A Few Words in Defense of My Album

No, my album is not being attacked by Communist forces and, yes, I am basically ripping off my subject line from the title of a great Randy Newman song but that's the title I used a few months ago when I was asked to write up short descriptions of each song on the album for radio and press folk.

Having just come across this again I thought: "Why should only radio and press folk experience the joy of reading what I have to say about my own songs?"

Since I couldn't really come up with a compelling reason, you are no longer spared the following:

A Few Words in Defense of My Album

Side One: My Misadventures

Johnnie's Going Down

It's always fun to watch the mighty fall, particularly when they don't see it coming. The instrumental section tries to bring back some of that Tijuana Brass sound that accompanied so many of our parent's "key parties" in basement dens across early '70s America.

To and Fro

A musical melodrama around the theme: You're either on the bus or off the bus, but don't make me sit here with the door open. Features lots of over the top piano runs and the first appearance of castanets in a pop tune since the Phil Spector trial.

No Way Out

If you're going to throw your life away you might as well have a good time doing it. Written drunk, recorded drunk, I'm not going to tell you how to listen to music but I'm just saying I'm buying the next round. By the third drink you'll begin to notice that the chord progression isn't as close to that other song's as you thought it was back when you were sober.

So

People leave. You don't have to hate them for it. If you really want to know what this one's about, listen to Mike Frank's piano part - says it all.

Nothing's Changed

Sometimes it's hard to get out of bed in the morning. But usually only Mondays through Fridays, and then also on the weekends. Once you get past that it's usually . . . oh wait, never mind.


Even though this is a song-by-song blow-by-blow, I feel like I gotta tell ya I made this to be listened to like an album. That means sitting down and taking in all of either side one or side two. Side one is done, so if you wanna take a little break now and come back later for side two, I'm cool with that.


Side Two: Other People's Misadventures

8Track

The guy singing this song has really great childhood memories singing songs with his sister while listening to 8Tracks. The fact that he isn't old enough to have actually been around when 8Tracks were doesn't seem to bother him. Neither does the fact that he doesn't even have a sister. A great memory is a great memory. It doesn't have to be YOUR memory.

Listening to NRBQ

Is this guy reminiscing about the fantastic, though criminally under-recognized, NRBQ, his old girlfriend, or just about a time when music was the center of everyone's lives? I don't know. I just know two things: First, Big Al Anderson from the legendary NRBQ plays electric guitar on this tune, sounding EXACTLY like Big Al Anderson (no mean feat) and secondly, it turns out Tricky Dick was wrong when he said "You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore." I am happy about both.

Chalk One Up for Albert's Side

The guy in this song was an eye-witness to the pivotal moment in the life of a third grader, when the good guys actually won a round against the forces of evil. It was probably the last time in his life he saw anything like this. Written with Tony Asher, which still makes me think "Jesus Christ, are you kidding me, Tony Asher?" And then I check and it turns out no, Jesus Christ is NOT kidding me, it really was written with Tony Asher.

On Your Birthday

Why does this guy's ex-girlfriend's birthday still get to him? Why does he even remember her birthday? Is he still in love with her? You'll have have to ask David Poe, because he wrote the lyric to this one. Love that David Poe.

Three Weeks Shy

The guy in this song lost his brother in Iraq. There are over 4000 stories like this and counting. Please play this song in the months leading up to the election.