Memo

Memo

(a 3rd album of rock juvenilia)

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Songs and instrumental takes from 1988. This is a shorter album due to the many songs that were later migrated to Adventures of Freddy, which were: "Freddy" and "The Prairie Song." When I mix the 'original' versions of these songs, I'll put them up. I'm afraid that many here are straight dubs from a cassette. "Memo" is re-mixed in Pro Tools, at least.

1. Memo

I don't know where this song came from. Oh, maybe "Destination" by The Church, who was big in 1988. The metaphor here is the Cold War as, what else, a relationship. Squeeze is also an influence, in a weird way. Sounds like none of those. Just a vibe. And it begins like "Helter Skelter," a descending chromatic line that outlines the chord progression for the whole song and is supposed to be on electric guitar (someday).

There is emptiness in our heads
There's a memo on our shelf
We've had blues and we've had reds
We are always by ourselves

There's a ghost that's in our closet
There's a fool here in our house
No one knows what's going to cause it
No one cares if we find out

There's a bullet in my shoulder
There's a flower in your hair
Our blanket makes me colder
Than the touching that we share

There's a jet airliner landing
And there's no one left on board
There's a submarine that's scanning
All the kisses that you hoard

Defectors and alien in-laws
Are escaping from distant lands
They are banging on my window
They are begging me to dance

And as you lie with your armies
And I with my defense
The civilians have been swarming
To our chalet outside France

We are sleeping less than ever
Our bed has had no rest
Even though my head is severed
And chained upon your breast

Now as the day is breaking
You will find yourself alone
There's a head in the oven baking
And a memo by the phone

2. Far Away

Pop song about, what else, a relationship. Like "The Sun's Song" has a weird Classical reference: listen for the main theme of the last movement of Brahms' 1st Symphony in the lead guitar bridges. (I conducted this movement at NCSA in front of the orchestra. Since I had memorized it - crammed it - one weekend, it was etched in my brain.)

3. Kathleen

One of my few story-songs, and one of a handful of the late Cold War Reagan-era genre of nuclear paranoia (or fear-mongering).

4. Who Is Keeping Count?

All the above brought together into a joke song, Like "All I Want Is a Million Dollars" a few dated references (Gary Hart and Donna Rice) and even a thing or two ripped from the headlines (such as human stomachs and syringes washing up on Long Island beaches).

5. Daryl By Starlight

Just a nocturnal guitar improvisation on the music I wrote for the Mr. Charlie song, "Daryl."

6. Open Window

My foray into "Jazz Light." Or, at least, some fusiony Michael Brecker-type thing. A sketch.

7. Rollin'

Really a song ending that still has not found its first half. I love this jam, the opening of which was ripped off by Radiohead to open their O.K. Computer album.

8. Up In the Sky

Like "Why Love?" and "Who Is Keeping Count?" this is a conscious focus on melody. It's just that I realize it here more in the style of Steve Stevens.

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