“Shag Bag” 
  Gary Lowder

He may be a new name to some, but Gary Lowder isn’t new to the Carolinas. 
After some twenty years of performing, recording and living elsewhere, 
Lowder has returned to “his Carolina roots” and just released this solo project
seven original Beach & Soul tunes along with four covers. Starting off the CD is 
a well done version of The Platters’ Beach Classic, “With This Ring”. Next we have 
the original “Beach Fever”, a disease that we all suffer from a few times a year
when we should be at work. Another Lowder penned tune, “Old Soul Thang” 
comes up next. I really like this one. It was recently released on a compilation CD 
and has been making some noise on the airwaves. After three dance tunes, 
we wonder why things happen in relationships the way they do at times with Lowder’s ballad, 
“Hurt The One You Love”. Next To “Old Soul Thang”, my “other” favorite here is “In A Woman’s Eyes”, 
a great shag and radio tune that Lowder sings with a hint of Boz Scaggs in his voice. (Think Scagg’s “Georgia”)
Up next is the jazz flavored “ ‘Carolina Queen’...such a dream”. The second cover is a well produced
and performed version of Tony Clarke’s “The Entertainer”. “Doing It All For My Baby” follows accented 
with some great keyboard and guitar work. “Lola likes a man in the palm of her hand” 
is the opening line of Tower of Power’s “Mama Lied”, that has some “on-the-spot” harmonies. 
Awesome horn work kicks off “Shaggin’ With My Baby” that also showcases Lowder’s vocal range. 
Last but definitely not least is “Double Or Nothin’”, a retro-beach sounding tune that caps off this project. 
The songs here were recorded in North Carolina and in Minnesota, but they all have been 
salt and peppered with Carolina Beach Music through and through 

Butch Halpin
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 "Shag Bag"

I received a copy of "Shag Bag" for review from Julian Fowler. Very impressive, sir. I am attaching the review that 
will be posted on my site this week. The site has been undergoing an overhaul (after 9 years, it was time) and 
we're constantly tweaking it. Congrats on a great project.

Butch

Butch Halpin
Carolina Sounds Beach Show 
www.carolinasounds.com
919-524-2570
Listen to the show now at     www.live365.com/stations/csbsdj

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You can also view this review on the beachmusic45.com web site. Just click on "Have You Heard...". 
There are well over 2,000 hits per month to view the site.


Have you heard That Old Soul Thing by Gary Lowder? Most likely you have, as it is included in 
Sisbro’s new compilation, Now And Then. Undoubtedly it is a good song, but is also an unusual song as it
carries the names of songs that meant so much to us over the years during our visits to the Carolina coast. If you 
like trivia, sit down some time and count the number of old song titles in this song’s lyrics. You will be amazed. 
Old Soul Thang is also a part of Gary’s full CD, Shag Bag. Even though Old Soul Thang will probably get all of the 
attention, outside of its nostalgic lyrics, it may not be the best song on Gary’s release. Try Doing It All For My Baby or 
Double Or Nothin’. Either one of these will fit in to play lists nicely. Gary Lowder is not a newcomer to Beach Music. 
Born in Salisbury, North Carolina, he was a member of Jackie Wilson’s backup band, Hot Smokin’ Brass. 
He later fronted a ten-piece band, Trademark, leading him to Minneapolis, Minnesota.  
Twenty-some-odd years later, the Beach called him back to his native North Carolina, 
and he moved to Ocean Isle. 

Mike Little    www.beachmusic45.com
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