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Durango (with Brian Schey)

by Randy Kaplan (with Brian Schey)

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1.
Durango 03:29
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"Durango" by Randy Kaplan, Brian Schey, and Tom Johnson If I had the nerve I'd throw the world a curve And who would care? Who would ever really know? I could be lost In the tall grass of Durango I was with her there A long time ago Safe from the winter In her arms and warm Blue skies, her lips, her eyes The world does no harm Been stuck on this road Been trapped in the city And the city night's not dark Like Durango Where there's not a clock to count And there are more stars than souls Time and tide will wait for me In Durango I've spent too much time trying to make up my mind I long to find my love In Durango Safe from the winter In her arms and warm Blue skies, her lips, her eyes The world does no harm If I had the nerve I'd throw the world a curve And who would care If I ever dared to go? I was with her there A long time ago Oh, the city night's not dark Like Durango
2.
Marianne 03:48
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"Marianne" by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey I wish I was at Marianne's These thoughts in my head Could be drinks in my hands Windows filled with falling snow We're months away from the undertow I want to walk where I used to run I want to soak in the winter sun I want to wear away her will Leaning on my windowsill Dreaming up a secret plan For Marianne When I play the altered waltz She takes it with a grain of salt I think she'd vanish if I blinked She's drawn with disappearing ink She can sleep with the TV loud She can wade through any crowd We're not dressed up But we have a place to go We'll get ice cream in Barstow On our way from the snow to the sand With Marianne When she whispered in my ear I might have seen that I would hear Every word ever spoken by Anyone who's ever broken my heart Or let go of my hand Like Marianne Marianne, Marianne
3.
Tucumcari 03:51
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"Tucumcari" by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey Tucumcari, Tucumcari Make no mistake Just stay awake on 54 Tucumcari, Tucumcari We’ll get a room I’ll take the bed You’ll take the floor Tucumcari, Tucumcari We’re gonna be in Guaymas By tomorrow night Tucumcari, Tucumcari Then Mazatlan and Punta Mita Man, we’re gonna see some sights Tucumcari, Tucumcari Route 66 is looking dead And long past broke Tucumcari, Tucumcari They got a smoke shop But they don’t got what I smoke Tucumcari, Tucumcari Nos echamos unas chelas On the street Tucumcari, Tucumcari Now we’re borrachos But we’re standing on our feet In Tucumcari Hey, Tucumcari Tucumcari Hey, Tucumcari Tucumcari, Tucumcari The oldest hooker in America Is here Tucumcari, Tucumcari If you snap to it she might do it For a beer Tucumcari, Tucumcari ¿Porque se ria? I agree her accent’s bad Tucumcari, Tucumcari But it’s the best one you can buy In this entire ciudad Tucumcari, Tucumcari Beneath a double rainbow In the sky Tucumcari, Tucumcari I’m feeling sorry for the peaches In my pie Tucumcari, Tucumcari I think I saw my body In a cloud Tucumcari, Tucumcari It used to let me go Where now I’m not allowed Tucumcari Hey, Tucumcari Tucumcari Hey, Tucumcari Tucumcari, Tucumcari El miércoles nos vemos Near the sea En el blanco de mi ojo Hay un río que es rojo And that river’s running Furious and free Tucumcari, Tucumcari We’ll be far away The day it starts to snow Tucumcari, Tucumcari It’s hardly ever been this hard To let you go Tucumcari Hey, Tucumcari Tucumcari Hey, Tucumcari Tucumcari, Tucumcari We gotta be in Guaymas By tomorrow night Tucumcari, Tucumcari Then Mazatlan and Punta Mita Man, that’s tight Hey!
4.
True at the Time 03:02
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"True at the Time" by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey I think I made a mistake I never made a promise I didn't want to break When I told you that I loved you I was out of my mind But it was true at the time I never should have asked for your name I know who you are You're always the same I told you you were different And I couldn't define you Which was true at the time True at the time I thought up the words True in my mind My mouth moved, your ears heard True at the time I told them to you It's so strange, my mind changed But tell me what else could it do? I don't want to make you cry But everything is sad ‘Cause everything dies I know I said forever But we're stuck here in time True at the time I thought up the words True in my mind My mouth moved, your ears heard True at the time I told them to you But things change, it's so strange We don’t know what we’re gonna do Oh, when my shadow has left the valley You're gonna have to go on without me I gotta go where the waters are still Where I can breathe I shall not want you until I leave I don't want to leave you like this But what would make it worse Is my kiss on your lips I got no explanation No reason, no rhyme But I was true at the time True at the time I thought of the words True in my mind My mouth moved, your ears heard True at the time I told them to you It's so strange how I've changed But to myself I must be true
5.
What Is That Noise? 03:32
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"What Is That Noise?" by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey The measures that she's taken Aren't drastic Her boundaries are just elastic My room is rubber She wants plastic toys Her mission is most like Magellan's She likes to find things round Like watermelons She could sink a thousand ships With a face like Helen of Troy's But what is that noise? What is that noise? She might be cast as Sally Bowles She doesn't need a pill To swallow whole Softer than a flower Louder than a Rolls Royce But what is that noise? What is that noise? What is that noise? And her ring is still on my shelf And her finger is somewhere else She's tired of small men And of big men What I had with her Seems like a figment Of my imagination Help me Sigmund Freud What is that noise? What is that noise? What is that noise? What is that noise? And her ring is still on my shelf
6.
Pharms 03:12
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"Pharms" by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey Baby I'd do just about anything To be lying in your arms But you don't want to hear about it So I'll take my pharms I'm out of everything else I usually use to keep me warm You're out of reach now, baby So I'll take my pharms Yeah, I'll take my pharms Yeah, I'll take my pharms Yeah, I'll take my pharms I used to feel so safe with you You used to keep me from harm Now you're in a different place So I'll take my pharms I’m anxious, tense, and hopeless But I hope this will make me calm As soon as I get this bottle open I'll take my pharms Yeah, I'll take my pharms Yeah, I’ll take my pharms Yeah, I'll take my pharms I need to get This sickness out of my head I hope these pharms will work Ya’ know, they’re powerful meds Nothing to do but wait and see If this substance that’s foreign Will be able to rescue me Will be able to put out this storm Nothing to do now But wait and see I think I feel it In my legs and in my arms There’s nothing left Of you and me There's nothing left I took my pharms Yeah, I took my pharms Yeah, I took my pharms Yeah, I’ll take my pharms Yeah
7.
Leftovers 03:37
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"Leftovers" by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey The light's turning green I'm sitting under it And wondering what does it mean I find I'm frozen in line A hundred people behind You called off the search I left you diamonds You left me in the lurch And went your own way You just couldn't wait Patiently I've always loved you Tenderly Why didn't you know? Could it be I never let it show? The light's turning red I'm sitting under it And it's right above my head I gotta get it in gear I gotta shift and steer I throw a pass, it goes long I have a foolproof plan It's bound to go drastically wrong I am your man among beasts I'm bringing food to your feast Hungrily I've always loved you Tenderly Why didn't you know? Could it be I never let it show? You called off the search I left you diamonds You left me in the lurch And went your own way You just couldn't wait You’re breathing too loud I’m gonna take you Where breathing will not be allowed We’ll be the talk of the town With no one else around Foolishly I've always loved you Tenderly Why didn't you know? Could it be I never let it show? Could it be I never let it show?
8.
You Never Know Why 03:10
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"You Never Know Why" by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey I met her and her friend And I couldn't decide Well it seemed like I had a choice So I led them both on They went along for the ride There are some things you just can't avoid And you never, you never You never know why Well I finally chose It was good, it was bad I burned one bridge And the other I crossed But I went across fast And I fell for her hard I should have known She was an obstacle course And you never, you never You’ll never know why You’ll never, you’ll never You’ll never, no, never know why Now I burn for a chance To go back there again And do over the things I did wrong Yes, I long to redo All the things overdone But some dead things Just won't get reborn And you'd never, you’d never You’ll never know why You’ll never, you’ll never You’ll never, no, never know why You’ll never, you’ll never You’ll n-n-n-never know why You’ll never, you’ll never You’ll n-n- You’ll never know why!
9.
East of Lincoln 03:29
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"East of Lincoln" by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey Behind closed doors No souvenirs, no tears No Either/Or Just a head on my lap And a treasure map Falling to the floor No foot came down And I guess I should have known To leave well enough alone What's mine is yours I'm telling you I had a view from overhead But it was no battle For the empty bottle And some promises And heaven only knows What was under those Don't know what I was thinking I went east, east of Lincoln Yeah, I went mad I suppose I went south, south of Rose You dig a hole You find sticks and stones Instead of gold So you come in from the cold With your second string That didn't mean a thing And she takes your guilt She brings it with her someplace else I should have kept mine to myself Don't know what I was thinking Now she's east, east of Lincoln Yeah, she was mad I suppose She went south, south of Rose Don't know what I was thinking I went east, east of Lincoln Yeah, I went mad I suppose I went south, south of Rose South of Rose
10.
Reason to Be Here 03:00
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"Reason to Be Here" by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey She goes the way of the moon She's not accustomed to the pain Just waking up is a risk She knew the sun Now she sits in the shade She needs a reason to be here She needs a reason to stay If I can give her a reason Maybe she won't go away There are no warning signs Some people look sick when they're fine She looks great I've tried philosophy It hardly works on me She's afraid She says it just took her over Overextending its stay I told her it's just a season It's gonna go away She knows it's no escape That life's not hers to take away It's not over until we're under Then we'll rise above the thunder and rain She needs a reason to be here She needs a reason to stay It's all beyond reason I hope she won't go away Hope she won't go away I need her to stay
11.
No Matter What 03:44
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"No Matter What" by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey I’m slipping through my fingers I’m falling, no one's behind me But hey, no matter what I’m okay I’m just wanting someone to know me Anyone right now would do No matter what there's still you I’m thinking a lot about trying To stay how I am now but why? No matter what it's a lie I’m knowing the thing about living I’ll always pretend I don't know I’ll always pretend not to know That I’m slipping through my fingers I’m falling, no one's behind me But hey, no matter what I’m okay

about

DURANGO is a collection of 11 songs Randy co-wrote with Brian Schey over the past two decades, was released in November 2008. The record is bookended by two jazz/pop piano-based songs, the title track and "No Matter What" (which also appeared on the CD REBORN AS BEES in 1999). There are also skewed rock anthems, Mexican surf numbers, and cabaret-influenced ballads. Brian Schey is an accomplished composer, arranger, and producer who has toured the US and Europe as a bassist with, among others, Dan Bern and Great American Taxi. Randy and Brian have worked together in many styles, from rock to jazz to musical theater.

__________

REVIEWS of Durango:

"Singer-songwriter Kaplan has a husky, wispy sort of voice that curls up and sits on a nearby sofa. Remember Paul Williams’ best songs?"
—MOJO, UK ("Durango" is a Top 10 song pick in the March '09 issue)

"Superb, comfortingly un-hurried jazz-tinged Americana / Mexicana where friendly Steve Forbert-esque vocals and Joe Ely-ish attitude sit perfectly in classic songs that the great Hoagy Carmichael would have been proud to claim as his own. The title track is a wistful lazy delight, expressing desire to up and leave for the wide open spaces - "Oh the city night's not dark, like Durango". And dear old Plonk Lane (Small Faces / Faces - God bless him) would have truly loved "Marianne", its mandolin and its chopping-across-the chords guitar. "Tucumcari", a muy loco, comical 300-mph US-Mexican border adventure with mariachi accordion and wide-screen movie Dick Dale / Ventures / Shadows electric guitar, leaves you begging for the next chapter. "Reason to Be Here" features classic Byrds pop guitar, beguiling descending bass lines, "True At The Time" is quietly hilarious and it takes a couple of quiet listens before the pervy tale of "What Is That Noise?" unveils itself. The whole album, musicianship and production is absolutely real (as in, not processed or manufactured, with no computer in sight) with art-work and presentation that are way cool. I'll be playing this for a long, long time - you should too. Kaplan and Schey - muchos gracias, hombres!"
—Peter Innes / ALLGIGS.co.uk

"(Durango is a) subtle, warm, well crafted set of songs. Randy Kaplan has a dual personality as a performer of kids’ songs (with none of the usual schmaltz) and a writer of well crafted songs released on several albums over the years. This album has his adult hat on and is a collection of songs he has written with Brian Schey over the past two decades. Ranging from supper club jazz, Broadway like tunes and some very tasty Americana friendly songs this is like a finger buffet, lots of choice... There’s no doubting Kaplan’s talent. Intelligent songwriting will out... The meat here is in a brace of songs in the middle of the album. “What is that Noise?” is a beautiful love song of sorts that begs plenty of questions as to where and what has happened. Nicely picked with some great Hammond organ you just want to listen to this over and over. “Leftovers” sounds like a great long lost Steve Forbert song but better than anything Forbert has written for some time. “You Never Know Why” alternatively growls and skips and at times is reminiscent of Dylan’s 4th Time Around."
—Paul Kerr / AMERICANA-UK.com

"Durango finds Randy Kaplan in collaboration with composer, arranger, producer Brian Schey; a wonderfully infectious album rammed with beautifully crafted songs, each as individual as the next but all coming together to form a glorious aural montage for the senses. Kaplan's wonderfully throaty, dusky voice and whispery delivery are augmented by some pretty majestic sounding 'scores'; somewhat reminiscent of a subtle Tom Waits, Kaplan and Schey sure make a joyous sound. 'Durango' is a lovely chilled album that begs to be listened to in depth and with respect just to be able to pick up on all its subtleties and underlying nuances. Every song here has been carefully assembled with just enough instrumentation to make it work; never once does the 'score' become crowded or even slightly 'full' - it's a perfect example of giving it all that it needs but no more! Durango' soothes as it excites; it has a beautifully dreamy feel to it and I wouldn't be surprised to see 'Durango' becoming a 'classic' album of our times. Yes, it's that good!! In fact, if music was truly tangible, 'Durango' would feel like the finest silk, the softest leather or the finest ermine! If it were a precious metal it'd be rated at twenty-four carats, at least - it's a real beauty, of that I'm absolutely positive! Every once in a while there's an album that comes out that sets new standards and really makes people stop and listen; 'Durango' is just such an album!! Tripping lightly and easily through folk, country and light rock, 'Durango' offers something for most tastes; un-pigeonholeable and genre defying it's a wonderfully laid back and compelling album of the highest order! I'm actually stumped for words to describe this work; 'Durango' by Randy Kaplan with Brian Schey is the absolute mutt's nuts, I don't think my meagre words could ever do it full justice, it's just one of those albums that you have to hear for yourself to be able to make your mind up. Just about as good as it gets, 'Durango' by Randy Kaplan with Brian Schey is world class!! Pure brilliance! Absolute heaven!! 'Nuff said!!"
—Peter J. Brown / TOXICPETE.co.uk

credits

released November 6, 2008

All songs by Randy Kaplan and Brian Schey / Treeleigh Music (ASCAP)
Except Durango by Randy Kaplan, Brian Schey, and Tom Johnson / Treeleigh Music (ASCAP) & **** (BMI)

Produced, Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by Mike West
at Ninth Ward Pickin’ Parlor in Lawrence, Kansas

Personnel:
Randy Kaplan: Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion
Brian Schey: Electric and Upright Bass, Drums on East of Lincoln, Percussion, Vocals
Mike West: Mandolin, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Vocals
Colin Mahoney: Drums, Percussion
Bradford Hoopes: Piano, Hammond, Wurlitzer, Melodica, Accordion
Harry Miller: Piano on Durango and No Matter What
Karina Correa Romero: Voice Sample on Tucumcari

Photographs: RK & BS
Photograph of Randy at Piano: Michelle Fiordaliso

www.randykaplan.com

Design: Laurent Rivelaygue

Special Thanks to Judi & Marvin Milich, Scott Bernstein, Adam Rosenberg, Erin Humphrey, Tom MacDonald at Repmedia, my family & my friends

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Randy Kaplan Detroit, Michigan

ADULTS: Nashville Blues & Roots Alliance calls Randy “a master of old-time, Delta-influenced guitar,” and the Smoky Mountain Blues Society says he’s “an absolute ace guitarist, picker, and ragtime player.”

KIDS: Randy's blend of American Roots Music and Comedic Storytelling has inspired the likes of NPR and PEOPLE magazine to name Randy one of the nation’s top family entertainers. ... more

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