Song #18: No H Note (1983)

In 1982, when Ira Ingber and I started writing and recording together, we did not draft a "mission statement", but there was an unspoken understanding between us to really push the boundaries of popular music. Odd time signatures, weird sounds, and no conventional love songs, all but guaranteed we would have a difficult time finding an audience; let alone a record deal.

One record company executive who liked us was Jamie Cohen. Besides being one of the top A&R people in town, Jamie was an accomplished visual artist. He had a laser-bright brain, and a stiletto-sharp wit, and it was always fun to "pitch" our music to him.

The night Jamie stopped by the studio as we were recording this song was especially memorable.
You can "hear that sound" of the BG vocals he contributed for the ending choruses.

Jamie was supportive and enthusiastic, but he never signed us.
It took a while until we realized record company executives are actually paid to say "NO".

No H Note

We've got blacks, we've got whites

We've got yellows, we've got reds

And with water and sun plants make chlorophyll green

They turn brown when they're dead

You take acid, you use salt

You put refined sugar in your protein malt

And with a shake and a stir all your senses go blur

It's nobody's fault

It's the one the Romans never found

They say you can't hear this sound

ABCDEFG, but no H note

No no H note no

Absentee from Harmony 3

We've footballs, we've got halfs

We've got quarters, we've got eighths

And you can be my guest and take a whole note rest

Don't be late

We've got Mozart, we've got Bach

We've got Beethoven, we've have Brahms

Between the fifth and the ninth there's no more lines

They've already written all the songs

It's the one the medicine men never found

They say you can't hear that sound

ABCDEFG, but no H note

No no H note no

Absentee from Harmony 3

Can you hear that sound...

In loving memory...

 Jamie Cohen

Britt Bacon: vocals

Ira Ingber: guitars, drum programming, bgs
Carl Sealove: electric Stingray bass

Steve Allen: saxophone

Jamie Cohen: bgs

Written by Britt Bacon and Ira Ingber

©1983

Source: 1/4" analogue tape 30ips