1973
"Come hear the music play... I hear it everywhere..."
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With this collection, Jimmie had arrived on the doorsteps of that strange world we know as fame. Thousands of new fans were lining up for his shows. He was touring constantly. The transition from unknown Venice minstrel to cult icon wasn't entirely seamless, but his spirit was irrepressible. Add to the mix some of the finest session and production artists in the business, and the results are extraordinary. Jimmie's timeless themes of spirit, hope, and love shine brightly in this collection. The album features some of his most requested concert favorites. The album was reissued on CD in 1998 but is no longer available. See the news page. |
TRACK LIST
Beautiful News
Shirtful of Apples
Open Up
Streets of the Harbour
The Original Tap Dancing Kid
Sweet Wahini Mama
Keeper of the Canyon
Soul Tumbleweed
Long Way From China
Village Vapors
Moon on the Water
THE PLAYERS
|
JIMMIE SPHEERIS |
JANE GETZ |
PRODUCTION CREDITS - ORIGINAL LP
Produced by Felix Cavaliere for Shanti Productions
Strings arranged by David Campbell
Strings conducted by Norman Kurban
Recorded at The Record Plant - Los Angeles
and at The Village Recorder - Westwood, California
Additional recording at Intermedia Sound - Boston
Recorded by Mike Stone, Rob Fraboni and Caryl Weinstock
Mixed by Adrian Barber by arrangement with Starship Productions
This album is dedicated to Mataya, who made it safe for us to remember.
Kay Zar the Movie Star: photography
Ed Caraeff: flowers
Ron Coro: art direction
Thanks to:
Yvonne, Hal, Felix & Doren, everyone at Intermedia, Jonathan Coffino & Kip,
and Various Spirits Whose Names We Don't Have
FOR RAIN RECORDS
Executive Producer Johnny Pierce
A&R Coordinator Wayne Jackson
Cedarhouse Productions
Digitally remastered by Nick Shaffren
Manufactured by Sony Music
CD liner and digital imaging by Andy Markley - art101
Beautiful News
I got a feeling that this time we'll make it
we're going to take it behind the stars
I know a paradise that we can hide in
together we'll slide in the beauty we are
so come on baby I can comfort you
'cause I got music - and nothin' but beautiful news
oh every lover is a Valentino
a Greta Garbo with that look in their eyes
so get up brother there's a lady waiting
anticipating the sound of your sighs
so come on baby I can dance with you
'cause I got music - and nothin' but beautiful news
beautiful news
extra extra read all about it
I got nothin' but beautiful news
Written by Jimmie Spheeris.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
Shirtful of Apples
shirtful of apples and the sky aches with rain
I'm gonna walk down to the river
while this old world aches with shame
shirtful of apples - how our fathers complain
with their hands full of memory
and their eyes full of pain
the cider is sour
so won't you leave me alone
I'll turn your weapons all to flowers
I will make wings out of your bones
shirtful of apples - now the orchards are gone
all the blossoms have been blinded
and in the wind something's wrong
shirtful of apples - all the lies have been said
they take their misery to to the gray moon
and all their sorrows to bed
the cider is sour
so won't you leave me alone
I'll turn your weapons all to flowers
I will make wings out of your bones
Written by Jimmie Spheeris.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
Open Up
you work all day but never sail away
come hear the music play
I hear it everywhere
this life is a bore when things become a chore
and well there's so much more
when you are here not there
yes and out on the street I got grease on my feet
and I'll slide so fine for your nickels and dimes
so open up come on and let me in
they're gonna trip you up and stop you if they can
well I know one thing and I know it's true
that all the joy there is lies asleep in you
I got no cares I got no cross to bear
my love is yours to share I swear it's everywhere
there's no need to sleep awake in dreams that weep
come on and move your feet and dance away your cares
yes and out on the curb I got thunder in my spurs
and I'll dance so fine for your nickels and dimes
so open up come on and let me in
they're gonna trip you up and stop you if they can
well I know one thing and I know it's true
that all the joy there is lies asleep in you
and up on the roof - an earthquake in my boots
and I'll dance so fine for your nickels and dimes
so open up
Written by Jimmie Spheeris.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
Streets of the Harbour
I saw you walkin' the streets of the harbour
walkin' so fine dressed in calico
wives of the farmers they gathered their husbands
merchants dropped their goods as you walked by
so slow
Lady come sing me sultry september
hot like the wind on your bed of coals
Lady come and bring me icy December
cool in your eyes like the
jeweled snow
oh gypsy woman won't you come be my fortune
don't need no schoolin' to play your game
it's relatively simple for your sunlit skin to ripple
close to me
to mine
I saw you sittin' in some tiresome cafe
you were waiting for warlocks to pick up your bill
but you only copped sailors who were hopin' to get laid
would you love to love me? you know I will
oh yes I will
Written by Jimmie Spheeris.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
The Original Tap Dancing Kid
my brother was a thunderbolt
the original tap dancing kid
I would have given anything
just to sing the way he did
he'd serenade the wayward girls
beneath the moon and the stars
sneak down by the water hole
smokin' one of dad's cigars
the girls were wild about him
Jenny even flipped her lid
my brother was a thunderbolt
the original tap dancing kid
he said he'd blaze a trail around the sun
and no one could hold him back
he'd shoot the rapids on the mighty river
and howl like Wolfman Jack
they give our boy a glad hand
they said "Son, what you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna roam my happy hunting grounds
In my funky pair of canvas shoes"
the girls were wild about him
Jenny even flipped her lid
my brother was a thunderbolt
the original tap dancing kid
now he's just a drifter
and he rides on the tail of the wind
every time I see the Jackson Five
well I always think of him
he says "Listen to me brother
Is there hope for a native son?"
well don't expect no fanfare kid
they only give it to you when you're young
the girls were wild about him
Jenny even flipped her lid
my brother was a thunderbolt
the original tap dancing kid
Written by Jane Getz.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
Read Jane's remembrance of writting this song HERE.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
Sweet Wahini Mama
(For Kaoo)
rain come down on sweet salt water
palm trees sway in the charcoal sun
I peel papaya with the captain's daughter
I eat the mango till the nectar comes
little darlin' like sweet sugar cane now
suck its juices till it runs so dry
then we'll go sailing gonna get there somehow
to the paradise beyond the sky
and evening brings the storm
but mama - sweet wahini mama
mama keep me warm
butterfly come from the cocoon
ivory pearl come from the oyster shell
but me I come from back of the gray moon
so far, so far, no man can tell
little darlin' like sweet sugar cane now
suck its juices till it runs so dry
then we'll go sailing gonna get there somehow
to the paradise beyond the sky
and evening brings the storm
but mama - sweet wahini mama
mama keep me warm
Written by Jimmie Spheeris.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
Keeper of the Canyon
gray and green and gold and moist
the white fog is filling the canyon
thru the chimney smoke I heard a voice
and flew like light in my sleep
and then jewels rose in the midnight sky
and the full moon shone a silver lullaby
and the keeper of the canyon
stood naked in my dream
and dark farewells are deep as you
like a wishing-well where love was thrown
empty as the clearest skies are blue
where no bird has ever flown
and the wind-filled heart is never left alone
and every dream's a part of the love that's flown
like comets thru the canyon in the morning
you are gone
you are gone
Written by Jimmie Spheeris.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
Soul Tumbleweed
I've known you before but I can't say when
'cause my soul is a tumbleweed and time is its wind
but do you want to try it again?
how long has it been since your virtue gave in
to some good honest sin?
how long has it been?
it doesn't matter
'cause I've known you before
I want to know you some more
that's what we're here for
and I know what you think, but there's no blood on my whips
let me buy you a drink or let me drink of your lips
'cause I just want to do it again
maybe out of the skin, baby, let me come in
the souls are old friends
how long has it been
since someone's touched you?
well I touched you before
I want to touch you some more
that's what we're here for
Written by Jimmie Spheeris.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
Long Way From China
you've come a long way from China
on a sea alive with storm
now won't you come and sit beside of me
I can try and keep you warm
I have some tea that comes from India
and some stolen time I'll mend for you
we'll ride our thoughts like trolleys to the sun
now that your journey's done
will you spend your mornings gardening
for the rich folks on the hill?
seeds of life - roses, gardenias
for the earth you freshly tilled
old man - some time ago
in China did you garden for the golden Emperor?
did you ride the rickshaw cabbies thru the rain?
I'd like to have known you then
you've come a long way to America
where the traffic wizards rule
the only cherry tree's a fallen one
they try to resurrect in school
old man - your wisdom comes to me at night
it takes me flying like the dragon kite
that sails over the ocean in the spring
and just like the kite feels for the wind
you are my friend
Written by Jimmie Spheeris.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
Village Vapors
in these village vapors, if you see it or not
if you know where you are, you can get what you want
some peace or some noise or some young tattooed boys
some hot dogs, sweet fog, or dyke debutantes
well if you know where you are, you can get what you want
and in these village vapors, some think it's so groovy
but if you know where you are, it's like a horror movie
with vampire desires, Jesus and hell fire
and the black naked nuns that walk a tight wire
if you know where you are, then you better stay there
and in these village vapors
some try to escape
but they wind up with crazies
laughin' at the space gates
they'll stay here, then pray
every day for a way
to get out something about
the pure light of day
but if you know what you are
then it just don't matter
no no no no more
it just don't matter
Written by Jimmie Spheeris.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
Moon on the Water
the virgin winter whistles
mystery through the trees
sweet child of summer soars
in sleep over the seas
moon on the water's path
will light his seedling dreams
as angry waves awoke
I heard his sorrow sing
some are like prisoners
bound to what they feel
they say there's no escape
from the turning of these wheels
moon on the water
if just condemned to light the tide
some are bound to ground
but you - condemned to sky
Written by Jimmie Spheeris.
(C) (P) 1976, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved.
discography page | jimmie's home page | return to track list
