Bill and Karen Itzel Homepage

The First 2 Songs

Every year we go through the process of writing, arranging, making demos, recording, mixing, mastering and packaging a new album.  This year, since we’ve updated the website and have new capabilities, I’d like to take the chance to give you some behind the scenes information on the step-by-step process we go through.

We have actually been doing a lot of writing already and are part of the way through the process, so let me bring you up to speed.

Throughout the year, Karen and I get ideas for songs but often don’t finish the ideas until a later date.  The actual song finalizing process began this year on March 16th.  I put the finishing touches on a song called “I’ll Take Time For You”.  This song is about how our lives become so hectic and we often neglect the important relationships in our lives.  This is actually a song that I wrote to Karen, but it is a little different than most of the songs I write to Karen in that it is more of a comedy type song in the vein of Where’s the Beef, Beware of the Dogs, and A Little Bit of Sin.  This song has a very different arrangement as well.  Normally, songs start low and build in intensity.  This song starts out in a very manic style emphasizing a hectic lifestyle and then switches to a slow ballad as the chorus rings out, “I’ll take time for you”.

That same day, I also wrote what will probably be the first song on the CD called “This Is Your Life”.  It is a catchy, radio-friendly pop-rock song.  The message of the song is that God has a plan for each of our lives and He has placed us where we are for a reason.  We each have a different life, a different sphere of influence and now it’s time for each of us to make a difference where we live rather than complain about where God has placed us.

NEXT POST:  Another huge event took place in our lives and ministry on March 16th that completely changed the direction of this album.

April 23rd, 2006

A Whole Lot of Recording Goin’ On

In the past couple of months, we have done a lot of studio work, getting ready for a few new releases:

1. “GUNS BLAZIN’ LIVE DVD“: After touring and recording for over 15 years, we’ve finally recorded a live - in concert DVD. They are now available and you can pick one up at one of our concerts or you can send $15 to:

Bill Itzel
4215 Salem Bottom Rd
Westminster, MD 21157

OR

paypal acct: info@billandkarenitzel.com

Here is a track listing:

Guns Blazin - Dead man Walkin - How Much More Glory - The Passion - Save Me - It’s A Wonderful Life - Thankful - Closed Mouth - Little Bit Of Sin - Sharing - Little Things - Shannon Bailey’s Solo - Even When The Answer’s No - Out Of The Ashes - The Lion’s Coming Back - Return Of The King - Suicide - When The Rubber Meets The Road - Words Of Love.

2. “PRAISE SOUP 2“: Over the past several years, Karen and I have been asked to lead worship in several services and retreats. Normally, I would bring my guitar and we’d just do it acoustically. More and more of these requests have been coming in, so we decided to record a few “Demo-type” tracks of some of our favorite praise and worship choruses like: Above All, The Battle Belongs To The Lord, Forever Grateful, Shout To The Lord, Awesome God, More Love More Power, Open The Eyes of My Heart, We Want to See Jesus Lifted High, I Will Call Upon The Lord, I Will Enter His Gates, Shine, Jesus, Shine, All In All, Lord I Lift Your Name on High, and use those in the worship settings.