Jeff Larson - Everyday Places

My affection for the ukulele has been growing over the years, but I didn’t write a song on one until early January 2025. At the time, I’d been working on songs and recordings with Gerry Beckley, along with various other audio projects for America (the band), my neighbor Jack Tempchin (“Peaceful Easy Feeling”), and others. Every song on this album was written on ukulele, which is also the primary instrument throughout. The music ranges from Hawaiian influences to Americana folk/rock and pop, and features bass, drums, guitars, piano, pedal steel, and more.

Below is the full album, to be released on all streaming platforms and on compact disc in late summer 2026. Please let us know if you’re interested in a feature, review, or mention.

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Musicians:

Jeff Larson: Ukuleles, Guitar, Lead and Harmony Vocals. / Gerry Beckley (America): Bass, Guitars, Piano, Accordian, Backing vocal on 7, Add’l Drums, Slide guitar / Jim Hoke: Pedal Steel, Autoharp, Mouth-Harp / Brian Young (Fountains of Wayne): Drums and Percussion.

Ukuleles Used:

Martin - FSC Mahogany Concert, Martin Style 2 - Koa Concert, Koaloha Tenor, Koaloha Long-Neck Soprano, Beansprout Banjo Uke, Beansprout Camp Uke, Will-Grove White Mahogany Soprano, Pohaku Custom Baritone Uke, Maui Music Soprano…

Behind the Songs:

One Place I Know (Larson)

This was the first song written and recorded. I’ve always loved traditional Hawaiian music—this may not be that, but it reflects my initial feel for it in an original song.

Rain Song (Bunnell)

While doing archival work for America, I came across this song of Dewey’s. It dates back to the early days of the band and was later revisited for Harbor, recorded in Hawaii in 1977. I did all the ukuleles and vocals, then sent it to Gerry, who quickly corrected a chord and added the old riff, bass, and piano. Dewey then wrote a second verse that had always been missing. This is the first finished version of the song.

Note: The rain effect at the end was recorded outside Dewey’s old Poison Oak Studio about 50 years ago. It was intended as an effect back then but never used—this is where being an audio archivist is advantageous.

I Only See You in the Morning (Larson)

A simple song about having coffee in the morning.

Most of the Time (Larson, Tempchin)

This is about my day-to-day life. I know what it means to commute… where I landed, I am able to do the opposite. “I take the back roads most of the time” is the opening line and it pretty much goes from there. Some lyrical help from Jack Tempchin as well.

Everyday Places (Larson)

A song about my childhood, in a roundabout way—finding value in the everyday.

Purple Paisleys (Tempchin)

I asked my friend and neighbor Jack Tempchin—a great songwriter—if he had a quirky song I could cover for this project. He sent a live recording of “Purple Paisleys,” which had three verses. I decided to cover it, and he told me the full song is seven verses. That’s a lot of verses… No matter, either way, it works—and it adds some great imagery to the project. A magical song.

Now She’s Gone (Beckley)

Another song from America’s Harbor era (1977) that I was playing around with while I was in that mode. Gerry, who wrote it, added bass, piano, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar.

Today (Larson)

A positive love song that almost wrote itself.

Scratchy Vinyl Show (Larson)

I wrote this for ukulele maker Peter Hurney, who asked if I could come up with something for his radio show. Peter makes great ukes in Astoria, OR.

Olive (Larson)

Shortly after writing the first song for this project, I lost my first dog. I knew this album wouldn’t be complete without a song about Olive. This was the tenth song written.

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