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Al Lee & The SparePins Email Al Lee & The Spare Pins
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In The Gutter Again musicians (Spare Pins)
Don (Unca Al) Hicks, Chuck DiGiacomo, Kirk Miller, Mike Beatty, Nino Cercone,****
It’s a Saturday night at Pomona Beech Studio and I know I’m listening to the best music
in the city tonight. While the nights and the musicians vary, the mix is ‘always’ professional,
guys getting together and kicking it out and having a good time. This all gets laid down
on the board, allowing for the occasional beer glitches when the wrong button gets
pressed and amazing sounds are left only to memory.
But it’s late at night and after most have gone, when the best things happen.It looks so innocent and fun, but in reality Producer and musician Don Hicks has a line
in his head and focuses on his own variety of each tune and gently drives those invited to
come over into where he’d like them to play. The loss of a best friend and Hammond organ player
(Ron’s Requiem), among other challenges during that time, brought Don to a different
level – more driven and a notch higher on the professional scale. Talented himself, he
not only inspires others to create and share to the best of their ability, but he also
envisions and nurtures his ‘Bowling Team’.Despite a longer than planned delivery of this final product, the wait was worth it. From
Hicks’s distinctly different treatment of ‘Dragon Fly’ (Santana meets Green) to getting all the
licks down in Wet Willies ‘Street Corner Serenade’ to Etta’s ‘Down In The Basement’s
driving beat, you’ll be enjoying some of the best music Detroit has to offer.This cd is typical of the studio’s formula of redoing obscure classic songs that openly beg
to be retooled. ‘Switching’ To Glide’ , ‘Sixteen Tons’ , & ‘At Last’. Unca’ Don’s cool rockabilly
version of ‘Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying’ almost didn’t make the final cut,
but was included just to remind us all it’s still an “amateur studio”…
Then dark tones and lyrics set an eerie stage for the original ‘Never Bet Your Life’.
(Caution: backwards listening can cause eternal damnation…)
Enjoy – Judith Rosella
Where can you party down all night long
Where you gonna go when your funds are low
There's no cover charge or fee, we can play in any key
Where can you go play some rhythm and blues
With all the comforts of home and a nightclub too
And if it's stormin' outside and there's no place to hide
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
There's no one at our heels and we got no record deals
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
The jammin always tight, we go bowling Friday night
Now come on come on downstairs, everybody's glad you're there
You can play or dance or sing. Or just sit back and do your
thing
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
There's more buttons than time and no deadline
Down in the basement, that's where it's at.
If you're feeling low, there's just one place to go.
And when the sun goes down, there's just one place to be found
Unca Don is your host, smooth from coast to coast
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
Now come on come on come on down here
Down in the basement, that's where it's at
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Mystery Night... A collection of live jam sessions done at the studio...
I T U & The Detroit City Band |
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Sometime in the early 70's, We heard this song performed by a 'street poet' at the Michigan State Fair
while I backed him up on the piano and it has stuck with me ever since.
A crumpled mimeographed lyric sheet he left has long been lost,
but the feeling he transferred to the small crowd has not.
Could have been the first 'Rap Song' ever.
As much as we could remember of the words is in this song,
the rest of the lyrics and music was made up to fit what we felt was his original intent .
Best of all, It's fun... & it's Boogie... Happy 300th birthday Detroit!
I see you in Palmer Park
I see you in Highland park
I see you in Chandler Park
Detroit City, Now Dat Da Place
Detroit City, Now Dat Da Place
I see you in Rouge Park
I see you in Patton Park
I rode the bus with Rosa Parks
Detroit City, Now Dat Da Place
Detroit City, Now Dat Da Place
She don't ride the bus no more
I've been around the block once or twice
I've been downtown too
I've been down where Hudson's was
On Woodward Avenue
I've been around this Motor City
Ren Cen, Hart Plaza too
Detroit City, Now Dat Da Place
I'll be looking for you
I've been around the block
I've been downtown too
I've been down where Stroh's was built
Had me a beer or two
I've been around this Motor City
Michigan & Trumbull too
Detroit City, now face to face
Just me and you
I see you in Eliza Howell
I see you on Belle Isle
I see you on Eight Mile (Got mugged)
Detroit City, Now Dat Da Place
Detroit City, That's my place
Detroit City, Now understand
It's the best damn city in the whole damn land
I've been around that block
I've been downtown too
Hey baby, I think I know you
Detroit City, Now Dat Da Place…..
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'O' Forgive us Canada
Sung to the tune of the fabulous anthem
'O' Cannabis
I T U & The Detroit City Band
'O' Cannabis
It comes from natures seed
True potheads love
The buzz that comes from weedWith bloodshod eyes
We see smoke rise
The herb burns strong & free
From the joints we pass
'O' Cannabis
We load our pipes with theeGod keep our grass
Moist without seed
'O' Cannabis
We load our pipes with thee
'O' Cannabis
Its only THC© 2002 Pomona Beech Music
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