Michael Barrett Dixon returns to songs written in his youth and reimagines them as an adult love letter — sincere, orchestral, and unapologetically romantic. A double-album released digitally worldwide on February 6. A limited edition double CD released February 13 (Plan 9 Music, Richmond, VA).
Apple Music || Bandcamp
Spotify || Amazon
Pandora || Tidal || YouTube
In the mid-80s, during my late teen years and early 20s, I was prolific in writing songs and instrumentals, but lacked the options to record and release anything professionally. Last year I worked to digitize hundreds of those old cassette recordings. In doing so, I felt the need to revisit many of these songs. Songwriting in those days was a weakness, so I would need to wordsmith/rewrite many lyrics, but the music was fairly solid…it just needed a professional touch and the right equipment.
Over the course of 3 months in late 2025, and into January of 2026, I reworked lyrics of 22 love-themed songs, spanning various 80s genres like soft pop, synth pop, boy band-inspired pop, R&B and pop ballads, and adult contemporary. I then recorded these songs with the revised lyrics. I utilized as many vintage sounds as needed to capture that 80s sound and mixed it with a slightly more warm tone overall. Most song titles remained as-is. Musically, I finally realized my vision for each of these tracks…40 years later!
The songs are grouped into 3 “acts”:
I. Declaration of Love and Devotion
II. Reflection and Recommitment
III. Memory and Renewal
The album is my 11th overall album/EP release. It was structured as a double album, with a digital release just before Valentine’s Day, on Friday, February 6, 2026. A limited edition double CD album released on February 13, available at Plan 9 Music, Richmond, VA). Disc 1 contains Act I songs (8) and disc 2 contains Acts II and III songs (14).
Full liner notes are available.
I can’t wait for you to hear these old songs brought back to life. Go back in time and enjoy some sappy love songs!