Category: Russ Ellis

Lament by Russ Ellis

I’m delighted to announce the release of this collaboration between Russ Ellis and Jay Lane. What I might say about it is mostly said in Russ’s liner notes, below. But I’ll add, this one really reminds me of my dad. He’d love this. Actually, I think he does! I certainly do. Have a listen and a read and a Happy Caturday, y’all! Here we are at song 6 out of 11 for this album 🙂

-Eric Din

UPDATE August 14, 2021: Jason Martineau created a beautiful video for this track, which you can view here.

Liner notes from Russ:

I met Jay Lane when he was 14, the youngest participant in Cazadero’s Jazz Camp otherwise limited to “adults.” We were both enrolled in an “electronic music” class taught by Malcolm Cecil. Yes, that Malcolm Cecil.

For decades after that, Jay has been after me to collaborate on some “Hearts of Space” music. (That was the name of a popular radio show
featuring computerized music). Last year I agreed and this is the result of that collaboration.

We did not plan ahead. It took Jay ages to get his Pleistocene equipment going. When it was ready, we just started. Then we stopped.

Credits:

Russ Ellis: Voice
Jay Lane: Music

© 2020 Russ Ellis and Jay Lane

Produced by Jay Lane

I Got You by Russ Ellis

Happy Valentines from Berkeley Cat Records! This is a new song I co-wrote with Russ Ellis. Russ handed me the lyric sheet in December, when we had lunch to discuss his album-in-progress. I loved the words, but didn’t have a musical notion until he sang the melody into a voicemail and boom, I sat down and made the chord progression around his “I Got You” theme. Russ asked for a ska rhythm for this one. I was kid-in-candy-store level happy with this assignment, and had the song structure and guitar tracks done the next morning. Another very fun aspect of this collaboration was getting my UpTones bandmate Paul Jackson involved. I sent him the tracks, and a week later he sent me Organ, Synth, Bari Sax, Piano, Cowbell and the kitchen sink, all created on his digital keyboarding gizmo! Russ sang it at Jeremy Goody’s studio, and Jeremy mixed it there. Without further ado, please have a listen and send it to yer sweethearts!

-Eric Din

Liner notes from Russ:

My son, David, joined the Ska band, The Uptones, when he was in high school. The band made some serious spare change gigging around the Bay Area.

Recently, David asked Eric Din, The Uptones leader back then, to play guitar on the tune “Last Glass of Wine.” One thing led to another. Now all the existing and forthcoming songs from my recent songwriting enthusiasm appear on Eric’s label, Berkeley Cat Records.

In our various discussions, I was surprised to learn that Eric was familiar with silly music from the 1950’s, like ”Mairzy Doats” and Spike Jones’ rendition of “Cocktails for Two.” So, when the lyrics for “I Got You” showed up all at once, I knew they would get a sympathetic ear from Eric.

I proposed that he join me in a collaboration that included his making it a Ska tune. In truth, I had no idea that Ska originated in Jamaica. When they were teenagers, I enjoyed the Uptones’ music for its danceability. Listening to original Ska singers, I quickly gave up on the notion of trying to duplicate their delivery. I just tried to wrap my voice and words around the music and beat that Eric provided.

Lyrics

I got this floor under my feet
Got the good food I like to eat
I got this roof over my head
And Rang Dang Cuddle Tang, I got you

I got these strong shoes protecting my feet
I got this big hat covering my head
I got this great coat, so I don’t freeze
And, Rang Dang Cuddle Tang, I got you

This could all come down in a minute
Everybody knows that’s true
But I’m going to love it while I’m in it
‘Specially knowing I have you

I got a new song sneaking into my ear
Got this very short list of things that I fear
I got some big hugs from folks that I love
But, most of all, I got you

Cop car, ambulance or widget
All that other jive boogaloo
Ain’t going to fuss, fight or fidget
Cause I’m going through it with you

Ragtime, buttercups and golly
Pocono, apostrophe too
I’m going to love it while I’m in it
Just because I’m in it with you
Because I’m in it with you

Credits

Russ Ellis – Vocals
Eric Din – Guitars, Bass, Drum Wrangling
Paul Jackson – Keyboards and Percussion

Recorded at Din’s house, Paul’s house, and Jeremy Goody’s Megasonic Sound Recording Studio

Produced by Russ Ellis and Eric Din
Mixed by Jeremy Goody at Megasonic

© Russ Ellis, Eric Dinwiddie, and Paul Jackson
Zadell Music, ASCAP / King Roy Music, BMI

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

© 2020 Russ Ellis and Jason Martineau
Zadell Music, ASCAP


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.

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

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

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

© 2019 Zadell Music, ASCAP