ON THE RADIO

ON THE RADIO is a creative reflection on my life in music business pursuits over many years. It is loosely autobiographical and also a personal homage to my favorite New York top 40 radio station in the mid-to-late 60s, WABC 77. My love of the songs and hit records of that golden era as presented by some of the greatest rock ‘n roll DJs in the world inspired me to follow the path to becoming a songwriter and a recording artist. It is truly inspired and transcendent in it’s scope. **Click link to enlarge NYC DJs radio image.

ON THE RADIO

THAT WAS ME ON THE RADIO
YOUNG AND FREE ON THE AM DIAL
ROCK ‘N ROLL WAS THE WAY TO GO
I WAS GONNA BE ITS POSTER CHILD

BY THE SUMMER OF ‘65
MUSIC AIRWAVES CAME ALIVE
ROCKIN’ DJs SHUCK & JIVE
KEPT ME…TRANSISTORIZED

PEOPLE LOVED TO HEAR ME SING AND PLAY
IN MY OWN ECLECTIC STYLE
PRETTY SOON I WAS ON MY WAY
I WAS HOT FOR A LITTLE WHILE

SOLID GOLD BY ‘70
EVERYBODY OWNED A PIECE OF ME
PARTY TOWNS AND THE MONEY
KEPT ME…ANESTHETIZED

LAST HEARD ON THE RADIO
I DIED ON THE FM DIAL
THERE WAS NOWHERE LEFT TO GO
I HAD TRAVELED EVERY MILE

I SURVIVED THROUGH ‘82
MADE A COMEBACK IN TIMBUKTU
A HOLY MAN AND A CHICK I KNEW
KEPT ME…SELF-ACTUALIZED

THAT WAS ME ON THE RADIO
YOUNG AND FREE ON THE AM DIAL
ROCK ‘N ROLL WAS THE ONLY WAY TO GO
I WAS GONNA BE ITS POSTER CHILD

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FRANKIE FEVER’S DUBONNET

FRANKIE FEVER’S DUBONNET

FRANKIE FEVER DIED TODAY
IN THE HEART OF OLD L.A.
LEGENDARY K H J
PLAYED HIS CLASSIC “DUBONNET”

LAUREL CANYON DUG HIS SONG
HIPSTERS ROCKED IT ALL NIGHT LONG
IT WAS COOL BUT THE BEAT GOES ON
GYPSY DAYS HAD COME AND GONE

HEAVEN HILL
SWEET SUCCESS AND A BITTER PILL
“DUBO, DUBON, DUBONNET”
AS CASSANDRE USED TO SAY
IMMORTALITY
“ON THE ROX” REALITY
BLONDE AND ROUGE AND HELL TO PAY
FRANKIE FEVER HAD HIS DAY

HOLLYWOOD PUSHED FRANKIE’S BEST
EVERY RECORD THAT HE EVER PRESSED
DIGGERS CLAIMED THEY WERE ALL IMPRESSED
AS THEY LAID HIM TO HIS REST

LAUREL CANYON SANG HIS SONG
DUG THE TUNE BUT NOT FOR LONG
GENERATIONS HAD MOVED ON
YESTERDAY WAS DEAD AND GONE

HEAVEN HILL
SWEET SUCCESS AND A BITTER PILL
“DUBO, DUBON, DUBONNET”
AS CASSANDRE USED TO SAY
IMMORTALITY
“ON THE ROX” REALITY
BLONDE AND ROUGE AND HELL TO PAY
FRANKIE FEVER HAD HIS DAY

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So, here’s to Frankie Fever and here’s to one last call.
Raise a glass of Blonde or Rouge, and ‘salut’ to you all.
It’s bittersweet, this aperitif, but hey, it’s “old L.A.”
The beat goes on at K H J & Frankie Fever had his day.

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STAR LIGHT SHINE

STAR LIGHT SHINE

I CAN’T CATCH MY BREATH
ON THIS MIDNIGHT TRAIN
I RIDE WITH DEATH
AND HE KNOWS MY NAME

HE GOT ABOARD BACK THEN
AT A WHISTLE STOP
HE KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN
I’M BOUND TO DROP

OUT IN THE DESERT AIR
WHERE A STAR LIGHT SHINE
FILLS A COAL BLACK NIGHT
THAT’S ALL MINE

I KEEP THE HOUNDS AT BAY
AND MY DISTANCE CLEAR
I’D RUN THE HELL AWAY
‘TIL I’M OUTA HERE

BUT I’VE BEEN BORN AGAIN
IN A DESPERATE WAY
AND IT KILLS THE PAIN
OF ANOTHER DAY

OUT IN THE DESERT AIR
WHERE A STAR LIGHT SHINE
FILLS A COAL BLACK NIGHT
THAT’S ALL MINE

NOTHIN’ HERE GOES DOWN
THAT DON’T BLEED OR SCREAM
SINKIN’ DEEPER NOW
INTO A DEAD MAN’S DREAM

I SURRENDER TO
EVERY DEBT THAT’S DUE
A SMALL PRICE TO PAY
FOR THE TIMES I KNEW

OUT IN THE DESERT AIR
WHERE A STAR LIGHT SHINE
FILLS A COAL BLACK NIGHT
THAT’S ALL MINE

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SADDLED WITH ME

This song was already writing itself in my sleep. As I was slowly waking up one morning a deep Rem dream was just ending with a scene of a very detailed charcoal-sketch of Aqualung reposed in a recording studio tracking room setting. My view from the back of the room looked forward to the control room where there appeared someone seated at the controls looking out through the glass toward the tracking room. The charcoal-sketched figure of Aqualung was blocking my view, so I couldn’t make out who it was. As I stared intently to see through a glass darkly, sketchy old Aqualung literally faded away into the ether whereupon I saw, at first, an LP album cover leaned up against the control room glass. The cover art was The Sacred Heart of Jesus with the Crown of Thorns.

And at the controls? There was the holy icon of Infant Jesus of Prague.

I had no idea what it all meant, it was just a dream after all. But it was unusually dramatic, even for a dream. Snapping suddenly to wakefulness, I realized that I was audibly repeating the title line and mulling over the first verse lyrics and tune now resonating insistently. I bolted out of bed and headed straight to my desk in order to capture the incoming gift of the Muse that was now inhabiting me in the full. My first inclination was that the song was about a Knight or a Crusader with their horses going into battle, but the lyrics insisted it was my battle and my beast was not only my steed, but God himself carrying me into the battle of conquering my own pride. It wasn’t clear, which is not unusual with initial inspiration. The Song, when it arrives, firstly demands that the writer be its servant at any rate. Songwriting is a minor gift of the Holy Spirit after all and I am always prepared as a craftsman to comply with the Holy Spirit. Saddled With Me is a bit like the biblical story of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus.

SADDLED WITH ME

UPON THIS HIGH HORSE
BUILT FOR THE DISTANCE
I BEHOLD EVERYTHING
TWO EYES CAN SEE

MY BEAST IS STEADY
ARMORED AND READY
POWER AND BEAUTY
SADDLED WITH ME

I AM A RIDER
MY STEED AN ABIDER
COMPANION AND GUIDER
CARRYIN’ ME
AT MY ASSISTANCE
WITHOUT RESISTANCE
TOGETHER WE BATTLE
CONQUERIN’ ME

UPON THIS COLD GROUND
A RECKONIN’ BECKONS
DARKNESS SURROUNDS ME
ONLY HIS EYES CAN SEE

SURE AND STEADY
POISED AND READY
BLOOD ON THE BRIDLE
DELIVERIN’ ME

I AM A RIDER
MY STEED AN ABIDER
COMPANION AND GUIDER
CARRYIN’ ME
AT MY ASSISTANCE
WITHOUT RESISTANCE
TOGETHER WE BATTLE
CONQUERIN’ ME

POWER AND BEAUTY
SADDLED WITH ME

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THE MUSE’S MOTHERLODE

I wrote The Muse’s Motherlode as a tribute to Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Susanna Clark. When Combine Music, the Nashville music publishing company I was signed to as a songwriter in 1987, merged with SBK Songs Nashville in 1988 and SBK took over our building, Guy & Susanna became roster mates. I got to know Guy best over time as he happened to be around our office more in those late 80’s years writing and recording in our studio. I liked them both and although Susanna didn’t come into the office on any regular basis, she spent time there and was always very personable and pleasantly engaging. Their mutual best friend, Townes Van Zandt, was not an SBK writer but he dropped by occasionally and so I actually met him once. He appeared to be a troubled soul, but I’m glad we met. Townes, Guy and Susanna were highly regarded songwriters and were thought of as the three amigos for their closeness to one another. All 3 are dead and gone. My tribute song, The Muse’s Motherload, is structured to reflect the order of their respective passings. Townes Van Zandt (January 1, 1997) – Susanna Clark (June 27, 2012) – Guy Clark (May 17, 2016).

THE MUSE’S MOTHERLODE

TOWNES VAN ZANDT
TOLD OH SUSANNA
THERE’S AN ANGEL HERE WITH ME
TELL GUY CLARK
SHE’S A “KEEPER”
LET US KEEP HER COMPANY

OH SUSANNA
ILLUMINATED
SLIPPED AWAY BEYOND THE SKY
EMPTIED OUT
INTO THE MYSTERY
WHERE SHE SOON LEARNED HOW TO FLY

GUY WAS SAD AND CRYIN’ AT THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW
WHEN HE HEARD SUSANNA SAY WHAT TOWNES SAID HE SHOULD KNOW
SOMETHIN’ ‘BOUT AN ANGEL AND SHE’S SINGIN’ SOFT AND LOW
HARMONIZIN’ ON SONGWRITER’S ROAD
WAITIN’ ON THE MUSE’S MOTHERLODE

TOWNES AND GUY
AND OH SUSANNA
PASSED THIS WAY AGAIN TONIGHT
RADIATIN’ WITH THE DAWNIN’
OF ETERNAL MORNIN’ LIGHT

GUY WAS SAD AND CRYIN’ AT THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW
WHEN HE HEARD SUSANNA SAY WHAT TOWNES SAID HE SHOULD KNOW
SOMETHIN’ ‘BOUT AN ANGEL AND SHE’S SINGIN’ SOFT AND LOW
HARMONIZIN’ ON SONGWRITER’S ROAD
WAITIN’ ON THE MUSE’S MOTHERLODE

TOWNES VAN ZANDT
TOLD OH SUSANNA
THERE’S AN ANGEL HERE WITH ME

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‘You can’t separate them’: the unlikely love story of Guy Clark, Susanna Clark & Townes Van Zandt

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RAIN ON ME BABY

RAIN ON ME BABY

BURNED OUT IN THIS DESERT
I CAN’T TAKE THE DESPERATE HEAT
I NEED YOUR LOVE LIKE WATER
I CAN’T SLEEP AND I CAN’T EAT
COME ON HOME AND SAVE ME
LIKE AN ANGEL FROM THE SKY
LEAD ME TO YOUR SWEET OASIS
DON’T LEAVE ME HIGH AND DRY

RAIN ON ME BABY
WASH THIS DUST AWAY FROM ME

THERE’LL BE NO MORE SORROW
THERE’LL BE NO MORE PAIN
THERE’LL BE NO MORE HEARTACHE
TAKE ME BACK AGAIN
YOU KNOW THAT I’M SORRY
I DROVE YOUR HEART AWAY
BRING IT BACK TO ME
I’M BEGGIN’ YOU TODAY

RAIN ON ME BABY
WASH THIS DUST AWAY FROM ME

NO MORE AGONY
NO MORE GOOD INTENTIONS
I’LL BE BY YOUR SIDE
LIKE THE DUDE I WILL ABIDE IN YOUR LOVE
OPEN UP THE CLOUDS ABOVE

RAIN ON ME BABY
WASH THIS DUST AWAY FROM ME

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THE STORY OF OLD LOVE

THE STORY OF OLD LOVE was inspired by the age old spirit of youthful romance, never-ending summer nights and a ghost who gave me this story I just had to tell. She’s here with me dancing on this moonlit night. A summer skirt, no trace of hurt. She’s alright.

But who is the ghost in this story?

The ghost in my song represents the pure and timeless spirit of the young girl in the song and the undying memory of her that the storyteller – the young man in the song, now older – sings about. In actual fact however, the ghost, as a creative touchstone for this song vision, was inspired by a very vivid memory of an actual ghost that I happened to see one moonlit night in an old century house in rural Gatineau, Quebec, not far from Ottawa where I worked in 1973. There was an abandoned old church with a long neglected cemetery located within a stone’s throw distance from that old house so not surprising to witness a ghost there.

How did all of this come to be developed into The Story Of Old Love…? Well, let me tell you how.

Late one night a few months ago I was preparing to close down my shop for the night with my usual ritual of firstly heading downstairs to my music room to turn off lights and my iMac computer and make sure everything was shut off downstairs. I went down there and before I turned my lights off, I sat in a chair across from my bookcase and drifted back in memory to Ottawa ’73.

I wandered once again out onto Wellington on a cold bright spring morning and began my “walking journey” up that main street to Parliament Hill, turning right onto Rideau and down that street past Sussex, Dalhousie, etc… to a stopping point in front of a little eatery called the Del Rio Restaurant where my revision opened to perceive again the textures of the rays of the noonday sunlight shining sharply upon the front of that uncanopied greasy old joint. My breath was frosting in front of me as I stared into the front window glass to see a few early lunch crowd patrons playing foosball just inside the window within my visibility due to the sun’s blinding glare. I then turned my attention to an open doorway that ran upstairs just to the left of the restaurant and it had a chalkboard sign advertising lunch menu specials. So, I walked up to the top of the stairs, turned right and found myself in a little wine & beer tavern called The Nozzle. 11:30AM empty except for a manager/waitress named Kathy.

I was hungover, hungry and a transient vagrant who had been out ramblin’ round and now this scene.

I ordered a club house sandwich and a cold draft beer and turned my focus to the jukebox waiting in a corner of the bar for me to feed it while Kathy, an ambassador’s daughter as it turned out, went about her daily tavern opening tasks. Up and over to the jukebox, I put a quarter in and selected two songs. Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne and Let Me Roll It by Paul McCartney & Wings. Kathy brought me my sandwich with fries and a pickle and sat down to organize her orders book. The introduction of her co-worker and roommate, Josephine [Joey], who had been in the kitchen preparing the food, happened as I ate and that led to their mutual invitation to me to crash for as long as I needed to at their old century house on the other side of the river in Gatineau. I was also offered a job as a beer & wine waiter so that was that. I had just hit town and already I had a job and a great place to stay.

Workaday routines included hitchhiking back and forth to work each day as we had no car. Ottawa introduced me to the music of former Buckinghams, Tufano & Giammarrese, and Goose Creek Symphony. Life was good. Joey left the house. Kathy’s old pet cat died in her lap. The private ambassador/daughter telephone line remained a mystery and my school days biker friends Robert and Blaine found me and visited me, bonding us tighter as ones who’d been out ramblin’ round. There was the ghost of course and my eventual departure by train to see a judge about a small matter between us in my old hometown awaiting my conviction or my absolute discharge. The latter disposition was to be my fate in that regard but before that drama would unfold my train pulled up with good-bye forever note from Kathy and vague intimations of my someday future return leaving that story forever stranded in the Ottawa rain. I blinked and realized that an hour had gone by. I shut everything off and came back upstairs to my office desk.

I grabbed my Larrivee C-09 acoustic guitar, a roller pen and a legal pad and from 4 AM to 4:30 AM, I wrote The Story Of Old Love.

THE STORY OF OLD LOVE

I TOLD MYSELF THE STORY OF OLD LOVE TONIGHT
EVERY PRECIOUS MEMORY IS STILL BURNING BRIGHT
LIKE THE FIRST TIME WE MET ON THE AVENUE
YOU WERE ALMOST TWENTY I WAS TWENTY-TWO

DO YOU THINK OF ME WHEN YOU HEAR SONGS WE’D SING
TIMES WHEN YOU AND I WERE UP FOR ANYTHING
I RECALL WE DID IT ALL AND HOW WE LOVED THE GAME
WE TOOK IT ON, WE HAD OUR FUN, WE FELT THE SAME

REMEMBER YOU WERE HAUNTED BY A YOUNG GIRL’S GHOST
SHADOWS IN YOUR EYES REVEALED HER THE MOST
DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT IN A SUMMER SKIRT
TRYING TO FORGET HER HEART HAD ONCE BEEN HURT

DO YOU THINK OF ME WHEN YOU HEAR SONGS WE’D SING
TIMES WHEN YOU AND I WERE UP FOR ANYTHING
I RECALL WE DID IT ALL AND HOW WE LOVED THE GAME
WE TOOK IT ON, WE HAD OUR FUN, WE FELT THE SAME

I HOPE THAT YOU ARE HAPPY AND YOU’RE DOING WELL
A GHOST GAVE ME THIS STORY I JUST HAD TO TELL
SHE’S HERE WITH ME DANCING ON THIS MOONLIT NIGHT
A SUMMER SKIRT, NO TRACE OF HURT, SHE’S ALRIGHT

DO YOU THINK OF ME WHEN YOU HEAR SONGS WE’D SING
TIMES WHEN YOU AND I WERE UP FOR ANYTHING
I RECALL WE DID IT ALL AND HOW WE LOVED THE GAME
WE TOOK IT ON, WE HAD OUR FUN, WE FELT THE SAME

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BABY I’M OVER YOU

BABY I’M OVER YOU

BAD NEWS BABY FROM THE LAND OF THE LIVIN’
I BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD
I SURVIVED YOU HELLHOUND HONEY
AND ALL THOSE THINGS YOU SAID

A TRAGIC STORY A PAGE TURNER TOO
YOU DROVE ME OUTA MY HEAD
NOW I’M GOOD AND GONE AND I’M MOVIN’ ON
WITH MY DIGNITY INSTEAD

YOU HAD ME SPINNIN’ MY WHEELS
GOIN’ NOWHERE TELLIN’ OFF ALL OF MY FRIENDS
A MAN’S GOTTA DO WHAT HIS HEART TELLS HIM TO
AND SO THE STORY ENDS
WITH HIGHWAY AND BLUE SKIES
SINGIN’ THESE GOOD-BYES
TAKIN’ ME FAR AWAY TOO
FROM EVERY CRAZY FREAKIN’
LYIN’ TONGUE YOU SPEAK IN
BABY I’M OVER YOU

SO LONG BABY FROM THE TIME OF MY LIFE
SURE GLAD YOU AIN’T HERE
SELLIN’ YOUR SAD SOAP WRAPPIN’ YOUR TIGHT ROPE
ROUND MY LONG NECK BEER

YOU’RE READER’S DIGEST I’M HEMINGWAY
SO LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR
I DON’T WANT YOU SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO
LET THE WHOLE WORLD HEAR

YOU HAD ME SPINNIN’ MY WHEELS
GOIN’ NOWHERE TELLIN’ OFF ALL OF MY FRIENDS
A MAN’S GOTTA DO WHAT HIS HEART TELLS HIM TO
AND SO THE STORY ENDS
WITH HIGHWAY AND BLUE SKIES
SINGIN’ THESE GOOD-BYES
TAKIN’ ME FAR AWAY TOO
FROM EVERY CRAZY FREAKIN’
LYIN’ TONGUE YOU SPEAK IN
BABY I’M OVER YOU

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