Quartet #2 in A Major

Level 3

Cast of characters:
Jonathan Beckenstein — @jonathan_beckenstein — acoustic guitar, composition
Cgmaness – @user-419254289-15129531 – Chris – bass, vocals, and lyrics
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums, percussion, and vocal harmonies
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Roland FP-10 piano and Collings mandolin
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Tom Anderson custom T slide guitar, production, mix, and mastering
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – harmonica, jaw harp, fiddle samples
This song began when Jonathan wrote it on his acoustic guitar several months ago with the intention of developing it into a larger song. When Josh approached him about doing a collaboration, Jonathan thought this one would fit the bill. I should say at this point how much we all admire Jonathan and enjoy his music, and recommend you go hop on his page and check it out. 
  All that to explain the level of excitement that ran through Eclectic Collective when Josh shared the project with the group. Chris was first to jump on it, coming up with his intricate bass line even before Ken added his moving drums, although they went back and forth a couple of times to create the rhythm section. Josh jumped on right after that part was complete, adding his mandolin and piano to the mix. Steven was next up, adding his down n' dirty slide throughout. Last, but certainly not least, Mark came up with the driving harmonica and twangy jaw harp, and some fiddle samples he snipped together from loops, sprinkling these throughout to complete the instruments. 
  At this point, we had a pretty good instrumental song on our hands. However, Chris decided to give it the extra kick by adding the vocals, the lyrics for which he wrote himself. Our multitalented drummer, Ken, added the additional high vocal harmonies, too.
  Now that it was in the bag, we needed some production for it. So, we turned to Stephen, who mixed and mastered it in his always expert fashion. 
  This song was a real treat for everyone in the band. We are all very grateful to Jonathan for sharing this song with us, and had a wonderful time helping bring it to life. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Original lyrics by cgmaness:

Come on now let's break a leg,
We've got it made in the shade
One more day, go out and play
I guarantee we've got it made
Oh, we've got it made
Happy to be with my friends today
Fill up your drink whatever it may take
I guarantee we've got it made
~chatter~
Don't need a reason,
Or wait for the seasons to change
That's what I claim
Go out on this limb with me,
And realize, we've got it made
We got it made in the shade
Can't you see we got it made?
Oh, we've got it made
Happy to be with my friends today
Fill up your drink whatever it may take
Can you believe that we've got it made?
Come on now let's shake a leg
We've got it made in the shade
Don't need a reason,
Or wait for the seasons to change
That's what I claim
Go out on this limb with me,
And realize, we've got it made.

We've Got It Made (The Eclectic Collective - feat. Jonathan Beckenstein)

Sweetness as an act of defiance in a time of cruelty

Sweetheart Mine

For my sixth birthday for weeks and weeks I begged my dad for a dog
But my dad didn’t think I was responsible enough and he was also kind of cheap
But I kept asking him constantly and finally he broke down
He gave me a little cabbage plant growing in a Styrofoam cup

He said if you take good care of this cabbage plant
Next year I’ll consider buying you a dog

I named him Charlie and I planted him in the flowerbed in the front yard
And every morning I’d go outside, and I’d feed him water and fertilizer
I’d update him on what was going on inside the house
And as far as cabbages go Charlie was a patient listener

Every night before I went to bed
I’d stick my head out the window and say goodnight to Charlie.

Our friendship was more than one of those passing fads
And every day Charlie grew until his head was bigger than my dad’s

And I guess my dad must have noticed too because one crisp autumn afternoon
Me and Charlie were sitting in the flowerbed listening to a baseball game
My dad came outside, and he said to me, it’s time for you to become a man

He reached down and he ripped my best friend Charlie out of the ground
For a couple of seconds, I could see his little roots gasping for soil 
Then we took him in the house and we cleaned and we gutted him

 And I swore that would be the last time I’d ever have a personal relationship
 with a vegetable of the cruciferous type
And as we sat around the table, eating our cabbage soup
It occurred to me I was so glad my dad hadn’t bought be a dog

I dedicate this song to Charlie because he made such a big impression on me
Those months we spent together made me so happy.
I go down the produce aisle at the grocery store.  I see those cabbages and it makes sad
I’m glad for the time we spent together.  Sorry it had to end up so bad.

Charlie (Cabbage Song)

File Updated 21/04/25 @ 19:14 GMT - More vox power in and mixed the drum and keys cheese a little higher... possibly still not enough cheddar there

Bass run live
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DItwK6NNYAk/?igsh=ZzkwbmkzbWxmazU0

Vocal run live
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DItiaLPt5_-/?igsh=MW0xNnR4ZXRuczg5bQ==

Acoustic warmup and some background
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DItU4cHNWRZ/?igsh=MTQzemFtcTV2OWxteQ==


The Other Side remake # 5. It started in 2002. Got adjusted in 2007. Had seperate facelift's to reflect new reality in 2015 & 2024. Now # 5 is truly Alive for The Other Side. Both the Song and me appreciate your time and love ♾️ If art is conscious in a universal sense as it's doing its job of inspiring love, then that appreciation from the piece itself doesn't have to seem misplaced...

It's great to make art... But the sharing bit can truly last and maybe it can actually transcend the artist as an energetic entity. Maybe all art is that after it's created ♾️ (unless souless ai made it)


Tempo 155bpm 4/4
Tuning 417Hz A and down one semitone then capo 2 (B string back up one semitone)

Lyrics

Why go beyond this face 
To no longer replace and only embrace this soul
You can’t grow while running from this
Down clenching your fist,
Your hot heads
Too mystical

Light up the other side
Light up the other side

I know to look to this place
Search every last little trace
Find why all is interlaced with the cold
(The Beautiful Dark: In order to.know we are playing with light we unfortunately need to understand the shitty darkness that exists in this universe most of which was created by what we currently refer to as  "humanity" - Can't recall a dolphin ever bringing evil to planet Earth - They show plenty of love though... maybe that's showing us how natural love is and where all hate comes from! Humans...)

Light up the other side
Light up the other side

Love like you mean it
Love completely
Is your heart beating?
Then love like you mean it!

We're wishing for middle eastern freedom
We're wishing for Tibetan peace
For 'free' Iraqi beliefs
We let go of Mugabe 🙏🏿 🥳
Zimbawes relief
Fuck you Burmese high priests
🖕🏽All black and white beasts

Rainbows of love
Your Dharma duties
Never end Peace and Love
No shame no doubt no guilt reigns

Just love like you mean it
Love completely
Just love like you mean it
Love completely

Light up the other side
Light up your inside
Light up the other side
Light up your inside
Yeah ➕📈


Notes
Man this feels good. It's like I'm handing a big chuck of myself over and its a good chunck of good in my head.

I pledge to write this song until I die and hopefully that means me making lots and lots of versions of this over the coming decades. It has to be rewritten because this song needs to reflect my reality and that always changes. When the time is right I'll pass it on to another human who I feel will be worthy enough to keep it going for another lifetime.

I wrote this song originally 23 years ago on a two octave Casio keyboard. It was so cheesily amazing. However the beat cheese was 155bpm of high tempo rhythm so when I went to write the lyrics I slowed the gait to try and say what I wanted to say and not sound like a chipmonk.

So today we go back to that gait and we do it without like sounding like a chipmonk and with new relevance for what I see in reality.
This is the result of the first wave of recompiling the idea again from scratch. I'll hone it now...

2002 Original Jam (Casio version)
https://on.soundcloud.com/KUfoFsjM5oUTyJgg7

2007 Version
https://on.soundcloud.com/zaTQnMc55Xaiuvc39

2015 (recorded in 2024 but in the light of v2015)
https://on.soundcloud.com/YzF6zUSGoTgCKkUx

2024 version
https://on.soundcloud.com/zewarjwwqzHtftZp7

The Other Side (2025)

pianno6a (studio 1998)

A new composition......

Lyrics:
We wander this earth on a small blue dot
Chasing our dreams, with all that we’ve got
Different colors and different shades
Yet deep down inside, we’re all just afraid
They say that we’re one, but we build up the walls
In shadows and silence, we stumble and fall


Oh, we are one people, can’t you see
A tapestry woven, you and me
From rags to riches, we share the same air
Longing for peace, yet we’re lost in despair


Some live in towers, eye touching the skies
While others just scrape by, with hope in their eyes
We trade our compassion for money and pride
Looking away as our neighbor’s divide
Guess we forget what really remains
Love’s a bridge over all of our pains


In the tunnels of red and blue
The chaos screams but we can break through
If we dare to hold out a hand
Find the strength to understand

Mastered Track : Distrokid Mixea
Music and Lyrics by Len Bennati FM Folk 2025

We Are One People

walk away

As we approach the holiday season, carols will soon fill the air alongside larger works like Handel’s oratorio, "Messiah," which is a favorite of mine. When I was a child, my parents played Handel’s music in our home during the holidays, and in college, I sang his well-known works with the rest of our chorale.  

One movement, “All We Like Sheep,” makes me think of the biblical parable about the Good Shepherd, who leaves his flock to rescue one sheep that wanders off. I love this story for a number of reasons, but especially because it conveys the message that everyone matters to God, even when we wander and become lost. This parable, found in Luke 15 and Matthew 18, provided the inspiration for my composition, "The Rescue."

The first 25 seconds tell the story of the sheep wandering off, while the rest of the music follows the shepherd’s lengthy search. Throughout the piece, you will hear a recurring major chord that signifies a glimmer of hope as the shepherd continues his search. The shepherd nears the end of his journey when the music begins to slow down, and the very last chord represents the moment of discovery and rescue. The lost sheep is finally found and gently cradled in the shepherd's arms to return home.

The Rescue

Distopica (Intro)

Area-C:
"Minne"-Guitars,Vocals
"Bito"-Drums

Distopica (Intro)

Area-C

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