Tag: Danville PA

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

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.

Naked

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 4:35
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:Naked.mp3]
Lyrics
Sally, please give me one more chance, I swear that it will be OK
And I will quietly fade into oblivion, once we’ve exhausted this one final day
We’ll play until dark in our amusement park
Sipping from our final glass of fleeting youth
String together songs about our rights and our “wrongs”
And reinterpret them as the Gospel truth

To this no return, so I continued to burn
I was the feeble fool at the public swimming pool, who’d shown up naked
A barren fraud, whose own resolve is at odds and cannot fake it
But she had bound to evade
With every second of silence she kept slicing away
At my plastic shield on this tempered battlefield, humiliated

Sally, please you have got to believe that I’m legitimate
I’m not the type of lion who resorts to the roar just to intimidate
But I’d give it all up and drink from your “happy soup” cup,
If that’s what you’ll serve me
So shoot me some vibes and let me know if I’ve arrived and you deserve me

Still no reply – no confirm, no deny
Like some pilgrim dolt whose land is swallowed whole
Right after he’s staked it
I was peerless fool, wearing non-matching shoes,
But otherwise naked
And she continued to sing, her song of silence was now deafening
To this pathetic pawn evicted from her lawn
Right after he’s raked it

Yes, she continued to sing, her song of silence was deafening
To this squalid joke, externally gone for broke, internally naked

Composition © 2006 Ric Albano
Publication © 2007, 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on April 18, 2006
Recorded starting on August 13, 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, Keyboards, Bass, Vocals
Ron Simasek
Drums and Percussion

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: An attempt at pure pop with cleaver lyrics and double-entendres, much like the style of the 1970s. However, there are some issues with instrumentation, especially the looped drum track and absence of guitar.

Song Trivia
“Naked” was the nickname given to the original version of Imaginary Lines II after most of its songs were further enhanced and remixed for Imaginary Lines 33.

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

Here On the Beach

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 3:00
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:HereOnTheBeach.mp3]
Lyrics
Don’t be afraid this peril is likely to fade
But I’ll stay if you want me to
‘Cause here on the beach all options are within our reach
I will stay if you ask me to

Hanging around, suspended above the ground, patiently waiting our turn
Chipping away at the stones of yesterday, hoarding all we can learn

We’ve done our subdue now it’s time to commence
With the quintessential pursuit, what we long to do

Living the dream, coining lucid themes
Getting a turn at the dance
Climbing the tower, will I aptly manage the power?
I sure would welcome the chance

So here on the beach the everlasting song is just within our reach
‘Cause our day is sure coming soon, I will stay if you ask me to

Composition © 2006 Ric Albano
Publication © 2007, 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on April 20, 2006
Recorded starting on April 13, 2007
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander
Mixed and Mastered in 2007
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Original Release: December 27, 2007
on Imaginary Lines II

Performers
Ric Albano
Piano, Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Vocals
Ron Simasek
Drums

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: The song takes a calm, romantic approach, loosely based on the sound of Phil Spector.

Song Trivia
This song was originally intended to be the last section of a four part, 16 minute “Ocean Suite”, following “He Was the Ocean” (later renamed “The Old Man In the Sea”), “Twilight of Innocence”, and “Dawning of Decadence”. This song was the only part completed in time for Imaginary Lines II.

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

Twilight of Innocence

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 7:02
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:TwilightOfInnocence.mp3]
Lyrics
Early on a Friday in May, dancing on a crest of a wave
I could feel the sudden crashing of cold water rush upon my shore
In the twilight of innocence, with curiosity pushed to turbulence
I’m bewildered by your passive hints
That soon you may not need me anymore

I shouldn’t anything distract me from anything
That’s going on this perfect day of leisure and play
These truly are the best of times, dream-scaped array
For five years we have built these stories brick day by day
Don’t let this end, don’t let it end

You may be the follower but you’ve got your own great mind
Open up your eyes and cherish
Everything that you will surely find
In a year or twelve you may not remember this quite the way that I do
But I’ll always remember you

You shouldn’t let anything distract you from everything
That’s going on this perfect day of bliss and fun
These truly are the best of times, cannot be out-done
Please don’t allow the trite to ever grow into distraction
To what you’ve got, you’ve got a lot

We left the beach as the dark patches advanced to hide the sun
Ran to the verge so we could witness this meteorological phenomenon
Caught two rainbows in a jaunty dance beneath the haunting clouds
In turn they tapped the gray water on either side
Like Heaven’s arms outstretched and grasping at the tide
Seagulls a-blaze in the bent light, a truly mystical sight
The night arrived with such harmony, embroiled forever in my memory

Later on the beach that day, I wondered just what you would say
If you could reflect back on this time right now along with us four
It is such a system we possess, the turning over of the vines
Although the world is a bit of a mess
Perhaps your judgement will be better than mine

Would you tell me that everything is a segue to everything?
That’s going on, that’s in our song
It’s what you’ve got, ready or not!

Heaven’s ambience is the crashing of the tide
Fades and echoes to the past as we commence our return ride
The day expired with such harmony, embroiled forever in my memory

It’s what I see when I retreat into the halls of my memory

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

Song Info
Composed on May 19, 1997
Recorded starting on September 10, 2004
at Silver Spring Subterranean
Produced & 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, Percussion, Vocals
Erik Trabert
Guitars

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: A song approached in a very unique fashion, with lyrics written in one afternoon on the beach in Virginia and music composed over several years on a living room piano. The song suffers from a bit from rough recording and untimely ending, as it originally went directly t the follow-up “Dawning of Decadence”. Still it posseses a unique charm.

Song Trivia
“Twilight of Innocence” is the oldest song in the Imaginary Lines collection both in composition date (05/19/97) and recording date (09/10/04), yet it was not officially released until the most recent Imaginary Lines album in 2009.
This song was originally intended to be the second part of a four part, 16 minute “Ocean Suite”, along with “The Old Man In the Sea”, “Dawning of Decadence”, and “Here On the Beach”. All but “Dawning of Decadence” were included as individual tracks on Imaginary Lines 33.
This is the only song on Imaginary Lines 33 written in the 20th century.

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