The Story Behind The Song Chapter 7
As told by Shane O’Brien
“A Long Time To Be Young”
By: John Thomas and Shane O’Brien

This is from one of those times in my life that I just had to do something, not because I had to or wanted to or not, but because I felt it was the right thing to do at that time, withstanding anything else.
My phone rings, it’s about 4PM, you pick up and on the other end is a friend, not someone you necessarily would consider a lifelong Brother type of friend but a good friend nonetheless. after the normal hellos and how ya doin pass by, comes the reason for this particular call. This friend insists on coming to see me. OK that’s not so out of any norms, but then again, realise there’s 150 miles between our homes, and without inquiry of what may be going on in either of our lives, he says “I’ll be there in two hours“. So, after that very short call and hang up, I found myself wondering what do I have going on at that moment, and that there is something on my plate, so I started rescheduling some things in that days timeline. That’s how that day was going as I recall. It was a Sunday afternoon, I did have a rehearsal scheduled  that was to include a new drummer auditioning to be the newest member of O’Briens Edge. By the time that short call was concluded I knew things were going to start getting busy around my home studio. The caller hails from Redondo Beach, a block away from the Strand at the shore of the Pacific Ocean and my studio is just off The Rim Of The World Highway at the Crestline Cut Off before you go towards Big Bear, therefore committing J T to do a good amount of driving through L A’s always busy freeways.

J T, short for John Thomas, routinely attended most of my live shows when I play in the beach communities of the South Bay, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach. J T is also responsible for me landing a few gigs at two venues in Redondo Beach. I knew he played acoustic guitar and sang but I didn’t really know any more than that. During his call, J T mentioned something about doing a recording with me and that he felt that time was important to get this one in the books. Without saying very much, I said ok, and as soon as he hung up, I was left with kind of a surprised sense, and a get your things in order type of gut feeling.

Pre-Scheduled time for auditions:
Anyways, two hours later, just as I knew was to happen, I have a bass player and drummer going through the audition paces with me, then all of a sudden and really to my surprise a knock at the door. It’s J T with a guitar case in hand. “Come on in Brother” I said, and that he did. I was bewildered about his timeliness and immediately wondered about what exactly did J T have in mind or this visit. He didn’t concern himself with anyone else in the studio and proceeded to explain to me how important it was to him to do a recording session with me then and there. J T asked me if the equipment was on? If Everything was up and running, which it was.
I told the musicians present that I had something urgent that had to be completed and invited them to stay if they wished but not interrupt whatever J T and I were going to do next.

J T found a comfortable spot for him to play and sing and sat real patient while I made some mic selections I felt would be right for the situation. I took a little time to place three mics in locations to best capture his performance. I treated his attendance in studio like I would to anyone at my own sessions, that is as serious as I always do. The drummer had somewhere to go so he politely said his goodbyes and left. The bassman asked if he could stay and watch and that he’d respectfully be silent throughout. Headphones were passed out and the soundcheck conducted to our satisfaction. I had J T play his guitar and sing to conduct a good dialling in the mix soundcheck. I made sure he played what he was intending to have me record, that way I could familiarize myself with what was to come. During that soundcheck period I had noticed that his internal clock was a little off. Some points during his soundcheck song selection, I noticed that he would speed up a little and get ahead of himself. I know that he had recognized that I had caught that aspect as well. So to compensate for this, I pulled up a drum track loop that sorta matched up with what he was playing. It was something basic and simple and would work as a metronome for his playing during his session.

To paint this picture a little clearer, realise that J T had just passed the age of 70 and to me was looking somewhat frail. He used a cane for walking and wasn’t in command of “Stage Presence”, which is a very common trait among Recording Artist and Live Performers. Also this wasn’t an environment that we had shared before, ever, not even close. Still, a little voice in my head kept urging me on, to be as vigilant as I always am in recording session situations.

We did two takes of his song titled “A Long Time To Be Young“, all of a sudden it was midnight. He looked really exhausted and said he needed to drive back home in Redondo Beach. I offered up the extra room I have here for situations such as this, but he insisted on driving the 100 plus miles back home. J T said that I was to do whatever I wanted to do, in regards to this track. I was to manipulate it, change it, write more parts to it, re record it, or what ever I saw fit. He was satisfied in the fact that he got his song idea recorded here on this day with me. Strangely he added that he wasn’t sure when he would see me next. I asked him what would be the easiest way for me to get him a copy of whatever mix down creation I produce of A Long Time To Be Young? J T said to me “You’ll figure it out” then he graciously thanked me for the time shared and split.

Right then and there I thought to myself, whew, that was a trip. I just then noticed that the Bassman was still here, and that he watched this whole thing go down. He then said to me “Man, when are we going to do that?”, “Soon I Hope!”.

For two days I toyed with mixing what was captured, a little miffed at the fact that I had committed a drum loop for a drum track. Added a bass track and a lead guitar track as well.
In the end, I came up with two final mix versions of A Long Time To Be Young. A folk acoustic/vocal rendition and a Folk/Rock version. I was supplied with a few photos of that session captured by the bassman on his phone. In the end I put an MP3 rendition on a Photo CD I printed up with an image of J T and I, taken during a discussion we went through in between the two takes. And I thought that eventually J T would call me for a version of his session here, which never came. That is odd. Everyone who has ever recorded with me here, there and anywhere, always had requested copies of whatever sessions we had shared together.


I felt that it was weird. Two months later after I found an address scribbled in a book I use as a sessions log. I noticed by the hand writing that it was J T’s address. I looked for his phone number in my recent calls list, which I found, I decided to place him a call. No answer. I did that about ten times in about a week with the same result every time. That session was in the last week of June 2019 and after all the call attempts, now it’s the second week of September, I grabbed that CD and drove to the address in Redondo Beach to give him his copy. His pad is a real cool beach themed place I thought to myself. So I stuck around for a couple of hours and nothing. So I went back to his front door and left a note with my name and phone number and that he could call me anytime for a cool copy of his work.




It was midnight when I finally got settled in at my studio in Crestline and noticed that someone had left a text message for me. It was from his girlfriend stating that J T had passed away August 3rd. She had said J T wanted to thank me for that day and wanted me to know that.

Talk about a trip. So if you can hear this Brother, I hope you don’t mind I added a little guitar track to your song and know that I love your lyrics a lot. I’m really glad to have done what just had to be done, and you knew it too…Shane
“A Long Time To Be Young” recorded late June 2019 Crestline, CA
John “J T” Thomas, Shane O’Brien

Also, Just a little added side note, The ES-355 Lucille B B King Signature Guitar was a great fit for this session as always, and she is looking fo a new home to create more stories with.
Listen To JT performing his song titled Brother John

Also, Also… Here’s a tip of the hat and a nod to the Union Ironworkers out of Local 433 and the participating members from other Locals as well, as they continue erecting the New Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project. You all hold an extra special place in my heart folks. Work Safe