Song #35 Touched (2020)

I started working on this song just before the pandemic started, in February of 2020. Rediscovering my love and appreciation of Joni Mitchell, and having fun experimenting with open tunings, the song wrote itself. The "tearing off our masks" lyrics were actually a reference to a relationship, and not about Covid, but sometimes life and art intersect in unexpected ways. Alan Morse, Ira Ingber, and Richy Stano (The AIR collective) provided the glorious electric guitars a safe distance away at their respective home studios. Filmed the video over two days during the summer, in our pool which was being resurfaced, and it was miserably hot. But suffering for one's art is not as unusual as a once in a lifetime pandemic. Touched
I never thought it would end this wayI never knew the best words to sayHow much I love you and want us toTear off our masks and make love at noon
I’m touched 
Just another normal weekend Falling off the deep endAnd dreaming about New YorkAnd all the simple stupid fun we had
And the more I get to knowThe more I want to throw youA deeply romantic kissBut the headlines scream remember this
I know too much I don’t know much This rabbit hole never endsI know too muchI need your touchTo get me back to normal again 
I’m touched
Maybe we should take a walk nowBaby, maybe we should talk nowAbout this state of affairsAnd if all this smoke will clear the air
Back home I’ll make mojitosAnd we can bounce around like yo-yosOff the walls of the tvWhile the commercials keep reminding me
I know too much I don’t know much This rabbit hole never endsI know too muchI need your touchTo get me back to normal again 
Don’t know why we’re meant to be hereLet’s take a moment just to drink a beerWith a little twist of lime To remind us of our timelines
Is this Steinbeck or Clancy Don’t mean to be a negative Nancy But who’s writing this shitI just can’t remember all of it
I know too much I don’t know much This rabbit hole never endsI know too muchI need your touchTo get me back to normal again 
I know too much I don’t know much This rabbit hole never endsI know this muchI need your touchTo get me back to normal again 
I never thought it would end this wayI never knew the best words to sayHow much I love you and want us toTear off our masks and make love at noon

Get Well Soon

I got very sick when I was 10 years old, and was out of school for 6 weeks. My 3rd grade teacher had the class write Get Well Soon letters to me.

Dear Britt

We have been doing pretty good in school.

The weather is pretty good.

Did you know how hot it was on Saturday?

Today we are making folders in school.

On Debbie’s birthday we spanked her. Then everybody started to laugh.

Get well soon.

-Michael

Dear Britt,

Today Debbie got a spanking because it was her birthday.

She was the president and that’s why she got a spanking. Now Debbie is 10 years old and she is beginning to be an old lady.

It is to bad that you’ve got a cold. You’ve missed to write a letter to one of the kids in room 2.

I hope you get well soon.

Love,

Kelly

Dear Britt,

Debbie got a spanking from Miss Batog because it is her birthday today.

Miss Batog has some Hobo Kelly glasses.

Please get your hair cut I can’t stand it any longer.

Open house is coming up soon.

Get well soon.

Cyndee W

Dear Britt,

Today something real funny happened. Debbie got spankings.

She got 12 of them because she is 10 and 2 excess to be good.

Today Miss Batog wore some real funny round glasses.

Since February March we had icky Skill Charts.

Get well soon.

Love,

David

Dear Britt,

Today is Debbie’s birthday but she did not want Miss Batog to know it.

But when we were watching TV Miss Batog said that Debbie’s birthday was today.

After the TV show was over we had a vote on who wanted to give Debbie a spanking.

Everybody wanted to give Debbie a spanking but one.

Then Miss Batog wanted us to write you a letter.

Get well soon.

Your friend,

Jeffrey W

Dear Britt,

Today Debbie got a spanking. She is ten years old.

We has voted on her spanking.

What are you doing at your house?

We have been doing lots of fun things.

This week we are making candle stick holders.

What is you favorite TV show?

Your friend,

Lee

Dear Britt,

Debbie got a big surprise from Miss Batog. It was a spanking!

Poor poor Debbie.

Do you wish you would get better?

I do.

Get well soon.

Susan

Dear Britt,

What do you do at home?

We had a surprise in school.

Debbie got a spanking from the teacher.

Did you watch Lost in Space and The Man from Uncle?

We have been doing math in school.

Get well,

Frank

Dear Britt,

A funny thing happened this morning.

Debbie had a birthday and the teacher spanked her.

I wish that you will get well and start some school work.

Your friend,

Daun

Dear Britt,

Today Debbie got a funny surprise from Miss Batog. It was a spanking!

Miss Batog got a pair of glasses and everyone saw they are funny.

Get well soon,

Penny

Dear Britt,

Today Debbie had a birthday the teacher gave Debbie a spanking. Debbie is ten years old.

I went to Lee’s croquet club. We played Tarzan. We wear (unintelligible).

Your friend,

Michael D

Dear Britt,

I hope you get well. I am fine.

Today we are making trees.

Today Debbie had to have a paddle.

Your from

Anne

Dear Britt,

Debbie got a spanking for her birthday today.

For art we are making candle stick holders for Mother’s day.

Today for TV we are watching about Civic Center.

Miss Batog has some new funny glasses.

Get well soon,

Your friend,

Nancy

Dear Britt,

Today Debbie got a spanking because it is her birthday today.

Today Miss Batog brought some funny glasses to school.

Well I have to do my Arithmetic now good bye.

Your friend,

Maxine

Dear Britt,

Miss Batog gave me a big surprise. A spanking for my birthday.

Miss Batog was Hobo-Kelly today. I wasn’t very surprised today.

Did you see Chiller? There was a monster he had this beam light it electrocuted everybody in the town.

It was boss.

Your friend,

Debbie

 

Home with the flu.

It was Friday when it started.

The dangerous enemy was on the trail.

Number 1006 was on the move. The enemy was the flu!!! It was right in L.A.

Everybody was catching it.

In a few days I caught it. I stayed home for six weeks.

Then I went to the hospital for two days. When came back I stayed for one more week then I was all well

When I came back to school I was welcomed with a hello!!!

Song #34 No Christy No (1991)

1991 was a pivotal year.
I shuttered my studio, Skyline Recording, and disbanded my band, Eckey Thump.

The equipment improvements we made to Skyline (Neve v60 console, an extra 24 track  Studer A800 et al.) brought our hourly rate up, but also increased our monthly nut. Additionally, as we were now attracting higher-end clients, the focus of my job became less about engineering and producing, and more about servicing our "guests".  I was being relegated to the role of a concierge:
FAMOUS PRODUCER: This isn't Scottish smoked salmon!
Me: Okay, I'll go back and get some.

Meanwhile, Teddy and I attempted to setup our own music production company for commercials, films, etc., and had succeeded only in fatally damaging our musical partnership, and friendship (not forever).

After all the dust had settled, with no studio, no band, and no job (and a young family to support), I began to piece together a new life.

A Kurzweil K2000 synthesizer with built-in sequencing and sampling capabilities took the place of the recording studio and the band, and a post-production position at ABC television became my job.

Richy Stano and I maintained our friendship throughout this turmoil, and we began writing songs.
Here is our first collaboration:

No Christy No

You made me

You saved me

I was walking the line

Between love and hate

You came through

In a matter of time

When my old man weeped

And mamma cried

No Christy no

Take some but leave the rest

No Christy no

My time to get some rest

Mistaken

Forsaken 

I've been counting the time

From away the sheets

Who knows that

Who even cares

When your dream are real

The dragons come alive

No Christy no
Take some but leave the rest
No Christy no
My time to get some rest goes

And the only one who could sleep

Was not the only one who was there

The cat the silent witness

Sitting in her pretty chair

Yes I'm boring and helpless and rude

And I might end up playing your fool

But if you can't keep your distance

Then I'm not scared

© 1991 Britt Bacon and Richy Stano 

Britt: Kurzweil K2000, vocals

Richy: guitars

I believe we finished this demo at Ira Ingber's home studio... (thanks babe)