MAINE 2025 SUNDAY ISLAND PARTY JAMS

The tents start getting folded up on Sunday morning, and the boats start shuttling dozens to the mainland, but this year, again, enough musicians and singers remain,  and, so, the Sunday Jams begin.

This music was recorded in August 2025, on an island in the middle of a big lake in Northwest Maine, where we’ve been gathering, thanks to the Loons, for decades. Many of these friends, musicians, and singers hadn’t seen each other, much less played with each other, for at least a year. It’s all improvised, a Jam, not a Performance, with no prior Rehearsals or Song Lists, so this is as real as it gets.

This album is arranged in the actual order in which the music was played, minus the many out-takes, but, when it’s all done, it seems I couldn’t have thought of a better order. The music is all acoustic Americana, though it ranges all over the place, from Bluegrass to Jazz to Folk to Country to Rock to Reggae, but it really works as an organic album, and that’s big for people like me, who still appreciate albums.

Sounds best, like you’re right on that island in Maine partying with us, when played on a good stereo with two separated speakers, left and right, or on a headset, or, one of my favorites, on a car stereo, so that this stereo recording will actually sound three-dimensional. You can hear the location of each instrument and singer. More than ever before, I was able to immerse myself (and my stereo pair of mics) into the belly of the music, literally surrounded by the musicians, the instruments, voices, and harmonies, so that, if you listen in true stereo, I can take you right in there with me.

On some songs, there’s a little too much chatter, but when you’re actually at a campfire, and people are talking, laughing, and partying, you filter that out, and the only thing you hear is the music. Crank it up, and let your imagination take you there, and enjoy. It’ll surprise you.

Recorded, edited, and mastered by
Mike Berliner, aka 'Mikethemikeman'


11 Midnight Rider

Music & lyrics by Loren Cole

Produced by Henry Was and Loren Cole
Mixed by Brian Malouf and Henry Was
Mastered by Andrew Garver

CJ5 MSTR

Play Me A Song

Young

It’s been far too long…


You got a death grip on the past
Calloused hands
You
got a touch that’s heaven sent
yeah yeah
but You carry crosses on your back
That you don’t need to
anymore

Days, that you let me through the cracks
Are the best
Waves feel them crash inside our chest
But then
You see emotions as war time flags
and as it bleeds you
slam the door
Darling

Help me to breach through
I just want to reach you
Let it go love
Let it go
Tell me how to see through
I just want to see you
Let it go love
Let it go
Heaven knows
It’s been far too long

If I had my way i’d let you steal
Both my eyes
leave me blind and play the reel
Oh then
You’d know the reason behind all that I feel
And why I standing here
My Heart Stinging in the cold
Darling

Help me to breach through
I just want to reach you
Let it go love
Let it go
Tell me how to see through
I just want to see you
Let it go love
Heaven knows
It’s been far too long

I’m outside
Taping flowers to the wall
Saying
Come on darling
let it fall, let it fall
I’m outside
Taping flowers to the wall
Saying
Come on darling
let it fall, let it fall
Darling

Help me to breach through
I just want to reach you
Let it go love
Let it go
Tell me how to see through
I just want to see you
Let it go love
let it go
Heaven knows
It’s been far too long

Far Too Long

Seventeen

This morning saw the release of this fire track by Surfaces ft. Elton John. Really enjoyed the laid-back yet moving vibe, so decided to make my own Spicy Cover! 

Here is what makes this live arrangement spicy!

While I mostly kept the original chord progression in tact, I did add a lot of dominant chords to give it that extra spice we all want. For example, midway through the first chorus, instead of going straight to F#, I instead went A#m7 - G#min7 - F#. This acts as a passive 2-5 which makes it really catch the ear.

I also did a few Dominant b9's here and there. Specifically in the second chorus, I played C#maj7 - C#7b9 - F#.

Before the Elton John verse, I played a laid-back, behind-the-beat instrumental which connected the two parts of the song well! 

Along with all of this, I added a few licks here and there to make it all come together!

What was the spiciest part to you? Let me know below!


Youtube Video version: https://youtu.be/NE0LsP2K5Io

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"Learn to Fly" - Surfaces, Elton John | Spicy Acoustic Cover

ASOS

Wait No More

Wait No More (Acoustic)

Nonsuch Park (sa)

True Crime

My message:
I made the song wanting it to sound poppy and fun, but honest and real at the same time. I had been going through a tough time in my life, struggling with building relationships and getting over past ones. Then I realized the only word that could describe how I felt was "lonely," so the hook came easily. As I went deeper into how I felt, I played with the concept of just how lonely I was by practically saying in my second verse, "It's not that I even need a therapist, it's that I need company," and "I've experienced so much loss, hey, if you're an old friend listening to this, I probably miss you". As for the upbeat and happy elements of the song, I figured that if I feel this lonely, I might as well make it enjoyable. The takeaway from this is that, even in loneliness, there can be contentment. I mean, I found it by making a song about it.

-lyrics
Like little butterflies caught in a web
For the first time it filled me with dread
Forgot what it's like to get out of bed
Homebody, no bread
 
It's such a lonely, lonely, lonely world
For such a lonely, lonely girl
And I'm a lonely, lonely, lonely girl
In such a lonely, lonely world
 
I hit up old friends to come visit me
And when they say no, I try therapy
Not for consoling, just for company
Nobody, that's me
I've been talking to the moon again
Lost more than I ever meant to
Still here trying to play pretend
'Cause I still think about you
No one's gonna save me now
I live but I don't know how to
Tell me when you're back around
'Cause I still think about you
 
Lonely, lonely, lonely world
It's such a lonely, lonely world
And I'm a lonely, lonely, lonely girl
In such a lonely, lonely world
It's such a lonely, lonely, lonely world
For such a lonely, lonely girl
And I'm a lonely, lonely, lonely girl
In such a lonely, lonely world
 
Don't you see it?
People leave, it don't mean it
You can stop believing
People leave, it don't mean it
They don't mean it
It's such a lonely, lonely, lonely world
For such a lonely, lonely girl
And I'm a lonely, lonely, lonely girl
In such a lonely, lonely world

Lonely Girl (prod. Garrett)

LYRICS

You know you got me falling for you baby,
Just promise me you gon' be there to save me
To break it down, for you now 
Everything, everything, everything's so right)

You know you got me falling for you baby,
Just promise me you gon' be there to save me
To break it down, for you now 
Everything, everything, everything's so right

Days 
Witchu
Feel like
Minutes
(Minutes, minutes, minutes, minutes)
Strange
How you
Make time
Diminish
(Where'd it go? Where'd it go? Where'd it go?)

But one thing's
Been on my mind
Can I share
If you got time?
From the moment 
You caught my eye
You've been the one 
To supply
My happiness
I cannot lie
You've always stood 
By my side
So everything 
Feels so right
Everything 

Feels so right
(Got me feeling so right, got me feeling so right)
So right 
Everything feels so right
Everything feels so right
Everything
Everything 
Everything 

You 
Always 
Get my 
Head spinnin'
(Spinning, spinning, spinning)
Strange 
How you
Became
My business 

But one thing's
Been on my mind
Can I share
If you got time?
From the moment 
You caught my eye
You've been the one 
To supply
My happiness
I cannot lie
You've always stood 
By my side
So everything 
Feels so right
Everything 

Feels so right
(You make everything feel right
You make everything so right)
So right 
(You make everything feel so right)
Everything feels so right
Everything feels so right
Everything
Everything 
Everything 

(You know you got me falling for you baby,
Just promise me you gon' be there to save me
To break it down)
I can't imagine life without you
(I can't imagine life without ya)

I know what I want
I know what I want
(To break it down, for you now)
I want you for life, baby
(Everything's so right)

SO RIGHT (prod. by garrett)

Producer Man

Perfectly Imperfect

Perfectly Imperfect (Gospel Choir Version)

Long time player of the guitar. I try to sing, but usually just results in a guitar jam. I do thank the Lord for all my gifts though. He is the reason I sing and write. 

"Learn to Fly" - Surfaces, Elton John | Spicy Acoustic Cover

Matthew Martin

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