Song For Diane by PJ Heckman

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 3:25
Listen to the Song:  
[audio:VariousArtists/pj-SongForDiane.mp3] 2010
Lyrics
Today you woke up to a perplexing travesty
The world turned on its side with the future on its knees
But don’t give up, there are more songs left to sing

Some experts started chanting stoic “realities”
This life’s not worth advancing that you would not concede
You don’t give up when at stake is everything

For everyone knows the future
While everyone pans the past
And everyone cries for everyone who dies
They lament that life couldn’t last
Though everything is a challenge
And everything takes so long
And everything shouts “there is no easy way out”
What won’t kill us will sure make us strong

They tried to write your swan song
Your imminent defeat
You fought back with a vengeance
Those words they had to eat
You won’t give up
While the movie has got some more scenes

In everywhere see the future
And ever-remembered pasts
And never forsake every step that you’ll take
To every lot that you shall cast
And everyday make it happen
And everyday chase that dream
And everyday cry that you will never cease to try
When redemption is your ultimate theme

Tomorrow is a new day, another chance to be
Another move towards freedom and opportunity
The new girl, she’s waiting in the wings
She won’t give up
While there’s still more songs to sing

Composition © 2008 Ric Albano
Publication © 2010 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Recorded on December 8, 2009
in Lewisburg, PA

Produced by Bret Alexander
Engineered by Bret Alexander
Mixed and Mastered in 2010
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Original Release: 2010 on the album
Dollars For Diane

Performers
P.J. Heckman
Lead & Backing Vocals
Bret Alexander
Guitars, Mandolin
Ric Albano
Piano, Bass, Keyboards
Ron Simasek
Drums

The original demo version was published as an Imaginary Lines bonus track.

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The Big Sea   by Hot Wing Jones

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Written by Andy Shemeta & Tony Pepoli Song Length: 5:01
Listen to the Song:  
[audio:VariousArtists/TheBigSea.mp3] 2009
Lyrics
We will turn into so many more
Early detection only hope for a cure
Silent unnoticed, a stealth attack
Always travelling the path of least resistance

Like a carnivore sneaking up on prey
Dining from within, slowly gnawing away
Till that fateful day you finally feel the pain

You’ve got to kill us first or we’ll divide and conquer
Playing hide and seek, but it isn’t some kind of game
We’ll claim our ground and you’ll be left with nothing
You can fight the fight but you’re never going to be the same

The picture of health slowly fades away
Then the fear takes over
Like an icy drip into your veins
Keep you medicated so you don’t feel the pain
Recognize no race, no religion
No age, no sex, no level of society

You’ve got to kill us first or we’ll divide and conquer
Playing hide and seek, but it isn’t some kind of game
We’ll claim our ground and you’ll be left with nothing
You can fight the fight but you’re never going to be the same

Recognize no race, no religion
No age, no sex, no level of society
Equal opportunity destroyer
Caught in the riptide sinking in the big sea

You’ve got to kill us first or we’ll divide and conquer
Playing hide and seek, but it isn’t some kind of game
We’ll claim our ground and you’ll be left with nothing
You can fight the fight but you’re never going to be the same

Composition © 2009 Andy Shemeta & Tony Pepoli

Song Info
Recorded in 2009
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA

Produced, Engineered, Engineered, and Mastered by Bret Alexander
Official Release: 2011 on the album
Tanker A

Performers
Andy Shemeta
Bass, Vocals
Tony Pepoli
Guitars
Talbert Ford
Guitars
Corey Woodcock
Slide Guitars
Steve Montresor
Drums & Percussion
Bret Alexander
Guitar, Organ

 
Song Facts
The song was dedicated to Amanda and written in tribute to friends and family that have died way too early from cancer. On the other side, it is also in tribute to loved ones that have gone through the battle and won (but whose lives are never going to be the same).

Please offer your own analysis of The Big Sea by leaving a comment in the box below.

Dollars for Diane Compilation

Dollars for Diane CompilationSome of Pennsylvania’s finest artists have come together to donate their talents in support of Diane Kovaleski, a young woman from Wilkes-Barre, who suffered a major stroke during a routine surgery in 2007. All songs included on this 15-track CD are original compositions by artists from the Keystone State.

The CD gets kickin’ with the upbeat, roots-rock of Shawn Z’s “One End of the Candle” followed by the more somber, Bowie-esque “To the Dogs” by Stoney Creek. Pittsburgh’s Brad Yoder provides an excellent acoustic guitar and banjo folk blend with the hopeful, uplifting “Any Day”. Mycenea Worley next lends her fantastic talent with the song “Low” followed by hard rock sensations Pan.a.ce.a with their catchy hit “Stay”.

Some of the mid-state’s most popular acts then follow. Tripp McNeely provides some cool groove with their aptly title “Off and Running:, the legendary Darcie Miner gives her unmistakable voice to “Wide Awake in Silence”, while HotWingJones show how they’ve expanded their horizons with the intense new song “The Big Sea”. “Deuce” is a fun jam by Imaginary Lines that trades synth and guitar leads, while new wave legends Hormoans provide a rebellious anthem with “Not One of You”.

The only “live” song on the compilation is the flawless rendition of “Deeper” by Rhyne McCormick from his Capitol Theatre performance last year. This is followed by the well-produced and catchy “Atmosphere” by father-and-son tandem Craig & Alex Bannon and the intense “Judgement Eyes” by the acoustic-driven trio Ron Fleeger & the Stranger.

The album’s focal point is “Song for Diane”, which personalizes Diane’s situation. Written especially for this compilation by Ric Albano, the song was produced by Bret Alexander (who actually produced several of the songs on this CD) and performed by Diane’s cousin PJ Heckman.
Folk sensation Hannah Bingman caps off the album with “Finished, Fine’, Done”, a perfect closer in both title and mood.

All in all, the CD is an eclectic mix that explores the diverse talent of Pennsylvania artists without straying so far as to not be accessible and pleasant to most music lovers, no matter what genre he or she may favor. The Dollars for Diane Compilation is being sold independently with proceeds going to The University of Pennsylvania Center for Brain Injury and Repair as well as a scholarship fund for Diane’s daughter, Zayda. At only $5.00 each (that’s only 33 cents per song!), this is not only a charitable contribution but a great value as well.

td> 2009

Song   Artist  Year
 1.   One End Of the Candle     Shawn Z  2008
 2.   To The Dogs     Stoney Creek  2008
 3.   Any Day Brad Yoder  2006
 4.   Low Mycenea Worley  2009
 5.   Stay Pan.a.ce.a
 6.   Off and Running Tripp McNeely  2009
 7.   Wide Awake In Silence Darcie Miner<  2009
 8.   The Big Sea HotWingJones  2009
 9.   Deuce Imaginary Lines  2009
10.   Not One of You Hormoans  1981
11.   Deeper Rhyne McCormick  2009
12.   Atmosphere Craig & Alex Bannon  2010
13.   Judgement Eyes Ron Fleeger & the Stranger  2009
14.   Song For Diane P.J. Heckman  2010
15.   Finished Fine’ Done Hannah Bingman  2005

The Fool’s Overture

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 4:12
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:TheFool’sOverture.mp3]
Lyrics
Was the joke on you this time?
Did it once feel as though you had finally got across that line?
Did you dress up well today? Get well prepared to play?
Just to be banned you from the stage?

Is she waiting in the wings?
Fawning and hanging onto every blessed lyric that you sing?
Did she dress you up to play? Boast your morale today?
Use her deep insight to gauge?

Has the air escaped the room?
Once all had realized that you are imminently doomed
Did this world just pass you by? Deny your one last try?
Was the joke on you this time?

Subtle on the surface, inferno in the soul
The search goes on forever but no one seems to know
The past reveals no sign for the burden that was wrought
Mystic heated whine, get some while it’s hot!

Composition © 2007 Ric Albano
Publication © 2007, 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on May 7, 2007
Recorded starting on October 5, 2007
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander & Paul Smith
Mixed and Mastered in 2009
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Original Release: December 27, 2007
on Imaginary Lines II
This Release: September 9, 2009
on Imaginary Lines 33

Performers
Ric Albano
Piano, Keyboards, Bass, Vocals
Bret Alexander
Guitars
Erik Trabert
Guitars
Ron Simasek
Drums

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: An exciting, hard rocking , tangential song that is not really an “overture” at all. It suffers slightly from some off-key guitar chords in the second movement.

Song Trivia
“The Fool’s Overture” is one of two Imaginary Lines songs that share a title with a Supertramp song, the other being “Long Way Home”.

Please offer your own analysis of The Fool’s Overture by leaving a comment in the box below.

One

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 5:47
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:One.mp3]
Lyrics
Take a totally rational, complex super-organism
Reduce its pure essence to a 2-dimensional box
You’re black man, you’re white man, you – we’ll need to get back to
Once we have determined
The appropriate lines around you which we must draw
Then you’ll know who you really are

We cheer “diversity” but actually champion disparity
Thin surface reveals us all, deeper inner core irrelevant
Do you know who you really are?
Once we’ve anointed you
Any further insight from you will be superfluous and ignored

Take an honest, emotional, simple, young human person kind
The kind the intelligentsia tend to love to scorn and mock
For being mad for being had or for simply being consistent
Unlike their own trend-o’-the-week,
Nuanced, metro-sexual, cultured daughters and sons
But aren’t we all the One?

If there are two then there must be 6 billion
Composed of fools, heroes, artists, dregs, and villains
Aren’t we all the One?
Once we acknowledge this
Any further false divisions will be gratuitous and absurd

We are all the One!
If there are two then it must be logical that there are infinite
Island universes, loosely coupled but self-determinate
Do we know who we really are?
Do you know who you really are?

You, who have seen years of hardship and days of easy living
Who have felt nights of warm love and spells of cold un-forgiveness
So how can I tell you who you are?
I do acknowledge the noble intent
But I must reject the method unreservedly

Composition © 2004 Ric Albano
Publication © 2005, 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on August 3, 2004
Recorded starting on May 9, 2005
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Paul Smith
Mixed and Mastered in 2005
at Silver Spring Subterranean
Original Release: October 10, 2005
on Imaginary Lines I
This Release: September 9, 2009
on Imaginary Lines 33

Performers
Ric Albano
Piano, Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Bret Alexander
Electric Guitars
Ron Simasek
Drums and Percussion

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: The vocals flirt with the extreme upper range of Albano’s early work, but the calm, jazzy music and strategic drum, percussion, and synth accents ground this song as an interesting jam.

Song Trivia
The original title of this song was “Imaginary Lines” and it was the theme around a concept album (that never materialized) was planned. When the overall project was given that title, this songs name was changed – first to “Soliquoy” and then finally to “One”.

Please offer your own analysis of One by leaving a comment in the box below.