Gravity

Here are a few to tide you over the weekend of the 4th while we go on vacation (again). We never stop moving around here!

Gravity
Gravity (Extra Harmony Mix)

I'm trying to not to be more obscure than necessary with my lyrics, but in case it comes up in conversation, here's what this one is about: no matter what I think what might be happening around me, it always seems that I'm off by at least a little bit, sometimes quite MORE than a little bit. (You know the drill: you think someone is checking you out in a good way, but really they're just mesmerized by your hideously garish shirt, etc.) Reality seems to have a gravity that will inevitably send most of us humbly falling to Earth...and I seem to be feeling its pull more than usual lately. So using the patented Al science-terms-as-metaphor device, I present the following. Hum along if you like; it's free!

Al: Feeling the pull

Electricity Never Ends

No full set of lyrics, but I dig the way this cooks along. Cousin to "Do the Funky Dial Tone".

Al: Electric

Cold Duck

And now the Pop Machine guys weigh in with their version of electronic music pioneer Gershon Kingsley's "Cold Duck"...the original was also used as the theme song to our college comedy TV show "Null and Void". Wacky!

Al, Sook & Scott: Voices and musics

Abbey Road Part 2

Mean Mr. Mustard
Polythene Pam
She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
Golden Slumbers
Carry That Weight
The End
Her Majesty
Feelin' Alright
Taxman

...and we're back. Here's the rest of the Abbey Road performance for you, with a couple of bonus tracks to keep ya going. More new shiznit in the coming days, enjoy!

Al: Lead Vox, percussion
Steve: Bass, backing vox
Mike: Keys, backing vox
Colby Allerton: Guitar, backing vox
Steve Adams: Drums, backing vox

Abbey Road

Come Together
Something
Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Oh! Darling
Octopus' Garden
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
Here Comes The Sun
Because
You Never Give Me Your Money
Sun King

Since I'm going to be away for about 10 days, here's a perfect time to introduce another block of songs. Here's the story: in 2002, good ol' Steve Kanter thought that he might want to recruit some friends to be the Abbey Road-era Beatles. On top of that, tho, he decided that we should PERFORM THE ALBUM in the outdoor atrium of his apartment building for the passing revellers. We did, and it was a gas. A bit shambolic, but with a lotta heart (and a bit of booze, as well). The first block of songs premiers here, the rest to be heard upon my return. Enjoy!

Al: Lead Vox, percussion
Steve: Bass, backing vox
Mike: Keys, backing vox
Colby Allerton: Guitar, backing vox
Steve Adams: Drums, backing vox

Indestructable! times four...

Indestructable! (Demo)
Indestructable! (Al Vocal)
Indestructable! (Dan Singer Vocal)
Indestructable! (Experimental Vocal Mix)

More song evolution, this time centering on the sleepily sedate and restrained (Ha!) "Indestructable!", the song that earns its exclamation point. It all came together pretty quickly, with the demo vocals having more of an Iggy Pop-ish feel than the final version, which sounds like someone just dropped an anvil on my foot. John arranged to have a guy named (appropriately) Dan Singer take a crack at it. I like his take on it, which is a little bluesier. And finally, I've included an experimental stab at a reimagining of the vocals and mix that I tried some years back after I transferred the multis to computer. Interesting, but not quite there...in any event, lots o'heaviness here.

Demo:
Al: voices and music

Finished version:
Al: Vox & drums
Dave: guitars & bass
(Dan Singer: lead vocal on #3)

Coldest Town on Earth: The Evolution

Coldest Town on Earth
Coldest Town on Earth (Demo)
Coldest Town on Earth (Instrumental)
Coldest Town on Earth (Semi-Acoustic)
(Morgan-Sookman)

The evolution of a song: I've included various versions of "The Coldest Town On Earth" here, from the demo (with different lyrics) through the finished version (previously posted), incorporating instrumental and experimental acoustic mixes. Sing along! Baffle your friends at karaoke...

Demo:
Al: voices and music

Finished version:
Al: Vox & acoustic guitars
Sook: Vox & backing vox
Dave: lead guitar, bass, drums

Push the Button in the Middle

Push the Button in the Middle
(Morgan)
Hold On (Fuller Mix)
(Morgan)

Hey there, space campers; chew on this, why dontcha. This one came out as a cross between Nine Inch Nails and "I Robot" by the Alan Parsons Project, which I myself find an intriguing concept. It's got a chunk o'piano, mmmmm.
And we also have a fuller mix of "Hold On", posted waaaay back in August, I believe. Fun for everybody!

Dgtl Mnpltn

Reverso the Happy Clown
(Morgan)
ORFMOS Transmission
(Morgan)
You Haunt Me (Acoustic Version)
(Morgan-Sookman)

Digital manipulation at its finest. 10 points for anyone who pegs the source material for RTHC...all are remixes and there's some unheard stuff in there. "You Haunt Me" really flows along in acoustic form, checkitout...

Words of Wisdom

Words of Wisdom
(Morgan)

OK, here's a great commentary on gurus and wisdom: in the Monkees movie "Head" there's a scene where Peter Tork, Mr. Hippie Guy, sits the other three down and starts to expound on the nature of the universe, the mysteries of life, etc. etc. It's all very serious and he ends on the cosmic riddle: "But why listen to me? For I know nothing."

Davy Jones, who has been sitting there patiently, gets royally pissed off at this and demands to know why he's been sitting there listening to all this blather if Peter indeed knows nothing. At which point he kicks down the door to the room they're in and starts kicking the crap out of people.

Well, I thought it was funny. See the movie, it's got some fun scenes and good music.

Al: Words & stuff