Concrete and Mustard

Bonus Track By  Wahray and Soul

Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 3:39
Listen to the Song:
[audio:WAS/Xtra/Concrete&Mustard.mp3]
1989
Lyrics
Just need someone to hold and please me
Not touch and tease me, that’s all I want
Need some woman to Love and squeeze me
Never release me, that’s all I need

Abga Aba you’re my only hope, Abga Aba you’re my only friend
Always faithful, always treat me right
Abga Aba right until the end

Just need someone to understand me
Don’t reprimand me, my words are true
Need some woman to sweep away the gloom
With her magic broom, that’s all I need

Abga Aba you’re my only hope, Abga Aba you’re my only friend
Always faithful, always treat me right
Abga Aba right until the end

Now it’s the evening of day two and the locks on the doors are loose
And the pastures are turning blue
I can feel yo trying to break through
Don’t compromise, don’t spit out lies
Those shattered dreams will revitalize
But the alarms begin to sound and the guards begin to search the grounds
Someone heard a foreign sound, hurry before they track us down
But I don’t know which way to go
My heart says “yes”, my head says “no”
Should I jump into the bottomless hole?
My heart says “yes”, my head says “no”

Abga Aba you’re my only hope, Abga Aba you’re my only friend
Always faithful, always treat me right
Abga Aba right until the end

Composition © 1989 Ric Albano
Publication © 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced & Engineered by Ric Albano
Composed on February 4, 1989
Recorded February 1989
at Rathole Studios, Hazleton, PA
Mixed in 2003 & Mastered in 2011
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Ricter, Electric Guitars, Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: A very theatrical tune that may be a bit uneven and melodramatic, but still something well worth preserving.

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A Snowy Day In April

Bonus Track By  Wahray and Soul

Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 4:14
Listen to the Song:
[audio:WAS/13-ASnowyDayInApril.mp3]
1989
Lyrics
Tell ya ’bout my lady, well she looks so fine
Although her image is shady she won’t cross the line
With all her southern delights and northern comfort at night

It’s still hard believe that I can’t release
That precious gift from the time
That precious gift in my mind
Still I’m holding right on until the nitty gritty end, now

And on the edge of that night, I’ll take my step into flight
Am I this crazy to stay?

Was it the golden way your face glowed or the life you choose?
Or just another snowy day in April when I found you?
I found you, I found you

And on the edge of that night, I’ll take my step into flight
Am I so crazy to stay? Was it all planned out that way?

Is it the mystic way about you that attracts me?
Is it the love hidden deep inside you that most can’t see?
Is the sacred love forever, that pulled me through?
Or just another snowy day in April when I found you?
When I found you, when I found you, I found you

Composition © 1989 Ric Albano
Publication © 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced & Engineered by Ric Albano
Composed on January 28, 1989
Recorded January 1989
at Rathole Studios, Hazleton, PA
Mixed in 2003 & Mastered in 2011
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Electric Guitars, Bass, Drums, All Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: A sort of hybrid betweenmy best attempt at blues and some type of hard rock. Not fantastic, but a somewhat interesting listen.

Please offer your own analysis of A Snowy Day In April by leaving a comment in the box below.

The Gift

Bonus Track By  Wahray and Soul

Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 2:40
Listen to the Song:
[audio:WAS/11-TheGift.mp3]
1988
Lyrics
For something like this, how can I resist?
Finally an answer, how can I refuse?
A pocket full of nest-eggs right before my eyes
I need just to grab it but first I have to choose

(No pain, no gain)
I’ve got to realize my last mistake
(No love, no shame)
Although the others were unlike me, I still praised their snake
For something for nothing, there’s got to be a catch
No thank you, I’ll pass, your gift I can’t take

Something for nothing, something for nothing

While trusting a deceiver I was thrown away
Left out in the cold of these heartless days
I looked for my shoes, got back on my feet
And walked down the left side of Centralia’s streets

(Oh yeah, you think)
I’ve got to realize what’s going on
(Your love is so strong)
I’ve gotta write it down in some kind of song
Thanks anyway, but your gift I can’t take
I’m pretty well convinced it will be my last mistake

Something for nothing, something for nothing

For something like this, how can I resist?
Finally an answer, how can I refuse?
A pocket full of nest-eggs right before my eyes
I need just to grab it but first I have to choose

No pain, no gain
(I’ve got to realize my last mistake)
No love, no shame
(Although the others were unlike me, I still praised their snake)
For something for nothing, there’s got to be a catch
No thank you, I’ll pass, your gift I can’t take

Something for nothing, something for nothing

Composition © 1988 Ric Albano
Publication © 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced & Engineered by Ric Albano
Composed on December 21, 1988
Recorded December 1988
at Rathole Studios, Hazleton, PA
Mixed in 2003 & Mastered in 2011
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Harpsicord, Keyboards, Bass, Drums, All Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: A haunting little ballad with an impossibly slow temp, which almost falls apart during the song but manages to stay together. The harmonies are a little off but not to the point of displeasure.

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Sex, Drugs, Rock n Roll

Bonus Track By  Wahray and Soul

Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 4:14
Listen to the Song:
[audio:WAS/06-SexDrugsRockNRoll.mp3]
1988
Lyrics
Sex, drugs, rock n roll
It’s just a little piece of grass
Squeezed in between a natural life
You’ve got to say sometimes it feels alright

Sex, drugs, rock n roll
Just that one time shot
That un-dying dream, crazy as it seems
It makes you feel alive inside those dreams

Sex, drugs, rock n roll
Yeah, just a little more
I know that today that you want me that way
You’ve got to say it makes you feel ok

Sex, drugs, rock n roll
Will you teach me one more chord?
I’ve got to know how to play that guitar
Is this the way to relive all my dreams?

Sex, drugs, rock n roll
Just another Friday night
We’ve got to have more since it is the weekend
Without it I don’t think we’ll feel alright

Sex, drugs, rock n roll
Don’t ya ever die
Tomorrow may bring an end to this dream
I don’t want to surrender all my screams

We’ve got to have more since it is the weekend
Without it I don’t think we’ll feel alright

Composition © 1988, 1989 Ric Albano
Publication © 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced & Engineered by Ric Albano
Composed on October 1, 1988
Recorded October 1988 & July 1989
at Rathole Studios, Hazleton, PA
Mixed in 2004
at Silver Spring Subterranean
Mastered in 2011
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Electric Guitars, Harpsichord, Bass, Drums, All Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: The song contains some interesting music but weak lyrics and terrible vocals. Even though it is hidden below the surface of a sea of tape hiss, the best part is the calm and jazzy middle instrumental section, decorated by a slow wah-wah guitar. The original recording was made in October 1988 with drums dubbed in during a session in July 1989.

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Under the Appletree

Bonus Track By  Wahray and Soul

Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 1:49
Listen to the Song:
[audio:WAS/04-UnderTheAppletree.mp3]
1988
Lyrics
Y’know there’s times I wander, there’s times I try
I think I want some more
But if you think it’s happening now
The dawn of all creation will search no more

Now it’s time to read the lines
Now it’s time to praise divine
But if no more there was a buzz
Would you want to eat the scuzz

Last night I found out
The apple of my eye has a worm inside its core
But if you think it’s happening now
The dawn of all creation will search no more

Hit it JoJo!

It’s going too fast now
Rollin’ and rollin’ and rollin’ and rollin’ and rollin’ along
Maul the days, crawl the nights, now go!

Composition © 1988 Ric Albano
Publication © 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced & Engineered by Ric Albano
Composed on March 10, 1988
Recorded October 1988
at Rathole Studios, Hazleton, PA
Mixed in 2003 & Mastered in 2011
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Harpsichord, Keyboards, Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: Honestly, this is one of the weakest songs of the regular collection. It was included primarily because I could not find any other suitable recordings from the winter/spring of ’87/’88 (we’re still in the pre-Fostex era here). That being said, it still is a bit odd and quarky, which may make it tolerable through the minute and fifty second duration.

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