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