Once by Speed the Plough
This was written by John 4-5 years ago and several attempts were made to record it, but nothing took hold. So we made one more attempt at it, with Marc on rhythm guitar, very early in 2020 and it finally made sense. Although things went into lock down shortly after, we still had Michael around to do his guitar parts.
From there, we again went to the comfort zone and sent out the track to John Demeski for drum ideas and to Brenda Sauter for some bass. Then things were left to percolate. We knew people were still sorting out their lives at that point so we left everyone to their own devices.
Many weeks later, when things loosened up a bit, we were able to do a masked up recording session at Mix-o-lydian to get John’s drums recorded, and eventually Brenda’s very choice bass part came in over the Dropbox transom, and we were almost there. It took Ed Seifert’s mandolin on the second verse to complete it.
Since this whole project is all about cross-pollination, this song features Brenda in a rhythm section with the son of her longtime Feelies partner, Stan Demeski, and also on a song with Ed, a friend of hers for many years.
Tracklist
| 1. | Once | 4:29 |
Lyrics
V-
Once
you walked away
you were so gone
nothing to say
Twice
you came back to me
What you were on
took you away
Once
I had a dream
(right there) in my head
something well fed
Twice
I turned back to see
if you were just
laughing at me
ch-
Turn
to the page
where the words
are just right
(you can)
read it again
and again
if there's light
V-
Once
you said you'd stay
you'd be in my way
I'd tell you to go
Twice
circling the park
pedal my bike
leaving no marks
Once
you rang your bell
as if to say
I'll race you to hell
Twice
It's just as nice
as you ride away
I'll catch up some day
Credits
John Baumgartner - keyboards
Toni Baumgartner - vocals, flute, soprano sax
Marc Francia - guitar
Michael Baumgartner - guitars
John Demeski - drums
Brenda Sauter - bass
Ed Seifert - mandolin
Song by John Baumgartner
Mixed by Don Sternecker at Mix-o-lydian Studios
Mastered by Scott Anthony at Storybook Sound
Drums recorded by Don at Mix-o
License
All rights reserved.
Speed the Plough is a New Jersey-based chamber pop band that has been playing since 1984. The band was formed by John & Toni Baumgartner and Marc Francia, the founders of The Trypes, a mainstay of the ’80s Hoboken scene, which included most members of The Feelies. STP has released 9 full-length albums (Coyote, ESD, Dromedary, and Bar-None), a single on French label Acetone, and a self-released EP.