Sanctus Ex Machina: Two Albums, One Season

Hi y'all. Ben here. 

As I began tracking my new record "Deus Ex Machina" a very interesting situation began to develop. "Deus Ex" is a song cycle consisting of songs that I wrote, some of them many years ago depicting major events in my life beginning with the death of my father. As I tracked each one, and took meticulous care to see that they didn't all sound alike (as that tends to happen with my records if I'm not careful) I noticed that although the songs were a fair piece different from one another, they all seemed to share a certain vibe. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but one day as I was driving home from my teaching gig listening to Pandora, the answer slapped me square in the face. "Of course!!! It's REO Speedwagon!" Now to those that know me, that won't come as a huge shock, as I have obsessed over the band since I was old enough to know what music was. After some thought I decided to record a couple REO songs for the record as bonus tracks. As I began tracking those, two turned into three, then four. I decided that work on Deus... Would have to wait until I got this out of my system. Organically, the idea of a double album came to me as though it was the answer to the world's most obvious rhetorical question. So when "Deus Ex Machina" drops there will be an additional record that I'm calling "Sanctus Ex Machina: The Music and Influence of REO Speedwagon" Sanctus is Latin for ghost, as I can think of no other way to describe what happened in the studio. The boys from Champaign invaded my sessions, and wouldn't allow me to proceed until I had settled the score with them. So here's the track list. 

Take It On The Run

Time For Me To Fly

Keep On Loving You

Can't Fight This Feeling 

Lightning 

Blazin' Your Own Trail Again

Ridin' The Storm Out

Son Of A Poor Man

Sweet Time

In My Dreams

Love Is A Rock

Keep Pushin

In Your Letter

Take Me

If you hate REO Speedwagon (many in my circle do, including my wife) then hopefully these songs will make you at least appreciate their impact on my music. Cause I'm tellin' ya, without them, there'd be no Ben Bitter music at all. See ya on release day!

In The Navy - A New Chapter

   Today is the first day of the rest of his life. Hell, in many ways, it's the first day of the rest of MY life!
   Today, Our oldest son, Clayton was delivered to the U.S. Navy. As I write this, he is in a hotel in downtown St. Louis, undoubtedly contemplating his decision, and nervously awaiting his next set of orders that will place him on a plane to Chicago, and ultimately a bus to Great Lakes Naval Recruit Training Center. He has been waiting for this day for a long time. He's ready. He's more than ready. He's officially a U.S. Navy sailor, on his way to the biggest adventure of his life. And pride does not even begin to describe my emotions. As I look back on Clayton's life to this point, I am overcome with a sense of peace I've not felt in these twenty years of being his father. Many of you know Clayton's story, but some don't. so I will share a little here, in order to give you some perspective on why this day is truly monumental.
   Clayton was always small for his age, not terribly easy to get along with, and lacking some social acumen, most of his early years in elementary school and particularly middle school and junior high. This led to a lot of exclusion and bullying, the likes of which I won't even fully describe, as it is still today, too painful to begin to elaborate. Suffice it to say, it was bad.....very, very bad. Richelle and I spent most of our nights during that time, sitting outside his bedroom and listening to him cry himself to sleep. when sleep finally came, we were relieved, because this meant he was safe from his demons for one more night. This was a painful time for us all, but especially painful for Clayton. He had an escape hatch, though, and that was his music. His music was his happy place. It was a place even the demons weren't allowed. Richelle and I reached a point in our lives at this time, when we had no options left. We couldn't fix it. We tried and tried, but nothing worked. This ultimately led to our Salvation in Jesus Christ, as we finally gave in and lifted Clayton up to Him. But that's a story for another day.
   Freshman Year of High School, Clayton's life truly changed. He got involved with the Choir program at school. His life would never be the same. He was accepted for who he was. He was loved by many. He would no longer be the eternal victim. He had respect. and his involvement in the church youth group and worship ministries kept him grounded in his faith. Things really started happening for him with his music. He won some National and State awards, made it through several rounds of American Idol, and ultimately obtained a large scholarship to study Music Education.
College was a blast for Clayton. He excelled in all of his music classes, and was performing at the highest level. He just didn't care much for the General Studies portion. He owns that. Ultimately, he decided that the normal channels were not necessarily for him, and he decided to join the Navy, an idea he was throwing around before he was given scholarships. But now, his choice was clear. and he made it.
   So today, I say goodbye to my boy......for a little while at least. But when we see him again, he will be the embodiment of manhood that I always prayed would come to fruition. He departs today on a journey that is three generations strong. He has pledged to defend our country and our freedoms with loyalty, honor, courage and commitment, and this dad could not be more proud!! May God watch over him and keep him safe in the years ahead. But for now, I pray God continues to show him how strong he is with the Lord at his side. I pray for his success in basic training and beyond. I pray that the Navy will be all that it was for me, and more. I pray for Richelle. I pray that she is able to cope with letting go, and that she can continue to see that Clayton's life is still in God's hands.
   So as one chapter ends, another always begins.......Fair Winds and Following Seas, my Sailor Son.... until we see you again in a couple of months. For now, though I am proud to call this sailor my son....and equally proud to call him SHIPMATE!!!!!!!