Category: Eric Din

This Place Isn’t Here Anymore

Sometimes songs are their own best description, and I think that is the case here. I had fun making this, and I am still fascinated and surprised by it a few weeks later. Based on real events, of course. Hope you enjoy.

This place isn’t here anymore
This place isn’t here anymore
This place isn’t here anymore

The Bank of Nowhere closed all the accounts
All transactions are fraudulent now (all the cards are cancelled now)
Plastic pink flamingos flying south
This place isn’t here anymore

This place isn’t here anymore
This place isn’t here anymore
This place isn’t here anymore

Schools are empty, the golf course growing wild
There’s no water in the old swimming hole
There’s no drinks at the bar where our story’s told
This place isn’t here anymore

Junior says they don’t know what to look for
I used to know just right where we are
Now I’ve lost my way in a self-driving car
And this place isn’t here anymore
It’s not here anymore
This place isn’t here anymore
It’s gone for sure
Oh, this place isn’t here anymore

Eric Din – acoustic guitars, electric bass, vocals, production
Thomas White – drums

© 2021 Eric Roy Dinwiddie
King Roy Music, BMI

Fear Of Everything by Eric Din

Brand new song from our fearless fearful lieder leader. Drums and bass and guitar recorded live at Jay Lane and Dave Shul’s place. Vocals overdubbed there on the spot and more at home as Din finished the song. Din is speaking of himself in the third person and we find this worrisome. Must be all the fear. In any case we love this song and we hope you may enjoy. This will also be on the Eric Din (actual!) CD, which we expect to have in our paws fairly soon.

Fear of everything
Fear of success
Fear of failure
Fear of the rest
Fear of the government
Fear of not having one
Fear of falling in love
Or being all alone

Fear of complacency
Fear of action
Fear of things we need
And getting at them
Fear of losing it all
In a fit of passion
Fear of wasting away
Or ever lastin’

Fear of heights
Fear of lows
Fear of fungus
Between my toes
Fear of laws
Fear of claws
You get bit
Need some gauze

Fear of terrible twos
Fear of paying dues
Fear of waking up
And fear of sleeping too
Fear of poverty
Fear of employment
Fear of death and
Fear of enjoyment

Fear of everything
Fear of fear of fear of fear of fear of fear of fear of everything
Everything
Everything, you know

Fear of flying saucers
Cameras everywhere
Fear of lizard men
And Obamacare
Fear of your dad and mama
Something’s under the bed
Fear of everything
Oh stop the drama

Fear of inertia (apathy, too)
Fear of wingnuts (crackpots)
Fear of elections
And insurrections
They’re out to get us
Coming to get us
It’s very serious
Oh wake up, sheeple (baa-a-ah!)

Fear of black and white
Red white and turning blue
State of emergency
And fear of plague too
Lock all the doors and windows
Keep well out of sight
Fear of those maniacs
On the left and right

Fear of the rabble
Who psychobabble
Fear of everything,
I do unravel
Fear of viruses
And vaccinations
Fear of everything
Across the nation

Fear of breaking up
A fear of staying put
Fear of sticking your neck out
Fear of smiling
Fear of the other
And the other’s mother
Fear of what it means
To be their sisters and brothers

Fear of fear of fear of fear of fear of fear of fear of everything
Everything

Fear of freemasons
And secret spyware
Fear of Illuminati
And fear of bad hair
Fear of heaven
Fear of hell
Fear of witches
Casting spells

Fear of repeating myself
And doing it twice
Fear of pestilence
Fear of clowns
Fear in here
Fear over there
I’m finding fear
In everywhere

Fear of cut and paste
Fear of science
Fear of being in touch
Fear of silence
Fear of priests and lawyers
And halitosis
Fear of all the tickets
And my neurosis

Fear of waiting for the sun to shine
Fear of waiting for the sun to fall down
Fear of everything I ever did and wanted
Fear of this and fear of that and fear the house is haunted

Fear of feeling
Fear of talking
Fear of listening
Fear of trying
Fear of worrying
Worrying about fearing
Fear of every every every little thing, fear

Fear of fear of fear of fear of fear of fear of fear of everything
Everything, you know

Aaaaah, Everything
Aaaaah, Everything

—

Eric Din – guitar and vocals (and claps!)
Dave Shul – bass, guitar, and vocals (and claps!)
Jay Lane – drums and vocals (and claps!)

Recorded at Jay and Dave’s studio, engineered by Dave Shul
Additional vocals recorded at Din’s house
Artwork by Shannon Wheeler
Produced by Eric Din for Berkeley Cat Records

© Dinwiddie, Lane, Shul
King Roy Music, BMI

Come On, Won’t You Dance With Me by Eric Din

This song started as a blurt. I had this idea for a rock n’ roll rave-up one night and recorded it as a voice memo as it came to me. Something possessed me to share that, and soon after, I decided to make a full-on band recording of it. All of the other recordings I’ve made in the last year and a half have been either me alone, or me collaborating with cats remotely. Once we were all vaccinated, and it seemed reasonable to do a live session, I was hungry to play in real-time with a band again. So I assembled a “band-for-a-day” of some of my favorite cats for a one-song session. I sent them my blurt-demo and we set a date at East Bay Recorders with my producer/engineer hero Michael Rosen. We practiced it, recorded it, took a little snapshot and bye-bye. I took that home, finished the lyrics, and came back a week later to caterwaul. And caterwaul I did! I am very pleased with the result, and so grateful to these cats for bringing this baby home for me. I wanted a fun, loud, joyous rave-up to close my album, and here it is. The verses express my love for playing live music, in studio or on stage, and my love for dancing to a live band in a club or concert venue – all things we haven’t been able to do much of lately. Funny detail – I organized this production as sort of a birthday present to myself. I can’t have an in-person party this year, but I can share this song as a kind of virtual party, and, everyone is invited! I hope you enjoy. Dancing shoes recommended! And thank you.

Eric Din – Acoustic guitar and vocals
Sean Griffin – Electric guitar
Damon Wood – Electric guitar
Dave Ellis – Tenor sax
Kevin T White – Bass
JT John – Drums

Recorded and mixed by Michael Rosen at East Bay Recorders
Produced by Eric Din for Berkeley Cat Records
Cover design by Paul Jackson
Berkeley Cat Records logo by Shannon Wheeler

————–

Come on, won’t you dance with me
Come on, won’t you dance with me
Come on, won’t you dance with me
Come on, won’t you dance with me
Come on, oh won’t you dance with me

It’s been so heavy and we made it thru some crazy,
Gonna have a little caterwaul and party,
I like that feeling when they open up the doors,
The band is gettin’ ready and we step on the floor,
I like the way they crash it down on the one together,
And when ya raise your arms even better,

Come on, won’t you dance with me..

Promenade

It’s been so lonely in this social isolation,
Been so crazy what be happenin’ in the world,
So today I’m pressing record with some friends,
On these instruments they made in the before time,
Do it once, ain’t no lookin’ back,
Don’t fix it, it’s broken, we like it like that,

Come on, won’t you dance with me..

It’s been so heavy and we’re livin’ thru some crazy,
Gonna have a little caterwaul and party,
I like that feeling’ when we’re bouncing off the floor
The house is getting sweaty and we call out for more,
And when the last big chord echoes through the hall,
It’s thank you for coming, and we love you all,
Good night

Come on, won’t you dance with me..
Come on, baby won’t you dance with me

© 2021 Eric Roy Dinwiddie
King Roy Music, BMI

Released August 1, 2021

GONE FISH3N

Another surprise single! What?! So many surprises. We’ve gone fishen.

BACK IN THE DAYS OF ANSWERING THE PHONE
(Back in the days of answering the phone)
THERE WERE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DID AND STUFF
(There were things that people did and stuff)
NOW WHEN IT RINGS I CHUCK IT IN MY BAG
I DO NOT NEED WHATEVER THEY MIGHT HAVE
WHO CAN IT BE, I DO NOT GIVE A DAMN
LET’S CRUSH OUR SIM CARDS AND GO ON THE LAM

I’LL LEAVE A SIGN IN CRAYON, ON THE CLUBHOUSE DOOR

Bye bye
GONE FISHEN
Ciao!
GONE FISHEN
Tschuess denn
GONE FISHEN
Fare thee well
GONE FISHEN

I QUIT THE OLD APARTMENT AND I QUIT MY WORRYIN’
I QUIT ALL OF MY QUITTIN’ AND I QUIT IT ALL AGAIN
I QUIT THE QUITTIN’ HELP GROUP THAT I NEVER REALLY JOINED
I QUIT AND SPLIT AND DID IT WITH THE KIT THAT WE PURLOINED

SOME FAKE FRIENDS WHO WERE NOT NICE TO ME
I QUIT THEM, FOR I AM FOND OF ME
DON’T MISS THEM, IT IS NO MYSTERY
GONE FISHEN, GONE FISHEN, GONE FISHEN

BACK IN THE DAYS OF ANSWERING THE PHONE
IT USED TO WORRY ME, IT USED TO VEX ME,
EXHASPERATED, WRESTLING FOR CONTROL
I DON’T MISS IT, GONE FISHEN
NOW WHEN IT RATTLES I HEAVE IT INTO A VOLCANO
I DO NOT HEED WHATEVER THEY MIGHT EXPLAINO
REPORTED IN AS MISLEADING OR SCAM
DELETE THE SPAMBOTS AND THE PHONY JAMS

WE’LL LEAVE A NOTE IN LEMON JUICE ON THE CLUBHOUSE DOOR

Bye Bye
GONE FISHEN
Hasta Luego
GONE FISHEN
Ciao Bella
GONE FISHEN
Sayonara
GONE FISHEN

Eric Din – Guitar, Bass, and Vocals

© 2021 Eric Roy Dinwiddie
King Roy Music, BMI

Artwork by Shannon Wheeler

Talkin’ To The Wall

Here’s a track I made with the help of Moose, Thomas, and Adam, all members of the Uptones at various times. A Mini-Tones, if you will! We did this remotely, as these things go nowadays, in our respective houses and studios, tracks careening through the Interwebs like on Star Trek transporters run amok. Lyrics and credits below. Feel free to share any ol’ which way if ya like, even on.. the WALL!!
-Dinbot

Talkin’ To The Wall

I don’t ever want to be what you want me to be
I don’t ever want to see what you want me to see
I’m not what you think I am I see your evil plan
I don’t ever want to be what you think that I am

Oh oh, appearances deceiving
Oh oh, I’m talkin’ to the wall
Oh oh, talkin’ to the wall
Oh oh, talkin’ to the wall
Oh oh, yellin’ at the wall

I don’t ever want to lie I do it every day
My life is a fiction now a farce in every way
Staring down the selfies will you like me when I’m dead
There’s no antidote now for what they put in my head

Oh oh, staring down the selfies
Oh oh, and talkin’ to the wall
Oh oh, talkin’ to the wall
Oh oh, talkin’ to the wall
Oh oh, I’m climbing up the wall

I don’t ever want to be what you want me to be
I don’t ever want to see what you want me to see
I’m not what you think I am I see your evil plan
I don’t ever want to be what you think that I am

Oh oh, appearances deceiving
Oh oh, I’m talkin’ to the wall
Oh oh, talkin’ to the wall
Oh oh, talkin’ to the wall
Oh oh, delete it from the wall

——

Eric Din – Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass and Vocals
Moose Lethridge – Acoustic Lead Guitar and Vocals
Thomas White – Drums
Adam Beach – Tenor Sax
Produced, mixed, and otherwise cat-handled by Eric Din

© 2021 Dinwiddie / Lethridge
King Roy Music, BMI

Push the Better Button – Maxi-Meow-Mix Single from Eric Din

I am thrilled to share with you this Berkeley Cat Records Maxi-Meow-Mix Single of Push the Better Button! I wrote the song in November of 2020, and with the help of some great old friends and bandmates, this happened. Hope you enjoy! Credits and lyrics below. Feel free to share. And remember, it works on everything!

Eric Din – Guitars, Bass, and Vocals
John Mader – Drums
Paul Jackson – Keyboards and “Beeper Box” Mix
Charles Stella – Vocoder and “Interstellar” Mix
Michael Valladares – Organ, Dumbstruck Whites, and “Shut Up and Dance” Mix
Michael Rosen – “Maxi Mix” and additional mixing
Artwork by Shannon Wheeler
Produced by Eric Din for Berkeley Cat Records

© 2020 Eric Roy Dinwiddie
King Roy Music, BMI

Push the better button
Push the better button
Push the better button
The voice was out of tune
But now it’s o-kay
Push the better button
Shooting for the moon
And now it’s so great
I don’t care
Who’s playing first or last
I just like
To mix it on my laptop
You can try
To autotunafish
But when you’re done with it
You should try this

Push the better button
I cannot wait
For the inevitable blissful state
A super-genius in my own mind
I push the better button
It works ev-er-y time

I don’t know
If anyone can hear
I don’t care
The party’s up in here
Having fun
In my imagination
Gettin’ freaky in my audio station
Push the better button
Play that funky bass line
And two electric gee-tars
Push the better button
Twangin’ at the same time
Drinking club soda and lime

Push the better button
So easy to do
No pressure, you better,
We depend on you,
Hey, is this my good side?
Is this a better light?
Push the button
And make our dreams come true

Push the better button
Problems fading fast
Push the better button
Now it’s gone viral (oh noooo!)
Push the better button
History’s in the past (fake news!)
Push the better button
Now we put it on blast
Push the better button
It is to laugh
We’re destined for destiny
What can go wrong?
Push the better button
Wow, this works on everything!
Push the better button
Now you give it a try
Push the better button
Hmm, let’s see now, I would like
A new president, a sweet girlfriend
World peace, and bunny slippers!
Is it too much to ask?
Don’t answer that,
Push the better button
Eureka! At last!
Push the better button
Brilliant, remarkable!
Outstanding, stunning, exemplary, amazing, magnificent! Unfreaking believable,
Oh my gawd! It’s so awesome, I can’t even stand it, it’s too much, stop.. don’t.. push..
the better button
We will have to do studies on this matter
There is no greater example of great examples
Maximize it, quantize it,
I am the button presser!
Live in cyberspace
Telecon-fer-encing with our loved ones and dates
Push the better button
Yes, we kick it solo
Mix it and we fix it and we do like we know, so
Push the better button
Rockin’ til the dawn
Neighbors put a sign that said
GET OFF MY LAWN!
Push the better button
Come over, we love you,
Push the better button
We want to get know you
Push the better button
In the dark before the dawn
Push the better button
In the year that we been gone
Push the better button
In the dark before the dawn
Push the better button
In the year that we been gone
Push the better button

Eric Din – Guitars, Bass, and Vocals
John Mader – Drums
Paul Jackson – Keyboards and “Beeper Box” Mix
Charles Stella – Vocoder and “Interstellar” Mix
Michael Valladares – Organ, Dumbstruck Whites, and “Shut Up and Dance” Mix
Michael Rosen – “Maxi Mix” and additional mixing
Artwork by Shannon Wheeler
Produced by Eric Din for Berkeley Cat Records

© 2020 Eric Roy Dinwiddie
King Roy Music, BMI

Jupiter Girls now streaming – aaaand a new DUB version!

Today Berkeley Cat Records is thrilled to announce the availability of Jupiter Girls by Eric Din on the streaming services. First released in November 2020 exclusively on Bandcamp, this original song is now in Pandora, Apple Music, Spotify, TIDAL, and some other gizmos as well. So exciting. MORE exciting is that there’s a wild and fab new DUB MIX from Eric’s fellow Uptones founder, Charles Stella, as part of the streaming release. We invite you to have a listen and share it up any ol’ which way you may like to! For streaming links, which went live, oh but mere seconds ago, you may go HERE. So easy.

For the story behind the song and the full credits, hava look at the original Bandcamp post, HERE. Magic.

So why streaming services? Why, you ask? Why did we go to the moon? Why do people climb Everest? For exactly no good reasons. Why do cats play with little bits of string? Because it’s there, Aluishis, because it’s there.

A note on the dub mix! If you dig Charles Stella’s dubalicious dubbings you may also enjoy his mix from earlier in 2020, of People I May Know.

There that’s pretty good for one Caturday. Wishing you all a mighty fine and healthy start to 2021.

-The very extensive and carefully vetted staff at Berkeley Cat Records