TracksThe Sound of Silence, Cherish, Alfie, Pipeline, Garota de Ipanema, Rainy Days and Mondays, That S the Way I Ve Always Heard It Should Be, Slow Hot Wind, Betcha By Golly Wow, And I Love Her
NotesAfter nearly 40 recordings under his name, this marks the first time there is not a single Metheny composition represented. Rather WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT comprises 10 classic songs, some very well known, that hold personal meanings for the guitarist. Following the Grammy-winning 2001 solo acoustic record ONE QUIET NIGHT, Metheny began regularly playing the specially tuned baritone guitar he used on that album in the breaks between sound check and the show when he was on the road. As with ONE QUIET NIGHT, Metheny recorded the songs on WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT late at night, in his New York City home over a short period of time. Most of the record was made using the acoustic baritone guitar, with three exceptions: Paul Simon's "The Sound of Silence" is played on a 42-string custom made "Pikasso" guitar, Bob Spickard and Brian Carman's "Pipeline" is played on a six-string, and John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "And I Love Her" is played on a nylon string guitar.