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If I Could Go Anywhere

LYRICS – WE ARE THE PEOPLE (OF AMERICA)

After all this time
After all we’ve been through side by side
We’re still standing strong
Holding on to the love deep inside
And I wouldn’t trade it for the world

CHORUS
If I could go anywhere
Anywhere in the universe
And if I could have anything
That my heart desired
I know where I’d want to be
And I know what I’d want to have
If I could go anywhere, have anything
I’d be here with you

I can cry a tear
And you’ll always be there holding me tight
So I’ll take a chance
And wear my heart on my sleeve
By letting you know
Just a bit of how I really feel

CHORUS

There may be other places more beautiful than this
But they’re not the same without you by my side
There may be other people who try to catch my eye
But they don’t know anything about what moves me

CHORUS

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Cherish Whisner was a young female singer from Victorville, CA and I was asked to write a song for her voice. “If I Could Go Anywhere” was the song I wrote for her.

I try to write all my music from a place of sincerity and personal experience if I can. This song is a love song but I actually wrote it about a church that I worked at. In the time I wrote this song I played music for a very small church in Southern California and was getting offers from a larger church. But I liked that small church very much – and this is the song I wrote about that. The lyrics were written to convey that it was a love song between two people.

This was a demo recording – I would love to hear what it would sound like with a full dedicated production. I think it could be very powerful.

When running my recording studio for so many years I would often write music for people for free if they recorded at my studio. It was a great way for me to compose a wide variety of material, have demo recordings of those songs and still retain ownership. It was a work of love and still is.

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Askland Nocturne #6

Music Only – No Lyrics

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The Piano Nocturnes album was one of my favorites to record. All the pieces are improvisations on an old Chickering grand piano. The recording was done late at night in a church sanctuary. I did about 25 or so improvisations and then picked my favorites for the album.

Deb Carole was the “assistant producer”. She sat in the sanctuary and listened while I played. Then she would say “Oh I like that” and help give me feedback.

Like a nocturnal animal, a nocturne in music is a piece to be played at night. And I think this album is perfect to listen to late at night when the listener is alone. It captures a mood that I am very satisfied with. This is one of the few releases I have recorded where I never get tired of listening to it. And I listen to it each time like I’m hearing it for the first time.

Recording was done in Hesperia, California. I don’t remember the year. Sometime around 2002 I think. Maybe someone can post the year if they remember.

The Nocturne also ties in to a great historical legacy from Chopin and other great composers. To me the improvisations are a mix of melodic elements Chopin might use, but with more of a Baroque feel to the execution. And of course not as complex as Chopin in my opinion. But the goal for this recording was not to be complex – but to be beautiful and simple. In that regard I feel the recordings hit the mark.

I am very happy that I recorded these on a real piano. If I had done the recording on a digital piano I would not like to listen to it as much. A real piano has such a great texture of overtones.

I chose the #6 nocturne from the album at random. There are other nocturnes that I also like very much from this project.

One final thought – one of the reasons I treasure this recording so much is that it was just something I did because I wanted to. There was no marketing or sales drive behind it like with my other studio projects. In fact I never did any marketing or sales on it. It is like my secret. I treasure it. It’s pure…

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We Are The People (of America)

LYRICS – WE ARE THE PEOPLE (OF AMERICA)

Our lives may never be the same
We’ll continue on again and again
Each day you wear that fine uniform
We want you to remember this:

CHORUS
We are the people of America
And we stand proud right next to you
Raisin’ that red, white and blue
The people of America
Live in freedom because of you

Know that you are not alone
We are with you in the prayers we say
Just bring our boys and girls safely home
Let freedom ring another day

CHORUS

We hold you dear and wish you near
We stand proud right next to you

CHORUS

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This song was written as the US was preparing to invade Iraq in early 2003. There was a lot of emotion at that time in America over this.

Special thanks to Jaye Sooter for singing on this song. I think he did a great job. (He’s one of my favorite vocalists).

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Dracula Overture – Sample

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Dracula Overture – Full Version

LYRICS – DRACULA OVERTURE

Drako de so le kriva
Iste reava Christo
Seya measto akra prietua

Lokra priaso lape teah
Se pregulate via
Creato fia Drako selah

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Scary! The language is my own making, a sort of bastard latin with words and syllables chosen for their sound and feel.

In early 2007 I was asked to do sound effects for a production of “Dracula” at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon, WA. The composer for the project didn’t finish the music in time so I composed this Dracula Overture 3 days before opening so they would have something to set the mood.

The backstage techs would sing along after several performances and they had a name for this song. What was that name…mmm….the Lochrian Chant? Something like that.

I still remember how excited I was the first time they played it before the show. Because this piece is so very dark. Even though the show was Dracula, I knew people weren’t expecting something so very dark. At a couple of the shows I saw parents take their little children out of the theater even before the show started because the children were scared and crying. I actually enjoyed that because my goal was to have a piece that would truly frighten people.

Ironically, the female vocals were done by members of a “High School Musical” cast because I was in also in rehearsals for that show at the time and had to record very quickly to get this piece ready for Dracula. So we recorded after an HSM rehearsal and I went home and mixed it.

This piece has been circulated somewhat around the internet – I even saw a website that offered part of it as a ringtone.

I have the “sample” available above because I actually prefer the shorter version. Apologies for the theft prevention overdubs. You can download the full version below that one.

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Korean Christian Music – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – KOREAN CHRISTIAN MUSIC

?

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The South Korean Christian Congregational Choir somehow ended up in Southern California and had me engineer their CD. I don’t speak Korean so I don’t know what the lyrics say. Can anybody help on that?

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Conscience Lost – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – CONSCIENCE LOST

?

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Ha – I’m not going to even attempt to write full lyrics. I like the crunchy guitars in this recording and the spirit of the vocal. Versatile Aggression is/was a Southern California band.

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Sconte – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – SCONTE

I can’t define what’s in front of me
But it won’t let me
It’s a tragedy
It’s hard to focus
Goes round and round
And I keep you in mind
Break it down

(Pulled out my keep and injected my car)
Then I pulled out the gates
A little high and a little bit drunk
A cigarette couldn’t wait
( ?)
As I looked to the full moon

What I saw next I went “no one could see”
It’s about our favorite cartoons

Making out with ( ? )
I saw them as I walked by
I was taking shots of tequila
While the pink elephants were all getting high

Me I know what gave (Zira the eye)
But (then like) Spider the Man
Betty Boop was taking off all her clothes
She was wearing only (farmer tent)

(Up go the bomb)

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I can’t make out all the lyrics on this song so I put some of the words in parenthesis. I like this piece for it’s driving guitars and energy. Missing Link is/was a Southern California metal band.

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I’m Alright – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – I’M ALRIGHT

I keep waking up each day
The moments draggin’ on this way
Living through my biggest fear
Then I turn and find out I’m still here
It can’t hurt his long

CHORUS
I’m alright
But every day I want to disappear
Tired of trying hard to keep it real
Hanging onto hope with all my might
To convince myself
That I’m alright

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This is a shortened excerpt of the original song. You can purchase Carlotta’s full CD online. The full CD I produced for her has a combination of hip hop, classical and R&B textures. Carlotta has been one of my best friends for many, many years and it was so much fun to work with her.

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Stop Running – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – STOP RUNNING

CHORUS
Stop running
Stop hiding
Stand up and face the enemy
He’s faithful
By his blood
Who God said (free is) free in me

Why should you trust what you cannot see
So you give in to the enemy
The path is broad and yes it’s wide
The choice is yours to either live or die
He sits so high and he (still lives low)
And I just want you to know

CHORUS
Stop running
Stop hiding
Stand up and face the enemy
He’s faithful
By his blood
Who God said (free is) free in me

You see Paul said in the book of Romans
The 8th chapter the 38th verse
He said now I’m persuaded
That neither death nor life
Nor angels nor principalities
Nor powers nor things present nor things to come
No height no depth nor in the earth creatures there
Will be able to separate me from the love of God
I said no whoop there it is

CHORUS
Stop running
Stop hiding
Stand up and face the enemy
He’s faithful
By his blood
Who God said (free is) free in me

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Pastor Fred Reliford is a minister from the Southern California High Desert. You can visit him on facebook at: http://www.myspace.com/pastorreliford

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The Tragic Spaniard – New Faces Vol. 4

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This was an improvisation by the guitarist that was the opening to another song. I like the piece by itself and tongue ‘n cheek call it “The Tragic Spaniard”.