Throttle Body influences - Thom Brisendine

Go ahead and Google the name, Thom Brisendine. You wont find much. At least regarding a Thom Brisendine that grew up in Federal Way, Washington in the 1970's. Thom isn't really part of this online world. But he's a big part of mine.

Growing up, Thom was simply the most gifted musician I ever met. He was one of those guys who could play anything on anything. He was gifted on piano and trumpet and drums and percussion. He was exceptional as a mallet percussionist. His dedication to music, and his lack of intimidation when approaching any instrument was an inspiration to me. His work ethic as a teenager was legendary. You know the whole 10,000 hours mantra of mastery? Thom was onto that long before it was fashionable.

I have such fond memories of making my earliest recordings with Thom, as well as some of my best. Before there was Throttle Body, there was Top Cat, and Thom was a fixture. He played or programmed drums for the tracks we recorded. He also contributed vibraphone, xylophone, drums, percussion, bass, harmonica, and vocals to many tracks. As he had purchased a Fostex 80-8 (1/4" 8-track recorder), and made me welcome in his Bremerton home at the time, I actually wouldn't have been able to record without his generosity. I'll get around to posting some tracks with his performances so you can understand what a gift he shared with me.

Thom and I continued making music together into the late 1980's, but then we had a falling out, which turned out to be more or less permanent. I regret it to this day.

I wish I could point you to a lot of his work, but Thom's gifts these days are seldom shared.

As an influence, Thom is quite simply one of the people who encouraged me to make music, to create and to grow as a musician. I wouldn't be the musician I am, had Thom not been a part of my life. There remains a part of me, that whenever I make new music, is hoping that if he ever hears it, he will approve.

The lyric project - Air Canada sessions - So Sure

And now we fast forward to 2004...The Air Canada sessions have begun. I am living in West Seattle, in the home of Rod Moody (of Sub Pop 200 Swallow and 17,014 other bands fame) and his wife, the artist Tina Anderson. They were on a two-year adventure on the US east coast, and I was in need of a place to live, and it all worked out swimmingly. I didn't have much to my name at this point - a few furnishings, a dog and a cat, but I had love in my life again, a little bit of cash and an itch to make music again, so I picked up a ProTools Digi 002 rack system, mated it with a Mackie mixer and a handful of good microphones and decided to give things a go again.

The first song out the gate was a solid rocker that essentially marked my rebirth. I love this tune and the recording of it. When I was in doubt of everything about myself, my Love was so sure of me.

So Sure

I'm not alone in my heretic bones
With my past full of sin
If you knew where I'd been
You'd all hate me
But someone loves me

I'm not asleep on my swim in the deep
Left my freedom ashore
If you knew anymore
You'd all hate me
But someone loves me

Someone loves me
Someone loves me
Someone loves me
And when I'm in doubt
She's so sure
She's so sure

I was adrift in my walk through the mist
With the pain I have caused
If you knew all the loss
You'd all hate me
But someone loves me

I was in doubt, but I figured it out
I'll endure all the pain
I'll put down all the shame
You can hate me
Cos' someone loves me

Someone loves me

Someone loves me

Someone needs me

She wont leave me

She calls me "baby"

Her love has saved me

Someone loves me

And when I'm in doubt

She's so sure

She's so sure

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - Once In Awhile

This song was a bit of a coming out of my shell post-divorce. I was actually starting to think about seeing other people, and had met a nice woman, who, though we would never date, was someone who began my redemption, so to speak. She was someone who loved, but was not ready of willing to make a commitment, and I like think, evidence to the contrary, that commitment is something I'm about. I was traveling a lot at the time, as the lyrics reference, and had a lot of empty hours to think of the days to come. I tried to think of them hopefully - waiting for love.

Once In Awhile

Once in awhile
Think of me
Once in awhile
When you're lonely

If you're ever in meed of a shoulder to cry on
If you're ever in need
I am here so try to believe

That love waits for those who wait for love
And try to wait for love

Once in awhile
I feel the need
Once in awhile
I get lonely

In a circle of friends
In the club where we meet
At 30,000 feet oh, you know
I feel the need

But love waits for those who wait for love
So I try to wait for love

Love waits forever
She don't have the time
Love tends the flames
When other things are on her mind
Love keeps the promise
Keeps it forever
But you can't learn
If you ever say no to love

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - Psalm

"Psalm", so called because of the "how long" phrase that repeats over and over - something you find in the Biblical psalms - though mine is a cry out to the one I hurt and loved. Well, at least part of it, because at the same time, I was actually starting to come out of my shell a little bit and there are a couple lines in there that talk about that hope I was beginning to feel that things would be alright in the long run.

Psalm

How long
  before my heart's free?
Enslaved
  by the sin I let surround me
When I felt love
I was so happy
I felt the strength to go on
When I looked in your eyes
So warm and beautiful
I'm begging you please take me home

Betrayed
  everything I stood for
Forgiven by your love
Still I threw it all away
Take me back now
Help me do the right thing
I'm searching for the light
There's a star in the sky
And I see you there
And now I don't feel so alone

How long
  before my heart's free?
How long
  until you come and save me?
How long
  must I wander?
How long, my love
  until my heart
Is free?

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - Confusion

"Tears In Rain" was all about divorce - more therapy than anything. In that sense, the songs have a consistency: sadness, regret, self-hatred and yes, confusion. I didn't quite understand everything I was going through yet. But such is life: it's all clearer in the rear view mirror.

Confusion

Confusion
Time seems to flee
How am I going to be
What I want to be?

Confusion
And everything seems like such a waste of time

I hardly remember her face
Oh I'm holding on to the love and the grace
When there's no home and I'm lost all alone
I call my love on the phone
When are you coming home?

I can't wait forever
I've been down too long
I spend half my life, so wasted and confused
I let love die
And I didn't do a thing about it

I hardly remember the day
I knew that you were going away
And those pictures still can make me cry
Where there once was a memory
Now I only see goodbye

Don't leave me alone
In confusion

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - What She Don't Know

It's been awhile, but time to get to the lyrics for the "Tears In Rain" EP. "What She Don't Know" is a song about the end of my first marriage. Enough said.

What She Don't Know

See she told me yesterday
Said she didn't think of me that way
I know I've a lot to learn
But in the end I'll be okay

What she don't know is I love her so
I hate to go

No, I didn't have a lot to say
When love's the game you choose
Well it stands to chance
Sometimes you lose but
I know that in the end
Love will find a way
And bring me home

What she don't know is I love her so
I hate to go
Like tears in rain
We'll never pass this way again

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - Blue Baby

Finishing off the lyrics from the second and third Throttle Body m/c releases, For The Few and Marley's Chain, is the song, Blue Baby.

Gertrude Stein, in The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, wrote, “After a while I murmured to Picasso that I liked his portrait of Gertrude Stein. Yes, he said, everybody says that she does not look like it but that does not make any difference, she will, he said.”


This song didn't look like me at the time I wrote it, but it was unfortunately accurate of what was to transpire in my life seven year later. Maybe as artists, God allows us to tap, however unknowingly, into his own omniscience, to make us aware of what might come if we don't pay more attention. I didn't pay attention, but the lesson of this song isn't lost on me.

Blue Baby

Storm clouds ahead
On my blue horizon
My love is gone
The water is high
I'm swept by the wind
My world unwinds
and
All I do is think of you
I'm so lonely
And you're half a world away
I dream of you all night, girl
Everyday
You're love forever is all I pray for

Blue baby
Flowering cherry love I feel for you, baby

All I do is think of you
I'm so lonely
And you're half a world away
I dream of you all night, girl
Everyday
You're love forever is all I pray for

Once with love
you have more than enough
You're king for a day
But the court's comprised of thieves
Once without
Full of doubt
With a paper heart pinned to your sleeve
Begging, "Please"


Blue baby
Flowering cherry love I feel for you, baby

All I do is think of you
I'm so lonely
And you're half a world away
I dream of you all night, girl
Everyday
You're love forever is all I pray for

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - Red Light

This is a song that I started writing in about 1985, but didn't get to properly recording until the "Marley's Chain" release. The red light was a metaphor for "attention" more than anything else; a spotlight; but I guess in my head it was also a warning light. Lyrics always have these internal layers - especially if you don't think about them too much. I always remember a quote of Paul McCartney's, talking about "Hey Jude":

In Anthology, it is recalled that when McCartney introduced Lennon to his new composition, he came to "the movement you need is on your shoulder" lyric and told Lennon "I'll fix that bit." Lennon asked why, and McCartney answered "...it's a stupid expression; it sounds like a parrot." Lennon parried with "You won't, you know. That's the best line in the song."

So, I tend to leave things alone that sound good, but don't necessarily make sense to me at the time. It worked for Paul, after all!

Red Light

Ooo you've got that red light shining on you
Breathing on you
Leading on you
You're such a nasty little, tiny little brittle girl
Oh, aren't you?

Once in awhile think you've got it all figured out
It took me awhile to get control of myself
But the river is deep and I've been losing sleep
Red lights on you

Ooo you've got that mist
It hangs about you
Drifts around you
Whips about you
Oh don't you want?
I've got to have, I've got to have it
But in the mist I lose you
Misconstrue you


Once in awhile think you've got it all figured out
It took me awhile to get control of myself
But the river is deep and I've been losing sleep
Red lights on you

Once in awhile you think you've got it all made
You've made some space between real life and yourself
But the river is dry
Like the wastelands by the highway tonight
With nowhere left to hide
The red light is shining

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - Marley's Chain

When I wrote "Marley's Chain" I was thinking about the bad habits I had that were starting to pile up on me, and how they isolated me, and how that probably wasn't a very good thing. Mind you, writing a song about it was probably my way of avoiding having to do something practical! "Marley's chain" of course, refers to Dickens and the idea that we create our own chains in life, each link forged by poor choices and decisions. Still and all, one of the great Throttle Body tunes as far as I'm concerned.

Marley's Chain

I'm out of reach at the end of a long thin line
Across the edge of my mind
There ain't time to think of nothing
Jesus and Mary
Coming to save me
In a little while
I just gotta have patience

Look over River Jordan and what do I see?
There's a boat going down and it looks like me
I'm that sailor who is still trying to row

I'm out of touch
Maybe just a bit too much for my soul to sustain
Marley's chain is dragging me down
Marley's chain
Dragging me down
Someone throw me a torch
Someone throw me a line
Before I drown


Look over River Jordan and what do I see?
There's a boat going down and it looks like me
I'm that sailor who is still trying to row

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - Love Comes Down

Now, onto the lyrics for "Marley's Chain". The songs on this release were a little odd in their birth. First off, I went into the studio to record these with basically just a guitar riff for each one. I had sort of a melody in mind, and like a lot of songwriters, I put nonsense words to it that included a lot muttering and such. When it was time to cut the vocals, I figured out what I wanted to say.

This is a song that is really more of a personal narrative. I guess how I saw myself when I was writing it. Even though it's addressed to a "girl", sometimes you're just talking to yourself, hoping maybe someone is listening besides you.

Love Comes Down

I need love to ease the pain
of a life going nowhere
A world spinning so fast
It's my life
I can do what I want
If my luck don't run dry
If I don't lose my funk

But with this board pulled from my eye
I can see right through the world
Only love can free you, girl

And when love comes down
It's going to to turn your head around
You'll go silent with the sound
When love comes down

I need faith to see me through
I need to trust in what I'll never understand
Miracles surround
I can see it in the garden
We're here for just a breath
We're just a sentence in the story of the world

And when I hold your hand in mine
I've not a care in the world

Only love can free you, girl

And when love comes down
It's going to to turn your head around
You'll go silent with the sound
When love comes down

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - For The Few

"For The Few" was the title of the 1992 EP right from the moment the song was written. Every now and then I get a smattering of social conscious that runs through my lyrical veins and this song was the result. America in the early 90's was increasingly the home of the haves and have-nots. I was a "have", but I always knew I was a step away from the other side of the economic coin. A few years later, I'd get the opportunity to join that club. But this song was written from the point of view of a global observer - a role I've enjoyed no matter my personal economic condition.

For The Few

Right now, far away
Another day comes into view
Lives go on like yesterday
Lived happy by a chosen few

The day picks you up
And you're swept in the tide
Of a thousand generations
Of a million muffled cries
There's no easy outs
And no one's to blame
You can die for being born with a bad name

Right now, far away
Left to right as time goes by
Fortune's pendulum does sway
And they say you can catch it if you try

If it picks you up
And you're lost in the tide
Of a thousand destinations
And no knowing why
Just try to keep cool
Try to pretend
That you know what's coming up just around the bend

And right now, somewhere, far away
Things are getting better

For the few who have love
For the few who have faith
For the few who have hope
For the others only pain

That's the way it is, baby

For the few who have choice
For the few who have pay
For the few who have rights
For the others only pain

That's the way it is, baby

It's a hard, fucking world

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - Getaway

I thought maybe this project would mean more if the stories behind the songs were also told, so I'll try that starting with today's song, "Getaway". I have always felt I wrote it about TBMC guitar player, Stephen Dorocke. I see it like he's talking to you. Stephen, to me, seemed a man always on the run - always looking for the next cool thing to apply his vast talent to. Is that accurate? I don't know.

Getaway

Stepping out in the middle of the night
My best shirt on
My hair just right and
I swim to the bottom of the sea
I swim to the bottom of the sea
Yeah, just like the night before
I'm making my way through the green door

And though I said I'd stay for a couple of days
Now I'm wondering when I'm gonna getaway

Neon bright lights my way
Coast to coast beat
I prey
Across the water
My wake in the pond
Pointing the way to the great beyond
Somewhere down near the middle of town
You will find me there
You will find me there

Somewhere out grooving on the floor
With a blank stare
You will find me there

Everybody wants to steal the party
Everyone wants to have the good time
Sad, when I'm having fun
I can't see no one
No one but you
Wade through the morning
Through the nine-to-five time
And love so frightening
From that soul suck sense surround
I've stumbled to this light I've found
Into the life I've found

Waking up in the middle of the night
Everything's going to be alright I've found

All alone in the middle of the night
The TV's on
The snow is bright
I play till morning
Till the break of dawn
Hear the call from the town beyond
My blood starts to pound
Need to find the sound

You can find me there
You can find me there

Cos' though I said I'd stay for a couple of days
Now I'm wondering when I'm gonna getaway

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

The lyric project - Need It Bad

Need It Bad

If you're not teasin'
Give me a sign
Just one more drink
Before you change your mind
Do I have to get begging
Down on my knees and pray?
All this hot/cold/yes/no
Is getting on me
Pick me up
Take me home
Right here down on my knees
I pray

I want your love
I need it bad
I want your love
I don't care how I get it

Give me a hand now
Something to hold
Something soft I can pet
Late at night when I'm cold and alone
And I think of you
Do I have to get begging
Down on my knees and pray?
All this hot/cold/yes/no
Is getting on me
Pick me up
Take me home
Right here down on my knees
I pray

I want your love
I need it bad
I want your love
I don't care how I get it

When I'm down on my knees

Begging pretty, pretty, pretty please

Right there where you squeeze

I go

There are plenty of girls

Who would gladly pass the time

Nasty young things 

I wouldn't have to wine or dine

Do I have to get begging
Down on my knees and pray?
All this hot/cold/yes/no
Is getting on me
Pick me up
Take me home
Right here down on my knees
I pray

I want your love
I need it bad
I want your love
I don't care how I get it

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

Reactivate! The lyric project

The blog has been dead for quite awhile now out of neglect, life getting in the way, etc. But I thought I would revive it by giving digital life to some lyrics to the songs Throttle Body m/c has published over the years. Let's start with the tunes from "For The Few" and "Marley's Chain"; the first of which is,

If It's Love

If it's love
I need to know
If it's love
A little hint
Something more
Let me see
Let's explore

When I want your love
Words are not enough
    and I'm needing proof, so
Give me something to chew

If it's love
Please explain
If it's love
Hurry up
Pull the chord
Tie me down
Something more

When I want your love
Words are not enough
    and I'm needing proof, so
Give me something to chew on
I know just where to roam
That soft spot is my home
In your river I want to drown

If it's love

All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI

2010 report - new recording in progress

Hi friends and fans. Just wanted to let you know that we have begun recording a new album. Not sure if it will be released under the TBMC catalog or not, as it's a total departure in style. Tracking on the nine-song project began two nights ago and I'm very excited to explore the unlikely world of downtempo and ambient that I have loved since I bought "Another Green World" by Eno back in September of 1975. Stat tuned!

"A Typical Wednesday" LIVE on iTunes

Just wanted to let you know that the new album is now available for purchase on iTunes worldwide! Get your copy today!

Mix complete! "A Typical Wednesday" ships today

Well, the day you've all waited for is here. The mix for all 13 tracks of the new Throttle Body m/c release is complete and it will be shipped to Tunecore today for distribution to iTunes worldwide, Amazon, Napster, IMVU, lala, Rhapsody and other outlets.

The final track list is:

• A Typical Wednesday
• Safe
• Long Time
• While I Was Gone
• Girl
• Love Is A Heavy Load
• Woe Is Me
• Hole In My Heart
• Reminders Of You
• Raindrops Falling Down
• Falling Apart at the Seams
• Mother's Eyes
• Butterfly

It will probably take a few weeks to go live on all these sites, but the good news is that the wait is almost over!

Cheers!

There's a hole in my drum part

Well the mixing is moving right along - six songs in the can with both mono and stereo mixes available. I've even begun preparing the artwork for the release and as that moves ahead, I will be revising the website (throttlebodymc.com) as well.

After four days spent mixing the track, "Girl", I was looking forward to moving onto "Hole In My Heart" tonight. It's a really open, moody song, in the spirit of "Come Together" by The Beatles (newly remastered collection available today!), and after the mid-range density of the last track, I was looking for relief.

Unfortunately, there's a hole in "Hole". Somehow when Dan and I were tracking, I missed a burp in the drum track. See, the track is actually made up of three performances, as we found "best" sections for the front end, middle 8 and backend solos. It was put down in reverse, where we got the backend of the song done first, then the front end and finally the middle. Unfortunately I didn't notice the middle has a burp in it that I don't think I can heal digitally. After about 20 attempts tonight I stepped away from the mix. Tomorrow I'll look back through the various takes of the middle 8 (four in all) and see if one of them will do the job. If not, the drum track will need to be redone from scratch.

Not the best of nights for me...

FOLLOW UP - the track worked out! Everything is good and it will be included on the release.

Mixing begins

If you've been following the Throttle Body Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/jerryhammack), you'll know that recording is more or less complete and that the mixing of the new album has begun.

I've been reading a lot about how The Beatles' engineers at Abbey Road in London mixed their sessions and have been applying that knowledge to these tracks. In particular, I've been starting the process by mixing everything to MONO. Yes, you read it right - not STEREO, not 5:1 SURROUND...to MONO! The idea is, if you can articulate the instruments and vocals when they are stacked upon each other and have them sound great, then the STEREO mix is a slam dunk.

Ten of the twelve original Beatles albums were mixed this way, and they sound killer to this day. Each mix is taking about two days of work to get right, but I'm really pleased with the results. I'm sure you will be too.

I'm even considering releasing this session as a Deluxe set, including both MONO and STEREO mixes of the sessions. What do you think?

Stay tuned for news of a new title for the album too!

Cheers!

Mother's Eyes complete

Dan Ruiter rocks the coronet on "Mother's Eyes"

A little late on the session update, but the heat here in Seattle will do that to you - make you lethargic. Dan Ruiter completed the drum track for "Mother's Eyes" on the 23rd of last month, before the miserable 100 degree temps hit the area. Not only did he complete a tight drum track, but he also added a beautiful coronet solo to the tune on the same night. Completely his idea of course - and a great one at that. Drum sessions are set to proceed tomorrow night. Stay tuned!

Cheers - Jer