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1.
SOLO (possibly the 1st song I ever wrote) 01:44
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2.
WHEELBARROW 05:22
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WHEELBARROW there usta be an orphan who was my friend he played a nice piano but in the end a little plaything in the dust well yr turn it on it ’s stomach n ya see the rust well i will send you my sorrows in a wheelbarrow made of stone cuz i drive an ordinary car won’t go far on its own i ride the railway on my train mile after mile n i feel no pain a pint o whiskey n i’m feelin’ swell well dollar after dollar cuz my daddy rings the bell well i will send you my sorrows in a wheelbarrow made of stone cuz i drive an ordinary car won’t go far on its own he read the letter that his boyfriend wrote when all was said n done their hearts they broke y’d think that after all these years they’d be together not apart but there’s an end you see well i will send you my sorrows in a wheelbarrow made of stone cuz we ride an ordinary car we don’t go far on our own
3.
DEAR KATE (for Katherine Hepburn) 02:55
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DEAR KATE you know there is a lady i admire well she’s gotta smile big as the Grande Hotel i’ve seen all her pictures to me she’s a fixture of a love so deep in myself i think i’d call her Katherine if i should ever happen to me her in person… i would confidently shake her hand and tell her quite forthrightly like a man that were it not for her kind there’s never be a big time example of the woman i could be i could be oh miss Hepburn how can we repay the wisdom you’ve shown us all applies today i believed in you and Spenser and my mind could never censor the image of two people in love and tho Dear Kate i missed it’s not that i resisted my life i’m sure’s been absolutely grand and tho Dear Kate i missed it’s not that i resisted my life i’m sure’s been absolutely grand my life i’m sure’s been absolutely… i would confidently shake your hand and tell you quite forthrightly like a man that were it not for your kind there’s never be a big time example of the woman i could be i could be
4.
EAST CHOP 02:13
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East Chop take it easy nice n easy be easy on yrself and the lady who knows my name she knows me all too well take it easy nice n easy be easy on yrself and the sun will rise above the dark lord nice and high take it easy slow n easy be easy on yrself take it easy nice n easy be easy on yrself
5.
WOMAN (for LIlian) 02:37
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WOMAN (for Lillan) woman how do i love you is it in silence is it in eyes lady cryin’ in laughter sweepin’ the air lying’ in lovely light you notice how i am lonely and you believe in fightin’ my flight beware i know im not how ya want me n i’m scared n i cry in the night woman you must know i love you ya know the feelin’ is right
6.
EVERYBODY LOOKS THE SAME TO ME 05:10
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EVERYBODY LOOKS THE SAME TO ME everybody looks the same to me oh me oh my everybody looks the same to me oh god did ya lose my eyes people wadin’ thru the snow don’t they look at where they go the sun is hugh the valley low why can’t i tell them what i know everybody looks the same to me oh me oh my everybody looks the same to me oh god i really try oh god i really try the tables r turnin’ the skylight is broken the tables r turnin’ the skylight is shattered in our lives the faces i see they don’t talk t me the people who walk they don’t look at me well you can take it alone but ya get it on the telephone you can take it alone but ya get it on the telephone well you can get it alone but ya take it on the telephone you can take it alone but ya get it on the telephone everybody looks the same to me oh me oh my everybody looks the same to me oh god did ya close my eyes people wadin’ thru the snow don’t they look at where they go the sun is hugh the valley low why can’t i tell them what i know everybody looks the same to me oh me oh my everybody looks the same to me oh god i really try oh god i really try
7.
FISHBOWL 05:39
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FISHBOWL and the candies in the window behind the fishbowl they sparkle in the sun they sparkle in the sun i got somethin’ on my mind somethin’ i been waiting’ t say tp somebody else’s eyes i see a rainbow up in the sky but yesterday that rainbow maybe could make me cry but today i feel so happy today i follow the sun today i feel like laughin’ with the clowns the clowns n everyone oh yeah na na na na na dear daddy don’t ya hear me calling’ out yr name? dear daddy ? …faces everyday dear daddy don’t ya hear me when i say telling how i love you any old way dear mama ya know when it rains dear mama can’t ya see right thru yr pain dear mama get right out of the way when i hear ya crying’ ill wash those tears away wash those tears away the pie is bakin’ in the stove n a dog name o boomerang is scratchin’ out the flies in his toes while me i eat my breakfast dressed in the same ol’ clothes n ruminate extravagantly upon the me the me that nobody knows oh yeah la la la la la la oh yeah yes today i feel so happy today i follow the sun today i feel like laughin’ with the clowns the clowns n everyone oh yeah
8.
FRANCESCA (for Franny Reitano) 04:26
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FRANCESCA (for Franny Reitano) white lady a very unusual lady yr music drives me crazy n ya keep yr friends from fallin’ down and now before i can’t remember october brings november and yes yv gone so far away dear franny ya keep the kettle boilin’ ya watch the snow a fallin’ in yr tiny, painted picture show oh franny ya got so many friends who love you who think of you and hug you begin t cry as ya pull away tiny mouth of the nightingale tiny mouth of the nightingale ah oh oo tiny mouth of the nightingale tiny mouth of the nightingale ah oh oo white lady a very unusual lady yr music drives me crazy n ya keep yr friends from fallin’ down and now before i can’t remember october brings november and yes yv gone so far away
9.
HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS (for Michael Weaver) 02:37
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HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS (for Michael Weaver) oh the children fight a dog cries in the night ring the bell all’s well outside the baseball game you shouted out my name all the stars that fill the sky i see my face in your eyes heaven only knows heaven only knows heaven only knows Michelangelo da da da..
10.
JOEY 02:39
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JOEY im too short im 14 makes it hard t reach the pedals of this car i stole this afternoon a faggot left it running in a parking lot in P-Town where i was after escaping from the nuthouse back in Amherst where they put me w this other kid who has a man outside someone who hardly noticed me i could not hide when they were sleeping in the bed so i got dressed an fled i think about the accident i could have if i jerked the steering wheel real sudden but the man beside me touched my leg he said he knew about some school they make kids better take this letter ask for michael weaver he has blue eyes he’ll recognize yr face because the place yr in he knows about it love is still just waiting for ya joe i took his hand off of my leg i was not rude i sorta liked this man besides he gave me money put gas in my car i says goodbye when he gets out i says goodbye he says take care of yrself joey don’t kill yrself there’s too much going on so long i looked nice at him i think but i said nothin’
11.
ZOOT 02:35
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ZOOT after dark when all are sleeping i lay my pillow on my head candy boys n crayon children wish me willin’ their lives instead oh no n i cry out maybe maybe baby i got it wrong in between the lines are written silver melodies of love lost before the words were spoken fit yr rhinestone like a glove n there’s no lady t tell me lies in her eyes oh no after dark when all are sleeping i lay my pillow on my head candy boys n crayon children wish me willin’ their lives instead oh no n i cry out maybe maybe baby i got it wrong but there’s a lady t tell me why i gone so crazy
12.
LEE (for Lisa) 02:35
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LEE (for Lisa) year after year the same old thing w the song so big so full in my head i can’t sing the song i won’t sing the song i feel my hot blood bangin’ in my head i try to be better off in my head upstairs in my bed stop the drumming, ok? it’s the trompet ok, it’s nice i like the drift of the falling snow ? ... you can make friends with the lonely you can get high w the muse inside and everyone who knows her everyone finds the gift of love finds the gift of love
13.
Little Sam 02:20
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LITTLE SAM every time i see your face behind the screen alight w love for me alone i cry a smile for arm in arm in the rockin’ chair before the window cars pass b you n i west them in a glass so filled am i with love for you little man oh my little sam
14.
WHITE SNOW (for Samwise) 02:27
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WHITE SNOW (for Samwise) white snow on my body white snow on my mane i’m a unicorn w one accordion man t play my game show me where to look show me i lost my book one magician who’s name is sam one magician not my accordion man one magician just t take his hand and touch the white snow on my body white snow on my mane i’m a unicorn w one accordion man but he still looks the same build me a tower high up in the sky lift off my burdens open my eyes and melt the snow so i can fly
15.
TAYLOR-MADE 05:28
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TAYLOR-MADE taylor made the man he comes from boston hip to hip his dyke clothes they cut his knees a cigarette he dangles from one finger face to face his black face he colors me oh me oh my oh you gotta do or die un huh huh oh yeah desperation desperation see her eyes reach so high upon the tide of creation see the stars in the bars there ain’t no cars in the nation coke o cola French fries and tequila a television hot box for my prince this lanky dude from colfax, arizona his price high my dream eye he would dim oh me oh my oh you gotta do or die un huh huh oh yeah desperation desperation see her eyes reach the sky upon the tide of creation see the stars in the bars there ain’t no cars in the nation honey bunch my baby she cut the mustard her gentle rollin’ thighs they cast a spell on me breath to breath we whispered in the canyon one big one for you and one for me oh me oh my oh you gotta do or die un huh huh oh yeah desperation desperation see her eyes reach the sky upon the tide of creation see the stars in the bars there ain’t no cars in the nation
16.
SPECIAL CLASS (plus MOONLIGHT at the end) 07:00
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SPECIAL CLASS (plus MOONLIGHT at the end) albert has a bad complexion tho he washes his face every day he tries not to look in the window he’s so careful to look away but yesterday on the watertown bus a girl in a raincoat standing next to him ‘excuse me’ i says to myself don’t i know you from somewhere oo if i just had the courage but she gets off and i just stare the strangers sees each other on the sidewalk or in the store ya think they’d talk or say something right off but they scared n they don’t know how n so in the gamble for love ya gotta bet your life alex sits down in a movie theater he picks out someone nice they don’t look right at him it’s simply not polite but he feels their leg up against his thigh n he starts ya know t ‘talk’ but when the lights come up n the folks go home i put on my coat n i walk away oo if i just had the courage but it don’t feel right so i just stare the strangers sees each other on the sidewalk or in the store ya think they’d talk or say something right off but they scared n they don’t know how n so in the gamble for love ya gotta bet your life charlene’s got legs like a frog man n lips a african fish her eyes bug out like potatoes n she screams like a wicked witch I DO NOT! but yesterday out back of her house she lift up her dress n pretends i know i ain’t that special lookin’ but still i’m a popular girl got experience experience n talent n boys all over the world for just one night they don’t come back the strangers sees each other on the sidewalk or in the store ya think they’d talk or say something right off but they scared n they don’t know how n so in the gamble for love ya might lose your life ? ... rest of the song disappears then this duet w Peter Barrett n me: MOONLIGHT moonlight is falling like feathers like snow and main street outside points the way down to stardust this room is a doorway i don’t know where it goes posters of tough guys records all over the floor monster decals flakin’ off of yr mirror n the face i see in there i don’t recognize him young boy asleep there can i help you decide should i stay is there a freedom a faithful companion that keeps me from runnin’ away
17.
MICHAEL (for Michael Weaver) 03:40
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Michael (for Michael Weaver) last night i come a walkin’ home so happy from the bar and oh i see your light so lovely lit up like a star baby baby can I come by can I try again is my mirror in the sky again oh i try t telephone my love to you once more but you said no three times and oh i will ask no more baby baby i can’t get thtu i can’t get thru to you baby what i done to you i got a nasty habit oh of lookin’ in your door but all i ask is one more chance and oh i won’t ask no more baby baby i am done yes i’m done with you baby it ain’t no fun with you it hurts to be this far from you oh
18.
NOWHERE 02:47
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NOWHERE i will want ya twice if you are nowhere n i will show ya once just how t get there perhaps the time has come for us to be aware but for now i’d rather sit here thinkin’ i’m nowhere all i want is you at all don’t ya want me at all all we got is two after all i will want ya twice if you are nowhere n i will show ya once just how t get there perhaps the time has come for us to be aware but for now i’d rather sit here thinkin’ i’ don’t care
19.
RIPE 03:23
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RIPE once in silver meadows chimed in clover colors perfect tiny smiles on the run on the run on the run oh la la la will ya be my brother like the sight of the watermelon ripe in the sun in the sun in the sun oh la la la dance above your fears and let it rain where the tiny space for feeling is undone is undone is undone oh la la la once in silver meadows chimed in clover colors perfect tiny children on the run on the run on the run oh la la la
20.
BUS STOP (for Michael) 02:38
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Bus Stop (for Michael Weaver) i see you leavin’ the bust stop walkin’ away with a magazine under yr arm to read alone under a streetlight scaring’ the girl away i know ya didn’t mean to ya didn’t ask to be the way you are to me
21.
C.R.Y. (for Mr. York) 04:52
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C.R.Y. (for Mr York) the baseball fields n track n soccer n math n geography maps the first showers we ever took together n best friends but the thing for me was always the choir, sweet music boys voices in the air the choir was led his heart on his sleeve mr death in venice he loved us you could see it he loved us we loved him back but as we grew up as we grow up we could see him\ this man for who he was usta sit next to ricky simonson in high school our loafers hardly reached the floor we sang our hearts out everyone we sang our hearts out everyone laudamus laudamus te benedichimus te benedichimus te benedichimus te (?) the only life we knew for him was school shining eyes glued to the piano but at night what did ya do? i guess you were alone, sir i guess you were alone piano in the summer but at night you were alone but in the day in the school yard songs came through through the frosty window the songs came through and love for you usta sit next to ricky simonson in high school our loafers hardly reached the floor we sang our hearts out everyone we sang our hearts out everyone
22.
LOVE SONG FOR MOOSUP w Peter Barret 02:29
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LOVE SONG FOR MOOSUP w/ Peter Barrett flo: ya know Donny we look just like a couple of dips hits don’t we honey? donny: heh heh yeah flo: ya love me, don’t ya? you don’t talk much but I know ya do donny: yes, i love ya Flo flo: ya know honey when you’re away ? ... shut my eyes n i go t think of you in my mind n so like that i mean love for you all day donny: me too flo: i’d do anything you’d ask me i’d walk naked down the street in winter into your arms good bye honey when you see eddy tonight tell him that i ain’t mad at him no more this love i feel as mother of my son it stands so strong against the shadows of this world ? ... i want this for him just this for him to try for love what else is there in this world the sun rises n sets ? ... behind my boy ? ... n my heart cries out my heart cries out

about

There's a lotta things about this that kinda blow my mind, starting with The Voice. Who IS that?! I wonder. Because for most of this recording (on a clunky reel-to-reel) I was somewhere between 27 n 29. Up in my room with a high boy tack piano writing pretty much constantly. For Orchestra Luna 1 and then 2. Other concerns: the audio cuts out in spots. The lyrics in places are undecipherable. And the words themselves kinda LSD off the wall. But overall, I gotta say, after I get over my initial embarrassment, move me in an endearing way. My sister Lisa (along with Liz Gallagher the first Lunette) found the CD buried in a stack of 'em, unearthed it, listened and then sent it to me. Grain of salt for anyone who listens to this, but also
feel sympathy for the person you might have been way the fuck back when.

credits

released April 19, 1975

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Rick Berlin (now playing w/ THE NICKEL & DIME BAND) image

Rick Berlin (now playing w/ THE NICKEL & DIME BAND) Jamaica Plain

A giant on the Boston music scene. His colorful songwriting + strong stage presence have influenced countless other artists since the early 1970s. He continues to make music w/ intelligence + integrity, building an international reputation around his knotty, singular piano playing, straight-from-the-heart singing and a style of character-based songwriting that's drawn comparisons to Waits + Cohen ... more

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