Cave 4:09
Just A Simple Song 5:08
Influencers 5:02
Place 5:05
Dance 4:03
Just A Little 4:29
Here's To You 4:13
Forever 4:37
I Should Have Told You Sooner 5:03
Talk Talk 4:22

Great Players Abound!
Tom Walsh drums/perc all tracks
Bill Holloman sax 12
Pat Filetti keys 8,12
Brian Scanlon sax 1
Tyler V Lead voc 6, bk voc 1,2
Johnny Widdicombe stand up bass 11
Chris Wagoner Accordion & Bouzouki 11
Yoed Nir cello 4
SunDee Jones bk voc 1
Suzzee Carson-Branch bk voc
Dave Roberts bk voc 3
Michael Oosten all songs, guitar, voc, sounds
engineered, mastered at Way Gone Music, BMI

A local film maker asked me to create sounds for his movies....so I did. It was an adventure so I
used an old photo I found of me on the roof of Anthony's ferry, 'African Queen', leaving Harbour Island, Bahamas...off on another adventure...

This was a heart felt emotional snapshot of the moment on planet Earth. So many swirling inconsisties abounding in everyday life. I was excited to have Tom Walsh back on drums along with Yoed Nir on cello, two stellar players. Vic Steffens from Horizon Studios in CT became friends with Bill Holloman one of my sax heroes since hearing him on Danny Gatton's records. I needed a sizzlin, honky-tonk, sax for 'Talk Talk' and Vic got me in touch with Bill who was gracious enough to play on the song. The songs were recorded LA, NYC, Philadelphia, PA, Madison, WI, Avon, CT, and Hub City, WI

The amazing Moe Potts
playing 'asprin bottle'

The great Bobby T getting
fortified with Sally's apizza

Hal, Bobby, Oost, fingersnapping for 'Saturday Night'

Hal, Bobby, Oost doing bk voc

Artwork by John Craig

Do You Remember? 4:53
Boulevard 4:10
Hold Me 5:34
Imagine That 5:04
Jesse James 5:05
[Livn' in Your] 2-D World 3:56
Sunday Morning 7:05
Too Bad 5:48
Choices 3:52
Mimbres 4:29
Suddenly 3:51
I Disappear 4:50

Artwork by John Craig