Track 09 "And The Trumpets Sing" - 'One Way' Album Preview

One Way will be available October 6, 2009.
Play "And The Trumpets Sing” and the whole album now at http://www.dannyrossmusic.com

NOTES
To me, the perfect pop song is "You Won't See Me" from The Beatles "Rubber Soul." So I came up with this poppy piano part with a moving bass line, though the vocal sounded closer to The Beach Boys "Be True To Your School." I definitely took the ideas of starting and ending with a string theme from Pet Sounds. And in fact, most of the production ideas stem from there too. But it took me forever to come up with the line "And The Trumpets Sing." I didn't love it and I'm still slightly unsure about it. The song builds and builds and... Bam! The big moment where all the instruments stop and the homerun line is sung..."Blahh" But after trying and trying, I kept coming back to "And The Trumpets Sing" so there must be something to it. Anyway, my favorite part about the song is the handclaps and the way the song stops dead in the middle and the strings play completely out of time. Hope you dig!


FACTS
Music and Lyrics, Horn and String Arrangements by Danny Ross
Written in New York 2004 (Age 19)
Inspired by: Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Beatles (Rubber Soul)
Produced by Rob Guariglia and Danny Ross
Recorded Spring 2008 at Galuminum Foil Productions;
Engineered by Jeff Berner

Instrumentation:
Danny Ross – Vocal, Piano
Carl Basler – Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitars
Fred Kennedy - Drums
Matt Wigton - Bass
Mike Maher - Trumpet
Evan Smith- Tenor Sax
Paul Nedzela - Bari Sax
Leo Adamov - Violin
Rachel Golub - Violin
Corrina Albright -Viola
Jody Redhage - Cello



LYRICS

Well I was walking around

With my head to the ground like I could never win

But all the winds have been changing

And shifting the pages of the narrative

Something’s happening

There’s bells a-ringing

And newspapers printing

Sunlight into spring

And the trumpets sing…

Well I burst into town

Like the first in a crowd

And I raised my chin

And taking one look around

Through the sights and the sounds

Somebody touched my skin and said

‘Something’s happening’

There’s people breathing

And I still believe in love through everything

And the trumpets sing…

All I know is that you got to begin

But there’s no telling how or when

And though you’re looking out the door again

You can only survive in your skin

You can win

Track 08 "Always On My Way" - 'One Way' Album Preview

One Way will be available October 6, 2009.
Play "Always On My Way” and the whole album now at the new http://www.dannyrossmusic.com

NOTES
Around this time I started to really pay attention to lyrics. I was obviously listening to a lot of Dylan, in particular the early acoustic albums The Times They Are A-Changin' and The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. I was beginning to understand that the lyric and the singer are by far the most important elements in pop music. A lyric shouldn't only fit the sound of the melody, but they should be able to stand away from the song on their own, both telling a story and invoking all 5 senses. After a few good lines were written sometime in London, I ended up finishing this song in one night at a cafe on 23rd St and 3rd Ave - all before I sat down with a guitar or piano to write the music. I also took to heart something Dylan said: it's always good to have a song set in a train. Amen.


FACTS
Music and Lyrics by Danny Ross
Written in New York 2005 (Age 21)
Inspired by: Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams
Produced by Rob Guariglia and Danny Ross
Recorded Spring 2008 at Galuminum Foil Productions;
Engineered by Jeff Berner

Instrumentation:
Danny Ross – Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Gordon Hartin - Pedal Steel
Dan Conklin – Backup Vocal


LYRICS

On a train, through a window

Some trees are moving backwards in the rain

In a car full of strangers, reading papers

On their way to any place

And I packed up my suitcase

Just to leave it far behind me with the shame

Now I am on my way

Vibrations of the stones of the bridge

That connect her with me

Packed into a deck of cards

I can’t recall a single memory

I can’t explain how loving you

Became a game I didn’t care how to play

But I am on my way

Again I’m on my way

See I’m a river at a bend

Moving forward to the end of a new morning

And though I look behind

I’m destined to arrive into the dawning

The silence shakes the lights and the windows

Wishing I could do the same

But writing out this letter

Must be better than moving forward through the pain

Well I can’t predict the future

But tomorrow seems to right what’s wrong today

And so I am on my way

Once again I’m on my way

See I’m a river at a bend

Moving forward from the end of an old evening

And I swear I’m right

But won’t I ever find what I’m believing?

On a train through a window

A muddy path is leading to the shore

My head is pressed against the glass

Though time I swear is pressing even more

I guess it’s easier for a man

To always have one foot out the door

Will it always be this way?

Am I always on my way?

Track 07 "This Ancient Bridge" - 'One Way' Album Preview

NOTES
This tune was an attempt to get to the core of my favorite British rock from the late 90s, early 2000s. Moody, melodic, dark, beautiful, heavy. I even wrote it in London. We tried to make the first part as atmospheric as possible with an array of guitars, synths and strings, and then just rocked the hell out of the second half, which is almost twice the speed. I also took a page from Jeff Buckley playbook and just sang "oo" for the whole section. It took awhile to get the lyrics right - wanted to evoke the proper images, and I like the bridge language -- "I'm suspended but I'm sure to break." One of my 2 or 3 favorites songs on the album...


FACTS
Music, String Arrangements and Lyrics by Danny Ross
Written in London 2005 (Age 20)
Inspired by: Radiohead, Ryan Adams (Love Is Hell era), Coldplay ("Politik"), Jeff Buckley
Produced by Rob Guariglia and Danny Ross
Piano Recorded at Metrosonic Studios;
Engineered by Harley Fine
All Else Recorded Spring 2008 at Galuminum Foil Productions;
Engineered by Jeff Berner

Instrumentation:
Danny Ross – Vocal, Piano
Carl Basler – Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitars
Fred Kennedy - Drums
Matt Wigton - Bass
Dave Melton - Organ, Wurlitzer
Leo Adamov - Violin
Rachel Golub - Violin
Corrina Albright -Viola
Jody Redhage - Cello


LYRICS

That simple kiss

This ancient bridge is falling

From everyone and everything

That olden crystal moon

This piano out of tune it seems is calling

And I’m hopeless for that starting place

So far away

What difference does it make?

When you can’t retrace the path you’ve laid

This morning rain

Those city chains are falling

I’m suspended but I’m sure to break

Cause though I can feel the ground

The surface isn’t sound

It seems I’m falling

Well I’m not looking down again

So far away

What difference does it make?

When all that’s left behind me falls away

There’s nothing left to guide me now but faith

Play "This Ancient Bridge” and the whole album now at the new http://www.dannyrossmusic.com
One Way will be available October 6, 2009.

Track 02 "Country Wind" - 'One Way' Album Preview

NOTES
Because I have the attention span of a 6 year old, my style of writing is generally very fast moving melodies, chord changes and instrumentation. But with "Country Wind," I basically stay on one chord throughout (C7 for the music dorks), and slowly built the arrangement, starting with drums and bass and then adding pedal steel, acoustic guitar, organ, horns. So as a Double Dare challenge, try to spot when certain instruments enter throughout the tune... Mark Summers will greet the winner next week with a bucket of Gak...

FACTS
Music, Horn Arrangements and Lyrics by Danny Ross
Written in 2006 in Ithaca (Age 21)
Inspired by: Wilco, Ryan Adams, The Beatles
Produced by Rob Guariglia and Danny Ross
Piano Recorded at The Bunker Studios;
Engineered by Aaron Nevezie
All Else Recorded Spring 2008 at Galuminum Foil Productions;
Engineered by Jeff Berner

Instrumentation:
Danny Ross – Vocal, Piano
Carl Basler – Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Fred Kennedy - Drums
Matt Wigton - Bass
Bob Hoffnar - Pedal Steel
Dave Melton - Organ
Mike Maher - Trumpet
Evan Smith- Tenor Sax
Paul Nedzela - Bari Sax

LYRICS

I’m taking a ride, I don’t know where

And taking my time cause I don’t care

Singing along a melody

Through the apple mountainside

I’m gonna be alright

Hearing steel guitars and roving steer

I want to burn the bridges that led me here

Those city nights in black and white

I need to be outside

This fresh air feels so right

And I’m breathing in

Driving through the country wind

Well I’ve only got this truck to save

It’s a lonely road but mine to pave

And in between those yellow lines

That burning sun is mine

This highway feels so right

And I’m breathing in

Driving through the country wind

I think I’ll live a simpler life

Maybe this old town and meet a wife

White picket fences in July

Under buzzing power-lines

This dirt road feels so right

Play "Country Wind” and the whole album now at the new http://www.dannyrossmusic.com
One Way will be available October 6, 2009.

And get a free mp3 when you buy tickets online to the ‘Danny Ross Presents One Way’ Record Release Show Saturday September 12, 2009 with a 15-Piece Band and Orchestra at The St. Mark’s Church: https://dannyrossmusic.ticketleap.com/oneway

Track 03 "Oh, Christine" - 'One Way' Album Preview

NOTES
"Oh, Christine" is the closest thing to piano-pop on the record. In my head I heard a big Beatles horn section straight out of the White Album, like on "Martha My Dear." At first I had a real tough time working on lyrics to a song that's so melodic and short - it's not like a folk tune where you have lots of space to develop a story and characters (I just remember thinking it was neat to get "confound" into the song) . It made me realize just how deceptively good those silly Beatles were. Silly Beatles.

But whose Christine? The story goes that I repeat this line so often in the song that I figured a name should go there. And I heard it in my head as an "ee" sound. I went through them all - Marie, Justine, Marina, Potpourri... And wallah, Christine just fit. Also, notice the violin at the end that was totally impromptu in the studio. Our producer Rob at one point said "Great, it sounds like an Italian funeral now in the middle of 'Oh, Christine.'"

FACTS
Music, Horn Arrangements and Lyrics by Danny Ross
Written in 2005 in London (Age 20)
Inspired by: Paul McCartney (circa White Album); Ben Folds
Produced by Rob Guariglia and Danny Ross
Piano Recorded at The Bunker Studios;
Engineered by Aaron Nevezie
All Else Recorded Spring 2008 at Galuminum Foil Productions; Engineered by Jeff Berner

Instrumentation:
Danny Ross – Vocal, Piano
Carl Basler – Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Fred Kennedy - Drums
Matt Wigton - Bass
Mike Maher - Trumpet
Evan Smith- Tenor Sax
Paul Nedzela - Bari Sax
Leo Adamov - Violin

LYRICS

Oh, Christine

Find that burning light

And forget the fears that bind you

I’m behind you

We’ll be smiling bright

And Christine

Your blue eyes filled with haste

Are hypnotized and nervous

You don’t deserve it

You’re just caught up in the race

So please

Remember we’re all in a flow

Where everything’s steady and slow

Let everything go

Let everything go

Oh, Christine

Don’t try so hard to breathe

Won’t you let the breeze confound you?

Look around you

We’ve got all we need

Oh, Christine

So please

Remember the glow in your heart

Where nothing’s too heavy or far

Way up in the stars

You’re up in the stars

It’s hard Christine

But find that burning light

And forget the fears that bind you

I’m behind you

We’ll be smiling bright

We’ll be oh alright

Yes, Christine please try

Play "Oh, Christine” and the whole album now at the new http://www.dannyrossmusic.com
One Way will be available October 6, 2009.

And get a free mp3 when you buy tickets online to the ‘Danny Ross Presents One Way’ Record Release Show Saturday September 12, 2009 with a 15-Piece Band and Orchestra at The St. Mark’s Church: https://dannyrossmusic.ticketleap.com/oneway