Tag: Albums Produced by Ric Albano

The Evolution of Noise

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The Evolution of Noise by Wahray and SoulThe analog recording process has all gone the way of the horse and buggy, so it may be a good time to reflect back on this recently past age. With this realization, producer Ric Albano has decided to finally release the many semi-professional, analog recordings he made close to a quarter century ago with The Evolution of Noise, 1987-1995 by Wahray and Soul.

These recordings of original songs were all made in an attic “studio”, on a Fostex 4-track cassette recorder. There is a lot of trial and error, experimentation, and development of technical proficiency along the way.

Part I: The 1980s Written   Recorded
 1.   I Think I’m Losing My Brain     04/10/87 Spring 1990
 2.   Can’t Get Back 06/19/87 Spring 1990
 3.   A Lot of These Things 07/21/88 July 1988
 4.   Speak to Me 11/18/88 November 1988
 5.   The Deer With the Golden Eye 11/20/88 Nov 1988/Spring 1990
 6.   Free 12/13/88 December 1988
 7.   Someday     12/16/88 Dec 1988/Spring 1990
 8.   Springtime 01/07/89 Jan 1989/Spring 1990
 9.   Dark Side Suite 02/11/89 Feb-March 1989
10.   Loneliness 02/13/89 February 1989
11.   Discouragement 02/22/89 Feb-March 1989
12.   Diamond Ships 05/24/89 May 1989
13.   Blue Flowers & Beige Towers     06/04/89 June-July 1989
14.   Dry Water 08/05/89 August 1989
15.   Get Together 08/20/89 August 1989
16.   The Telephone 10/11/89 October 1989
17.   I Need Her Bad 10/12/89 October 1989
18.   Disagree 10/13/89 October 1989
19.   You’ve Got to Abide By the Rules…
     …if You Want to Play    		 11/02/89 November 1989
Part II: The 1990s Written   Recorded
 1.   Wilderness 05/25/90 May 1990
 2.   Best Shot 05/27/90 May-June 1990
 3.   It’s Hip To Live In Disgrace 08/06/90 August-September 1990
 4.   What Comes Around, Goes Around 09/22/90 September-October 1990
 5.   Pressure 12/05/90 December 1990
 6.   Ballad of a Big Breasted Bimbo 04/06/91 Apr 1991/Nov 1993
 7.   You Drive Me Mad 07/25/91 July-August 1991
 8.   King Of the Hill 09/27/91 September-October 1991
 9.   Mixed Signals 10/02/91 October 1991
10.   Wild Child 10/05/91 October 1991
11.   A Shock To the System 10/09/91 October 1991
12.   Everything I Forgot 12/26/91 December 1991
13.   Run 01/06/92 January 1992/November 1993
14.   Don’t Look Back 02/22/93 February-March 1993
15.   The Difference Between 03/09/95 March-April 1995
16.   Whenever I’m Near You 04/14/95 April-May 1995
17.   Used To Be 05/06/95 August 1991/May 1995
18.   The French Toast Affair 06/24/95 June-July 1995
19.   Take It As It Comes 07/07/95 July 1995

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 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

Imaginary Lines 33

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Imaginary Lines 33Released on September 9, 2009

Imaginary Lines 33 is a compilation album which is actually three albums in one. It includes the entirity of two previous releases, Imaginary Lines I in 2005 and Imaginary Lines II in 2007, plus several new and previously unreleased tracks. In all, its 33 songs have a combined running time of nearly two and a half hours.

This album came together when the project’s producer, Ric Albano, decided to abandon the originally-planned “trilogy” of albums because he did not feel there was enough quality material to make an adeguate Imaginary Lines III. Instead the focus shifted to enhancing previously released material and developing the better songs of the unreleased music.

 Disc One Writer(s) Previously
 1. Crimson, White, & Indigo     Ric Albano Unreleased
 2. Sister Josephine Ric Albano Unreleased
 3. Rubicon Ric Albano Unreleased
 4. Princess of Pearl Avenue Ric Albano Unreleased
 5. 999 Escape Ric Albano Unreleased
 6. Tommy’s Got a Gun Ric Albano /
Hunter S. Thompson    		 Unreleased
 7. Can’t Get My Mojo Risin’ Ric Albano Unreleased
 8. Ashes Ric Albano Unreleased*
 9. The Phoenix Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I    
10. Good Friday Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
11. Perfect Light Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
12. Lorelei Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
13. 33 Flames for Mary Ric Albano /
Ron Simasek		 Imaginary Lines I
14. Anthem Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
15. Donovan’s Dread Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
16. Peace Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
17. One Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
 Disc Two Writer(s) Previously
 1. The Fool’s Overture     Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 2. She Said Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 3. Keep Doing What You Do Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 4. The Last Man to Walk Alone     Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 5. You Sure Were Fun Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 6. 33 Shots at Louis Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 7. Believe Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 8. A New Religion Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 9. The Cup Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II    
10. The Old Man In the Sea Sue Kovaleski /
Ric Albano		 Unreleased
11. Twilight of Innocence Ric Albano Unreleased
12. Here On the Beach Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
13. Naked Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
14. Deuce Ric Albano Unreleased
15. Half Hearted Ric Albano Unreleased
16. Long Way Home Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II

Imaginary Lines II

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Imaginary Lines IIOriginal Release: December 27, 2007

The Fool’s Overture
She Said
Keep Doing What You Do
The Last Man to Walk Alone
You Sure Were Fun
33 Shots of Louis
Believe
A New Religion
The Cup
Naked
Here On the Beach
Long Way Home

Enhanced versions of songs later included on Imaginary Lines 33

Imaginary Lines I

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Imaginary Lines IOriginal Release: October 10, 2005

“Side One”
The Phoenix
Good Friday
Perfect Light
Lorelei

“Side Two”
33 Flames for Mary
Anthem
Donovan’s Dread
Peace
One

All songs later included on Imaginary Lines 33