Wild Hibiscus by The Righteous Kind

The inside story of The Righteous Kind’s Wild Hibiscus album from producer, and songwriter, Charles R. Martin

Wild Hibiscus began on a boat ride up the Apalachicola River, which cuts through the panhandle in what is the last bit of unspoiled FLA. We took that boat up the tiny tributaries back in the swamp and saw a remarkable plant in bloom – the white, and stunningly beautiful, wild hibiscus. You see it on the Wild Hibiscus CD label.

I was so impressed that on the boat ride home, using the rhythm of the waves and the motor as my backbeat, I wrote the title track for the album – a rock ‘n’ roll instrumental called Wild Hibiscus. The album artwork reinforces these themes of floral and scenic beauty, featuring a brilliantly colored hibiscus cover and photos of lovely old Florida throughout.

But the songs couldn’t be more diverse. There are blazing 3-chord rock songs and songs where you hear a full symphonic orchestra behind the band. There are soul songs and straight up blues songs too. You will hear cello, sitar, harmonica, synthesizer, congas, guitars, organ, piano, drums, bass. You will also hear Motown-inspired vocal harmonies from a gospel quartet and other guest vocalists. This album is loaded with ear candy, and every time you listen, you will hear more.

And finally, read the narrative of the album (below) - a sojourn by The Colonel & The Colonelette to see the wild hibiscus in bloom. Each song has a specific time and place in that journey. But you must solve the riddle to know where and when.

THE COLONEL SAID to the Colonelette, “Truth is, a river called Love flows to the west, and up that great river on the banks of its many tributaries that drain the vast wetlands, the wild hibiscus blooms. I must go there now. And because it’s you, each song of and for you, every song about Amy, we must go together.” She slept sweetly as he steered the automobile west, and he whispered, “You are beautiful, you are beautiful.” Something blowin’ in as they crossed the great swamp, but when they reached the Apalachicola, it was a fair and sunny day on the river and across the bay. And the wild hibiscus was revealed to them - the sensuous feminine flower that adorns this album. That night in Apalach, they caught the end of a show in Battery Park by The Righteous. They screamed “wild hibiscus,” and you best believe they sang about peace, Bud. They taught us we are one, one, one! The Righteous Kind let freedom ring.