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Formats and Editions
1. Gotta Get Goin'
2. Makin' Stuff Up
3. Oh Darlin'
4. Lip Service
5. Day to Die
6. Sarabande and Badinerie
7. I'm Not Through with You
8. Blues Variations
9. Kiss from a Rose 1
10. I Need the Money 1
11. Still in Love 1
12. Leave Your Coat on 1
13. Dad's Gone Home
More Info:
I've played the sax for over 30 years in lots of pop/jazz/blues bands. I'm predominantly a tenor player and I love Lenny Pickett and Vince Denham. I also love writing songs and this collection is a gathering of various ideas that I've generated in the past couple of years. I recorded the songs with a friend of mine who owns a studio: David Malinich. With the help of a couple other musicians we were able to create 13 songs that feature the saxophone played in several different styles...predominantly jazz and blues oriented pop. I'm from Michigan; I was born in the Detroit area and moved to the middle part of the state (for a job) in 1981. I spend lots of time working with young musicians as a mentor and part-time conductor for musicals and concerts. I like working with kids since they're pretty impressionable. They treat me like I really know something...not a common occurrence when I'm in the company of adults who know better. I've got two kids of my own who say they like my music...that's cuz I pay their bills. One other item that bears mention: In 1997, I was diagnosed with leukemia. As the result of a bone marrow transplant, I've recovered from that disease (so I'm told). Obviously, I've been lucky. The illness inspired me to move forward with various projects that I wanted to be sure I completed some time in my life. A CD containing my own music was one of those projects. I hope the descriptions of the songs and the lyircs help make the CD more fun to listen to. 1. Gotta Get Goin' (John Anderson) I had hopes that the title mades sense for the first song on the CD. I invented the chord progression first and two of the three melody lines soon after. David Malinich made some suggestions on the remainder of the song that helped me find a third melody line and pull the various parts together. Saxes, Keyboard John Anderson Guitar, Bass, Keyboard and Drum Programming David Malinich 2. Makin' Stuff Up (John Anderson) This is a 12 bar blues tune in a minor key. I liked the effect of adding the 9th tone of these minor chords as it gave the music some tension. In fact, the last note in the melody line is often the 9th tone in the scale too. The lyric has been changed a number of times as I've tried not to be offensive to anyone; thought provoking, maybe, but not offensive. I think the thing that inspired the song initially was how people treat waitresses and car washers and the like so badly. Obviously, that's where the 2nd verse came from. Then I began to realize that there are lots of instances when I was kidding myself about what was right and wrong so the other verses and the bridge were an attempt to put a few of these other instances into words. Lead and Harmony Vocal Amy Carlson Saxes and Keyboard John Anderson Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, Drum Programming David Malinich Verse 1 We wanna preach it What's right and wrong and where's that line But our whole outlook Depends on where we've done our time If we forget that there's two sides When our opinion's based on pride I really feel compelled to interrupt Cuz we're makin' stuff up Verse 2 People with money The kind we call the upper class Might just be lucky May never had to bust their (bad word) And even if they stole and lied Their money makes them dignified I really feel compelled to interrupt Cuz they're makin' stuff up Bridge Perfect truth is absolute But it's so hard to find Cuz selfishness helps us decide Where we should draw the lines Not just what is best for us Or convenient at the time (Let's) take the time to understand And then make up our minds Verse 3 Our politicians Are so concerned about the votes Hire statisticians To forecast who'll jump in the boat If what's in opinion polls Can compromise our higher goals It's time for all of us to interrupt Cuz we're makin' stuff up 3. Oh Darlin' (Lennon/McCartney) Everyone has an opinion....mine is that the Beatles are the best pop music group of all time by a wide margin. This is due in large part to the songwriting that Lennon and McCartney did. This one works well instrumentally and comes from my favorite Beatles album: Abbey Road...incredible music that ought to be played as often as possible! Saxes, Keyboard John Anderson Guitar, Bass, Keyboard and Drum Programming David Malinich 4. Lip Service (David Malinich) David Malinich and I have worked on lots of material together. He is a prolific writer and offered this song to me as a potential addition to my CD. I really liked it and it satisfied my urge to have a movin', groovin' type of pop-jazz song included. Sax John Anderson Guitar, Bass, Keyboard and Drum Programming David Malinich 5. Day to Die (John Anderson) Musically, I really liked the chord progression and I was kind of inspired to write a blues tune in the 12/8 rhythm. In particular the song 'Life is Hard, Then You Die' (Johnny Winter) was an inspiration for both the lyrics and music. The 'climbing' horns that conclude each verse are reminiscent of 'You're Gonna Need Me' which was a favorite of the Blues Controversy, a band I was formerly a member of. As I recovered from my bone marrow transplant in 1997, I had a lot of time to think. I got pretty depressed as some grim realities about life set in. Among those was the indisputable truth there's a day out there in the future somewhere that is my 'day to die'. Another thing that was very hard to accept was that many of the problems I saw people facing were chronic in nature...they were NEVER going to get relief. While all of that sounds depressing, I began to realize that life is all anyone (including me) has. I hope everyone gets to do the things that are important to them. For me at least, realizing that my days are numbered was a useful wake up call. Saxes and Keyboard John Anderson Guitar Mike Gullo Bass, Drum Programming David Malinich Verse 1 'We've done all the tests that we needed to do And it's time that we shared all the bad news with you. Your body's not working, it's gonna break down You can look for a second opinion downtown.' It's that kind of message we hope is a lie They just shrug their shoulders when we ask them why This day isn't special; must be somebody's day to die. Verse 2 Some people get lucky and dodge all life's bad stuff But life's full of surprises so that trick is tough It's a hard journey from the day that we're born Hardship can come in so many forms Good times and bad times will both pass us by We should learn what we can when we struggle and cry This day isn't special; must be somebody's day to die. Bridge All of the time I've been walkin'around From the day I was 40, back to when I was born I never had trouble not a single bad day And I thought that everyone had it that way The things people live with and learn to live through An ongoing illness; a lover-untrue These thoughts overwhelmed me and gave me the blues But that's how I learned what I needed to do Verse 3 The things that I'd say that I'd do when there's time And the uses I'd think of for my next extra dime The things I should do for the people I loved And the talents I had I could make good use of Don't let your best chances to live pass you by Time's at a premium; just watch it fly There's no day that's special; they're all somebody's day to die. 6. Sarabande and Badinerie (J.S. Bach) I wanted to include something for my classically trained acquaintances. Including a piece written by Bach was a bit of a risk; I had to acknowledge that I wasn't the best composer on the CD. Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes John Anderson 7. I'm Not Through with You (John Anderson) At least initially, I was trying to write something like the song 'So Very Hard to Go' by Tower of Power, a brassy pop tune extraordinaire. I was eager to write a tune that had not only a big horn sound but also a vocal part with opportunities for a lot of harmony. In spite of those initial aspirations, I think the song ended up more like a Joe Jackson or Manhattan Transfer tune than Tower of Power, but that's just fine. The lyric uses a c
