Lost in the Music (2006)

is the first of the "twin" albums by The Mescaline Smugglers from March 2006. "Twin" in this case means that the tracks were recorded at the same time, not about any similarity between them, which there isn't.

As the band analysed the stuff they have recorded (with no any special purpose or plan at that point) in sessions of that two weeks winterish period, they decided to split the material to "rock-blues-jugband" and the "other"."Others" went to 'Songs for a Winter's Night', Lost in the Music collection got the blues and jugband songs - not forgetting rock, country, J.J.Cale or even soul... Tuomas is back as a composer, too.

All tracks are recorded in Parola, Finland in March 2006 Mixed by Jore Heikkilä Webdesign by Jore & Joonas Heikkilä

Tracks:

1. Stealin' (Trad. arr. the Mescaline Smugglers)
As far as I can remember I was listening to Donovan's version of this and I thought it was bloody awful - so I thought we should try to do justice to The Memphis Jug Band - and I think we did a decent job of it - despite being drunk - or maybe BECAUSE we were drunk! --davy
2. Cajun Moon (J.J.Cale)
Another cover of a J.J. Cale song. We've managed to do quite a few of Cale's songs since we started recording. Nice and laid back - just as it should be - with great vocals from Tuomas and a decent guitar solo from me. --davy
3. Lost In The Music (Mc Gowan)
is almost a rock track I suppose - but it has J.J. Cale influences too. I asked Jore to mix the vocal pretty low so that it's hard to make out what I'm singing. This was a change of direction for us at the time - but there have been a few more changes since then I suppose.. --davy
4. My Honeysuckle Rose (Mc Gowan)
A simple little song - but it bounces along quite nicely. Me on guitar and vocal and Jore on bass --davy
5. One of These Days (Mc Gowan)
I wrote this in 1982 - I've no idea why I resurrected it for this album. Sounds similar to Cajun Moon. Nothing to get too excited about - should maybe have been an outtake. --davy
6. Nightingale Blues (Heikkilä - Mc Gowan)
More jugband. Jore had the tune for this - or some idea of a tune - and I wrote the words very quickly. It worked out well. I like the guitar work - which I think is Jore. The harmonica sounds pretty good too. --davy
7. Those Were The Days (Adams & Strouse)
I think this was a theme song from an American comedy show - but I had never heard it before. Great organ from Tuomas. This was recorded before I arrived in Finland as far as I can remember --davy
I don't know what they show on TV on British Isles but this serie has it's maybe 3rd round right now on Finnish TV, actually called All In The Family. Starring Carroll O' Connor and Jean Stapleton, who Davy market as composers on album back cover (it must have been one of his sober days). Right names for credits should have been Charles Adams and Lee Strouse. --jore
8. Whisky and a Smoke (Mc Gowan)
is all my own work - recorded in Bellshill. Tom had just bought his new 8 track that day and I was experimenting. You can hear Tom and I were talking as I played the guitar into a mic - and the mic picked it up. I played bass, piano, guitar and I played sax on the keyboard. The drums were from the inbuilt drum machine. I have to say I am very happy with the result. It was all one take and pretty much a joke at the time - but I loved what came out. OK - I'll shut up now...... --davy
9. Johnson Blues (Mc Gowan)
Michelle Johnson was kind enough to design my MYSPACE site - so I promised her a song in exchange - and this was it. Was she happy with it? I do believe she was! I'm on guitar and harmonica and Jore's on bass --davy
10. Georgia On My Mind (?)
This was Tuomas's idea. I had to learn about 9 new jazz chords in 15 minutes and then play the guitar in an off beat way that was totally alien to me! Did I punch him in the mouth? No - he's bigger than me - so I just poured him double whiskies and made him suffer that way! It's a strange version - but I like it! --davy
11. Rag That Joint (Mc Gowan)
This was a poem of mine that Jore was supposed to put a tune to - but he was taking too long - so I made up a tune myself. This is one of my favourite Smugglers tracks. It still makes me smile every time I hear it. The reason I laugh is because Jore's wife, Taina, walked into the studio at that point - we must have looked like crazy people to her! --davy
12. Lies (J.J.Cale)
What? Another J.J. Cale song? It's a bit ploddy - could probably have been better without those keyboard drums - and I think it has the same basic tune as Cajun Moon and One Of These Days. Should probably have been an outtake - but maybe Jore and Tuomas love it. --davy
Why every track should have been an outtake? Where is the album if we do just outtakes?? It's place is here! --jore
13. Vesta Blues (Mc Gowan)
I like this. Maybe I shouldn't say that because I wrote it - but what the hell. Some things I've written I don't like - but I DO like everything about this. Thank you Jore for a great mix. --davy
You're welcome. And I like this, too. One of the top 5 ever from Davy. --jore
14. Mississippi Blues (Willie Brown)
I remember when I finally learned how to play this in 1979 after sweating blood over the tablature for about 3 months I thought 'At last - I'm a guitar player'. How little I knew...... Took me ages to find a recording of the original Willie Brown version - and it was a big surprise to find it had loads of verses - most of them completely unnecessary. I cut it back to just 2. --davy
What a nice soft blues! --jore
15. Dust My Broom (Robert Johnson)
works pretty well. This is a mixture of Robert Johnson's original and Elmore James's classic version with a few Muddy Waters riffs thrown in for good measure. I'd have preferred it to be a bit rougher but I'm not ashamed of it the way it is. --davy
16. Pohjantähti (Laitila - Pekkola)
POHJANTAHTI is all Tuomas's own work - and it's scrumptious! I can't find fault with this at all. Perfect. What are those bloody guitar chords he's playing? Talented bastard! --davy
Tuomas plays everything on this. He composed the music to a poem by about 12 years old girl, a relative of his - or his wife's, I can't remember. Pohjantähti means Northern Star --jore
17. When I'm Dead and Gone (McGuinness)
WHEN I'M DEAD AND GONE is an old McGuinness Flint number. I had no idea Jore was recording this - but I'm glad he did record it because it turned out to be fine! --davy
18. Blues Stay Away From Me (trad)
BLUES STAY AWAY FROM ME is one Jore wanted to do. In fact he wanted to do 'When I'm Dead And Gone' as well. This one's a song that Doc Watson did very well - I think that's where Jore heard it. I'm happy with the way it turned out. Nice tinkling bluesy piano from Tuomas. --davy
Must be some kind of missunderstanding... maybe I said: 'yes' when you asked: "Are you familiar with 'Blues Stay Away From me' and do you want to tape it now, and hey, did I make any cultural blunder yesterday when I was drunk as a skunk?" and you thought I answered the first question. But those tracks are absolutely great even if it wasn't me who wanted to tape them --jore
19. The Gargumber (Heikkilä)
THE GARGUMBER is one of Jore's instrumentals. I did the percussion by slapping my hands on my thighs - cheap but effective. Tuomas overdubbed some piano. Maybe Jore will tell me what a Gargumber is someday. --davy
Sometimes the tunes just come and go, this time I happened to sit beside a mic. Innocent little ragtime humbug. I think Tuomas is doing great piano job all over the track. Everybody is free to figure out what the gargumber is - I just googled it and found nothing.... great! (That's how I wanted it to be)--jore

PREVIEW — LYRICS — DOWNLOAD — REVIEWS

LOST IN THE MUSIC I know a woman do the boogaloo Slow hand jive do the mambo too I know a woman do most everything Make a blind man see make a dumb man see You know that woman’s name is Jerilee She got the way to set your spirit free She move her body when the music play And the men talk low, you can hear her say ‘Let’s get lost in the music’ You see her dancing out on the floor You get in close but you still want more She got the ways to break your heart If you’re looking for love tonight I know a woman who can twist and shout Rock and roll, let it all hang out I know a woman who can sure get down She’s a five star looker with a golden crown You know that woman’s name is Jerilee She got the way to set your spirit free She move her body when the music play And the men talk low, you can hear her say ‘Let’s get lost in the music’ You see her dancing out on the floor You get in close but you still want more She got the ways to break your heart If you’re looking for love tonight (c) Davy Mc Gowan MY HONEYSUCKLE ROSE She’s my honeysuckle rose Shines my shoes and mends my clothes My pal, she’s just a hell of a gal Everybody knows she’s my honeysuckle rose She’s the girl that’s made for me Brings me whisky in my tea My pal, she’s just a hell of a gal Everybody knows she’s my honeysuckle rose She’s an angel from on high Cooks my breakfast bye and bye My pal, she’s just a hell of a gal Everybody knows she’s my honeysuckle rose (c) Davy Mc Gowan ONE OF THESE DAYS Got nobody to miss me when I’m gone Got nobody to carry my business on Take train, bound to get lucky One of these days Times change, you must at least know that You spend all yours learning where it’s at Take a train, bound to get lucky One of these days (c) Davy Mc Gowan NIGHTINGALE BLUES You know you look so good, you know you look so fine Well your lips taste sweeter than elderberry wine Well you look so good, I’m gonna make you mine I came to your back door, you asked me in for sure Nightingale did sing about the love you bring Back door did slam, you said ‘Come on in Sam’ The night was so damn good, just like we knew it would Sun rising high, love was in your eyes I got a feelin’ you are gonna make me blue You know you look so good, you know you look so fine Well your lips taste sweeter than elderberry wine Well you look so good, I’m gonna make you mine (c) Davy Mc Gowan JOHNSON BLUES Michelle Michelle, why can’t you be true? Michelle Michelle, why can’t you be true? Well you’re never home babe when I’m wanting you Michelle Michelle, tell me it ain’t so Michelle Michelle, tell me it ain’t so You’re seein’ Henry while you’re lovin’ Joel Michelle Michelle, it’s a cryin’ shame Michelle Michelle, it’s a cryin’ shame Got the Johnson blues, God knows you’re the one to blame (c) Davy Mc Gowan RAG THAT JOINT Rag that joint, rag that joint Charleston, Charleston point to point Take her by the hand and spin her all around Take her by the waist till her feet don’t touch the ground Rag that joint, rag that joint Charleston, Charleston point to point Listen to the rhythm of the Alabamy sound Dancing through the night until you’re Alabamy bound Rag that joint, rag that joint Charleston, Charleston point to point Looking for a lady and a lady can be found Dancing to the rhythm of the Alabamy sound (c) Davy Mc Gowan VESTA BLUES Can a matchbox hold my clothes? Got a heavy heart, but that’s the way it goes Smoking cigarettes and drinking booze Well you know by that babe I got the blues Well there ain’t no remedy, there ain’t no cure You may be rich, you may be poor Can a matchbox hold my clothes? Well I’m going down South where the warm wind blows There’s nothing left here I got to lose Well you know by that babe I got the blues (c) Davy Mc Gowan 16. Pohjantähti Pohjantähden alta korkealta kukkulalta löydät aina pois Pohjantähden alta korkealta kukkulalta löydät aina pois... kotiin Pohjantähti ei petä sua translation: Under the Northern Star From a high hill You'll always find our way back ...home Northern Star won't fail you. (c) Laura Pekkola 2005

PREVIEW — LYRICS — DOWNLOAD — REVIEWS

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