Earl Grey Rocks!!!

[Q]

I have spent the afternoon listening to Earl Grey's album Lover's Ridge.

God, this is a cool album! Earl wrote it and sung it and performed most of it and he wails on guitar (largely acoustic) and plays a -----in' harmonica ... the tunes are terrific ...

... and on top of all that, he looks good naked ...

Q

[Silent_wings]

Earl certainly does rock, especially live.
I wouldn’t know about the album since I don’t have one.

The naked thing, I’m not going there.

[upbgirl]

and where can i get a copy of this album??
will you autograph it, too, earl??
[but not on any 'strategic' spots?]
please??

:running:

[Sheerah]

Rock on, Baby!

[Earl Grey]

Well hey, I recorded the thing ten years ago... All but a couple of copies were lost in a housefire...

But I could certainly 'burn' copies for anyone who wished one. After all, we ARE family. You wont get the nude pic with the burnt copy though... No big deal, you couldn't actually SEE any 'naughty bits' in the photo (Strategic photography...), and besides... aw, I have no witty quips at this point. It is what it is.

I need to burn a few copies anyway, so let me know...

Thank you Q. YOU Rock man!
Earlie:ele:

[BrianD]

Burn one for me Earl!

I still fondly remember your gig at Kulak's woodshed a few months ago. That was cool listening and watching it from Australia on the net.

[Q]

I'm selling wall-size posters of the nude pic, if anybody's interested ...

[Sheerah]

I would like to order three, please.

[Earl Grey]

What the hell would you Do with those Sheilers? HAHA!
I guess it would make decent wallpaper for the loo or something.
Hardly 'pornographic' though...

Brian: sure I'll burn you a copy. I don't know how much it sounds like my recent stuff though: some of it does, but Lover's Ridge' was recorded in a very simple way.
It was recorded on 8 tracks in Burleigh Drummond's garage. Intentional primitivism.

But that was what I was trying to do: a 'proverbial good' sixties acoustic album. In the early nineties. :D
My next endeavor will be very different... And will probably appeal to Yesfans a bit more than Lover's Ridge.
Hopefully I will record and press the thing late this year, or early in 2004. Here's hoping! I already have the studio and producer for the project...

So, disclaimer in hand, I'd be happy to burn copies of Lover's Ridge for whoever might desire one.

I'm actually proud of the CD.

OK: enough jabber. If you want one, e-mail me your address, I'll try to get them out this week.

Earlie:ele:

[Sheerah]

Earl, you and I have different ideas about decorating. I mean, how would I ever be able to pee again?

Seriously Earl, Q is right, Lover's Ridge is an incredible CD! I listen to it, often You are a very talented musician and lyricist. Wall of Train has become a favorite "driving" song!

[Q]

It achieves the '60s singer-songwriter goal of projecting sufficient first-person content to assure the listener that there's somebody in there ...

(of course, being one of Earlieman's buddies, I'm already very certain of that ...)

Q

[Dances w/PURPLE]

of course I want one. I've heard you LIVE...well TELIVE..well WEBLIVE. Awesome. A little bit of Fogelberg going on there!

[Earl Grey]

Of course you can have one... You're such a dear. The 'Fogelberg' element is in place on Lover's Ridge' I think... You know, you are what you listen to, and I certainly listened to a lot of Fogelberg back when. I think you will like it.

Sheilers: You MUST pee again! You know, Goerge F Handel (Of 'Handel's Messiah' fame) died of septicemia (blood poisioning) because he was at a coat and tie-type affair, had to pee, and held it till his bladder burst! I guess he was having too much fun to get up and out to the loo (Ouch. Sorry! True story though!).

So by all means, don't make me into bathroom wallpaper if it could cause any similar effect! Nurse Earlie has spoken...

:ele: ;) :ele:

[Q]

I'll be charging, oh, a hundred a pop for the posters, so start saving your pocket change ...

Q

[Sheerah]

Originally posted by Q
I'll be charging, oh, a hundred a pop for the posters, so start saving your pocket change ...

Q

Well, in that case, I guess I'll just take 1.

[Q]

For you, ss, i'll make it a 3-for-1 deal ...

[Sheerah]

Q: You are kind thank you. The 3fer could really come in handy if I end up losing my job.

Earlie: Don't worry. I've already been peeing!

But, that story scares me. I mean, I have had to hold it to where I thought I was going to bust. However, I didn't know that you literally could bust, but it makes sense.

Didn't Handel also write The Water Song? Mere coincidence or was it foreshadowing? You know, if he didn't want to get up from the table, he could have laughed really loudly at someone's joke, and exclaim, "Oh my! That was a real pisser!"

[soleil7]

I would also love a burned copy of your cd, Earl. and 2 of the posters, please !! who do i make the check out to ?

[luray]

hey don't forget me Earl

[Q]

pay earl for the CDs with love and affection, ladies. pay me for the nude posters with hard cash ...

the enterprising Q

[Earl Grey]

Hey Q... Gotta give me a 'kick-back' there, raking in all that green!
I guess I should have offered them thar posters on the website a spell ago... You never know what sick and twisted items of impertinence others may be interested in... :D

Luray: I didn't forget you! I've just been ridiculously busy, and falling asleep after I climbed through the door at night. I get my car back in two days, so that should put a bit more of a light in my step! I'll be burning CDRs all morning tomorrow...

Soleil: I would love to send you one! No problem.

Sheilers: You wouldn't sell those posters for a profit would you?! For a prophet, perhaps... ;)

[Ron Drummond]

Now we all should send Earl, if not a couple three bucks to cover postage and blank CDs, then some keepsake of our own making, some small token of our own creativity to share back, or I dunno -- surprise him. A bud of Mantanuska Thunderf**k, say, or the original manuscript of Bartok's fourth string quartet. Nothing too extravagant.

People are probably going to start getting sick of hearing me say this, but gad nabbit all, the more I hang out here the more I like the people here. Ooops -- when I first typed that last sentence, I had a keystroke error and wrote, "the more I hand out here the more I like the people here!" Hey, Earl, that's YOUR line!

;)

[Sheerah]

Originally posted by Earl Grey
Sheilers: You wouldn't sell those posters for a profit would you?! For a prophet, perhaps... ;)

Hell no, Babycakes!
Infact, I'm going to hang one of 'em in my garage, so I can look at it while I"m working on my cars and lawnmowers, while I'm bent over my engine, fashioning my butt crack for my neighbors!
Of course, if I lose my job this June, 2 of them are going out on Ebay!:D

Hey all, I have a picture I took at a highway rest stop, on my way to Nashville, from Atlanta. There was a big ol' fat man, with a cap on, and a flannel shirt, and he was looking over his overheated engine. Oh, and the moon was shining brightly that afternoon. I just had to reach into my car and grab my camera.

[Q]

A wise back-up plan, SS ... I'm making a killing now, selling nude posters of Earl on eBay ...

the ever-industrious Q

[Sheerah]

Please don't steal all of my market share, Q. I might need the profits to keep a roof over my head.

Hey Earlie...... I might need to schedule a photo shoot with you while we're in Chicago. After all, I do have my future to consider;)

The financially concerned, ss

[ycantibu]

Hmmm Earl I think I may have a solution, just take this LP cover and paste yer face over Rabin's:

<a href="http://www.happinessinslavery.com/trevor/rabbitt/croakandagrunt.jpg">
<img src="http://www.happinessinslavery.com/trevor/rabbitt/croakandagrunt.jpg" width=200 height=200 border=0></a>




Originally posted by Earl Grey


You wont get the nude pic with the burnt copy though... No big deal, you couldn't actually SEE any 'naughty bits' in the photo (Strategic photography...), and besides... aw, I have no witty quips at this point. It is what it is.

Earlie:ele:

[Earl Grey]

Looking through my many boxes of junk junk junk, I came upon about 500 or so 'J-Card' inserts from Lover's Ridge, the 'cassette version': as I forsee no shrink-wrapped cassettes in Lover's Ridge's future, I'll toss one of those in with each CD.
It wont fit into a CD case, but you'll get the track listing, and you'll see how strategically the photographer was able to leave out any hint of naughty-bits... :D

No guitar in front of me as Trevor did... Just creative angling of the camera. Funny Ycantibu! Funny!

OK: I'll send these out within the next couple of days: been burning CDs all day today... HAR!

Earlie:yesbird:

[Sheerah]

Originally posted by Earl Grey
Looking through my many boxes of junk junk junk, I came upon about 500 or so 'J-Card' inserts from Lover's Ridge, the 'cassette version': as I forsee no shrink-wrapped cassettes in Lover's Ridge's future, I'll toss one of those in with each CD.

Earlie:yesbird:


Phew!
No shrinkage!:D

[BrianD]

Originally posted by sschiffman
Phew!
No shrinkage!:D

Yes - I doubt whether Earl would succumb to Koro as it is usually only a problem in Asia!

[fourfeetx2]

Hey Earlie...if you are still making copies I would love to have one!

Peace,
Veronica

[Ron Drummond]

I just finished listening to Lover's Ridge for the very first time, and damn, Earl, it's awesome, man! Kick some ass why don't you! You are a very talented songwriter, a fine guitarist full of surprising touches, a singer who invites me in and makes me feel at home, and a lyricist who tells stories full of insight and nuanced observation and sudden laugh-out-loud turns.

I loved the layers of sound-painting on "Wall of Train" -- from the humorous (some of Periel Marr's vocals) to the seriously painterly (those odd guitar chords that somehow suggested the dopplering sound of a train disppearing into the distance).

"Off the Wall" was my favorite first time through, in part because I know somebody like that, or rather don't know, someone far beyond unpleasant, and what's beautiful about your song is that you find the humor in it, you helped me to laugh over something it's been tough to laugh about, you know? So that was a gift. Your lyrics are awesome, man -- you have a way of evoking things very deftly, with just the right choice of detail, just the right turn of phrase.

A wonderful philosophy evoked in "The Lamb and the Lion". In "Felix the Cat", the one word I couldn't be sure of I think must be "sell" -- "couldn't sell Felix the Cat [the comic book] on the day John Kennedy died" -- is that right? Or maybe I got it totally wrong!

If I had a criticism, it would be that some of the songs didn't know when to end, could have been stronger if they were shorter -- "Zion" (which is lovely) and "Trick of the Light," though the harp is haunting on that one. But that's pretty minor, and should be taken with a grain of salt anyway, because this was a first listening.

A rich album all the way through -- I thought many times while I listened, WHY isn't Earl better known? This stuff is frickin' GOOD!

Bless you, Earl! When is the next album coming out? Ten years is too long!

Ron

[Flo]

Hey Earl ! I exchange a copy of your album against any copy I can make from my CD's (classical or whatever...) (now that I can burn CD's !)

[Dances w/PURPLE]

Bro you can play it! Whooooo. Thanks thanks thanks for this.

[Sheerah]

Originally posted by Ron Drummond
In "Felix the Cat", the one word I couldn't be sure of I think must be "sell" -- "couldn't sell Felix the Cat [the comic book] on the day John Kennedy died" -- is that right? Or maybe I got it totally wrong!


"They cancelled Felix the Cat on the day John Kennedy died."

Maybe you aren't old enough to remember this Ron, but back in the day, when there were only 5 or 6 television stations, total, it was a real drag for a kid when something significant occured. They would cancel the regular programming for special news reports. Kids couldn't click on Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel. There were only networks broadcasting back then.

This song is genius, really, as it looks at that tragic event strictly from a child's point of view. When Earl was 5 years old, did he even know who John Kennedy was? Oh, he probably had an idea, but the death of John Kennedy seemed horribly insignificant in comparison to the fact that the Felix the Cat television cartoon had been cancelled!


I remember as a little girl of maybe 7 years old, my sister and I were tuned into one of our favorite TV shows, Bewitched. They interrupted that show with a special news report because Martin Luther King, Jr. had been shot. My sister and I were so upset. I remember saying, "I can't believe they cancelled Bewitched because some king died."

[Ron Drummond]

Originally posted by sschiffman
Maybe you aren't old enough to remember this Ron . . .
Now now, you're only two and a half months older than me, Sheila, the television landscape didn't change THAT fast . . . ;)

I really did just mishear the lyrics, in part probably because I had no memory of Felix the Cat as a TV cartoon. For some reason, when I heard "Felix the Cat" I thought of Fat Freddy's Cat from the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers! What a culture melt-down! But yes, I understood what Earl was doing anyway, the whole kid's-eye view of major events, very powerful. Only in hearing they "couldn't sell Felix the Cat", I figured the local mom-and-pop grocery store shut down in honor of Kennedy, and the poor 5-year-old kid was left without his favorite comic book!

I remember as a little girl of maybe 7 years old, my sister and I were tuned into one of our favorite TV shows, Bewitched. They interrupted that show with a special news report because Martin Luther King, Jr. had been shot. My sister and I were so upset. I remember saying, "I can't believe they cancelled Bewitched because some king died."
Great anecdote, although we were 8 when King died, not 7. Your older sister or younger? Funny how we remember some things and forget others. I have no memory of King's assassination, and only the vaguest of Bobby Kennedy's. But it may be that those events helped bring me to an awareness of the world of politics, because I definitely remember fighting with kids in elementary school over the 1968 presidential election a few months later -- I remember chanting with other kids, "Humphrey! Humphrey! He's our man! Nixon belongs in the garbage can!" while the children of Nixon supporters chanted exactly the same silly rhyme back at us -- only with the names reversed.

[YYY]

Hey Earl, burn one for me.

[Earl Grey]

Thank you. Thank you.

I didn't really know who John Kennedy was when I was five.

My parents were Republicans, you see... They didn't much care for him...

Although Mom DID squeeze-out a few tears. Quite a few actually.

A confusing day.
I most particularly remember John Jr. and Carolyn in black & white blue, standing with their mother, next to that dark elongated box...
We got out of school early that day...
When mom picked me up, she said: "A horrible thing has happened today, son: the president was shot... He... was, uh,
'hurt'.' "

I remember that.
And the rest is in the song...
A silly song, really.

It IS one of the few songs that actually happened. Much of Lover's Ridge is augmented. I let my imagination soar. And so, what you hear there may have happened verbatim, but then again, maybe not! ;)
~~~~~~

I have to buy some more CDRs before I make more copies, so give me a couple of days: but I'd love to make you copies Veronica, Flo and YYY!
I'm honored. I'm touched.

Thank you for your amazing words Ron, Patty and Sheila... it means the world to me. Truly, you made my decade actually, and thank you from my heart!

'Lover's Ridge' has been funny for me: it's sort of like a family member: almost too close for comfort at times. It knows me all too well.

When it came out, some were disappointed: they expected more from me.

Others compared it to 'Blood On The Tracks', which was a HUGE overestimation: it isn't.

But it is what it is. I worked hard on it, and I had fun doing so. And it is 'real'.
It lacks 'polish' at times... So does real life.

I have a friend who wants to remaster it: maybe I will let him...
I wish i could remaster and 'sweeten' my real life. Maybe someone will come-up with a technique for that as well.

I hadn't listened to Lover's Ridge in a couple of years: it was fun going back.
I like it.

But just wait till you hear the next one! ;)
Haha!

:ele:



Earl:yesbird:

[Sheerah]

Originally posted by Ron Drummond
Now now, you're only two and a half months older than me, Sheila, the television landscape didn't change THAT fast . . . ;)


Alot happened in those 2 -1/2 months, Ron. You just don't remember because you are so much younger than me :D

If you go to the gathering in Chicago this summer, I'll sing you the theme song from the Felix the Cat cartoon, in stunning accuracy. It was a really great cartoon, except for one thing.... Felix had a really obnoxious voice. But at the end of the show, Felix, this skinny little cat, would hold his distended belly while leaning back and laughing very hard. I'll do that imitation for you as well! I now think you have every reason that you ever needed to go to Chicago in July!

[Earl Grey]

...the wonderful wonderful cat.
Whenever he gets in a fix...
he reaches into his bag of tricks.
Felix the cat, the wonderful wonderful cat...
You'll laugh so hard
Your sides will ache
Your heart will go pitter-pat
Watching Felix...
The Wonderful Cat."

;) :ele:

[upbgirl]

dang, earl!! mighty fine piece of work there for lovers ridge..
[but i keep staring at the 'cover art' heehee] all the girls at the market want to meet you now, but they didnt even listen yet!! LOL!! they dont even like long-hairs, so this is unprecedented]

what a lovely surprise to get your music yesterday [wednesday]..
just a coincidence there will be a lunar eclipse tonight..
return package coming your way tomorrow morning.. promise..;)

picked up a few upperpeninsula souvenirs for your perusal..
cant wait to meet you in chi-town.. r u gonna play some of your stuff for us?? [maybe if you do, then glenn will come out of his closet and jamm some of HIS tunes, too..he is gonna LOVE your music-he is into folk these days..]

nice.. very nice..[and i'm NOT just talking about the naked shot, either..]:D

if ya ever need a flautist for any of your tunes, write it up, and i'll be there..in a hurry.
your tunes made me feel like practicing my flute today, for some reason..

[Sheerah]

Originally posted by Earl Grey
...the wonderful wonderful cat.
Whenever he gets in a fix...
he reaches into his bag of tricks.
Felix the cat, the wonderful wonderful cat...
You'll laugh so hard
Your sides will ache
Your heart will go pitter-pat
Watching Felix...
The Wonderful Cat."

;) :ele:

Wow Earlie, you stole my thunder. :crybby:
Maybe we can sing a duo in Chicago!:lady: :guitar:

[Dances w/PURPLE]

Hey Sheilers dah-link!

Still enjoying the gems from Earl. You do rock Earl.

[Sheerah]

Don't worry Dances, admission to the show will be inexpensive.

You know what the cool thing is about Lover's Ridge? It gets better the more you listen to it. I just keep it in my car now, always at the ready!

[Ron Drummond]

Originally posted by sschiffman
You know what the cool thing is about Lover's Ridge? It gets better the more you listen to it.
I figured that would be the case the first time I heard it. Listened to Side 1 for the second time last night -- great stuff, very very funny -- Earl has so much exuberance, and it just comes through so strongly, you can't help but laugh out loud at the sheer aliveness of it. "Off the Wall" is a minor masterpiece (and I only say "minor" because I reserve "major" for entire albums or multi-movement works). And I personally really like the so-called "rawness" of the production -- man, that is so priceless these days, artists pay beaucoup bucks to producers like Mitchell Froom to get a sound like that.

[Q]

That's what I loved about the album --- there was an immediacy to it that made it feel like a live performance ... all that was missing was the sound of an audience ...

Q

[Earl Grey]

I LOVE Froome's production work! He did all of those great Richard Thompson albums, Suzanne Vega's better stuff...
Kinder words couldn't have been said, thank you friend!

Kathi: Aw man! You are SO SWEET! Of course I would be honored to have your flute-stylings accompanying anything in Chi-town! You know, I used to work with a flautist, years ago. He was a big Yeshead, and loved Focus and Camel... So I KNOW it can work. Can't wait!

Speaking of which, I would be THRILLED to play a show for you all at the gathering. I would play for you anytime, anyplace...

Q: you are the MAN! Thanks so much friend. Hey, I can't wait to jam with YOU in Chicago! What a fun time it's going to be... I'm SO looking forward to it.

Ron: thank's again brother... I'm at a loss for words here (Doesn't happen too often! Haha!). Can I quote your 'review' in my next press kit? You truly caught the gist of Lover's Ridge there, my friend. Thank you again. It means much, coming from you.

Sheilers: YOU rock girl! And sorry if I stole your thunder with the 'Felix' theme song... :ele:
A duo sounds great! You can do the belly-laugh at the end! ;)
You enjoy my CD more with repeated listens??! What a dear thing to say!

Patty: a gazillion "thank you's" dear... Kudos coming from an artist of your caliber means the world to me. Aw shucks! I'm blushing like a stoplight!

Actually, I guess that's what strikes me most of all here: you are ALL so talented: standards couldn't be higher than those held in this forum... This is 'YESFANS' for goshsakes...

...Probably why I was a little scared to send Lover's Ridge to my Yesfan friends at first...
But you have ALL rocked my world in the sweetest way.
Thank you so.

I am truly touched.
You guys are the hands-down BEST!

All my Love,
Earlieburl :ele:
:bowdown: :hearts: :bowdown:

[tardistraveler]

Dang - I just discovered this thread! Earl's CD, and nude photography to boot!

Earl - are you still making any copies! I would love to have the CD. If there are still any pics available, that would be great too! Happy to cover your costs as well - just let me know!

[Earl Grey]

Just give me a few days though... I have to get some more CDRs! Just ran out of them! :)

[tardistraveler]

Thanks, Earl! I sent you a PM with an address.

You are too kind to do this for all of us! The folks on this site are the best!

[luray]

Sounds Great Earl I will soon be posting a favorites list from this wonderful CD.Thanks Earl for sharing

[luray]

Forgot to say I just got home from a vacation in Virginia and Lovers Ridge was in the mailbox nice surprise!!!!

[Sheerah]

Hey you guys, maybe we should back off a bit. We want to make sure that Earl's head can fit through the doors of the Raddison in July!!!!

Just kidding, Earlieburlie!

Lover's Ridge really is a gem!

I think I've said before that Wall of Train is my favorite song. And I love the accompanying vocals of the female vocalist. Her voice is really sexy.

I have a hard time choosing my #2 favorite. It's either Zion or The Lamb and the Lion. But The Lamb and The Lion has my absolute favorite lyric on the CD, "Love is blind in one eye." That line just slays me.

It's a combination of complex yet internalizable lyrics, very talented guitar playing, and your powerful voice that make this CD so easy to love!

[Q]

Well, that picture of Earl - you know the one I mean - that's what really does it for me ...

[fourfeetx2]

I received mine yesterday! I've only given it a once thru listen, but it sounds great....fun songs!

You are the sweetest Earl!:valintine

Peace,
Veronica

[luray]

ok so heres my favorites on lovers ridge
Zion - #1 favorite
Erics Song
Wall Of Train
Felix the Cat

[BrianD]

Great album Earl. Hard to select a favourite track, but I did like Zion a lot. No dud tracks as well - and thats hard to do. As for the infamous picture - well you see more of Earl in the picture with his clothes on - so calm down ladies!

[upbgirl]

and i am enthralled with it.. it is great music for just about anything..[and that very last track really gets me goin'-hehe]

i find myself really involved with zion..i have been there, and i have also driven on those freeways..'dots & dashes' is a wonderful way to describe that traffic [esp on I-5 between L.A. and san diego]..and the feeling the song gives-rejuvenating, purifying.. yes.. i completely understand THAT!! that place is positively magical, earl!! colors that the canvas cannot show..i remembered in a flood of images as soon as i heard that song..
as for eric's song.. wow..he must have been a wonderful friend.. that was a beautiful tribute to him.. i could tell that it must have been hard to say good bye.. it seems the very few last little tickles on the strings went on for a time..i get the feeling you didnt want to end that song..ever.. at all.. sorry..:crybby:

wall of train reminds me of the feelings i used to get when i was getting all primed for a friday or saturday night out in my younger days.. just feel the excitement and anticipation for things yet to come..ready to grab the world by the cajones and JAM, party and have a great time.. no worries.. just fun.. [i think it will also describe my feelings when i get to chicago this july]

and i could certainly take a lesson from lamb & lion song, too!!;)
working on it now... hehe..i would have to say if i had to pick a description of a person by naming a song that seems to describe them, i would have to say lamb & lion seems to sum up a big part of the person i think earl is.... sounds JUST like our easy going friend..
i am so impressed, earl.. but not surprised in the least..enjoying it immensely..thank you so much..

[Earl Grey]

Thank you thank you thank you! OH!

'Dots and Dashes' A bassplayer buddy of mine thought the line was 'Datsun Dashes' and mentioned how clever he thought that was... I went,
'Uh huh. Uh huh'
Ever since then, the official lyric is 'Datsun dashes'. But it wasn't MY cleverness there!

'Lay The Lamb Down With The Lion'. Another friend once told me how much she loved the line, 'Lay the lamp down with the light on'. Clever, but I kept the 'lamb and lion' line as the official lyric! HAR! :dog:

I'm so glad you all like my songs: man, keep it up, they WILL have to expand the Radison doorway... :D I don't think so!

'Wall Of Train': I asked Periel Marr (The vocalist on the song) to sing her part 'exceedingly sexually': I left the room when she recorded her vocal... I didn't want her to feel inhibited.
I think she did a great job! There's just something about a train... ;)

:ele:

[Sheerah]

Originally posted by Earl Grey

'Wall Of Train': I asked Periel Marr (The vocalist on the song) to sing her part 'exceedingly sexually': I left the room when she recorded her vocal... I didn't want her to feel inhibited.
I think she did a great job! There's just something about a train... ;)

:ele:

A train entering a deep, dark tunnel?

[Earl Grey]

And sometimes it's just a train, or a cigar, or one car colliding head-on with another car, or... or... Yeah.

And I'm sure you are 'spot-on' there Sheilers, concerning the wall of such.

When stopped at a train-crossing, it really DOES look like a great wall pounding past you. The vibration rises into your bones, the wheels slide those footpounds into distance like it's nothing: it's the sound of freedom and release...

And if the freight happens to be a train-load of cigars heading into a dark tunnel, it's all the more evocative!

:ele:

[Silent_wings]

Thanks Earl
Lover’s Ridge is so very cool. I just love it.
Zion is still my favorite.
Wall of Train is dangerous to play while driving.
I was driving down the 118 very early in the morning after a dog sit. Traffic was light I was the only car around as far as I could see. I thought I might be going a little fast, so I looked down at the speedometer I was doing 90mph. Yikes! good thing all the police were still getting coffee. :D

[Earl Grey]

Well hey...

I've been jamming the Chicago CD (!!!), and the Quebec CD for two days straight now... I had to buy batteries for my walkman, so I could listen at work while writing my nurse's notes!!!

"What did you say Jerome? You wanted to pet a lemer?
Dinner.
Oh, why didn't you say so?! Ya gotta speak louder buddy... ear-infarction, ya know?...
'Headphones-off you son of a...' What did you say?
Listening to YES at work ? Yeah.......Sure. What about it?"

Hehe.

All your fault Silent Wings! :ele: :ele: :ele:

For all who didn't know, we had a YES 'CD-burning party' on friday night... Some amazing moments there.
I found two Tormato shows that I didn't have yet, compliments of Silent Wings...
Tourmato: THE GRAIL!

I think our party was a great success.

If the Chicago gathering is even remotely as much fun, we'll all be smiling for a year afterwards.
Perfect!
...Smiling till the next Yesshow!
How sweet life is.

Life is eversweet, and my dearest Yesfriends make it so.

Earl Grey hot. Make it so.

:) All good people. AMAZING PEOPLE! You and You and you...

Silent Wings, and all of my YESfriends,

You rock my world: was that a mountain falling out of the sky, just beyond that swooping moorglade-glider??!

Earlie:ele: :yesbird:

[Silent_wings]

The party was a great success, do to its wonderful host, who worked his fingers to the bone burning CDs all evening

Patrick Edward swiped the Cleveland Tormato Show and won’t give it back. He is such a bad boy.

Chicago will be even more fun. Yesfriends are the best friends.
:cheers:

[Earl Grey]

You did good there Silent Wings...

Any friend of Robert Heinlein and Arthur Clarke is a friend of mine...

And damn. He's a true 'rocket scientist'. A 'TRUE' Starship Trooper!
Patrick could explain the geosychronous manner in which satellite television works and doesn't work... all in layman's terms!
And he loves Genesis!

I hope he enjoyed his Genesis bootleg?!?!

"Cleveland"? Yeah. The Grail. So is Chicago and Quebec!

I enjoyed your other-half's company emmensely...

And his lady is no 'slouch' either! HAHA!

Not hardly, NO WAY!

You RULE.

But we already knew this...

All Good People.

EVER, the best of friends!

:ele:

[fourfeetx2]

I'm so glad your cd burning party was a success....a precursor to the fabulous time we will have in Chicago!

Earl, I played your cd for my friend Craig on our way back from a hiking trip last week and he loved it as well! His favorite was Felix the Cat, while I am still drawn to Zion.
Then Craig and I got to talking about the Chicago gathering and the more he heard about it the more he wanted to go. Unfortunately he is already locked into his vacation time this year and cannot swing it. Craig is a HUGE Yes fan, but doesn't really want to know anything about Yes members personally. It kind of ruins their unearthliness for him I guess...so he doesn't come to Yesfans at all as a result. Too bad for him....I've told him how wonderful you all are.

Maybe I can convince him to come here b/4 the next gathering, especially when he hears how fun it was in Chicago!

Silent Wings, I hear you about Wall of Train! It's one of those dangerous songs for the lead footed among us!:nono:

Peace,
Veronica

[Sheerah]

V - your post reminds me of a license plate I once saw while living in Atlanta:

PB 12IN

[fourfeetx2]

No comprende, Sheila.

V

[Ron Drummond]

Earl! Dude, have you ever been having fun, bless you!

Still really enjoying Lover's Ridge. Wall of Train is amazing, WHERE did you get those dopplering guitar chords from man, seriously -- did you copy the trick from someone, or come up with it on your own? It is frickin' uncanny what you do with those chords. Chicka-chicka-boom un-huh is right!

Your album makes me happy, man. Already there's been a couple of times where I've been seriously depressed and I played a couple of your tunes, and damn, man, you got me laughing. Your joy is infectious!

So dude, are you working on getting your new album done in time for Chicago? Or maybe like an EP? And I still am hoping you can get that mid-80s album you mentioned transferred to disc. I want to hear it!

Long may you play, my friend.

[tardistraveler]

I received my copy of Lover's Ridge on Friday, and have been playing it over the weekend. It totally rocks! Thanks so much Earl for sharing this gem with us - you are so talented! I will enjoy this album frequently!

And yes - if you unearth any others, please share those with us as well!

[Sheerah]

So, Ron Drummond, does this mean you will be joining us in Chicago?????

Veronica - I will give you a hint, let me know if you get it or not.....

The license plate uses abbreviation to state a particular characteristic of the driver. The really big hint is, check your Periodic Table of Elements. I think the atomic weight is 82.

[Ron Drummond]

Originally posted by sschiffman
So, Ron Drummond, does this mean you will be joining us in Chicago????? I wish that it did, but alas I sincerely doubt it is in the cards for me this year. Bless you for asking. On Sunday, I and one of my other housemates were abruptly given nine weeks' notice to move out of the shared house where I live, so while you-all are partying hardy in Chicago, I will be scrambling to get everything packed and ready to haul out of here at July's end. NOT fun, and it couldn't come at a worst time financially -- but I just have to look at it as a situation filled with hidden opportunities, positive opportunities, new doors to open. Hey, Paul -- need a new housemate?

I would love to go to Chicago. I continue to be amazed by the folks on this site, and would dearly love to meet you all. Anyway, my hope is that Earl would get rockin' to finish his album in time, so he could send me a copy as consolation for my not being able to go -- something to listen to while I pack. "Wall of Boxes," maybe.

Cheers,

Ron

[Q]

Ron, it would be terrific if you could work it out. You'd be a most welcome addition ...

Q

[upbgirl]

and you can hear earl in person..
and Veronica and Kathy.." I hear you about Wall of Train! It's one of those dangerous songs for the lead footed among us!"

that song reminded me of how my senior graduating niece might be feeling these days. remember that, guys?? i have to say, as well, that wall of train has been responsible for helping me get my butt into work on more than a couple of days!! it is wonderful music for stocking a cooler!! nice quick beat-upbeat song..
but 'zion' is still my favorite, and 'eric's song' still makes me sad, too..
thanx for the motivation-long distance, earl!! you cant know howe much your tunes have spurred me on..
[geeze! another horse reference-hehe;) ]
sorry to hear of you having to move, ron..maybe you might need a short break in chi-town..:D
we'd love to meet cha!

[tardistraveler]

Ron - I'll add my voice here - I would be happy to meet you in Chicago. I hope you can work things out to come!

[Sheerah]

Ron:

I'll tell you a little, little story. I moved to California with my fiance, and it was disaster from Day 1. Turns out he was one seriously abusive SOB. So, I never allowed California to become my home. I hated it here. I always had one foot out the door, trying to move back East.

My fiance and I eventually sold our beautiful house, and I moved into a rental home. I really came to enjoy that home, as it was a my quiet little solice from a chaotic relationship. I signed a 6 month lease, with a month to month option. The day the 6 months expired, I was served with an eviction notice. The owners wanted to move back. And me, not having secured a job back East, as I was hoping, didn't know where to go or what to do.

After looking at the prices of other rental homes, (I have pets so I always pay more), and after having my life so out of control for two years, I decided to take the bull by the horns, control my own destiny, and buy my own house, here in California. I decided to make California my home. Do you know that once I moved into my new home, everything started to go really, really well? Well, I just lost my job, but that happens to many of us sooner or later. Anyhow, my point is, it all turned out so much for the better. I think your situation will as well.

[Ron Drummond]

Hi Sheila -- Thank you for sharing your story -- it is filled with good reminders for me, and your attitude is wonderful. Later, thinking about it, it suddenly struck me as a pretty good illustration of that Italo Calvino quote I've been attaching to my posts for the last few days -- but then you also inspired me to change my quote, as you can see below.

Thanks to Sheila and tardis and Kathi and Q for your warm welcomes and your hopes re Chicago -- gosh I'll make it if I can, but I might have to borrow a patch of rug in someone's hotel room! Or maybe we could start the annual Yesfans Gathering Scholarship Fund, so that each year, one impoverished Yesfan can attend! ;)

And thanks to burlie Earlie, gosh what a treasure that guy is.

Warm Best wishes to all,

Ron

[Dale Cleary]

When I first saw this thread I thought it was going to be because Earl is simply a great guy. He has an album too ??

I will answer my origianl thought.
Earl Grey is a very cool guy.















"Pssss, Earl. Over here mate.
Yeah mate, $10.00 for compliments.
No worries.
Nah nah don't worry, I wont tell anybody."

I'd love to hear it :D

[Dances w/PURPLE]

he does have an album. My #1 fav is "Zion". Lover's Ridge
(which is better than Lover's Leap)

[Earl Grey]

Oh man oh man Ron, I hear you.

I had to move from my old cottage last year (I rented the 'caretaker's cottage' of an old old church, swallowed by pines, and nestled high on the edge of the Angeles Forest... I hated moving from there.).

I was forcably evicted.
~~~

I was never a church-member. I was merely a lodger.

But...

The old church-pastor was the most enlightened of souls. We became friends, out of proximity and similar late-night habits!
Insomnia... :) And the spinning gears of the mind.

Late-nights I would bump into John while having a cigarette: we would talk about classical music, we would jabber about philosophy, greek literature. Science Fiction!

And ocassionally, we would even talk about GOD.

Wow.

Cool pastor.

I actually felt comfortable walking into his services on ocassion: this is very unusual for me. I usually don't like 'herds'.
I make a baaad sheep!

But I never heard anything of offence or judgement from Pastor John.
It was all good-hearted open-armed stuff.

I was edified by the spirit evoked there, and I felt at home in my weird bizarre 'home'.

I lived far-enough away from the church 'proper', that I could live my own life...
Yet, it always had a spiritual feel to it, living on church grounds...

And I thought I would live there for years...
~~~

Alas, Pastor John was suddenly transferred to a new 'flock' in Maryland, and at that point I was 'flocked'!!! So it goes.
~~~

The new pastor arrived with a raised eyebrow and a scowl.

He took one look at me, and he must have noticed that I looked reasonably content.
He must have decided that I was merely a lodger, 'lodged' in his lodge: and that "The Church Of The New Jeruselem" (HAR! No lie) didn't need some long-haired heathen on the premises...

That I was most-likely doing illicit things and smoking questionable materiels on the consecrated church-grounds (No question about it!), and so...

I was given my one month notice.

Anathema!

Cast out of Eden!

Out into the shadowy void of darkness and teeth-gnashing.

The outer darkness of Los Angeles...
BRRRRR! :ele:
~~~~~~

I kicked and screamed, of course!
The bastad!
UNFAIR! DAMNATION!

I inevitably packed my books, brains, AND bong, off into the wary boxes of ill-disposed contingency, and I moved my ass.

And I figured that this particular change was a nasty chink in the cogs of things, ...that it could hold nothing of worth to me.
~~~~~

And guess what?

TA-DA!

Of course,

I moved.
I love my new place even more than the last!

I still live in a natural setting (no small feat in LA),
The choir-practice no longer wakesd me up at six am.

My life has moved into a new and different phase,
and if given the opportunity to move back into that damned church-cottage/hovel, with the judgements and scowls involved?

HELL NO!
No way!
:ele:

I love where I live.

But I loved living there as well.

Everything in it's own time.
~~~

Usually, change is good.
But it always smarts.
And change entails work.
But good or ill, change is a constant.

Ron, I'm not sure if you will find a way to continue living where you are living, or if you'll have to travel the route of The Ace Of Swords...
But regardless, you are an amazing soul, it will turn-out well for you.
I promise you that.
Good things eventually pan-out for those of heart and spirit.
And you have both, my friend!

Happy travelling, always the adventure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The guitar-figure from Wall Of Train:

It popped-up out of nowhere. I had never played those chords before... The song didn't evolve, it simply WAS.
I remember the night I wrote it, I felt as if I had scaled the walls of the world...

The next day my wife left me, and moved my kids 500 miles away... Climbing the walls of the worlds.

The moral of this story? If you are going to sit on top of the world, make sure you secure yourself!!! It's a long fall! ;)

Thanks you guys, I love you all...

:ele:

[BrianD]

...and we love you too Earl

Sounds good advice to me. You just never know what is around the corner

[Earl Grey]

BAM!

And you hit it head-on! Haha!

Thanks Brian!

:ele:

[Ron Drummond]

Originally posted by Earl Grey
Everything in its own time.

Usually, change is good.
But it always smarts.
And change entails work.
But good or ill, change is a constant.

Ron, I'm not sure if you will find a way to continue living where you are living, or if you'll have to travel the route of The Ace Of Swords...
But regardless, you are an amazing soul, it will turn-out well for you.
I promise you that.
Good things eventually pan-out for those of heart and spirit.
And you have both, my friend!

Happy travelling, always the adventure.
Wow, Earl, what a lovely, great-hearted tale you told. You and Sheila -- gosh, with stories like that, someone should start an "Eviction Notice with a Silver Lining" thread. I bet Kathi has a kick-butt eviction story -- but then, all of her stories are great.

I had originally hoped to work things out with the owner so I could stay, but now I no longer want to. As bad as the timing is -- I'm out of work, with no nest-egg, doesn't get too much scarier than that, eh? -- this place has gone sour, and it's time to move on. Time to change whether I want to or not. Time to embrace my power and give myself up to the wisdom of heart and spirit, and work my tail off for what I believe in.

But you must tell me what you mean by the route of the Ace of Swords. I'm a peace-loving kind of guy . . .

Thank you for the inspiring reminders, Earl. Why is it that after just a few months, you feel like an old friend to me? What a strange little Eden on the net.

[tardistraveler]

Hi, Ron. Isn't it interesting how life throws us curve balls? And we can either let them knock us down, or embrace them for the learning experiences that they truly are. Sounds like you have the right attitude about this - I sincerely hope that things work out for the very best.

[Sheerah]

Originally posted by Ron Drummond
I had originally hoped to work things out with the owner so I could stay, but now I no longer want to. As bad as the timing is -- I'm out of work, with no nest-egg, doesn't get too much scarier than that, eh? -- this place has gone sour, and it's time to move on. Time to change whether I want to or not. Time to embrace my power and give myself up to the wisdom of heart and spirit, and work my tail off for what I believe in.

The people on this site blow me away. Such depth of heart and spirit, these Yesfans. Amazing people!!!

I'm reading your post, Ron, and to me it's so obvious. Believe me, Ron, I can really, really empathize with your situation. And you do have good reason to be frightened.

But Ron, you have just described the "perfect storm" of factors that lead to great change, positive change. Nothing worth persuing comes without a price. You are paying your price now. But look at what you wrote..... You have paid attention to the signs. To quote our friend Q, the Universe is unfolding as it should. You are doing what is necessary, Ron, to move onward to the next step!

Of course, I don't know you, so this may sound strange, but I am proud of you Ron. You have actively decided to change course and swim with the current instead of against it. I KNOW on some undefineable intuitive level, that you are doing the right thing. Things are going to work out for you. You are going to be able to look back on this and pinpoint it as the catalyst that has brought you to the next level, to the successful place where you are meant to be.

[Ron Drummond]

Thank you, tardis and Sheila, for your kind and encouraging words. They mean so much.

Sheila, goddess I hope you are right, part of the process is to seize the moment and to decide by the power we invest in it that this is a moment that counts, and that can make all the difference. (Ultimately, that is true of every moment, even if we rarely treat them that way.)

Thank you for the vote of confidence -- but deciding to change course and saying bold things is one thing, and actually doing so quite another. It's a struggle to maintain the right attitude. To be perfectly frank, deep down inside, I am scared sh*tless. There are a lot of good, solid reasons for hope -- but there are a lot of good, solid reasons for despair too, and there are difficulties I haven't even mentioned. So I have to fight whether I want to or not, when what I'd really like to do is go off somewhere quiet and have a nice nervous breakdown -- as Michael Ventura once wrote, sometimes having a nervous breakdown is precisely the right response to events. Such sure as heck FEELS like the case now, even if I can't afford the "luxury." HAH!

[tardistraveler]

Hi, Ron - I do understand that it's easy to spout platitudes about how things "should" be this way or that. And recognizing a situation as an opportunity for growth and actually acting on it are sometimes two very different things. I understand being scared in those situations, and the difficulty of maintaining a good frame of mind - trying to see the good in the situation in the face of seeming adversity.

I'm sorry you're having to go through this right now, and want you to know that my healing thoughts are with you.

[soleil7]

Earl Grey rocks indeed !!! Thanks for the cds Earl !!! such talent here !!! great guitar playing, lyrics, music, and an excellent voice !! and nice nude picture too !! ;)

[Adara]

Its a wonderful cd Earl. Great songs. :D

[Flo]

I haven't listened to all of it yet but it's great music so far. I love the sound of the guitar. Thanks Earl !

[spedblavio]

Lover's Ridge goes to the desert island with me, for "Zion" (I like the rest too, but "Zion" is one of my favorite songs by anybody).

[Earl Grey]

Thank you thank you! ;)

They're going to have to simply knock-out the door of the Hotel in Chi-Town... ...and then you're STILL going to have to squeeze my inflated ego through the thing, like toothpaste through a tube... :ele:

Truth be told...

I needed that!

A horrible day. The car is back in the shop, my bus never arrived, after I waited an hour and a half for it.

I had to pay bucoups $$$ to a taxi-driver who looked and acted like he wanted to crash the taxi into the pentagon ("Hey man, don't blame me... I voted for Gore!"): but, ...finally home, after a long long stupid day.

Read the details in 'the moaning and groaning thread'! Har!
I guess that WAS the details, never mind... Moan-groan :ele:

All better now.

Love you guys!

Rock my planet, why dont'cha?

Earlie:yesbird:

[tardistraveler]

Well, Earl, I can't wait to hear you play in Chicago! You are SO talented! And thanks again for sharing your CD with us - it's so much fun to listen to!

Hope that inflated your ego a bit more! And I'm sorry you're still having car problems - hope that eases for you soon.

[Silent_wings]

Congrat on 5000

You do ROCK!

[Earl Grey]

Heh! I got so busy posting last night, I forgot all about it!
Seriously!

Thanks Kathy-fo-fathy! Yer a gem!

Earlie:ele:

[Dale Cleary]

Very happy I was to get it. Very good job Earl me ole son.
:D
Nice touch Earl.

[Earl Grey]

Let's see now, if I can put something out that's newer than a decade old...
A long couple of years there, and I nearly forgot that I was a musician... Work work work... *sigh*

We'll just call the last couple of years a 'gathering period' for song ideas, and leave it at that! :D

The next project... Well, with all of Yesfans watching, I had better record something a bit more 'prog' in nature, dont'cha think?!

I really miss the sound of rolling tape (Digital? Pro-Tools? Huh?!)... We'll see if I can do something about it, later on this year.

I'll need a good drummer Dale!

:ele:

[Dale Cleary]

Originally posted by Earl Grey


I'll need a good drummer Dale!

:ele:

So do I mate !

[Snuglorf]

Hello. Just want to say I love Earl Gray's album, and so does my mom!

[Earl Grey]

Hey there Snuglorf!

Who are you? And who is your mom? Mrs. Snuglorf, of course! Haha! Is she cute? Are you cute? You're a guy?! Oh, oops: sorry man... Just kiddin'! :ele: :ele: :ele:

Thank you for the sweet mention there: Now, if you could only see me blush: embarassing! It's not a 'blush': I'm just sunburnt from Hawaii! :rolleyes:

Thank you again: well, hey...

I'm be playing another live webcast show at Kulaks woodshed, on Dec. 26th... So log-onto Kulakswoodshed.com for the thing!

I'll have times/etc, and will post them closer to the show date!

Snuglorf... Who could you be????? No idea here~!

:ele:

[gunsfornuns]

Y'know, that's my anniversary. This year makes 25. Yeah, really! So I guess you'll have to dedicate the entire show to your 'favorite right-wing conspirator' doncha think? It's the right (sorry) thing to do...

[Earl Grey]

Hey there Dan!

Sure I'll dedicate the show to you, or my part of it anyway: it's another one of those 'songwriters in the round' sorts of deals I've been doing at Kulaks, so it's myself and a few other guitar-pluckers... (So, the 26th is your Wedding anniversary? Didn't know you wuz hitched there compadre! Congrats!).

Earlie:ele:

[Dances w/PURPLE]

another show! Excellent!!!!!!!!!!

Earl Grey does rock!

[Silent_wings]

Made ya wonder huh!

Snuglorf is my friend Julie. She came to Borders with me the night I hijacked Joe's D&D game.

We were all sitting around after the game Saturday night and Julie said I was supposed to tell you she liked Lovers Ridge and I told her she had to tell you herself. :D

[tardistraveler]

Hey Snuglorf/Julie - I hope you visit us again!

Earl - Can't wait to hear your webcast - it's always so much fun!

[Earl Grey]

Aw man! Thank you, you guys (gals!)!

Life is good.

:ele:

[kirk]

wow! it's good to be a moderator!
i'd better not get accused of spamming!haha

hey bud-several of us have jumped in at interconnected
(germany)
why don't you give it a look?

if you hurry you'll find a recommendation
for my tune "gridspace" on the main.

have you ran into dolly rappaport?
she did a kulak's gig a short time ago.
she's everywhere on the net sites.

www.ic-musicmedia.com

p e a c e kirk/zenpool

[Earl Grey]

Hey kirk!

It's good to be a penthouse pauper... HAR! :ele:

SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM. "We have eggs and Spam, Eggs bacon and Spam, Eggs bacon Spam and toast...

"But I don't LIKE Spam!"


Loved your tune! Some Wakey-esque keys there...

I don't have DSL myself, so I'm CONSTANTLY buffering!

So it goes: I couldn't watch my own webcast. Irony.

:ele:

[moiras]

Does anyone have info re how to get a copy of Earl's CD? I missed it somehow

Ordering info?

[Earl Grey]

Sure moiras,

Just PM me your addy, and I'll get one out to you!

Earlie:yesbird:

[kirk]

thanks earl! i hear "blade runner"often w/ that tune.
vangelis has always been a major influence.
those jon&vangelis cds are stunning, my fav being
"private collection" w/ "he is sailing","true horizons".
those tunes are sonic druqks, and (heresy) i enjoyed
them better than some yestunes from that era.


you know, it'd be easier(and cheaper) for
you to get an account going at i.c. and have
everyone d.l. your tunes from there.
'love to hear your stuff.

p e a c e kirk www.ic-musicmedia.com/zenpool

:hippy: :spam:

[Earl Grey]

Originally posted by kirk
thanks earl! i hear "blade runner"often w/ that tune.
vangelis has always been a major influence.
those jon&vangelis cds are stunning, my fav being
"private collection" w/ "he is sailing","true horizons".
those tunes are sonic druqks, and (heresy) i enjoyed
them better than some yestunes from that era.


you know, it'd be easier(and cheaper) for
you to get an account going at i.c. and have
everyone d.l. your tunes from there.
'love to hear your stuff.

p e a c e kirk www.ic-musicmedia.com/zenpool

:hippy: :spam:

I LOVE Blade Runner! Yeah, there IS that to your track! Very cool...
I used to know Rutger Hauer's daughter, Ayesha Hauer (Another frind, lost in time, like tears in the rain...). I remember when The Director's Cut of BR came out, I went to see it with Ayesha, and she told me a gazillion inside stories on the filming of BR. Her dad took her to that rainy set many days in a row, until EVERYONE was depressed: it never stopped 'raining'.

The soundtrack is one of those things I go back to, over and over again: I love the siren that becomes part of the song (Was that in 'Damask Rose'? I forget which track... Have to listen again). Some very ethereal mood-shifting stuff on that soundtrack, and of course, Jon and Vangelis is required listening for all yesfans!

I love 'Mr Cairo'.

Isn't it wild that Vangelis was actually being considered, at one time, to take over the keys for the band? I wonder how that would have sounded?
A bit mellower I'm sure, but it would have added an entire different level to YES: probably something in the vein of the 'High Vibration Go On' portions of Awaken...

An interesting concept.
~~~~~~

It's funny: I've never put up an MP3 type site for my music: I've thought about it, but am a bit of a luddite, as to computer-savvy.
Perhaps I'll ask my daughter Ivy to do it for me: she's the computer whiz!

All the best to you compadre,
E.G. :ele:

[spedblavio]

Hey, I didn't know I could do it 'till I did it!

What do you use to copy/burn CDs?
My Dell came with the Roxio software and that's what I use to convert tracks to MP3 format. It's a snap.

At the IC site, the uploading process is pretty simple.

If you have the same software, I could walk you through it over the phone. (We're not letting you off easy Earl, especially now that you've admitted to thinking about it!)

Give Zion to the people!

:1loudspkr :clap:

[Earl Grey]

Well, I have 'Nero': Burning ROM.

It seems to be the right software...

Now, if I could only sit in one place long enough to put a track on-line, well...
That would be interesting.

Sure.
Talk me through.
I surprise myself at times.
We're all in this together...
I'm always on my way to Zion...
And so are you.

:ele:

[kirk]

earl-

if all else fails, you can send me the cd and i'll
get your account going, post the tunes.

maybe s.b. could step-by-step you through
the nero process?

everyone-
i forgot to mention this-
there's a free fully-functional 8 track
version of acid at www.acidplanet.com

the process is simple- place the disc in the tray,
"look in", choose the cd and track.
file/"render as", choose mp3 @128kbs. from the list.
it stores the mp3 at the place of your choosing-
"save in"/program files (usually the mp3 player-
wmp, musicmatch,ect.)

open an account at i.c.,
"upload mp3", navigate to the file and click.
that's it.
upload a jpeg, and you're rolling.

any questions, feel free to ask or send me a pm.

p e a c e kirk

[spedblavio]

I don't know the Nero program, but I'll help any way I can.

By the way Earl, while IC-musicmedia is a fun place to share your music and participate in the community, and a convenient place to make MP3's available for folks to download, you should also look at Broadjam for sure. It's a more serious venture there, with I think greater opportunity for exposure to industry types and other serious musicians.

The way it's set up, you will get some real reviews, and they are done anonymously and "blind", that is when reviewing a track, one does not get to see the artist info. You can't pick the songs to review, only genres. And anyone uploading songs has to do a number of reviews of other artists' stuff to activate their own uploads. I think it's a neat system.

On the free account, only 3 tracks can be uploaded, and they can only be streamed, not downloaded by others. Good place for serious feedback and exposure I think, and fun to participate in the reviewing process. I think Zion and other songs would do very well there.

[kirk]

oops!haha
you said "roxio", sorry.
i have a new copy of nero and i
can't seem to find a way to make mp3s.

i'd look into whatever you use to listen to mp3s,
wmp, or whatever. most players have a conversion
utility.

i agree w/ s.b., i.c.'s a great place to congregate w/ other musicians,
and probably a good place for yesfans to go to d.l. your music.
broadjam's a serious review site-
warning-have a thick skin! i can tell s.b. hasn't ran into
his first real idiot.
most of the time a reviewer will do his
own genre, but occassionally you can get a "random pick"
review. those tend to be a bit more scathing.
i lost "this lonely corner" from the charts after 9
months to a lady in country "sorry sugar, just not
my cup of tea"- my first reaction was of course-

:boom: haha. 'tough biz.

kirk/zenpool

[spedblavio]

Funny, I gave a couple of my best reviews on random pick genres! But I've been damn tough on some folks passing themselves off as "jazz", and I have little patience for what has become "electronic" these days.

I had the honor (haha) though of reviewing a piece by Eric Honour in the classical genre that just blew me away after listening to so much stuff that sounded like keyboard sequencer demos!

And I made it into the top 10 reviewers for detailed/completeness. I'm on the charts! (on the wrong end though!)

Having fun.

Anyway, there's programs to download for free for converting CD to MP3 files. I've seen "Musicmatch" mentioned: http://www.musicmatch.com/

Wait a sec, I have Earl's CD.

Earl, maybe I convert them for you and just email you the MP3 files. I don't think I have your email address though. Let me know if you'd like to give it a shot, you lovable luddite you!

[kirk]

...or just post them w/e.g.'s permission-
signup, give his address, make a password
(that he can change).

if you need help, i have dsl-
tell me what i can do.

e- time to get that big toe out of the sand pardner-
we're dragging you into it kicking and screaming



:D
write me some lyrics someday-
p/k/z

[Earl Grey]

OK OK!

Sheesh! ;)

Sorry, this week has been another one of my 12 hour day shift weeks (five of them in a row... Yikes!).

Sure Sped: you can set them up on the site if you want...

Kirk. Here's some lyrics...

There once was a man from Glen-dale
Who had the time-sig of a snail
he'd slither aboot
trying to learn to compute, but
still baffled by simple e-mail...

:ele:

[kirk]

hey...is that some kind of shot??!?
i'll have you know i'm a computer audio expert!
just 'cause i can't figure out avatars and html..
and basic navigation...

erm...wanna be my site master?haha

[Earl Grey]

I was 'limericking' about myself there kirk! HA!

No worries compadre!

I may be a snail, I may have NO clue, as to putting-up MP3's or posting photos, etc...

But I can write limericks!

Anything 'right brained'...

Do you really want some lyrics?

Sorry, didn't mean to freak you out there... It was a limerick about myself!

:ele:

[Sheerah]

Hey Earl, cool!

I just wrote a limerick on the poetry thread!

Kismet, perhaps?

Hmmmm, could be..................

BTW....your friggin' PM box is full, you popular boy, you ;)

[Earl Grey]

Oh damn.

I'm ALWAYS deleting my inbox...

:ele:

[kirk]

just kidding bud- haha

peace k/z

[spedblavio]

Originally posted by Earl Grey
Sure Sped: you can set them up on the site if you want... Ok, first you need to go to
http://www.ic-musicmedia.com/register/register.php
and set yourself up a free account, giving them the info they need and saying what you want to say about yourself.

Next PM me your username and password and tell me which songs you'd like to put up (the limit is 10, so your whole CD could go if you wanted, it's up to you) and what order you'd like to see them in.
Let me know if you any have music or lyric credits other than "Earl Grey". (I leave posting the lyrics up to you, it's optional I believe). And I think I need to know what year each was done, I guess the year they were recorded is fine.

Then there's the picture you can post: either email me a picture (I think you have my email, if not you can find it on my IC-musicmedia page) or I think I could use one of the ones you posted to the SHOW US YOUR FACES, YESFANS!! thread (tell me which...the one from your friends bday party is quite dashing). Of course, you can do this part yourself too, but I'll be glad to help.

[kirk]

very cool r-
i have photoshop7 if you want a photograph altered
or enhanced.
it does watercolor efx(one of my favs)
colored pencils...
i'll send along an example.

kirk/zenpool

[Sheerah]

Wow!
Nice rhodedendrans, Kirk!
That's a great effect. I wish I could paint like that.
Very cool stuff!

[kirk]

hi sheila-
the only credit i can take is the original photography,
(besides growing the rhody- it's one of many from my
yard)
and maybe having an eye for watercolors from
art college.

this is the result of a manipulation
w/ adobe photoshop7, an incredibly expensive($700)
and cool program.

i've been tempted to project/enlarge these onto
watercolor paper and actually paint them,
but i haven't tried it yet.
i'm sure someone can and is making a living doing that.

it's amazing what can be done.
you probably remember that one photo i posted-
here it is manipulated.

[spedblavio]

This can be done in Microsoft Photo Editor as well.
Here's Earl in the "chalk and charcoal" effect:

[tardistraveler]

Cool pic! I've never played with any photo effects, now you're sparking my curiosity!

[Sheerah]

Yipes! Earl looks vewwy vewwy scawwy!

These effects are so cool!

Kirk, let me know if you ever try to paint one of these photos. Watercolor is really difficult, I think.

[kirk]

haha can you imagine being in a hospital bed pre-op..
this guy walks in w/ a razor-
"time fer yer shave"..

water colors are a little hard to manage at first,
but after a bit of practice..

you have to keep the surface moist, keep everything tilted and flowing.
always use as good of materials as you can,
40 wt.arches rag paper(no curl), don't skimp on paints.

there's better, but for the $$ grumbacher makes
some good colors,very intense.
the cheap ones let too much of the paper
color through, turning red to pink,ect.

there's a ton of tricks taught in school,
things you wouldn't find on your own.
you should take a class, it's a great release.

k/z

[Silent_wings]

You could use this one

[Silent_wings]

Or this one

But not the back :D

[Sheerah]

Yeah, those are scawwy too ;)

The Learning Exchange offers water color classes here in town. Maybe I will sign up....

[Earl Grey]

I like the second one you posted the most, Kathy...

Weird, looking at those decade-old photos... How the years take their bite!


OK... I'll check-out the website, make a password/etc... and the whole album would be fine to put on the internet...

Whaddayaknow!

Thanks you guys.

...Listening to Todd Rundgren right now... 'The Verb: To Love'.
What an amazing song...

Earlie:ele:

[kirk]

i know the feeling earl!
i'm getting a young orson wells vibe from the avatar.:D

all we can do is be as cool as possible for our age.
someone must like what you're doing, your pix have been d.l.ed 10 times since this afternoon.

it'll be great to hear your music.

cool sheila! it's not as hard as you think.

much support guys!


:guitar:

[Earl Grey]

Better than a late Orson Wells vibe! HAHA!

I found an old 'shirt-off' "Jim Morrison Wannabe" photo from 12 years ago the other day... I used it for a publicity shot as long as I could get away with it...
No more.

*sigh*

Age is a mobius strip-tease...

:ele:

[kirk]

yeah, no whine before it's time.

"Age is a mobius strip-tease..."

great turn of a phrase if you made that up!

i've heard (i forget who said it)
"age is like being punished more severely
year after year for a crime you didn't commit".

i shouldn't complain.
i'm gonna have this hair for lifehaha
the norwegian genes have served me well.

the b.p.'s 130/70...
i say bring it on, the best is yet to come.;)

s.b. wrote, said you made to ic.
good to hear bud!
you can d.l. your tunes to store them
in your computer for the next time/site.
it gets easier after you understand the process.

for future reference- ic doesn't chart by # of plays,
but don't d.l. your stuff from a site that does,
you'll be banned.

after the tunes are up, drop in
on the forum. there's a new members thread
at the top of the music discussion page.
it sometimes takes a while for a reply,
germany's 12 hrs. later than pmt.

p e a c e kirk/zenpool

[spedblavio]

For everyone waiting to hear Earl's tunes online, here's an update:

I wasn't able to access his account to upload MP3s, so I've PM'd him and am waiting to hear back (I know he's busy). Also haven't seen his name appear on the New Artist list, so I'm not sure what's up.

In the meantime, you'll just have to make do by listening to more of my weird stuff (shameless promotion!):

http://www.yesfans.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8765

[kirk]

:spam: :D

[spedblavio]

It was an afterthought, I swear! I really just wanted to update folks.

When I start bumping my Sped is spreading post back up on the Today's Posts list, then you can call me a spam-man!
:rolleyes:

(now I've got that Monty Python tune going though my head: "spam, spam, spam ,spam, spam....")

[kirk]

that's o.k.haha

i wish i.c. had all these cool smilies, instant linking..

[pianozach]

Damn it Earl! Remaster it and sell out! Get on CDBaby. It's a damn fine album. I have one, and love it.

It sits proudly between GRATEFUL DEAD and BETH HART in my CD library.

Oh, and let's get hot on the next two as well

P.S. I am also a proud owner of Lightyears by Earl (his first) on cassette (yes, it's that old). And so are you. And so am I. And so are we all. 'Cause I am you and you are we and I am he as you are he as you are we and we are all together.

Actually, you might want to consider remixing and remastering Lightyears as well dude. Retitle it "Early Earl." :lmao:

[sherriff_johnbrown]

Earl, you rock! Seriously, though.

[Earl Grey]

...Retitle it "Early Earl." :lmao:

I believe that Marky Mark is now known as Dirk Diggler. I need a title like that. Hehe. :ele:

Thanks guys! ...Just came home from a fun show at Genghis Cohen Cantina: It was a night of rain and hail here in LA, but the show went well, despite the weird weather (Thanks for coming out Kathy!).

Zach... Next to The Dead and Beth Hart eh? Very cool! Thank you Mi Compadre, life is sweet.

I'm all hot on finishing these projects this year. The stars are in alignment, and barring a nasty asteroid strike or elsewhat, I promise to get on the stick and kick out the new tuneage!

Thank you guys, I'm blushing, again... Glad you like the CD Zach-O!

EG:yesbird:

[kirk]

hey earl! so how's it going? 'looking forward to hearing some new stuff.
i haven't been spending much time on the net, many life twists and turns,
adding new members to the zenpool, in mixdown on the cd.

let me know what's happening, if i can run anything through
the decrapinator 2000 for you. (in case your haven't heard
of the decrapinator, it's the digital equivolent of the analog
"popping a can of turd polish").
seriously, some serious production assistance if you need it.

here's to ya`:bowdown: :bonghitte

pees kirk

[Earl Grey]

Hey there Kirk!

How's ya gulliver mi dear droogie?

I have plenty of stuff you could probably put through your decrapinator...

My apartment for starts. I'm still picking-up, after all the Yesfans Liquor Locust holiday parties... I need some eq here man!

All is well, been busy too. Now the holidays are over (whew, double whew) and getting back to life on it's terms. Hope all is well with ya, and sweet swimming in the pool of zen!

Kudos Compadre,
Earlie-G

[Dances w/PURPLE]

you do rock \m/
I think we need to have an international cyber LL party!

[kirk]

hi dances-
'how you been? so what's a cyber LL party?

earl- i've added some cool toys to the studio~
sony cd architect, a program that does tricks
like crossfades while maintaining track count,
isotope ozone 2mastering software (a.k.a. "the decrapinator").
also, i just added garritan strings
to the arsenal~www.garritan.com .
these are realorchestral instruments, played by the
czech orchestra, midi mapped across the keys!

> sweet swimming in the pool of zen!

our latest tune "majiker" features von (ONOFFON) babasin on bass,
steve hall on guitar, joel kelly helping out on vocs.

this one is full-tilt progressive rock (!), accepted for rotation at
aural moon, prog positivity, prog soundscapes, the dividing line...
i made the decision not to post it to the OMDs,
it's going out there exclusively to the indie stations/djs.
i'd be glad to arrange a preview for you.

p e a c e out

k

[Dances w/PURPLE]

Hey kirk! I think a cyber LL party is surely in order. It goes like this....we all plug in our favorte music to our CD players on our computer, I am currently listening to Lugano Switzerland ( amazing sound! amazing weed!) We appoint a time and date and we have a Liquor Locust party and meet in the chatroom....(man this CD is just blow my already barefooted socks off my feet awesome!!) Mind Drive is just the greatest song.

So what do you think?? (smiling) I think it's a great idea.

[Dances w/PURPLE]

I forgot to mention the liquor! hahaha...its BYOCB...Bring Your Own Cyber Booze!

[Sheerah]

I think I love the idea!

It would be great fun to be sipping one's favorite libations whilst chatting, albeit virtually, to some of the coolet people on Earth: like you, Patty!

Kirk! How ya been?
It's been a looooooooooooong time.

[Dances w/PURPLE]

and there's me girl! Hey Sheilers! LOVELY to be back online at home DAHLING. So what's say we start a thread on the Liquor Locust Party? By George, I think I will...I do love a good swoiree and libations flowing.:bncy:

[JL]

I figured I would check out some of the Earl Grey online music because he's a cool dude and furnished me with a signature line that fits me real well.

Man, this is some cool stuff. I haven't had a chance to check it all out, but of what I did hear, I really was digging Off the Wall and The Lamb and the Lion.

Very tasty tunes, Earl.

[kirk]

hi sheila! yeah, singing a verse of "don't get around much anymore".

my wife and i are adjusting to being..."instant empty nesters"
as well as possible (a looong story involving much black clothing,
malls, boyfriends named "spyder"..oy)..

we spent xmas at the edgewater hotel in
seattle, room on the ocean side, celebrated (w/ them)
the beatles having stayed there 40 years ago.

sending along a fairly rare picture of the beatles fishing
from their edgewater balcony.

so howzit w/you? still on the left coast?
last i heard, you were looking for a new job.

earlie- sorry for the :offtopic: umm...earl rocks!! woooooo! :heydude:

k to the z

[Sheerah]

Okay, I'll keep this thread on topic, somewhat: JL, Zion is a Yesfans favorite, check it out. My personal favorite is Wall of Train.

Kirk, wow! Sounds like you had quite the yanking of the youngin' going on right before you. Well, hopefully Spyder's heart is less black than his eyeliner.

I did get a job, a year ago, after about 9 months of unemployment. It is a temporary position which lulls me into a false sense of security. Therefore, I am currently looking at classes that will make me more marketable, i.e. Java programming. Other than that, my current goal is to drop 25 pounds as quickly as possible, without sticking my finger down my throat.

Had a nice visit with Earl over New Year's Eve, and our other SoCal friends, Smatt and Tim (muscla_1), who joined us a day later for New Year's Eve festivities. Sadly, our NorCal friend, Scott (scootyes89) fell ill and couldn't join us in the festivities. But Earl graciously treated us to a little concert - my consolation for not getting to see him perform on stage.

Gosh Kirk, it's good to have you back!

[kirk]

thanks sheila, it's good to be back. this is the one site i can
just be me, w/o worrying about doing damage to
the promo, ect.
i really appreciate the community, joined together by
my favorite band of all time.

p e a c e k

[Dantalion Rides Again]

Earl!!!

Any Kulak gigs going on that we need to know about?

I broke out my CD of last year's Kulak performances (I've got three or four of 'em recorded) and really enjoyed them again.

I've also got a few other recordings of ya, and one of 'em's damaged so I gotta go back to Kathy and ask very nicely. :)

Anyway, how's the music these days, my friend?

[Dantalion Rides Again]

::dantalion bumps again::

[relayeire]

I must agree here... and Lisa's got quite a voice, too... I loved her Joni Mitchell out by the pool... and "Enemy" gave me goosebumps...

[Yes2Yes]

Earl is the man!!!

[Scottie]

Earl is my Brutha!

:hearts:

[relayeire]

Earl is my Brutha!

:hearts:

he ain't heavy, though his music is!

[pedro skychaser]

I have spent the afternoon listening to Earl Grey's album Lover's Ridge.

God, this is a cool album! Earl wrote it and sung it and performed most of it and he wails on guitar (largely acoustic) and plays a -----in' harmonica ... the tunes are terrific ...

... and on top of all that, he looks good naked ...

Q

Q is right...


spent today morninggardenning the CD...will embed a bit more then review...

:headset:


(as well as lisa johnson's CD "when the moon is full")

[kirk]

Wow! 2 year bump there Kevin!
It's kind of cool reading back..lots of history,turns in the road.

A big shout to Earlie and Lisa, miss you guys...the poli threads
just ain't the same...and all the mus-is-ical Yesfans...

N a m a s t e,

Kirk

[Silent_wings]

Well hey...

I've been jamming the Chicago CD (!!!), and the Quebec CD for two days straight now... I had to buy batteries for my walkman, so I could listen at work while writing my nurse's notes!!!

"What did you say Jerome? You wanted to pet a lemer?
Dinner.
Oh, why didn't you say so?! Ya gotta speak louder buddy... ear-infarction, ya know?...
'Headphones-off you son of a...' What did you say?
Listening to YES at work ? Yeah.......Sure. What about it?"

Hehe.

All your fault Silent Wings! :ele: :ele: :ele:

For all who didn't know, we had a YES 'CD-burning party' on friday night... Some amazing moments there.
I found two Tormato shows that I didn't have yet, compliments of Silent Wings...
Tourmato: THE GRAIL!

I think our party was a great success.

If the Chicago gathering is even remotely as much fun, we'll all be smiling for a year afterwards.
Perfect!
...Smiling till the next Yesshow!
How sweet life is.

Life is eversweet, and my dearest Yesfriends make it so.

Earl Grey hot. Make it so.

:) All good people. AMAZING PEOPLE! You and You and you...

Silent Wings, and all of my YESfriends,

You rock my world: was that a mountain falling out of the sky, just beyond that swooping moorglade-glider??!

Earlie:ele: :yesbird:

OMG I had forgotten how much of my live was on this thread. For me that party was where The Liquor Locusts were born.

Way too funny back then we where still calling each other mainly by our screen names (Silent Wings not Kathy).

I still love Lover's Ridge it would definitly come with me on a desert island. Necked pic and all:lmao:.

Earl is the dearest of my LL brothers and he does indeed ROCK!

[pedro skychaser]

HIGH,WIDE+HANDSOME UP ON LOVER'S RIDGE

Well spun the disc twice now in the morninggarden...parrots wheeling in the sky,crows eating carrion up gum trees...this CD is a trip alright,down some long highways,over many years,experiences...characters,reprobates,angels+s hucksters...

having only heard earl sing with his guitar,its quite a thrill to hear the excellent production,harmonicas,dobros,propulsive bass(esp on "wall of train"),electric squawling guitars,drums...yet it's the tales he spins,his humour,his slant that draws you in...you meet johnny goliath,eric,felix the cat...a jonny appleChrist(?)...wild,hot times "punching through the night"...

earl is a natural storyteller,wether its chatting to an aussie barmaid or rubbing shoulders with strangers..."off the wall" features wild crunchy riffs..."spirit+steam","wall of train" rocket along...then suddenly "zion"
...heard this live a few days ago here in sydney...so sweet,haunting...these songs have real melodies,surprising twists..."ask king nebuchadnezzer, he'll tell ya"...so then "eric's song" a lament for a dead friend...

so many moods,so many miles down the highway,a sense of space+adventure "i have been many men" ,i betcha...felix the kat "died" the same day john kennedy did...(love how he drops the "F" part),sad+funny song...so great sing-along songs,(you'll dance to "wall of train",the wordplay is clever without being too clever...would love to hear earlGGG cover dylan/shepard's "brownsville girl"...same neck of the woods....

so grab a copy somehow of this amazing trip...wisdom learnt through experience...joy through living...songs burnished at the wheel ,high up on Lover's Ridge when the santa ana blows hot+wild...

(and yes,the schlong is stategically covered up)