Donna Jean Godchaux and the Muscle Shoals Remix

Article Contributed by Dennis McNally | Published on Thursday, March 11, 2021

Some 14 years ago, Donna Jean and the Tricksters (Donna Jean Godchaux and the Zen Tricksters, basically) put out an album of the same name.  It included a song called “Shelter.”  As the pandemic took over our lives, Donna Jean thought about the new meaning of the song and….but let me let her tell you about it:

In 2007. Donna Jean and the Tricksters recorded an album at Cloud 9 Studio on Long Island.  One of the songs, “Shelter,” was written by myself and Jeff Mattson.  As good as the original track was, I had always longed to hear it somewhat differently, with a more tribal rhythm and stronger backup vocals on the choruses.

In the past year, the word “Shelter” has only come to be more powerful in all our lives, and we decided it was time to go to work.  David MacKay and I went into The NuttHouse Recording Studio in the Muscle Shoals area of Alabama.  We took the hard drive of the song and gave it a re-vamp with some powerful, soulful background vocals.  We also beefed up the rhythm section with a decidedly tribal edge.

The result is a new version that comes off with more intensity and pathos, which certainly connects with the challenges of today.  As the writers, Jeff and I are thrilled with what came to life.  We couldn’t have this song just languish away somewhere without being heard. Its time is now.

Thank you for giving it a listen.

Sincerely, and with love, peace, health, and music, Donna Jean

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Shelter will be available for download at all the usual platforms.  

         Go to:  https://donnajeanandthetricksters.hearnow.com

         Or to Jeff’s site:   https://jeffmattson.net  

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