love in our life is too valuable to feel for even a second without it **
andrew lawrence jacksondisintegrated hits
"Edgy, big hearted, deep, and kinda subterranean."
- Jude P., San Mateo, CA
ten unexpected cover songs
Includes:
It's Not (originally by Aimee Mann)
The Go in the Go-for-it (originally by Grandaddy)
Feeling Yourself Disintegrate (originally by The Flaming Lips)
Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime (originally by Beck from the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack)
Where Do The Children Play (originally by Cat Stevens)
Golden Hours (originally by Brian Eno)
The Angels (originally by Sparks)
Either Way (originally by Wilco)
God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind) (originally by Randy Newman)
The Painter (originally by I'm From Barcelona).
All songs are performed, recorded, and produced by Andrew Lawrence Jackson. Rick Cuevas plays piano on "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime." Sound Recording copyright 2008 Andrew L. Jackson. All songs are copyright by the original artists noted above. This album is not for sale or download, but you can hear it right here on this page or listen free online at last.fm.
about the songs
It’s Not – Aimee Mann is such an amazing songwriter, and this is one of my favorite songs of hers. The words really resonate with me, and the music is flawless. It was a pleasure to record it. Please listen to the words to this song. I feel like Aimee Mann and I have a very similar outlook and style of songwriting. Thanks, Aimee. “It’s Not” is from her excellent album “Lost in Space.”
The Go in the Go-for-it – This Granddaddy song is another one that grabbed me over time. I hear the words to this song, and I feel like I could have written them myself, I identify with them so much. The original Grandaddy recording uses those cool vintage synth sounds, so I riffed off that with my own classic synth sounds on this arrangement. This song appears on the Grandaddy album “Sumday.” Check it out sometime.
Feeling Yourself Disintegrate – What can I say? I mean, can you say “brilliant”? Sometimes The Flaming Lips really hit it spot on, and they sure did with this song. I kept many of the elements of the original arrangement, but dropped the “barrap-bap-bap” rhythms of the source recording for a more laid back beat on my version. I brought the high bells to the arrangement, as well as the lovely, languid e-bow, and intentionally cheesy 80’s synth strings on the instrumental break. Oh yeah, and that koto bit at the end, well, I felt it was quite inspired. You decide.
Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime – Did you see the film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”? Oh man, that is one great film. My friend Boris kept telling me I had to see it, and he was right. When I finally did see it, I think it changed my way of seeing the world. This song is sung by Beck at the very end of the film (he’s covering it, too), and his version is so incredibly good. This was one of the last songs I decided I wanted to cover; and I wanted to use a simple piano accompaniment but knew it was a bit too complicated for me, since I’m not that good a piano player. I brought the song to Rick, and in a few hours he learned it on piano and we recorded it that night. I’m so very happy with this recording. I have to say I love my guitar solo, played on a cheap Rogue electric, so it sounds like I’m strangling the sound out of the strings.
Where Do The Children Play – Cat Stevens was quite an influence on me in the mid-1970’s, along with lots of other artists. I guess you could say that Cat Stevens was like a Bob Dylan figure for me, since he was the first folk-tinged artist I listened to. This song from “Tea For The Tillerman” still holds up today, and the words seem to be more apt than ever.
Golden Hours – Anyone who knows me knows I love Brian Eno, and I always have. This song from Eno’s (arguably) best album, “Another Green World” is a standout for a few reasons, but I chose it to cover because I find I identify with the lyrics even more now that I’m older. I did an all electronic arrangement for this recording, just using synthesizers and electronic beats – except for the e-bowed guitar. The mambo-inspired beat just sort of fit.
The Angels – Sparks is another band I’ve always admired and have listened to since the mid-70’s. This song from their 2000 album “Balls” is, in my opinion, the best song on their (possibly) weakest album. It’s the last track on Balls, so it’s easy to miss. I gave it my own laid back interpretation here, taking my time before the rhythm really kicks in towards the end. It’s such a cool song, with classic Ron Mael lyrics.
Either Way – This song from Wilco’s 2007 album “Sky Blue Sky” really connected with me. The lyrics are profound, and the music is rather complex but seems deceptively simple. I listened to this album a lot in ’07. So many of the songs fit my mood, at the crossroads of life, no longer a young man, and trying, really trying to see the glass half full.
God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind) – Randy Newman’s 1972 album “Sail Away” is a true classic, packed with brilliant, understated songs. I chose to cover “God’s Song” because the lyrics are so penetrating and insightful. I recorded it as a slow funky blues, with an impromptu feel, mistakes intact.
The Painter – I discovered the band “I’m From Barcelona” because their CD cover looked like it contained a good record, and it did, it really did. "The Painter" is the last song on their 2007 debut album; I love the words, the simplicity, and the joyful spirit in this song. My arrangement is different than the original, but I think it still captures the essence. By the way, they're from Sweden. And they have 29 band members
I highly recommend you check out the original albums from whence these songs came, and I truly hope you enjoy listening to my covers of them. I had great fun making them.
after one a.m.