“Universal Love”
© 2010 Eddie Rhoades
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“Universal Love” (CD / MP3) is available direct from CD Baby
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Eddie Rhoades
667 Longwood Court
Marietta, GA 30008-3756
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Reviews
Universal Love – A Review by Shawn M. Haney
“Witty humor, a broad fiery document of blues, country”
Just a taste of this record provides enough guitar chops, drum fills and blues licks to inspire the soul of every musician. Eddie Rhoades has been well-received for his highly creative blues compositions, laced with the soul of a man of mystery, a man wearing solitude on his sleeve. One can find 12 blessed melodies on Universal Love, complete with a bit of country and gospel.
Rhoades paints a portrait of the solitary ways of a broken man in “Me and Tuck.” The opener- “Geeche Woman” is flooded with evocative Eddie Rhoades blues guitar jams. The ballad “Universal Love” breaks the heart, yet there is still room through faithful listening for the soul to be healed. Just follow the “ray of light,” and you’ll find that “distance doesn’t really mean a thing at all.”
There is a poignant feeling to Rhoades songs, like “I Been Down,” the endearing western charm of “Baby Blue” and the simple, romantic country twang of “Long Distance Call.” The production quality is stunning, as each instrument breathes and surrounds the passion of Rhoades’ rich voice with careful sustain. This record is a document to be studied and revered by young artists who wish to take country and blues toward a brighter future.
(Self-released) engineered by David Leonard / Produced by Eddie Rhoades / mastered by David Leonard // recorded at Reveal Audio in Marietta, Georgia
Production Notes
Recorded at Reveal Audio in Marietta, Georgia. David Leonard, Recording Engineer, can be contacted at 770-928-1955 or www.revealaudio.com.
Fantastic cover artwork by Robert Rhoades at Rhoades Printing Co. in Covington, Georgia. Robert can be reached at 770-786-7176 or www.myspace.com/robertrhoadesmusic.
Amanda Flanagan performs Cowboy Slide.
Greg Tatum plays lead guitar on She Move, She Rock, She Bop.
Also on lead guitar: David Leonard and Eddie Rhoades.
I find it much easier to write and perform my own songs rather than the impossibility of trying to play the ever-changing top 40. I try to write songs that I like and I hope other people like them too and can relate to them. I am always interested in other people’s opinions and reactions to my songs.
In writing these songs I have opened my heart and my soul revealing my happiness, my sorrow, my humor, my inner thoughts, my dreams and imagination in songs. To me, songs are prose and poetry set to music. To write a good song you must first have something to say, unless it’s a dance song, then the lyrics still need to be good but can sometimes be secondary to the sound.
Please contact me at eddie@greenthingie.com and tell me how my songs affect you and give me your thoughts and opinions of them all. I’ll be waiting.
Liner Notes and Song Samples
Below are some short notes of why or how I came to write each song. Below that are the lyrics to each song.
01 Geechee Woman
I developed the tune first then started adding verses that fit the beat. It’s sorta like a ZZ Top rhythm to Mojo lyrics. I may someday add harmonica and a thumping bass. Or I may just leave it like it is. Nobody seems to know what a Geechee Woman is. Ever heard of Gullah? Cajun?
02 Me & Tuck
An adventure of two guys on the open road who hit it lucky. Traditional country or bluegrass? You decide.
03 Universal Love
I wanted to try something different from my other songs, something futuristic that was open to interpretation. Turned out so good I changed the name of the CD to this title. With my hearing disability I can’t often hear the beautiful violins. Brother Robert pointed out that the rhymes in this song were internal. As I was writing it I was concentrating more on what I wanted to say than any rhyme scheme.
04 Cowboy Slide
My daughter said the next song I write for her to sing should be a fast song – hence this one. The idea about how the hat, boots, jeans, etc. don’t make you a cowboy came from my thoughts that Kenny Chesney doesn’t really sing country music in my opinion. Not saying that’s bad because he is very successful at whatever he’s doing. The little bugger, he’s a millionaire.
05 Baby Blue Guitar
We often get attached to inanimate objects like our first car. In this case I sing about a person who is emotionally connected to his guitar and the hard decisions he has to make. If you’re sensitive it could a tear jerker. Like my youngest daughter Amanda said when she was a child “Life is good times and bad times.”
06 Toss It
I took one of my favorite jokes and turned it into a song. I get good reactions from this one.
07 Anybody Out there?
Thoughts and feelings have been floating around in my mind for years when suddenly I am at Gulf Shores alone on the porch at night with my guitar and I am able to put a tune with some words and build on that. I wrote the three verses and a chorus that night. It expresses an inner loneliness we all experience from time to time. The first verse used to be the second verse till Derek Toomey at NSAI suggested I swap them. Best advice I’ve had.
08 All About Money
I don’t know why but it reminds me of Don Hendley’s “Dirty Laundry.” Again, I am stating the obvious in the story line. I’m beginning to notice the lyrics could be construed as cynical. NSAI songwriter group heard it and asked if I had any friends. I answered “Well, I do have this one guy on MySpace named Tom.”
09 Long Distance Call
I saw a line many many years ago about a guy wishing he could talk to his mother in heaven and it stayed with me all these years. At first I wrote a poem then converted it to a song which meant I had to fix some rhymes and meter and length of lines to make it fit together musically. Could be a real tear-jerker, it is for me. My brother Robert has a hard time understanding how I am able to perform that song. I try to keep my mind detached from the lyrics and if I feel it getting to me I simply smile. Hard to stay sad when you’re smiling.
10 I Been Down
The tune came first with that descending bass note part. I also like that internal picking part on the top notes of each chord. I didn’t labor over writing the lyrics, If it rhymed it was good enough. I think this song harkens back to early rock and roll. And what’s wrong with that, I’d like to know? Just look at the stuff Robert Plant and Alison Krauss did – throwback songs and music and everybody loves it. I think it has a catchy guitar hook and some powerful repetition in the lyrics. I love that line “Now the funnies they’re not funny anymore” It was inspired by an old line from Jerry Lee Lewis: “If you see a funny face in your comic book” plus the old saying “See you in the funnies.” Makes me feel like a bona fide songwriter.
11 Trashy Side
A take-off on the song “Trashy Women” by Confederate Railroad. All about yard art at the Trailer Park. Not necessarily inspired by my own garden as some have suggested. Already being played on air at several gardening radio shows.
12 She Move, She Rock, She Bop*
I wanted a dance song close to the hip-hop they play in the clubs but cleaner lyrics. It’s all about the woman, the dancer and her suggestive gyrations as she becomes one with the music. Nothing is more beautiful or sexy than a good-looking woman who gets into the music and knows how to dance or at least move to the music. I had guitar great Greg Tatum do a lead on this one. Also wanted a heavy, driving beat on drums and a slapping, popping bass line. I can hear it all in my head.
* This song won First Place in the category of Rock in a song contest held by the Nashville Songwriter Festival. It is now signed to a publishing contract and is being pitched by a Nashville song plugger. I hope it makes the next step of being recorded by someone in Nashville so I can draw royalties from it plus the prestige of writing a popular song that makes it to radio.
Lyrics
GEECHEE WOMAN
I’m goin’ down to Louisiana, see what all I can see
goin’ down Louisiana, see what left of New Orleans
If I see that woman, Lawd, I hope she don’t see me
Can’t no high-toned Geechee Woman, make a fool out of me
Can’t no high-toned Geechee Woman, make a fool out of me
If I come across that woman, Lawd, I hope she let me be
Can’t no Hootchie Cootchie Woman, put a spell on me
Can’t no Hootchie Cootchie Woman, put a VooDoo spell on me
cause I’m a Jump Back man, and I’m back out on the street
said I’m a Jump Back man, and I’m back out on the street
Me & Tuck
Me and my brother Tuck, had run slap out of luck
We were fixing to hitch-hike in the rain
Two red-heads drove by , one gave Tuck the eye,
they slammed on the brakes and stopped in the emergency lane
I kinda grinned at Tuck and said “it ‘s ‘bout time we changed our luck”
and we proceeded to get into their car,
one said “my name’s Irene, this here’s my sister Maxine,
and we were wondering if you two were gonna go far?”
I don’t know, how far we gonna go, I’ve never been this way before
and it’s a lightning flashing, thunder crashing, lip-smacking, old fashioned,
kind of love affair
Traveling down the road, do a little do-se-do,
change your partner don’t you dance too slow
Me and Irene, Tuck and sister Maxine,
sometimes we stopped just to say hello
It’s daylight in San Pedro, dark in Mexico,
down the coast and around the world we go
and it’s a lightning flashing, thunder crashing, lip-smacking, old fashioned,
kind of love affair
Last time I saw Irene, last time I saw Maxine
they were standing on a platform waiting for a train
Their old car was shot, she give it all she got
Me and Tuck both singing “Baby ain’t it a shame”
Universal Love
I am waiting on a message from a distant star,
floating through the night, on a ray of light
And in it is a pledge of universal love,
a million miles apart, in affairs of the heart,
distance really doesn’t matter much at all
CHORUS
Like two laser beams of light, colliding in the night
In a galaxy so far, so far away
With our souls floating free, we have met our destiny,
in the timelessness of universal love
Bridge
In dreams I imagine that the spirit of your soul,
floats through space and time,
merges into mine, and makes me whole
I’m the first to admit it’s hard to understand,
my telepathic hope, my secret plan
Oh but I believe in magic and I believe in dreams,
this is not an illusion of mirrors and confusion,
our universal love was meant to be
CHORUS
Mmmhmmm – ooooOoo – umhumm universal love
Cowboy Slide performed by Amanda Flanagan
I’ve been standing on the sideline a little too long
Let’s get out on the dance floor and get it on
That Western hat and those boots don’t make you no cowboy.
Follow me out on the floor and I’ll make you say Oh Boy!
CHORUS
Let’s ride, ride, cowboy ride
slide, slide, cowboy slide
Let’s ride, ride cowboy ride
slide, slide cowboy slide – Cowboy Slide
Who’s the first man that wants to take me out on the dance floor?
Who thinks he can give me the dance that I’m here for?
That big belt buckle and jeans don’t make you no cowboy
CHORUS – LEAD
Who’s the next man that wants to take me out on the dance floor?
Who thinks he can give me the dance that I’m here for?
That big – wheel pickup truck don’t make you no cowboy
Crank it on up and move it on out on the dance floor
CHORUS
CHORUS – Cowboy Slide
Baby Blue Guitar
I remember the first time I came home with you
and decided to name you Baby Blue
We stayed up all night, I held you tight
we played every song I knew
Many is the time, I’ve stood on the corner
playing for nickels and dimes
When the people went home, we were left all alone
my guitar, a bottle, and me
We been sleeping in the back seat, of a broken down car
Keeping out of the rain and the cold
But this ain’t no good life, for a man and his guitar
and it’s starting to get kind
My sights ain’t set high, I just want to buy
a bottle and some new strings for you
cause lately you been sounding, a bit out of tune
we’ve fallen on hard times, that’s true
Life just ain’t fair, no one seems to care
sometimes you’re stuck in the blues
you’re just an old guitar, but you got us this far
and I hate what I’ve got to do
You’ve got all these scars, from playing in bars
but you’re still worth a dollar or two
So I’m leaving you here, in this warm and dry pawn shop,
but I’ll be back for you, Baby Blue
I hope you understand, this wasn’t part of my plan
don’t play me no sad song, Baby Blue
I won’t forget you, I’ll come back to get you
please don’t you cry, Baby Blue
No I won’t forget you, I’ll come back to get you
so please don’t you cry … Baby Blue
Toss It
She’s got glasses to help her see, hearing aids to help her hear
she got a wooden leg to help her hop around, I’m certain that’s a pain in the rear
She got false teeth and one glass eye, when they’re in she’s got a beautiful smile
she’s got botox lips, replacement hips, she’s putting them all in a pile
She’s Taking ‘em off getting ready for bed, while I’m sitting here drinking my beer
I said “honey, when you get to the part I like, toss it on over here.”
Chorus
Yeah toss it on over here, if you can spare it for a minute or two
It won’t take long, till I’ll be done, and I’ll toss it right back to you
she’s got a blonde wig, nose job, and breast implants, she’s also got a padded rear
I said Holy Smoke, is this a joke, all that artificial gear?
When she takes it all off, there ain’t much left, just an arm and a leg and an ear,
I said “ When you get down to the part I like, toss it on over here”
Chorus
Anybody Out There?
I can be in a room full of people, and still I can feel all alone
won’t somebody please, talk to me, somebody take me home
CHORUS
Is there anybody out there? Is there anyone who cares?
Is there someone like me, who stares out the window
and waits for an answered prayer?
It’s so easy to watch the TV, It’s so easy to hide inside
It’s so hard to make yourself go out, and try to have a good time
It’s so late to be out looking, I’ve wasted so much precious time
but I hold out hope of finding someone, someone that I can call mine
CHORUS
end with:
Is there anybody out there?
Is there anybody out there?
All About Money
Pat you on the back, Shake your hand, Said come on in, It’s good to see you again
You think it’s high time, Think they’re your friend, I got news for you son,
You better think again
Tell you the truth and it may sound funny, But it’s not about friendship,
It’s all about, all about, all about, all about money
Like your resume’ all the things you have to say, You looking good on paper,
can you start work today?
It’s only common sense to think you’re in like Flynn, I got news for you son you better think again,
Tell you the truth and it may sound funny, but it’s not about the job,
It’s all about, all about, all about, all about money
Dropping down out of sight, in the car late at night, Doing what you do to keep the fire burning bright.
You think she’s your lover, gonna buy a diamond ring, I got news for you son you better think again
Tell you the truth I know it fits like a glove, but it’s all about money, it’s not about love,
It’s all about, all about, all about, all about money
Long Distance Call
I sit here for hours, then days
and the phone still doesn’t ring
momma used to call several times each day
even tho she really didn’t have much to say
I’d give anything to hear her voice again
Oh please just one last phone call
maybe there’s no phones in heaven
maybe it’s a long distance call
Is there somewhere I can look up the number
is there an operator standing by
I’d like to place a call to my mother
somewhere in the clouds of the sky
Sometimes I can see her face in those clouds
and every now and then
I think I hear her call my name
but I guess it’s only the wind
I’d give anything to hear her voice again
Oh please, just one last phone call
maybe there’s no phones in heaven
maybe it’s a long distance call
So I’ll keep sitting here by the phone
waiting for her to call home
It may take time but that’s all I’ve got…
As I sit here all alone….
As I sit here all alone
I Been Down
Since you left me, all alone, since the day that you’ve been gone
I’ve been Oh, so lonely
I been down, down, down, down
Quit my job, walked off today, Even tho I really need the pay
I’ve been Oh, so tired
I been down, down, down, down
BRIDGE
People say I can’t get lower than the floor
I keep sinking more and more and more
Since the day you walked out that door
I been down, down, down, down
Every day, just like the last, but I know, this too shall pass
I’ve been bro-ken hearted
I been down, down, down, down
Now the funnies, they’re not funny anymore,
Nothing’s quite the way it was before
I’ve been Oh, so lonely
I been down, down, down, down
BRIDGE
I been down, down, down, down
I been down, down, down, down
I been down
Trashy Side
I like my garden just a little on the trashy side
I got a lot of yard art out in front of my double wide
Cut tires and a whirlygig
Now that’s the kind of garden that I can dig
I like my garden just a little on the trashy side
CHORUS
I like my garden just a little on the trashy side
It’ll never be on the cover of Garden Design
It‘s a little bit much I know, to have a front yard full of pink flamingos
But I like my garden just a little on the trashy side
Momma & Poppa rode out to see me last June
They said “ Holy Smoke son, does all this junk belong to you?”
You could have a yard sale in no time, cause all you really need is a couple of signs
Said I like my garden just a little on the trashy side.
I went out and bought me some wooden pigs
They’re out in the front yard with all the other thingamajigs
Now here’s what I want you to do-
Oink if you love barbecue (OINK)
Yeah I like my garden just a little on the trashy side
I said I like my garden just a little on the trashy side.
She Move, She Rock, She Bop
You got no place to run, Got no place to hide
She’s gonna take you on, A roller-coaster ride
She Move, She Rock, She Bop, SMSRSB, SMSRSB
She turning round and round, Spinning like a top,
Ain’t never gonna stop, She dancing till she drop
She Move, She Rock, She Bop, SMSRSB, SMSRSB
She Like To Crank It On Up Like A Sister Soul
She Like To Put Her Grinder On Auto-Control
SOFTLY
SMSRSB, SMSRSB, SMSRSB, SMSRSB *
She Move, She Rock, She Bop,
LEAD
She bumping to the music, She moving to the beat
She pounding like the ocean, She generate the heat
She Move, She Rock, She Bop, SMSRSB, SMSRSB
She shifting down to low, Start to moving slow
You better hold on tight, She gonna let it go
She Move, She Rock, She Bop, SMSRSB, SMSRSB
She Like To Crank It On Up Like A Sister Soul
She Like To Turn Up The Heat On The Fire Below
She Move, She Rock, She Bop, SMSRSB, SMSRSB
She Move, She Rock, She Bop, SMSRSB, SMSRSB
SOFTLY
SMSRSB, SMSRSB
SHE MOVE
SHE ROCK
SHE BOP
Eddie performing at The Reef
in Gulf Shores, Alabama in 2009.
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