Tag: Ric Albano on Drums

A Snowy Day In April

  By

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

  By

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.

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

Sex, Drugs, Rock n Roll

  By

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.

Please offer your own analysis of Sex, Drugs, Rock n Roll by leaving a comment in the box below.

Used To Be

  By

Track 37  On  The Evolution of Noise  By  Wahray and Soul

Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 4:11
Listen to the Song:
[audio:WAS/68-UsedToBe.mp3]		 1995
Lyrics
Train shakin’ down my door, even louder than it was before
The pain is an imagined thing
But things don’t seem the way they used to be

Was it cruel? Yes, they choose to let it go
Injustice reigns, it’s still the same

Flying spaceships in the Autumn skies
Stray, glass whistles in the moon denied
I’ve seen the shadows walk across the stream
They fall just short of the golden dream

Fiction, fact, white and black, the difference minor
And so it goes, but I should know

Hard plays, loose pays
Figuring, what the hell, you only live once
He waits in the shadows, she continues to make up more lies
His hair is thining, his eyes gray
While here self-destruction goes on and on
He offers her the comfort she needs, but what she needs she denies

The train makes its schedule on time
And life continues on its normal bind
It’s written off as a passing thing
But things don’t seem the way they used to be

Was it cruel? Yes, they choose to let it go
Injustice reigns, end result the same
Within the rain there is only pain

Composition © 1991, 1995 Ric Albano
Publication © 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced & Engineered by Ric Albano
Composed on May 6, 1995
Recorded August 1991 / May 1995
at Rathole Studios, Hazleton, PA
Mixed in 2003 & Mastered in 2011
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Drums, Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: A rare song in the collection, in that it was built from an older recording of a defunct song called “Imaginary Flying Lizard Wings”, written and recorded in 1991. In the Spring of ’95, new lyrics (except for the bridge), vocals, bass, and keys were added to the base recording of acoustic guitar and drums to form “Used To Be”, a more advanced version of the original concept.

Please offer your own analysis of Used To Be by leaving a comment in the box below.

Run

  By

Track 33  On  The Evolution of Noise  By  Wahray and Soul

Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 3:31
Listen to the Song:
[audio:WAS/57-Run.mp3]		 1992
Lyrics
I came across you just the other day and said “hi”
But you just acted like you’re deaf in the ears and passed by
It’s me. not you, who should be the one who is made
Won’t take the blame for what you’ve done
It’s too bad, I don’t care anymore

Everytime you have a problem you run
You finally found out that life is not always fun
It’s hard, sometimes happiness ain’t the only thing in the cards
But when things just aren’t going your way
You can’t pick up and run away
You’ve got to step up to the challenge of everyday

I came across you on a fair, warm night in the street
You looked much better, alright and back on your feet
But then the rain started pouring down and you ran
You probably ran to a warm and dry desert land
I don’t care anymore

Everytime you have a problem you run
You finally found out that life is not always fun
It’s hard, sometimes happiness ain’t the only thing in the cards
But when things just aren’t going your way
You can’t pick up and run away
you’ve got to step up to the challenge of everyday

Everytime you have a problem you run
I don’t care anymore

Composition © 1992, 1993, 2003 Ric Albano
Publication © 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced & Engineered by Ric Albano
Composed on January 6, 1992
Recorded January 1992 / November 1993
at Rathole Studios, Hazleton, PA
Mixed in 2003 & Mastered in 2011
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Electric Guitars, Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Drums, Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: A cool pop/rock song with a nice guitar riff, this song harkens back to a forgotten past of Wahray and Soul, as sort of a guitar-driven island in a sea of piano and synths. There’s even a brief “middle section” where just about everything was improvised before returning to the well structured main theme. A new synth backing track was added in 1993 as well as new lyrics written but never used.

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