Tag: Songs from 2007

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Dollars for Diane Compilation

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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 & 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 perfomance 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 ecclectic 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.

Song   Artist   Album  Year
 1.   One End Of the Candle     Shawn Z St. Jude Avenue  2008
 2.   To The Dogs     Stoney Creek –  2008
 3.   Any Day Brad Yoder Someday Or Never  2006
 4.   Low Mycenea Worley Love  2009
 5.   Stay pan.a.ce.a We The Broken  2009
 6.   Off and Running Tripp McNeely Songs From Mike’s Basement  2009
 7.   Wide Awake In Silence Darcie Miner Loneliness Anonymous  2009
 8.   The Big Sea HotWingJones Tanker A  2009
 9.   Deuce Imaginary Lines Imaginary Lines 33  2009
10.   Not One of You Hormoans Not One of You  1981
11.   Deeper Rhyne McCormick Live At the Capitol Theatre  2009
12.   Atmosphere Craig & Alex Bannon 112 Beats Per Minute  2010
13.   Judgement Eyes Ron Fleeger & the Stranger Lucky 7  2009
14.   Song For Diane P.J. Heckman Dollars For Diane  2010
15.   Finished Fine’ Done Hannah Bingman Right, Right Now  2005
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Long Way Home

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 6:03
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:LongWayHome.mp3]
Lyrics
Lost in the wilderness, the forest through the trees
All merge to emptiness as I am brought down to my knees
I pause for just a sec’ to let the world spin round
To reveal some open trek leading to tame, tended ground

But I’m still alive, yes, I’m still alive
Shrouded in bitterness, I’ll crawl out of this wilderness and try

Counter, diverging paths, I’m forced to make a choice
Contend this demon’s wrath or let it silence my voice
No doubt I’ve done my slice to bring this on myself
But that pittance won’t justify this rapid draining of health

But I’m still alive, but will I survive?
Biased towards happiness, I’ll carve my creed in righteousness

And pray exoneration for squandering the precious dawn of the Day
That priceless jewel, confined by it’s peripheral fuel
Anyday can come the call to raze the walls, and suddenly be shown…

…All that is beyond, knowing all that is gone
Blown, pried from it’s bond, on the way home…

Who leaves familiar farms, swan dives into the sea
Of vast transcendent charms, of vast uncertainty?

He who keeps it alive, the dream that survives
Drafted towards openness, can almost feel the sweet caress of the sky

That boundless cool, clad baby blue
Never seeming too hard to fly
With wounded wings, ever sharpening
Will tomorrow bring just one more try?
To feel the pulse, to forge the ghosts
To make the most and show…

…Just what can be, and know what it is like to be free
And grow into the predestined me, and flow in distinguished harmony
All the way home…

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

Song Info
Composed on December 3, 2007
Recorded starting on October 5, 2007
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander
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, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Erik Trabert
Electric Guitar
Ron Simasek
Drums and Percussion

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: The song itself, is easily an “A”, but this recording misses the mark at some crucial points (a simpler, less developed version of the song originally appeared on Imaginary Lines II can be heard here). This is a highly spirtual, nearly religious, song about trials, tribulations, and faith.

Song Trivia
The original, working title was “Trinity”, and it was intended to be the closing song on the defunct Imaginary Lines III.
This is only Imaginary Lines song that began studio recording before the composition was complete.
The song was originally intended to seamlessly continue from the “tolling bell” piano chords that finish the previous song “Half Hearted”. Together, these two compositions form a sequence on death and ressurection.

Please offer your own analysis of Long Way Home by leaving a comment in the box below.

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Half Hearted

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 4:52
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:HalfHearted.mp3]
Lyrics
That will take a while
Until they do what they’re supposed to do
Although it’s not our style, we’ll burn all that we’re opposed to
Then fly by night towards the glow of the light

But that may take some time
To recoup everything that it’s worth
We will exhaust our prime, in futility we’ll scour the earth
Descend from the limelight towards that peril-ess dream
Rescind from the golden book towards the “gold star” magazine

And go half the way, half the way
That is just as far as we’ll dare to
We’ll go half the way, half the way
Any further, we’re just too scared to

But that may take some time
Just to figure the whole thing out
Which molehills to climb, which television to do without
We’ll drive over paved roads on the Oracle’s grave
As we find a few more things to complain about

We’ll go half the way, half the way
And build a house of granularity
We’ll go half the way, half the way
Just one shot a mediocrity

But oh how good it feels to walk in those old shoes
And know it’s our prerogative to live the way that we choose
The way we choose

But who will help us now as we’re losing who we are?
And our well is quickly drying and our memories can’t be jarred?
We’ll curse at the light as it dissolves into night

But who will save us now, since we’ve turned our backs before?
And we’ve danced upon your gloom clouds?
And we’ve pissed upon your shores?
We cursed at your light, complained it’s glow was too bright

But can’t you help me now?
Won’t you help me now?

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

Song Info
Composed on December 7, 2007
Recorded starting on December 30, 2008
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Produced and Engineered by Ric Albano
Mixed and Mastered in 2009
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Original Release: September 9, 2009
on Imaginary Lines 33

Performers
Ric Albano
Piano, Keyboards, Bass, Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: A song about facing death after living a life not well lived.

Song Trivia
This song was actually co-written by Ric Albano’s then 10-year-old son Jacob, but Ric didn’t feel it was appropriate to but his son’s name on a song that contained the lyric “pissed upon your shore”. So he he “bought out” Jacob’s share of the songwriting credit with a new video game.

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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.

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Donovan’s Dread

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 3:16
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:Donovan’sDread.mp3]
Lyrics
You say that the means fortify the ends
But I refuse to crucify any more friends
You claim that the crow is tolerable with white wine
I choose instead to draw my own imaginary lines

When will we ever feel the sun?
When will we ever have some fun?
When will we ever be all but done with our accomplishments?
Fulfilled by mass acknowledgement?
Relieved of our embarrassment?
When? When?

You say that the dream solidifies the means
But I reject my assignment to the underground machine
You wave the goal approaching the divine
As I choose to subsist within my own imaginary lines

Why must we congenially drink the rain?
Why must we eventually taste the pain?
Why must we ever be all but hung for our proficiency?
Stung by our own technology?
Loathed for our non-apology?
Why? Why?

Where is the roadmap to the promised land?
Where is the soft and sympathetic hand?
Where is the hunger for the justice of our own righteousness?
Promotion of our exultance?
Adoption of our endorsement?
Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where?

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

Song Info
Composed on May 17, 2005
Recorded starting on May 9, 2005
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Paul Smith
Mixed and Mastered in 2009
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Original Release: October 10, 2005
on Imaginary Lines I
This Release: September 9, 2009
on Imaginary Lines 33

Performers
Ric Albano
Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Vocals
Bret Alexander
Acoustic Guitar

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: A very unique song that added a lighter edge to the “deep” mood of Imaginary Lines I, this song was written and recorded rather quickly towards the end of production of the first album.

Song Trivia
This song’s title is completely frivilous, lifted from a New Orleans phone book, from which ad copy was actually read by Ric Albano under the lead section.

Please offer your own analysis of Donovan’s Dread by leaving a comment in the box below.