Berkeley Cat Records – Page 19 – Berkeley Cat Records

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

Caturday UpTones OUTBACK link-fest!

This is OUTBACK month here at Berkeley Cat Records! We’ve had a wonderful response with the Bandcamp release so far, so let’s say a huge THANK YOU to all who have purchased and downloaded this shiny little time-capsule from 1986. From the point of view of artist and label (and cats!) Bandcamp is the best option. Pick it up!->

https://theuptones.bandcamp.com/album/outback

We’re also making the record available on the major streaming services, cos them’s what people use these days mostly, to enjoy music. If you use Spotify, pop into this link and “pre-save” the album! Note: This will also automatically make you “follow” the UpTones in Spotify, which in theory is good for all of us! Clever Interwebs. This page will magically add Pandora, Apple Music etc. as the album goes live in those venues:->

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/theuptones/outback

Thanks, Happy Caturday, and please feel free to share any o’ the above!

The UpTones “OUTBACK” comes out this month!

Out of print since 1986, the 6-song OUTBACK EP is the last studio recording The UpTones made during the 1980s. We’re proud to release it digitally for the first time on Berkeley Cat Records, first on August 15 through Bandcamp, then August 31 through the streaming services. Thanks so much for your orders, and let’s share this far and wide!

<a href="http://theuptones.bandcamp.com/album/outback">OUTBACK by The Uptones</a>

Berkeley Cat Records are spinning!

Wow! Our friend David Dudley made an animation of the record-kitty that Shannon Wheeler drew, and we are so thrilled. Thanks, guys! For best results, play “I Can See It Now” loudly on your hi-fidelity stereo system, with the spinning kitty prominently displayed on your fancy computing devices. Choose color, or black and white! I love The Future. I can see it now.

Press the Play button below, or click “buy” for download options! So fancy.

I Can See It Now

We’re from Berkeley. We are cats. We make records. Here’s our first one!

Eric Din: Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass
Matt Jaffe: 12-string electric guitar
Michael Urbano: Drums and percussion

Produced by Eric Din and Michael Rosen
Recorded and mixed by Michael Rosen at East Bay Recorders
Mastered by Michael Romanowski at Coast Mastering
Artwork by Shannon Wheeler

ⓟ Berkeley Cat Records