Introduction
Introductory note on the original LP (1975)

HourglassThis project has been developed to provide the listener/reader with several options: each song stands independently of the others, as in most phonographic records, so the songs may be listened to in any order, without reference to the story; or, the story and recording can be followed together, much as the project itself has evolved; or, the enclosed story, WESTERN JUSTICE, which includes the text of each of the songs on the recording, can be read separately.
Jack Rieley   Machiel Botman
Jack Rieley worked as a journalist in the United States and Puerto Rico before his first professional involvement in music, on the staff of the Beach Boys. He wrote the lyrics to a number of the group's songs, while, at the same time handling management duties. During the recording he lived in The Netherlands.

Producer, Arrangements, Vocals, Synthesizer, Celeste		   Machiel Botman began writing songs on the acoustic guitar. Later he started to compose music on a pump organ at his family's home in The Netherlands. The lyrics to "Stuck (The Circle)" are actually part of a poem he wrote more than a year before the recording took shape. This is his first recording.

Vocals, Acoustic guitar
 
Introductory note on the re-release on compact disc (2002)
By Roel Kruize

HourglassIt is now more than 25 years ago that I was involved in Western Justice. Despite the fact that, the original LP did get a lot of cricital acclaim, only a limited number of people bought the album. Most likely the project was too complicated and could not get its message across. Through the years Western Justice continued to get some attention, mainly by word of mouth. Much to my regret this highly interesting project failed, not so much for the money invested, but more because its statement did not reach a bigger audience. I am grateful that this unique project can now be re-issued on compact disc. Through today's remixing and remastering techniques we were able to bring even more brilliance and transparancy to the original analogue recording.
Western Justice musically became timeless for a variety of reasons. It was created jointly by a US veteran in the music industry and a young Dutch kid with no other expertise than his purity and talent. JACK RIELEY's background as lyricist for many songs on THE BEACH BOYS albums "SURF'S UP" and "HOLLAND" and his management duties for the group were instrumental in giving the tracks a Beach Boys influenced production touch. MACHIEL BOTMAN's input and lines of thought are well echoed in some of the very basic tracks on the album. Veteran and newcomer united in an effort to communicate a global theme!