Berkeley Cat Records – Page 18 – Berkeley Cat Records

Eliza by Russ Ellis

Berkeley Cat Records is very proud to release this new song from Russ Ellis, and this one happens to be the first song he ever wrote! A year ago. Eliza is a Bossa Nova, and if you’ve been following this adventure, you’ll notice that each of the songs in this garden has its own style and genre. I invite you to have a listen, read Russ’s thoughts below, and share as you like. Thank you.

-Eric Din

Liner notes from Russ:

My wife and I are in our eighties. We live in, for us, a large house that we keep in cleanly order with the help of a Brazilian couple with whom we are uncommonly close. After the husband of the couple was injured, his wife arrived one day with an assistant, a young Brazilian woman who did not speak English.

I had no emotional space to include the assistant and effectively rendered her invisible. Soon thereafter, I read a newspaper article by a woman writer, down on her luck, who turned to cleaning peoples’ houses to make ends meet. Upon completing the article, I reminded myself that my father’s mother was born a slave, and that I had the right to invisibilize no one.

The next time she came, I asked her name and vowed to remember it by singing, each time she came, the three notes that wound up at the beginning the song. From the moment I sang those notes, a song crowded itself into existence behind them. This was a new experience for me. Not only did “Eliza” volunteer itself into existence, it opened me up to singing again, and — newly—to song writing. I have thanked Eliza for the gift.

Credits:

Lyrics by Russ Ellis
Music by Russ Ellis/Jason Martineau/Dave Ellis
Performed by Russ Ellis and Jason Martineau; Jay Lane – Drums
Produced by Russ Ellis/Jason Martineau/Dave Ellis
© 2019 Zadell Music, ASCAP

Everything Changed – New single from Russ Ellis

Berkeley Cat Records is so pleased to announce the release of the latest Russ Ellis single, Everything Changed. It’s his third in as many weeks, and I love this approach of building an album publicly a song at a time. I love this song, and I love how it follows Oom Chugga. We invite you to give it a spin, download, and please feel free share it up any which way! Thank you.
-Eric Din

Liner notes from Russ:

I worked closely with Jason Martineau on “Eliza.” Since he is deep into music, both as a performer and scholar, I thought it would fun to try a collaboration with him. I proposed that I sing a line and have him respond on the piano, then I respond vocally, etc. Stumbling toward an understanding, this song was the outcome.

Oddly, this love song was not (consciously) inspired by or directed to anyone. It Just arrived.

Lyrics:

Once you came to me, whispered my name
And everything changed.
I never thought that you would see me, notice me.
Who was I to hope?

Now I hold your hand, look into your eyes,
And everything’s all rearranged.
While I was loving you, you saw me too.
And you knew my name.

Now I hold your hand, look into your eyes,
And everything’s all rearranged.
While I am loving you, you love me too.
And we know our name.

_____

Russ Ellis: Vocal
Jason Martineau: Piano

New single from Russ Ellis! – Oom Chugga

Berkeley Cat Record is SO thrilled to announce the release of this brand new song from Russ Ellis, Oom Chugga! Dave Ellis produced, and Eric Din played guitar. This is hot off the presses – finished moments ago – that is how we roll nowadays at BCR – please share this far and wide, and enjoy! Free download – part of this growing album.

<a href="http://russellis.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-the-garden">Songs From The Garden by Russ Ellis</a>

Liner notes from Russ:

‏This rhythmic chant and a variety of musics occurred to me simultaneously, as did the recitation of deprivations. I took it to my son, David. He took out some excesses that clouded the vigor and added instrumentation. We brought in Eric Din and I left it to them to complete.

‏Claudia, proprietor of Your Basic Bird, a Berkeley pet shop, allowed me to record her birds. ‏I do not know Claudia’s political inclinations, although I have seen her in the audience of more than one Freight and Salvage concert.

‏Thank you, Claudia and your birds, for your contribution.

UPDATE, August 14, 2021: Check out the Oom Chugga Remix Challenge remixes, all here! They really are great. Each one was a unique and unexpected delight. Thanks to our marvelous remixers!

Lyrics:

Oom Chugga Oom Chugga Oom Chugga Oom Chugga Oom

Ain’t got no money
Done lost my honey
My nose is runny
The president’s crazy

Credits:

Lyrics by Russ Ellis
Music by Russ Ellis and Dave Ellis
Music performed by:
Dave Ellis with
Eric Din – Guitar
Russ Ellis – Vocal

© 2020 Zadell Music, ASCAP

Recorded, mixed and produced by Dave Ellis
Guitars recorded by Michael Rosen at East Bay Recorders

Cover art by John Dexter Ellis
Birds by Birds

Berkeley Cat Year-End Wap-Up!

What did we do in 2019? Goodness, we started, is what we did! There was no Berkeley Cat Records, and then there was. Just as when you leave a guitar case open, a cat will spontaneously generate there, if you leave an Eric Din open, a Berkeley Cat Records will inevitably materialize. Science.

In our first year of existence, we released records by The UpTones, The Recyclists, Eric Din and most recently (yesterday) by Russ Ellis! All of the aforementioned cats have more records in the works, and we’ll keep posting them here as they are made.

What else?
The Recyclists have a residency gig starting soon!

I’m excited for that. I love residency gigs and The Recyclists. Note the flier above has helpful markers for bird, bench, play area and other important features. No cover, right by the water. It’s purrrfect.

That’s about it. Why is this a wap-up and not a wrap-up? The verb, to wap. Wap is what cats do when they knock things off of tables. Wap. Wap. Rely on us for information.

Here’s to a bright and beautiful 2020!
Have fun tonight and be safe, kittins.

-Eric Din

Last Glass Of Wine, 1st Single by Russ Ellis!

Ladies and gents, just in time for New Years Eve revelry, Berkeley Cat Records is very proud to announce the first single from Russ Ellis, “Last Glass Of Wine.” This is the first of a series of singles which will lead up to Mr. Ellis’ full album, “Songs From The Garden” in the Spring of 2020.

I was so thrilled to be called in to play guitar on this track, by Dave Ellis, Russ’s son and my longtime friend and UpTones bandmate. Dave produced the recording and we are sharing this mix via bandcamp to let the cat out of the bag!

-Eric Din

<a href="http://russellis.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-my-garden">Songs From My Garden by Russ Ellis</a>

Liner notes from Russ:

While working on the Eliza recording, my son asked me whatever happened to the little ditty I used to sing that I had made up; now the first verse of Last Glass of Wine. He suggested that that could make a nice song, if developed. I went home and discovered that whatever door had been opened by “Eliza” was still open. It wrote itself. My New York raised step mother had fantasized about the West, cowboys, dude ranches, before she came West. She listened to country and western music. I heard a lot of Hank Williams and Leftie Frizzell in the 50’s.

Originally, I made up the ditty to make fun of my repeated failures to give up wine. Its transformation into something larger was easy.

LAST GLASS OF WINE

This is my last glass of wine
‏Gents and ladies, I feel fine

‏Big red devil out my door
‏I ain’t swearing off no more

‏So let’s drink to this last glass of wine

‏That is my last cigarette
‏Can I beat it? Better bet

‏Mama begged me not to start
‏Tryin’ to fix my weary heart

‏So let’s drink to my last cigarette

‏There goes my last love affair
‏Broken-hearted, but I don’t care

‏Love’s as fickle as thin air
‏Some folks find it anywhere

‏So let’s drink to that last love affair

‏Love’s the big addiction
‏It ought to be illegal
‏What it does to people just ain’t fair

‏Ain’t no illusion
‏You’re whupped beyond confusion
‏Messin’ up your castles in the air

‏So, this is my last glass of wine
‏All you people, I’m just fine

‏With them troubles out my door,
‏Won’t be swearin’ off no more

‏So let’s drink to this last glass of wine

Credits:

Lyrics by Russ Ellis
Music by Russ Ellis and Dave Ellis
Music performed by:
Dave Ellis with
Eric Din – Guitar
Jay Lane – Drums
Russ Ellis – Vocal

Cover art by John Dexter Ellis

The Recyclists – Release A

We’re very proud to announce The Recyclists’ first release on Berkeley Cat Records!

These cats are more Berkeley than Berkeley. A hometown institution, The Recyclists prefer to play shows with no cover charge so their families, friends and fans don’t have to pay to join the party. They have regular gigs in the East Bay where they play their original, funkified California groove-dubby compositions, which don’t fit neatly into any genre classification. You’ll have to listen! Their first release is simply called Release A, the plan is to follow it up with Release B, C, etc… It’s DIY to the bone – they recorded this in a home studio and mixed it themselves. The result is an organic record which puts you right in the room, like you’re hanging out at a friend’s band’s house party. I love it, and I love the songs.

I first met Stace Wright, Recyclists guitarist / singer-songwriter when I coached some bands for BandWorks a few years ago. Stace is one of the chiefs at BandWorks, and when The UpTones reunited a few years ago for a benefit gig, The Recyclists joined us on the bill. I fell right in love with their sound and vibe, and eventually we decided, hey, let’s put this out thru Berkeley Cat Records! And here it is. Get the download from their BandCamp page, or (soon!) you can listen on your favorite streaming service. Did I mention they recycle? And that they’re from Berkeley? Cats, no less. Enjoy!

-Eric Din

Always for a Moment

Berkeley Cat Records is pleased as punch to release this single from Eric Din. Din calls it his “love song to Mother Earth,” and the track features the great Michael Urbano on drums.

I stand in awe of she,
I like her gravity,
She make the rivers flow,
And the rain and snow,
She make the sun shine,
She make the wind blow,
She make the sky blue,
She make the critters go,

She make everything glow,
Pretty flowers bloom,
Flying through the space,
Dancin’ with the moon,
She’s all we ever know’d,
She spin around like so,
If you’re unkind to her,
It is to your doom,

She’s always workin’,
Always at play,
It’s always night,
And always day,
Don’t need to talk,
I am made of ears,
I know she’s everything,
I want to hear, now,

All I wanna do
Is be around when
She want someone
To hang around when
Always is only for a moment
I wont bring you down

She gave us all her blessings,
She gave us life,
But if let we her down,
We’re all going to die, so,
I sign all the petitions,
I write my politicians,
I tell them my positions,
Tell them what is so, cos,

The evil corporations,
Want to destroy the nations,
And only we the people can
Stop their evil missions,
Let’s put our best and brightest
Back at the grown-ups table,
Stop the madness, save the world,
Yeah, and free the people

All I wanna do
Is be around when
She want someone
To hang around when
Always is only for a moment
I wont bring you down

Always only for a moment
Always only for a moment
Always only for a moment yeah

released July 4, 2018
Guitars, Bass, and Vocals – Eric Din
Drums – Michael Urbano

Produced by Eric Din
Recorded and mixed by Michael Rosen at East Bay Recorders
Mastered by Myles Boisen

Artwork by Shannon Wheeler

℗ Berkeley Cat Records