The title track from the album that was never released commercially. Old Friends (the song) was recorded after I moved to Toronto in January 1980 after a 2 year hiatus from the studio. I was 23. Acoustic ballads had no appeal to record companies back then, so it wasn't submitted as a possibility for my first album (later on) but I always liked it. No synths/samplers, computers or drum machines back in those days - just my guitars and now a recording studio at my disposal. I barely slept in the 16 weeks that I was on that government grant.
I got into Kensington Sound, Toronto as an intern of sorts, through a program called OCAP which allowed me a short window to do something in the field in which I was educated. Best part, is that I was given keys and security clearance, so I went in at night and spent several weeks playing with ideas on my own and this was the first song I recorded.
One thing that's really cool about being in a studio at 4 am, during yet another cold, late Canadian winter storm in Toronto recording voices when everyone else is asleep, stumbling home at 6 (sun rising) - for a noon callback - beyond that? ... is that one comes up with ideas that would never have appeared if others were present - making it all more intimate.
The high voices were recorded at half speed (15ips) on the 24 track analog recorder and then I put them through a Marshall Time Modulator (the vibrato effect), after bumping the speed back to 30ips. This song was remastered in 2010 with Wave plug-ins and pulling it up recently, inspired to put some pictures to it in October 2015 - 35 years later.
My best work has always been done in a relatively short period of time. I wrote this song in a couple of hours before recording it that night in 6 hours (Feb 1980) and mixed it the following night in 2 hours. This clip was assembled here in Final Cut on October 06, 2015 in 4 hours.
A 12 hour project front to back.
Turns out I was hired on at Kensington Sound that April, where I continued as an engineer until that June before moving on to another studio ... Captain Audio in Yorkville, freelancing Eastern Sound then Amber Studios on Queen West.
and we are filled with 'ideas' that throw us off course
ensconced in the world's insipid ideologies
handed down first by our parents then our teachers/schools employers and so on and on we go
quarter century later gravitating to the big city because that's where we need to be to be "in the loop" a place where we can BE someone
today's special flavour of the week employee of the month pushing forward because that's what you're supposed to do
it's no wonder why we need to 'medicate' in a jar
ah - all those precious memories
back to the days when young students - boys mostly were strapped for misbehaving (boner, I mean bonus) for their unwillingness to be compliant
I need your lovin' ... like the sunshine
in an abstract absence of empathy and humility deliriously distracted denizens
harassing those who are independent thinkers for being unwilling to learn how to play the game properly
it is a simple message play by the rules and you'll be rewarded question them and you'll be punished plain and simple
truth is
we learn to 'adapt' to our surroundings at an early age - reprimanded for rebelling when in fact challenging the system is what all great thinkers did/do to this day
only all too often many (most) of us are convinced early on that what we ultimately want is something not possible
fear is instilled, then the waiting game begins
waiting for something better to come along and release us from the cage only it never does
accepting our fate, our chosen destiny chosen by others - quietly coming to terms with the crappy hand of cards we've been dealt because
that's just what you do go ahead, have your way with me
I surrender
change your heart - look around you
I'm in heaven - I mean ok, maybe I'll get lucky some day maybe God will come down and give me a lap-dance but only if I stick to the plan and never question the truth
creature comforts in the pleasure dome glued to our sacred sacraments in HD on our soiled screens
waiting
it's just a theory
that makes a lot more sense
to me
V I S IO N A R Y
as an artist/composer looking back my favourite musical compositions are always those created and conceived (and recorded) in a very short time-frame (minutes/hours)
thinking about it too much
just made it more elusive, distant it's like it just arrives out of nowhere
with a simple invitation
visionaries
are those who see light in the darkness and quickly harness it instead of ignoring the signs and signals
embracing them
turning nothing into something change your heart it will astound you
if you care for your children keep their environment uncluttered free of useless gadgets and distractions keep your conversation honest and straight-forward free of control and manipulation free of hidden agendas free of fear breathe
keeping one's decisions fair and generous free of punishment and shame
that fundamentally, we're all equal - embedded in the constitution here in Canada especially - then there's "karma"
then there's reality - the judgements - the walls of shame welcome to the fear factory - centuries of criminal behavior
conditionally condoned adverse conditions creating chaos - abort alpha one charlie delta fox
I'm going down - mayday - mayday - mayday "requesting an emergency rescue evac - unknown co-ordinates
on fire - crash and burn scenario subject seduction - with respect just get your ass into the situation - now sir" I need a healer
"a man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes"
Mahatma Gandhi
going down in flames little chance of recovery fading voices - shadowy shape shifters downward spiral - blunt force - smoke - fire - reverberation - condemnation into redemption
she lies next to me in silence - shields down - surrender
darkened room - in port - docked - respite repair only it's a haze - a dream - years ago with her is this real in our bedroom - early on reaching over and touching my wounded shoulder during intimacy when time stood still - before anything mattered - this a genuine gesture that feels good - caring in war crimes - realizing time is short in this moment - stillness
"you - are a healer", a simple acknowledgement
spoken quietly in the presence of grace and humility empathy - compassion - deliverance - she receives the message in form no expectation - only loving, accepting resolve - nothing matters only what is right here - right now ... you are everything and you are nothing "shhh - close your eyes now - sleep dear" that caress along my receding hair line that soft kiss on my cheek - drifting into slumber - ah home
"the wound ... is the place where the light enters you"
Rumi
no attachment - no shame - no pretension - no fallout - no "discussion" no need to pretend and/or hide behind anything no cruel constructions - no walls of blame - no borderlines
it's simple, I think - it's all about "listening" (not speaking)
the truth ultimately unfolds in receiving information taking it in gently
when she walks into a room my heart goes bing - bang - boom - "mommy"! waking from a dream at 5am - heart pounding - so real OMG
so right there - I could touch her - shivering shaking I feel cold
we all are conditioned to give and take according to the plan braised on high heat from the very beginning - barbecued chicken
deliciously sauced and served with a side of our choice
for some it's religion - for others it's faith
for others it's a simple good nights sleep awakening into resolution and refreshment for me it's all of the above I am thank-full - yes god - the affirmation the adoration returning thank you
H E A L E R
it doesn't matter who I am - or what I stand for
it's not about my conquests or my fears, regrets
accomplishments - mistakes none of that
it's about my intention
in willingness to let go of everything lose the baggage ah
