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This 2-CD set is a celebration of Al's 15 years on his own Sweetspot label. The first disc has Al Basile blues songs from his catalogue, with the cream of New England musicians including Duke Robillard and his band, Sugar Ray Norcia, Jerry Portnoy, Sax Gordon Beadle, Doug James, Bruce Katz, and many others.
The second disc is new, with Duke and his band backing Al up on 13 blues and roots based songs kin a Memphis style - truly "next door to the blues". It also features Al's longtime friend and jazz legend, tenorman Scott Hamilton.
"A consummate professional, Basile does what he does with feeling and intelligence, and he makes you want to come back for more. " -Rambles.net
"Al Basile has raised his profile considerably over the past few years. His past four discs have charted in the Top 15 on the Living Blues airplay charts and he’s been nominated for two BMA’s in 2010 and 2012 as Best Horn Player. This retrospective/new release should raise his profile even more, showcasing his versatility as a songwriter, singer, and musician." – Graham Clarke, Bluesbytes
1 Go Back Home to the Blues
2 I Got to Love and Be Loved
3 Picked to Click
4 Termites in my Basement
5 Daddy Got a Problem
6 Just a Heartache
7 I Really Miss You
8 Not the Wrong Woman
9 Bad Intentions
10 Annie Get Your Thing On
11 Too Slow
12 Housekey Blues
13 Give It Like You Get It
14 80 Bells
15 Too Much Like Fate
16 Keep That Heart
17 Stony Ground
18 Only Jodie Knows
19 A Mystery to Me
Continued below...
20 She Was Sayin' Giddyap (I Was Sayin' Whoa)
21 It Is What It Is
22 A Little Too Far
23 Tryin' to Impress the Girl
24 Miss Dissatisfied
25 My Phone's Got a Mine of its Own
26 The Streak
27 The Closer
You got it backwards, got it switched around
wore out your welcome before you hit this town
People you met already had you up to here
should have come around some other year
Got to that bridge in time to see it burn
Yesterday you left, today you learn
Things don't go the way they're supposed to go
you don't know the things you're supposed to know
What you do doesn't do you any good
nothing ever helps the way it should
Got to that bridge just in time to see it burn
Yesterday you left, today you learn
Your timing's off it seems – before you get to steal the beans
there's a giant at your back fe-fi-fo-fumming
Everything you do has a way of falling through
You'd think by now that you could see it coming
24 bars solo
Your timing's off it seems – before you get to steal the beans
there's a giant at your back fe-fi-fo-fumming
Everything you do has a way of falling through
You'd think by now that you could see it coming
But your life wasn't always like today
once upon a time things went your way
You had a wife and family, didn't you?
But you couldn't stand to have that dream come true
Got to that bridge in time to see it burn
Yesterday you left – today you learn
Yesterday you left – today you learn.
Don't make me beg – you're the one to say when
at the end of the day you're gonna get your way
let me save a little face till then
ain't nothing funny 'bout a man on his knees
all I can say is please – don't make me beg
Don't make me plead – you know I need you to stay
I fell for your line and ever since that time
I really got nothing to say
you're gonna haunt me even though you lied
leave me the ghost of my pride – don't make me beg
When people see us together
they think that I'm in control
but they're just fooled about who's walking who
'cause you got a leash on my soul
Don't make me beg – this is all that I ask
take my advice, I can't say it twice
I'm really not up to the task
I'm just a man with his hat in his hand
leave me someplace to stand – don't make me beg
16 bars solo
When people see us together
they think that I'm in control
but they're just fooled about who's walking who
'cause you got a leash on my soul
Don't make me beg – this is all that I ask
take my advice, I can't say it twice
I'm really not up to the task
I'm just a man with his hat in his hand
leave me someplace to stand – don't make me beg
When things get tough, the tough get things
when you're fit to be tied, you buy sump'n fit for kings
it's hard to make a marriage work, easy to buy the rings
When things get tough, the tough get things
When things go bad, the bad get going
you can see their backs, and their true colors showing
it's too hard for them to stay, but easy for you to know
When things go bad, ooh the bad get going
Sometimes life is gonna bring you the blues
so get out and bring home crocodile shoes
nothing makes people think that you're cool
like a house with a moat and a boat with a pool
8 bars solo
Sometimes life is gonna bring you the blues
so get out and bring home crocodile shoes
nothing makes people think that you're cool
like a house with a moat and a boat with a pool
When things get tough, the tough get things
they ain't gonna stop until the Fat Lady sings
so let's buy a Maserati, and see what tomorrow brings
When things get tough, ooh the tough get things
One more stone in the pitcher
one more hide on the wall
if I didn't shout it
you wouldn't know about it at all
One more stone in the pitcher
one more notch on the gun
it bugged me at first
now my thirst don't matter none
Every day the water gets higher
gets a little closer to my tongue
there's gonna come a time when my heart's desire's
just a song I wrote that finally gets sung
One more stone in the pitcher
one more shot on the bar
you're the best one yet
but that ain't gonna get you far
16 bars solo
Every day the water gets higher
gets a little closer to my tongue
there's gonna come a time when my heart's desire's
just a song I wrote that finally got sung
One more stone in the pitcher
one more skin on the floor
once I pick up your track
I ain't coming back no more
I ain't coming back no more
I started out an empty-headed fool
never thought of what I had
didn't know what I was missing
until it all went bad
When my life got dark and empty
I saw I had lost my way
I put my two hands together
and I began to pray
I said put me on the road to heaven
cause I've been wasting my time
I'll be a better man tomorrow
Ooh Lord, if you show me a sign
And I woke up in Memphis
they were playing that old rock and roll
I woke up in Memphis
and that was good for my soul
16 bars solo
Now I've learned a hundred lessons
about the things that do me good
but even when I know better
I don't always do the things I should
When my life gets dark and empty
I know I have lost my way
I put my two hands together
and I begin to pray
I say put me on the road to heaven
oo-oo won't you show me the way
I'll be a happier man tomorrow
O Lord, than I am today
And I wake up in Memphis
they're singing that gospel and soul
I wake up in Memphis
and that makes me whole
I wake up in Memphis
they're singing that gospel and soul
I wake up in Memphis
and that makes me whole
Jimmy James and Johnny Jones, they were the best of friends
they were traveling together down that road that never bends
and hurting one another they never could intend
Jimmy James he met a woman, drawing water from a well
she was sweet and kinda quiet, and she rang him just like a bell
but the woman had a secret, one that Johnny wouldn't tell
Johnny Jones said to the woman, “Ahh it was such a long time ago -
and I'm not the one to tell him, but don't you think he deserves to know?”
She only shook her head, that was a place she didn't want to go
12 bar solo
Jimmy James said to Johnny, I love that girl with all my heart
I'd do anything to keep her, she wants to make a brand new start
so I hope you understand now, why the two of us must part
Johnny looked off in the distance, down that road that never bends
the crows were circling slowly, and he saw the way things end
he said “best of luck to you Jimmy, I will always be your friend.”
I was fresh out of luck
when the lightning struck
and it backed me up against the wall
People crowded all around me
I didn't have any place to fall
I was hemmed in tight by the failing light
didn't have a minute to lose
when just in time – I was saved by the blues
I guess I bought
everything I'd been taught
about the only way to be
but it didn't feel right to be acting
like anybody else but me
Still I kept on trying to step
in somebody else's shoes
then just in time – I was saved by the blues
**Saved by the Blues
it took me somewhere else
saved by the blues
it let me be myself
Well it's a long way down
when you start on the ground
I was hanging on for dear life
I had a little hope to guide me
but I was walking on the edge of a knife
Then I slipped and lost my grip
I was headed for tomorrow's bad news
when just in time – I was saved by the blues
16 bars solo
**Saved by the Blues
it took me somewhere else
saved by the blues
it let me be myself
Well it's a long way down
when you start on the ground
and I was hanging on for dear life
I had a little hope to guide me
but I was walking on the edge of a knife
Then I slipped and lost my grip
I was headed for tomorrow's bad news
when just in time – I was saved by the blues
If I hada known the grass wasn't greener
then I mighta used just a little more sense
If I knew that the sun don't always shine
over there on the other side of the line
I might have been happy just nibblin' through the fence
If I hada known the rest of the story
I mighta thought twice of what I was up against
If I knew it would cost me so much more
soon as I set foot through that door
I might have been happy just nibblin' through the fence
Nothin's so good it can't go bad
I coulda thought about that before
but I didn't think much about what I had
I only knew I had to have more
I mighta known that the heat over yonder
was gonna turn out to be just-a too intense
But you never find out 'til it's too late
you can't finish everything on your plate
I shoulda been happy just nibblin' through the fence
16 bars solo
Nothin's so good it can't go bad
I coulda thought about that before
but I didn't think much about what I had
I only knew I had to have more
I mighta known that the heat over yonder
was gonna turn out to be just-a too intense
But you never find out 'til it's too late
you can't finish everything on your plate
I shoulda been happy just nibblin' through the fence
I was sorely oppressed for so very long
I cried out to the Lord “What must I do?”
He said “You know the difference between right and wrong.
It's your life, I'm leaving it up to you”
When there's not enough kindness (You've got to put some there) in the world
Don't wait for someone else to start (Oo oo oo you've got to)
When there's not enough faith (You've got to put some there) in the world
Make a little heaven right where you are
Make a little heaven right where you are
When the City of Refuge (hey) is just too far (You've got to)
and the weight of the world too much to bear (Oo oo oo you've got to mmmmm)
Make a little heaven right where you are
It's up to you to put it there just you, that's right...
When there's not enough mercy (You've got to put some there) in the world, mmmm
You're expected to do your part (you've you've you've got to)
When there's not enough hope (put – some - the-re) in the world
Make a little heaven right where you are
Make a little make a little
Make a little heaven right where you are... come on...
16 bars cornet solo, modulation to E
Awww, make a little heaven (You've got to put some there) right where you are
You've got to (Make a little heaven right where you are) -oo-oo-oo-
When the Gates of the Kingdom are just too far (You've got to)
Make a little heaven right where you are
Make a little heaven right where you are arrrrarrrr
Faith Kindness (Put some there, you've got to)
Hope Mercy (Oo oo oo you've got to)
Oh-hh Lo-ove Patience (Put some there)
Make a little heaven right where you are
Make a little make a little hey
Make a little heaven right where you are Ow, right now...
Truth Justice (Put some there, you've got to)
Trust Forgiveness (Oo oo oo you've got to)
Ohhh Joy Acceptance (Put some there) come on...
Make a little heaven right where you are [harmony]
Make a little heaven right where you are hey hey
aaaahhhhhh
Right now, don't wait, don't wait for... Hope Mercy
Owww, you've got to put some... Love Patience...come on...
make a little heaven right where you are [harmony]
make a little make a little hey
make a little heaven right where you are
aowwww Truth Justice
ahhhhh-uh-huanh.... Trust Forgiveness
put it, right now Jo-oy-hoy Acceptance
don't don't don't wait Make a Little Heaven right where you are
you got to you got to Aowwwwwwwwwwww...
hmmmmm-mmrrr-mmmm-mmmmm
Stars that fall ain't stars at all
just a temporary light
They make a show, then they go
Real stars will keep on shining bright
Shooting stars ain't going far
Only burnin' up the night
They just streak on, then they're gone
Real stars will keep on shining bright
Shooting stars and falling stars
just chunks of rock in space
They light the sky and then they die
and nothing takes their place
Stars that stay don't run away
They were made to make things right
Every night for sure they'll be back for more
Real stars will keep on shining bright
16 bars solo
Shooting stars and falling stars
just chunks of rock in space
They light the sky and then they die
and nothing takes their place
Stars that stay don't run away
They were made to make things right
Every night for sure they'll be back for more
Real stars will keep on shinin'
ain't afraid to put the time in
Real stars will keep on shining bright
Too tough – you're too tough
they all try but they're never good enough
When the guys – gather round
they do their best but you put them all down
You smile while they try to tell you all those lies
you're just too tough for the average guys
but you ain't never gonna be – to-too tough for me
You got style – you got grace
you got dimples in the middle of your face
When you're sittin' – in a chair
you got legs that go from here to there
I know your mama must have put you wise
you're way too tough for those regular guys
but you ain't never gonna be – to-too tough for me
32 bars solo
You got brains – in your head
that tell you when to use your body instead
When you open – up your mouth
all the guys feel their minds goin' south
They trip and fall into those big brown eyes
you're just too tough for all those younger guys
but you ain't never gonna be – to-too tough for me.
I'm gonna be big – like Elvis
just wait, it's gonna happen some day
I'm gonna be big – like Elvis
what's more I'm gonna do it my way, do it my way
I'm gonna give my friends all Cadillacs
then they'll see I'm a generous guy
I'm gonna have a house like Graceland
and it's gonna climb right up to the sky, ahhh up to the sky
I'm gonna be an icon – like Elvis
nobody will deny my fame
everybody's gonna wish they knew me
and get a little shiver just a-saying my name, saying my name
Everything about me is gonna be bigger
and a whole lot better than you think it should be
good-lookin' women's gonna wanta get closer
then every guy's gonna wish he was me, ahhh wish he was me
11 bars solo
I'm gonna be loved – like Elvis
them girls'll be waiting in line
they'll all try to feed me a story
but I won't be bothered to give 'em the time, I won't give 'em the time
They're gonna want to talk about High School
back then not a one of 'em would ever say yes
I'm gonna give 'em all what they gave me
a fake phone number and a phony address, a phony address
I'm gonna be a legend – like Elvis
legends live forever they say
then the folks back home will all have to love me
the ones who made fun of me every day, ahhh every day
There's a lot of people who never did like me
they tried to put roadblocks in my way
they think when I'm big I'll forget all about that
but I got a gun and I'll make 'em all pay, I'll make 'em all pay
I'm gonna be - big like Elvis
and be even bigger than him some day
I'm gonna show you all you were wrong about me
you'd better not get in my way, don't get in my way
"At Home Next Door", is my second intro to Al Basile and his wonderfully majestic music, and it was equally good, if not better, this time around. Al has exactly what it takes to capture your attention, regardless of what musical genres you prefer.
5***** for sure for "At Home Next Door", Al Basile's amazing double blast of great music."
"Basile is a great songwriter with a great musical feel for presenting a song, and he is backed by a terrific band that has played with him for nearly 25 years. I think this is the best music Basile has made so far in his career--his ease and strength as a vocal storyteller continues to grow with each release, and his cornet playing is rich, nuanced, and succinct."
My hair's not blonde, my eyes aren't blue
my clothes weren't made for someone six foot two
my car's not sleek, I'm a few payments shy
when I stop by the bank, the numbers don't run too high
Wish I could see the man that you see
I just can't believe it – but you choose me – ooo baby, you choose me
I don't say much, I don't talk too loud
when I walk in a room I sure don't draw a crowd
my best friends wouldn't say I'm wild and free
I'm not God's gift to every pretty face I see
Already heard every way to refuse me
it's hard to believe it – but you choose me – ooo baby, you choose me
24 bars solo
You talk about men, I know you've had your share
they all let you down, well that's neither here nor there
you say I'm not like them, but that don't make it so
that just makes me the luckiest guy I know
You're gonna find that you can't lose me
I made up my mind – cause you choose me – ooo baby, you choose me
Masked Man comes from long ago, his world is black and white
he knows he isn't in the wrong, that means he must be right
Masked Man has to track you down, he says it's justified
he knows you're only human, he says his hands are tied
He uses silver bullets, he shoots you through the heart
he knows his truth might kill ya, he figures that's a start
He calls 'em like he sees 'em, as he looks through his disguise
but things look a little different when the mask gets in his eyes
Masked Man has no sidekick, there's no room up on that throne
though many travel with him, he always rides alone
Masked Man takes no prisoners, he sends them all away
he dreams they'll form an army and come after him some day
16 bars solo
He had some kind of good luck once, till it started wearing thin
he's worn that mask so long now till it's started wearing him
Times they keep on changin', Masked Man stays the same
he wishes things were different and he only had one name
He expects for you to thank him, then he doesn't stay
Masked Man has his reasons, that's just the Masked Man's way.`
Masked Man has his legend, one that everybody knows
He wishes he could shed it, but it won't let him go,
it won't let him go
it won't – let him go
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