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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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

Ashes

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 1:16
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:Ashes.mp3]
Lyrics
Ten, nine, eight – begin the countdown
Let’s hope it is not long until we hit the ground
The spoon is broken, this goon has spoken

Five, four, three – was it ever meant to be?
Too late now for reminiscing
The bird is chokin’, the family’s croakin’

Ten, nine, eight – no more time for the hate
We’ll all soon be ashes

Composition © 2008 Ric Albano
Publication © 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on October 9, 2008
Recorded starting on October 9, 2008
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Produced by Ric Albano
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, Percussion, Vocals
Janet Rains
Backing Vocals, Vocal Chorus

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: The only song on Imaginary Lines 33 which is pure filler.

Song Trivia
The ending of “Ashes” was directly lifted from the very beginning of the original version of “The Phoenix”.

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999 Escape

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 3:20
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:999Escape.mp3]
Lyrics
Let’s go out in the back yard, watch the lions roam in the field
Dress to the ‘T’ in our finest armor so we don’t arrive back on our shields
Let’s go witness a historic act through the lenses of tomorrow’s eyes
We’ll do our best to commence the quest to watch Atlantis rematerialize

A quarter of a quarter of a century
A few more dimes just to waste my time with amazing inefficiency
Johnny loves the air above so he won’t stand up to the man
Shall I risk my chance to escape for a blurred word written in sand?

Let’s witness a belligerent act and not fall down on our knees
We’ll act as though we’re grown ups now
Leave the rats to play in their house of cheese

A quarter of a quarter of a century
A few more dimes just to hasten my decline into the cold dark infinite sea
Janie lives for her chance to give but she won’t stand up to the man
Why should I pass on my heroic escape
Just because you don’t understand? Why?

Come with me to the back yard watch our Lyen roam through his field
We’ve come so far on little more than faith, now is no time for us to yield

Composition © 2008 Ric Albano
Publication © 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on November 8, 2008
Recorded starting on December 6, 2008
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Produced by Ric Albano
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
Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: A song with some interesting lyrics and 1980s soundscape, that suffers from the over-use of electronic percussion and a bit of a dated message.

Song Trivia
The song is about a planned retirement date, which would have been 6 years and 3 months after initiation (a quarter of a quarter century).

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Sister Josephine

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 4:32
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:SisterJosephine.mp3]
Lyrics
As I walk down the road
With my head and my soul in my arms again
I start to seriously wonder if I’ll ever be able to get back again
It perplexes my heart that I can’t remember the start or even why I began
So I circle once more, search for the parallel door and try to understand
Why my memory has holes in particular those of the pleasurable
Have I become so inept that my very next step seems so immeasurable?
Then I silently shout; “What’s this crisis about?
And why can’t I just be satisfied with the rich & wonderful life I’ve seen?”
I try to get up once more but instead fall through the floor
Through the cracks in between
Oh, noone knows the trouble that I have seen
Please help me, Sister Josephine

A change in the tempo to find where to begin
The rhythm of life is coming back again
A little more action, a little less shame
A little more passion that the song remains the same

A change in the temple that’s the place to begin
The theory of life will be coming back again
A little more passion, a little less pain
Of fortune and glory that song we’ll rearrange

And if I ever become human again and worthy of friends
Could I? Should I? Would I ever get to see you again?

Composition © 2008 Ric Albano
Publication © 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on August 8, 2008
Recorded starting on August 10, 2009
at Saturation Acres (II), DuPont, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander
Mixed and Mastered in 2009
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Released: September 9, 2009
on Imaginary Lines 33

Performers
Ric Albano
Piano, Keyboards, Bass, Vocals
Ron Simasek
Drums
Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: This would be a great song except for the weak (and weird) keyboard lead in the middle. It starts with a long rap-like funk through its first verse but soon morphs into a calmer, more reflective style for the duration.

Song Trivia
Sister Josephine was Ric Albano’s first grade teach at catholic school in the mid 1970s.

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