Tag: Songs Produced by Ric Albano

Vieux Carre

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Track 2  On  Animal Society I  By  Animal Society

Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 2:43
Listen to the Song:
[audio:AS/02-VieuxCarre.mp3]		 2010
Lyrics

They’ve always claimed that this day would come
It’s just not supposed to take this long
Just not supposed to take this long
Well, ain’t it a shame that we’d be the ones
It’s just not supposed to take this long
Just not supposed to take this long

Trapped on this jungle of concrete I-10
Hot and deserted, forsaken and frightened
Under the sign that reads “Vieux Carre”
Water galore but not one single drop to drink
Some have expired, many on the brink
Did they forget just where we are?

Dazed and confused, broken and burned
Foul toxic soup around every turn
Hell hath annexed our city
They told us to come to the voluminous dome
Where we would be “safe” in our interim home
That pledge a mendacity

They never claimed this day could come
It’s just not supposed to take this long
Just not supposed to take this long
Who can we blame for the unfortunate ones?

Composition © 2006 Ric Albano
Publication © 2010 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander
Composed March 2006
Recorded March 20, 2010
at Saturation Acres, DuPont, PA
Mixed & Mastered in 2010
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Erik Trabert
Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Matt Roy
Drums

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

California

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Track 1  On  Animal Society I  By  Animal Society

Written by Ric Albano, Erik Trabert, & Matt Roy Song Length: 5:32
Listen to the Song:
[audio:AS/01-California.mp3]		 2009
Lyrics

You think you’ve got yourself a new friend
But is she really there for you?
A hybrid child-grown-adult friend
Who thinks her mother but a tool
To guard against the water side
Regarding just the daughter’s side
And to carry water too

Rage, such rage
No gauge to tamp down the rage

You think you’ve coined yourself a new trend
But will she really let you do?
Those deep-down chasms that you must mend
Can they be healed before you’re through?
May yet be some time left
May yet be some rhyme left
To tame the bitter shrew

Gauge, engage
That stage may still exist for you

And so I went to California
But could not get inside her door
Unless I’d fake like I adored ya
Unless I’d sell out like a whore

I went to California
The scent of fresh begonia
Lying hazy in the air
Flying lazy through the air
Gliding crazy on the air

Rage, such rage
No gauge to tamp it down

Composition © 2009 Animal Society
Publication © 2010 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander
Composed June 2009
Recorded March 20, 2010
at Saturation Acres, DuPont, PA
Mixed & Mastered in 2010
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Erik Trabert
Electric Guitars, Synths
Matt Roy
Drums

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

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.

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.

To offer your own analysis of Half Hearted, please leave a comment in the box below.