About The Album
Well, now the album is ready. Now there is no turning back.
There’s no one to blame except me, Zach and Matt, plus a certain mysterious Ms. Black
That refers to Sayde Black, whose wonderful songs are the beginning, middle and end of this album: ‘Shining Star”, “Letting Go”, “Superwoman”, “Worth More”, and “Almost on Empty.”
Sayde is a singer-songwriter who we at Gambling Records love, and she graciously allowed us to put these covers of her great songs on the record. Thank you, Sayde.
Matt Stinn recorded and produced the album, and Zach Strelioff did all percussion. Many, many, many thanks to both of them.
Here are some notes on the tracks:
Shining Star
This is the album version. It is bittersweet. Downright sad, if you ask me. That is fine, though. That’s Sayde singing verse 1, and me on verse 2. During recording of the old version, I changed one of the words, and she asked me very politely not to do that. Now I own the label. Here is the original version.
Letting Go
This song has my favorite line ever: “I’m a city burning for your love.” I repeated it over and over in this version.
The line reminds of Leda and the Swan by W.B. Yeats. “The broken wall, the burning roof and tower…”
Favorite line ever? Ever.
It’s Not the Words
There is some wrestling with God on this album. Salieri struggled to emulate the divine, Mozart sang effortlessly in God’s voice. Maybe whenever you hear about God on this album, you should think of music/art. Or maybe not, we are not sure.
Opening Curtains
I remember this song was written on May 15, 2020. I asked my son to name it for me, and he named it “Opening Curtains” because at that moment, my wife was literally opening some curtains. This song is very much inspired by this one by Feist. I think this is the one, IIRC.
Superwoman
Special thanks to Zach Strelioff on the drums. He did all the percussion on all the songs, we are just singling out this one because we like it especially. We don’t understand much about drumming, but this sounds difficult to us. Difficult and really good. Zach just shrugs it off. Plus, he does all this with no prep! He hears the song once, maybe twice, jots down a few notes, and lays it down. Respect.
The original chorus, which we had to modify a little for obvious reasons, is:
I'm a superwoman and I can swallow you whole
Quick like lightning before you even know
Dive deep in your memory
Vanish your pain
Believe in your dreams
I'll cast a spell to make you safe
We would point you to the original, but it has not yet been released. Someone needs to get on that right away.
Murder Getting Out
More wrestling with God, plus Her Majesty the Queen makes an appearance.
Stay Close to Me, Sarah
Now we are really wrestling. Who will win? Spoiler alert: God loses. Or wins. We don’t know.
The Duchess of Cambridge
Long live the Queen.
Worth More
This song contains the line, “A beautiful song dancing to you and me.” We notice that many of Sayde’s songs have exceptionally brilliant second lines, and this is one of them.
Speaking of great second lines, wait until you hear “Secrets of Us.” Maybe there will be a cover on a future Turbulent Priests record, who knows. Talk about your brilliant second lines.
Almost on Empty
This one contains some 8-part harmony near the end because 8 happens to be our lucky number. Gamblers like lucky numbers.
And with that,
Well, now the album is ready. Now there is no turning back.
There’s no one to blame except me, Zach and Matt, plus a certain mysterious Ms. Black.
And if you don’t like it, go backward in time and don’t enter that bar
With that dumb little hat pulled down low on your face and your little acoustic guitar.
Don’t take the stage, don’t start singing. Don’t let your songs hit my ears
Do not let them enter my mind where they’ll play on repeat every day for 12 years.
So the stars owe no thanks to the darkness? And who is the real shining star?
Thanks for listening.