This is a remix of my first vocal offering which I originally released over 10 years ago. Some of the original (free) VST's have faded from existence so I worked with a few of my current favourites and one new one. By now I had switched to a Strat guitar and this is undoubtedly one of my better, more fluid leads. At the time, I was also experimenting with keyboards and was really just getting comfortable using two hands (rather than 2 fingers). Also at this time, I was getting comfortable using Cuckos Reaper. As for lyrics, they just came from the mood of the tune. Everything is drawn from life experiences, so a "cut and paste" of some old, but not forgotten, memories.

Broken Dreams
---------------------

[INTRO/SOLO]

You wake up from a nightmare ...
Or was that real?
Somehow you can't get out of bed
Fingers too numb to feel.

Sun coming through the window
But there's no heat.
Now, the silence is deafening
Not a sound from the street.

[SOLO]

Sweet smells from the pillow
As you turn in bed.
Memories of warm embraces
Filter through your head.

No matter now, the bed is cold.
The covers are all grey.
The memories still linger
Of a love that did not stay.

[OUTRO/SOLO]

:: Words and music copyright Rick Engler

Image courtesy of MS Word Clipart
Drum sounds courtesy of Free Studio Drum Sounds and 9th Wonder Kit
Microphones: Apex 185
Keyboards: Casio WK-110 with built-in voicings
Fender Princeton Chorus Amp
Fender Stratocaster Blacktop Guitar
Boss ME-70 Multi-effects pedal
Analog to Digital: Steinberg CI 1 USB MIDI Interface
Mixed in Cuckos Reaper on a PC
Remixed using Reaper with a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and a Shure SM58.

Broken Dreams

Broken Dreams (Original)

The drink that pushes them over the edge. The drink that turns them into someone they won't remember. Stay out of their way or else...

Number 1s to Remember

Fight Pint

hadn’t we been drinking some
to wash down words
all we had gathered
awaiting to tell each one
what we had found
past those open graves
we‘ve walked and talked

I say, you say
and all we have in common

hold on tight, my little friend
I will listen when we meet again
solid air, my friend
say a secret and I’ll keep it safe again

and soon the bottles will bang on the doldrums 
while we both sit and joyously wonder
and we’ll grin and remember the hidden guns
and the others won’t see the conundrum

carelessly wild
carelessly wild

Carelessly Wild

painting: Sunday Afternoon by Georges Seurat (1886)
The lady in the foreground is walking a monkey?

Lyrics with James Booker

not my monkey

when days burn short
and nights grow long
when hope and dreams
refuse to sing yer song
(return)

good old days
are happening now
cause we're too close
to see what's right and wrong

not my monkey
not my circus
can't step in the 
same river twice

the past and future
on the tip of yer tongue
good old days
are happening now

sky blue
cotton candy summer day
like a Sunday Afternoon 
down the promenade

yeah, she walked past
like perfume in the wind
color, sound and shadow
masterpiece

did angels make the record skip?

not my monkey

April Sonate

When a trust gets broken

Sold Me Down
Words and music by Eric Cromartie
All Rights Reserved
ericnewmaster@outlook.com

Verses 1 & 3

Pulled me with your ‘lines’
Told me time an’ time again “We’re forever !”
Promised me the world
Then you took ev’ry last thing from me

Put me in a bind
Ev’ry time I thought somethin’ was breakin’
It went the other way…but your days are numbered
Baby, you’ll see
			(To Chorus)

CHORUS

Hey! I know! 
You sold me down the river
Traded me for gold
Now I know that your words are just thieves

Hey! I know! 
You sold me down the river
But, baby, I got plans to upend
What you’re doin’ to me
Verse 2

Empty as a shell…that’s your heart
‘Cause you ain’t got no heartbeat
Existin’ in a hell…walkin’ dead
That’s all you seem to be.

I’ll keep me over here
An’ I’ll dance right along with the livin’
As your heart becomes a grave…
Who you play is who you’ll always be.
						(To Chorus)

SOLD ME DOWN

Erie Canal 
Recorded 8-4-24
At Gman Studios and  Skatepark 

Photo and artwork:
Cole Coldheart, detail of mural, copied from a Mutts Sunday comic strip from the 1990’s
               

By the Sunday Jam
Reggie: percussion 
Gman: Bass
Brad: lead guitar 
Coldheart: rhythm guitar,vocals


Back when I was in grade school in Chicago, during music class, we would sing folk songs.  One of those songs was about the Erie Canal.  That one song: “ I’ve got a mule, her name is Sal…”. Anyhow, I used the chorus of that song as the chorus for our song.

That song was “Lo Bridge, Everybody Down” written by Thomas S Allen in 1912.

Erie Canal

Cast adrift 
On this river of time
Who’s that in front 
Who was left behind 

Life lifts you up
And spins you blind
Then casts you adrift 
On this river of time

One place
One time
When your life
Drifted into mine

Once here
Now gone
Only a splash of memory 
Lingers on and on

Low bridge
Everybody down
Low bridge 
Cause we’re coming 
To a town

And you’ll always
Know your neighbor
And you’ll always 
Know your pal
If you’ve ever navigated
On the Erie Canal

erie canal

This track reflects my personal journey, shaped by the values of karma and loyalty that I inherited from my mother.

Space

ローシナンテ

Rōcinante

Track #2
Recorded using Kristal running on a PC
Rain/thunder sounds property of Rick Engler.  All rights reserved.
Photo courtesy of Wallpapersdl.net

I had just purchased a couple of Apex 185 microphones and a Steinberg Cl1 analog to digital box which I attached to my laptop.  A thunderstorm started so I went upstairs and put the mics up by an open bathroom window and recorded the sound of that storm for a few minutes.  This particular piece of music just kinda popped out of my head a few days later so I put it all together and titled it "Three Days of Rain".  This was my third attempt at working with the sound effects.  Unfortunately, I did not back up the original so the raw thunderstorm sounds are gone.

It is what it is and overall, I'm happy with the result.

- Rick

Three Days of Rain Remix 3

I write songs inspired by real life events, and that helps to keep them real. I use the guitar 'fills' and solos to express some of the emotions of the songs.
BTW - some people have asked me about it, so now I'll put this out there -  Eric Newmaster is a 'stage name'

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554491859931

SOLD ME DOWN

Ericnewmaster

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