Hi All,

Here's something new - this is called Mercer Street Diary.

Everybody’s moving this summer to a red brick building on Houston Street
Like an empty downtown cousin standing on the corner keeping the beat
No windows or window panes to be seen
Rats like cats and a couple of old village queens

That was Mercer Street in 1965
Yeah, sounds like Mercer Street in '65

Everybody’s shouting in spanish as they drill the sidewalks in the summer heat
For a couple of hundred a month was a basement space in this Soho suite
Now Fanelli tosses the drunks out every night
A bodega on Prince Street yeah that's where you go for a bite

That was Mercer Street in 1965
Yeah, sounds like Mercer Street in '65

Everybody’s painting on the sidewalk like an artist with a brush and some chalk
No galleries or café scenes to be found so you got to hang and gawk
Colors drip on the canvas hard and mean
And dusk dusk builds a halo round her Afro Sheen

That was Mercer Street in 1965
Sounds like Mercer Street in '65

Everybody’s quiet at night but the guy with no shoes in the cardboard box
And the rambling gutter talk of the junkies in the shadows on the block
Between folkies and the new real estate pawns
And all the subway girls blowing north after dawn

That was Mercer Street in 1965
Yeah, sounds like Mercer Street in '65

All BIAB Tracks:
995: Bass, Electric, HardRockLa Ev 120
629: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanDirty Ev 120
693: Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming AcRockBright Ev 120
2534: Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, HeldChords
699: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ElecRockDirty Ev 120
1169: Guitar, Electric, Soloist RockMediumBrent Ev 120
RealDrums: RockModernSync Ev16

Thanks for listening!

Bob

Bob,

SO glad to see you back! I popped over to your Soundcloud page just yesterday wondering if you had put up anything new...

Every line of this is well-penned.

"Colors drip on the canvas hard and mean" - that wraps up your own style perfectly!

Enjoyed the BAND on this, too (thought the lead bits could be a bit louder - drums and bass and rhythm were at a really good balance).

Enjoyed!

fj

Thanks so much Floyd - Agreed, I turned up those leads a bit.

Bob

Love the lyrics, nice writing. Reminds me a little of Billy Idol, not sure why. Good job!!!

Bob

Fantastic! Loved the lyric the vibe and how the fills fade in and out.
Excellent all round. Hope there are some more in the pipeline.

Peter

Bob I really enjoyed this!

Great backing tracks with a superb vocal, outstanding. The vocal reminded me a little of Dylan and that's a compliment.

Two thumbs up.

Belladonna, thanks. I appreciate the listen.

Bob

So good to see you back on the forum Bob. Excellent backtrack and very cool unique vocal delivery. Guitar was excellent. Well done..

Peter, thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed it.

Bob

Whoah, Loud Reed!

Bob, great to see you back man! I was wondering where you went.

This is just outstanding, and the vibe and lyrics and swag of it reminds me so much of Loud Reed, but it is all you. Really love it.

One tiny nit. The mastering on the mix seems a little hot. Not sure if you were using some kind of a plug in but the tracks on this and the individual instruments are perfect (to me) and the mix is great. Could just be me, but it seems like some kind of mastering plug in (maybe a maximizer) is overcompressing it just a tad to the extent that you are losing some of the complexity. Not a major observation, just very minor.

But this is awesome man!

Great to see you back Bob! I was wondering about you. You came right back with another good one! You always paint such great pictures with your tunes and this one just puts the listener right in the middle of things! Everything sounds great, especially the vocal! Thanks, Torrey

Mario,

Thanks very much - appreciate the kind words.

Bob

Good one Bob!
Love the talking blues style and the backing band.
Great atmosphere.
Cheers.

Scott, thanks so much - very appreciated.

Bob

Hey Bob, good to see you with a new one, it's been a while!

Very cool song, Lou Reed comes to mind. Just a great write! So many good lines.

Great way to kick off the new year!

Bob, I was lucky enough to spend time in NYC back in the day. I am transported back in time and am sitting on a bench in the Village reading the Voice when I hear this. Gorgeous poetry with just enough grit to make it real. Fantastic stuff. Thanks for the trip back in time, Tom

David,

Thanks very much - that is a great compliment.

Yes, I am experimenting with some of the Ozone Rock settings - I was trying to get a more basic loosely mixed sound for this one.

Lots of new things to try!

Bob

I just had to quote this! Never been to Mercer St., and was only 8 in '65 BUT there is a reality to this that seems undeniable. Like David, I catch the Lou(d) Reed vibe. This is one of my faves (if not my #1 fave) by you. LOVE IT!! Take care. Greg

Torrey,

Thanks - that is very appreciated.

Bob

Thanks Rich - much appreciated!

Bob

Hi Bob,

Yeah, I gotta go along with those who said Lou Reed.

This is a style which you do SO well.

A super soundscape which conjures up pictures as moves along.

Loved the whole thing.

ROG.

Rarely is a production posted for which a certain over used word is perfect.

COOL!

It's one thing to write such vivid imagery - and yet another to provide the perfect performance for it - and yet another to wrap it in a very supportive production. You did it all.

Welcome back and we hope to hear more this year!

We'll say it again....cool!

J&B

Dave, thanks. I appreciate the kind words.

Bob

Tom,

Thanks so much - you are very kind.

Yes, it was a fascinating place back in the day!

Bob

Always enjoy hearing your posts. Great write and arrangement. I really enjoyed going back to '65 to get this glimpse of Mercer Street. Enjoyed my listen.

Greg,

I really appreciate that - thanks so much.

Bob

Nice work on this one - I’m getting almost a Talking Heads vibe with the vocal style on this one. Despite the talking sort of singing style, this is incredibly catchy! The arrangement is great, and the lyricism really paints a vivid picture.


Great job, and thanks so much for sharing

ROG,

Thanks for listening and commenting - appreciate the kind words.

Bob

Janice & Bud,

I really appreciate that - thanks very much.

Bob

Charlie,

Thanks very much!

Bob

Cool storytelling! Love the spoken word approach. It seems to suit the material well.

Wonderful portrait you have written.

Excellent mix of instruments and voice. I enjoyed it very much.

Deryk,

Thanks - I appreciate the listen and kind words.

Bob

Bob,
I`m late to welcome you back here- been wondering where your muse would take us next!
I love the way you write your signature over this kind of cultural/musical history - authentic and very enjoyable.

Robert

Lawrence,

Thanks so much - I appreciate that.

Bob

Excellent song and lyrics.
Great rhythm and performance.

You've rendered the 60's style perfectely.

Sergio

This song really have me a lot to think about. I always read the lyrics first and love to play the song afterwards, and it's always really neat to see how just reading the lyrics alone versus hearing them as originally intended through the song compares. I think you did a really great job on this song, and I am excited for the next one.

Sounds so good Bob,

glad that you're back

enjoyed the listen,

Kenny

Marty,

Thanks so much.

Bob

Robert,

Much appreciated - thank you.

Bob

Sergio,

Thanks! Much appreciated.

Bob

Ember,

Thanks very much - that means a lot.

Bob

Kenny,

Thanks - very much appreciated.

Bob