A while ago I entertained the notion of re-recording my first album for our 25th anniversary. I was never that thrilled with the way a lot of these songs sounded, and was pleased with the versions of “Talk to the Weatherman” and “In Your Mind” that we did years ago for Shine(r). A new version of The Quiet Man was first, and given to Pox World Empire records for the latest in their series of “Compulation” CD’s. You can get this song at the “Missing Pieces” link.
Several other demos were recorded at the same time, and I eventually thought I might put a band together to re-record these. Well that’s one of those loose ends that never got neatly tied up. So here’s the project where it was left, in the demo stage. I didn’t want to make too many changes to the original lyrics or song structures. God knows I could have updated a few of the simple lyrics, but somehow it just seemed I should leave them alone. The few bits/phrases that I did add were actually in the notes of the original lyrics. Still, a couple of them ended up with some pretty different instrumental parts, and some might find Anti Socialist unrecognizable, though I threw an instrumental verse/chorus from the original in there. Who knew that I would write a song about the “smoke monster” 20 years before Lost. (Black Cloud)
Anyway, y’all might hate the “modernization”.. I know some folks really liked the lofi sound of the first LP.. so if you’re of that mind, don’t click on the link below!
The picture is of a house that now stands in the place of the house that graced the cover of And He’s Not Gonna Take it. The face of the neighborhood has greatly changed, and my childhood home wasn’t the only casualty.
I meant to ask you several times over the years where the house on the cover of that record is located. Of course, I see now that had I gone looking for it, I wouldn’t exactly find what I was looking for.
Downloading this and Live in Germany right now. I took a quick listen first and it’s a trip to hear “It’s Easier Than You Think” with “modern era” MDID guitar and double-tracked vocals. Very cool.
downloaded this yesterday, I enjoy these rerecorded songs. Makes me look forward to other ones you might do in the future
I do like the new version but as I listened to it, the memories of listening to the raw, guttural version on the first album took me back to 20 years ago. Thanks for making me feel old (not too hard to do). And I respect your re-envisioning your music.
We came to praise My Dad Is Dead, not to bury them!