Derek Luttrell — Tired Dogs, Old Trees

Direction, design, and illustration for Derek Luttrell’s 2014 full-length recording, “Tired Dogs, Old Trees”. This was a complicated release. Derek’s an incredible young songwriter, gifted you could add. A natural vocal most songwriters die for, and hooks for days— genuine. That last part being the key.

The art direction failed this release, and there are some great songs throughout the album that should have been represented in a brighter light with its packaging and art. A near flawless collection of songs. The art direction is something Derek and I have talked about since.

My original idea was to emulate Harry Nilsson in a bath robe enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning, because I truly feel Derek’s writing and a gift for the song belongs in Harry’s class, and Derek oozes Harry-cool coffee and whiskey Americana vibes. Musically they’re miles apart— but there is something extremely genuine about Derek that connects him to Harry’s spirit.

That idea wasn’t accepted. Derek had entered into a production deal with Rotown Records which softly held he and I hostage on brand direction and overall release decisions. So we rolled with it without putting up much of a creative fight. Also, the record was made with mutual friends, and no one wants to ruffle the feathers of fellow birds. In hindsight, I realize I was the only one who could have and it would have all turned out ok regardless of friendships.

I did my best for him, but I do know that what this became art direction speaking doesn’t represent Derek or the album in the light that I know it could have and should have been intended to be. And I own that, I know that I didn’t fight for the right direction and I should have. Derek’s a good-looking kid on top of it all, so, for an artist releasing a record, I’m bothered by the fact years later that artwork—dark, bullshit design that I came up with—is how this record will be remembered. It’s a huge misstep and I didn’t fight for the right direction, and Derek knows this is how I feel.

Given another chance, I say we strip down these beautiful songs, rerecord them with Dan McMahon and just Derek with a bare bones live band feel in the studio a la Dylan early 1970s before ever considering additional production being added—unnecessary—and put that robe on, brew up a pot of coffee, use a roll of film, and let Tired Dogs and Old Trees finally be what it should have been.