Keep the Light Alive


 

theartists

Weight of the World - performed by Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne

Wake up each day
With the weight of the world
Spreading over your shoulders
Can't get away
From the weight of the world
Crushing down on you

A hard road in your mind
Sudden turns I can't define
There is no shade
There is no light
And you're afraid it's gonna
Go on forever

repeat chorus

It's all too much to face
Losing touch and saving grace
What you can't live with
Time takes away
So you won't have to face
The clouds for the weather

repeat chorus

And if you find no path to glory
Nothing sacred, nothing holy
Change your tune to fit the story
And let the details all be damned
If there's a liberty you'll take it
And if you can't force it, break it
And make it all seem real
If it takes you forever

repeat chorus

Jackson Browne:  Lead Vocal
Severin Browne:  Harmony Vocal
Jeff Young:  Keyboards
Mark Goldenberg:  Electric guitar
Mauricio Lewak:  Drums
Greg Leisz:  Acoustic guitar
Kevin McCormick:  Bass
Mixed by Paul Dieter
Recorded at by Paul Dieter at Groove Master Studios, Santa Monica, CA

Keep the Light Alive - performed by John Ondrasik from Five for Fighting

Eric is an inspiration to all of us...His grace, strength, and class are unmatched
-- John Ondrasik (of Five for Fighting)

John Ondrasik

We’re standing at the crossing
Where day and night divide
It takes all of your heart to keep the light alive
And the darkness seems so endless
Until the dawn arrives
We’ll hold the spark between us and keep the light alive

Look at the land
The trees are bare as bones
The chill is coming on
And all the Summer birds have flown
But if the Winter coat your wearing
has worn a bit too thin
Then let me stand between you
and the howling wind

We’re standing at the crossing
Where day and night divide
It takes all of your heart to keep the light alive
And the darkness seems so endless
Until the dawn arrives
We’ll hold the spark between us and
keep the light alive

 

Cause these are the times that try the strongest souls
You draw the curtain back, when you see the bitter cold
But if the candle that your holding has blown a bit too dim
Then let me stand beside you until the sun pours in

We’re standing at the crossing
Where day and night divide
It takes all of your heart to keep the light alive
And the darkness seems so endless
Until the dawn arrives
We’ll hold the spark between us and keep the light alive

Vocals and Piano, John Ondrasik
Mixed by:  Bil Lane, Groove Masters Studios
Produced by:  John Ondrasik

If You Loved Me Like That - performed by Keb’ Mo’
Keb' Mo'

I know you caught me staring at that
Woman over there
It’s true she’s a beauty
With her long black hair
Can’t you see what’s going on
She’s lost in her lover’s eyes
If the sky fell down
She wouldn’t realize

And I would have no mind to stray
If you loved me like that
Baby we could find a way
If you loved me like that
I’d buy rubies for your finger rings
I would give you everything
Oh, if you loved me like that

Can’t you see her laughing
In a state of grace
Baby don’t you recognize
The look on his face
Can’t you see what’s going on
It ain’t no mystery
Take the pain away
It’s you and me

And I would have no mind to stray
If you loved me like that
Baby we could find a way
If you loved me like that
I’d buy rubies for your finger rings
I would give you everything
Oh, if you loved me like that

 

And everything is possible
Everything is new
If we had the chance to meet again
What would you do
Would you throw your arms around me
Get lost in my eyes
If the sky fell down would you realize

Cause I would have no mind to stray
If you loved me like that
Baby we could find a way
If you loved me like that
I’d buy rubies for your finger rings
I would give you everything
Oh, if you loved me like that
Oh, if you loved me like that

Keb’ Mo’:  Vocal
Kevin Moore, II:  Drums
James Raymond: Piano
Mark Goldenberg:  Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Farfisa Organ
Kevin McCormick:  Bass, Electric Guitar, Percussion

Mixed by:  Bil Lane, Groove Masters Studios
Produced by:  Kevin McCormick

We Belong - performed by The Bangles

Susanna has known Eric and Dan since 1985, when Eric began dating her best friend Mary. She even remembers a night at Mary’s apartment when Dan and Eric had the spark of inspiration to form an acoustic duo.

We all fell in love with the blend of their distinct voices: Eric’s angelic purity and Dan’s resonant soulfulness. They wrote and performed song after beautiful song and we Bangles recorded a few of them: “I’ll Set You Free”, “Something To Believe In”, “Everything I Wanted”— all co-written with Eric and Dan.

Here we offer our version of the lovely, fervent song “We Belong” as a thank-you to Lowen and Navarro for so many years of heartfelt and gratifying music.

With much love,
Susanna, Vicki, and Debbi (The Bangles)

The Bangles

Many times I tried to tell you.
Many times I cried alone
Always I'm surprised how well you cut my feelings to the bone
Don't want to leave you really
I've invested too much time
To give you up that easy
To the doubts that complicate your mind

We belong to the light; we belong to the thunder
We belong to the sound of the words we've both fallen under
Whatever we deny or embrace for worse or for better,
We belong, we belong, we belong together

Maybe it's a sign of weakness
When I don't know what to say
Maybe I just wouldn't know what to do with my strength anyway?
Have we become a habit?
Do we distort the facts?
Now there's no looking forward.
Now there's no turning back
When you say

Close your eyes and try to sleep now.
Close your eyes and try to dream
Clear your mind and do your best to try and wash the palette clean
We can't begin to know it,
how much we really care
I hear your voice inside me.
I see your face everywhere
Still you say

 

We belong to the light
We belong to the thunder
We belong to the sound of the words we've both fallen under
Whatever we deny or embrace
For worse or for better,
We belong, we belong, we belong together

We belong to the light; we belong to the thunder
We belong to the sound of the words we've both fallen under
Whatever we deny or embrace for worse or for better
We belong, we belong, we belong together

We belong to the light; we belong to the thunder
We belong to the sound of the words we've both fallen under
Whatever we deny or embrace for worse or for better
We belong, we belong, we belong together

Susanna Hoffs: vocals, acoustic guitar
Debbi Peterson: drums, percussion, vocals
Vicki Peterson: acoustic & electric guitar, keyboards, vocals
Abby Travis:  bass
John Cowsill:  congas

Recorded at The Music Room, Los Angeles, CA   June 2007
Produced by the Bangles
Engineers: Evan Peters & Sam Peters
Mixed by Evan Peters and the Bangles

Open Your Heart - performed by Severin Browne

Eric and Dan have been great friends to me for many years, and I’m thrilled to be contributing a song. I chose “Open Your Heart” because opening our hearts is sometimes the hardest thing to do. And it is through opening our hearts that we will find a cure for ALS. Hang in there Eric!

-- Severin Browne

Severin Browne

There are lessons in life
you can only learn alone
You can't know where you're going
If you don't know where you've gone
There's a sequence of tear
that makes no sense
Until you back at love for the evidence

If you open your heart, love opens your mind
Its been that way for the longest time
And one of these dreams I know your gonna find
If you open your heart, love opens your mind

Old friends come around you almost forgot
They touch your heart right on the spot
Next thing you know the mystery breaks clear
There's no distance at all to what we hold dear

If you open your heart, love opens your mind
Its been that way for the longest time
And one of these dreams I know your gonna find
If you open your heart, love opens your mind

I know you've been searching far and wide
But all you got to do is close your eyes
Close your eyes

If you open your heart, love opens your mind
Its been that way for the longest time
And one of these dreams
I know your gonna find
If you open your heart, love opens your mind
Open your heart, Open your heart
Open your heart, Open your heart

Severin Browne: Acoustic guitar and vocals
Craig Doerge: Piano
Peter Bunetta: Drums
Mark Goldenberg: Guitar
Freebo: Bass
Debbie Pearl: Background vocals
Jaynee Thorne: Background vocals

Recorded at: Groove Masters, Santa Monica, CA
September & October 2007.
Severin Browne: Producer
Rich Tosi: Engineer
Rich Tosi and Bill Lane: Mixing Engineers

Old Riverside - performed by Joel Rafael
Joel Rafael

Old riverside
I come to you
In the early light
When my dreams burn blue
Old riverside
I'm telling you
That there's never going to be a better way
To let all of your troubles roll away
To a brighter shore

Old friends of mine
They paint the town
But the sparkle fades
Before the shades come down
So they stumble home
More lost than found
And they may never find this sacred place
Although I see it written

How can I tell them
As their world falls apart
You can only catch a falling star
With an open heart

Old riverside
I know you understand
It takes solid ground
To make a Rio Grande
So I just let it all
Wash right through my hands
Cos there's never going to be a better way
To let all of your troubles roll away
To a brighter shore
That's what they're for

Joel Rafael: Acoustic guitar, lead vocal
Dan Rothchild: Bass, harmony vocal
Mark Shark: Electric guitars, slide, mandolin
Rick Eckstein: Drums
Glenn Nishida, Pacifica Studios, Los Angeles: Recording Engineer
Joel Rafael and Dan Rothchild: Producers

You Stay on My Mind - performed by the Andy Chase Band

In their songwriting and performance they have distilled a sound, a feel that transcends years of pop music changes. The song, "You Stay on My Mind" speaks of love in these same terms. Their lyric, "strong enough to cross the miles, ocean deep or river wild..." is about unconditional love. God bless Lowen & Navarro.

-- Andy Chase Cundiff

Andy Chase

It's a wicked world and faith comes and goes
People change like the weather
Sunshine for snow
Sometimes feelings linger
No matter how you try
You fall under the spell of something, you cannot deny

Strong enough to cross the miles
Ocean deep or river wild
When I close my eyes tonight, I won't be lonely
Cause you, you stay on my mind
Darlin' you, you stay on my mind

You got me fair and square
Right between the eyes
I dropped my sword and my bible
And my cheap disguise
Sometimes when I look back
On how it used to be
Nobody made the connection, like you to me

Strong enough to cross the miles
Ocean deep or river wild
When I close my eyes tonight
I won't be lonely
Cause you, you stay on my mind
Darlin' you, you stay on my mind
I think about you, nearly all of the time

 

Darlin' you, you, you, you stay on my mind
Darlin' you, you stay on my mind
Darlin' you, you stay on my mind
I think about you, nearly all of the time
Darlin' you, you, you, you stay on my mind
You stay on my mind
You stay on my mind
You stay on my mind

Andy Chase: Vocals, acoustic guitar
Bob Emerson: Guitar, vocals
Randy Tupper: Bass guitar, vocals
David Dalessandro: Drums, percussion

Charlene Ann Huang: Violin
Stuart Schenk: Engineer
Recorded & mixed at Can-Am Studios, Tarzana, CA
Andy Chase and David Dalessandro: Arrangers
Andy Chase, David Dalessandro, Bob Emerson: Producers and Mixing Engineers

Compass Point - performed by The Refugees, with Kenny Edwards

The RefugessLowen and Navarro are true pioneers.We watched them build a loyal following and a full touring and recording schedule as independent musicians. It’s about being there for the audience year after year. Along with a magnificent catalog of wonderful songs, that’s the legacy of Lowen and Navarro.

Each of us in the Refugees, and our friends Kenny Edwards and Scott Babcock have crossed paths with Lowen and Navarro over the years. All of us have witnessed with tremendous awe and respect, the the way they’ve diligently and joyfully walked the true road of creators, entertainers, and advocates. They’ve given so much to the community year after year.

With love and thanks from all of us,
Wendy Waldman, Deborah Holland, Cindy Bullens
Kenny Edwards, Scott Babcock

 

Swallow your pride
Take things in stride
You never know what's going down
You play the game
The rules will change
And leave you lying on the ground

The road is never ending
My compass point is bending
The hours roll
Out of control
And there is nothing you can do

Answers will come
One by one by one
And all the rest is up to you
My cup is overflowing
I don't know where I'm going

The road is never ending
My compass point is bending
And I don't know what's in store
Just reality I tried so to ignore

 

I can't see beyond the door
But I have to push on through
Push on through
My cup is overflowing
I don't know where I'm going

The world is slowly spinning
No losing and no winning
The road is never ending
My compass point is bending
My compass point is bending

Oo-oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo-oo, oooo
Ooooooooooo

Wendy Waldman: Vocals
Cindy Bullens: Vocals
Deborah Holland: Vocals
Guests:
Kenny Edwards and Scott Babcock

Rob Hoffman: Recording and Mixing Engineer

I Don’t Believe In Yesterday - performed by Freebo

Eric and Dan have been friends of mine for many years now. How they've both handled this most unfortunate of life's twists and turns is nothing less than remarkable. Eric, a victim of ALS, has become a role model and hero to me and so many others, his courage, honestly, humor, and humanity rising to a level I've rarely experienced in my lifetime. And Dan, the unidentified patient, has accepted his own fate with compassion, dignity, and grace as he continues his artistic journey alone.

If my interpretation of "I Don't Believe In Yesterday" touches folks even half as much as Lowen & Navarro have touched me and so many thousands in their 20 years together, I am indeed humbled.

With the highest regard and much love,
-- FREEBO

Freebo

I dusted off my clothes
Straightened out my nose
Picked up my vanity
Took it down the road with me

Facts I could not erase
Exploded in my face
What I could not repair
I just left lying there

Between the darkness and the light
There's only shades of grey
Tomorrow's so far from my sight
And I don't believe in yesterday
I don't believe in yesterday
Tidal waves that I ignored
Wash me overboard
Patterns that I reject
Twisted and circumspect
Between the darkness and the light
There's only shades of grey

Tomorrow's so far from my sight
And I don't believe in yesterday
I don't believe in yesterday

Here's to all the alibis
They pull me through the fire
It's just convenient memory
Rewriting history

So say goodbye to way back when
And all that might have been
No it doesn't matter why or how
They don't mean nothing now
Between the darkness and the light
There's only shades of grey
Tomorrow's so far from my sight
And I don't believe in yesterday
I don't believe in yesterday
No, no, oh no

I don't believe in yesterday, I don't believe in yesterday, I don't believe in yesterday

Freebo: Lead vocal, acoustic guitar, fretless bass
Eliza Gilkyson: Harmony/duet vocal
Shane Fontayne: Electric guitar
Skip Edwards: Electric & acoustic piano, accordion
Peter Bunetta: Drums & percussion
Freebo: Producer

Robert Tepper: Engineer and Co-producer
Recorded at Addison Sound and M-Pire Studio (Assistant Engineer, John M.)
Mixed at Addison Sound, Los Angeles, CA
Eliza Gilkyson's vocal recorded by Chris Gage at Moonhouse Studio, Austin, Tx.

Just to See You - performed by Eddie from Ohio

Around 1996, Eric & Dan popped by our opening set at the Bottom Line in NYC to check us out. A friendship and mutual admiration society was formed. On St. Patty's Day, 2004, we were visiting them in the studio when Eric received his diagnosis. For the next five years we watched in amazement, not only the powerful and cruel effects of ALS, but Eric's resilience to press on to give his audiences every last note he had right up to their final performance this past June. There probably isn't an act we've become closer to in our 19 year existence, and we couldn't be more humbled and honored to contribute to this fine collection, because, truth be told, we're still huge fans.

Love you, Eric & Dan.

Michael Clem
for Eddie from Ohio

Eddie From Ohio

Sometimes I can't believe it's really true
That you could love me like you say you do
I look around and I don't understand
I'm not much more than any other man
I have no treasure but what's in my eyes
And I know that I'm a fool
But it's all that I can do

I'd make any kind of sacrifice
Just to see you, Just to see you
I'd climb the mountain
And I won't think twice
Just to see you, Just to see you

I never thought my chance would ever come
But here I am and I'm the lucky one
And when I find my hope is almost gone
You give me strength enough to carry on
I have no treasure but what's in my eyes
And I know that I'm a fool
But it's all that I can do

I'd make any kind of sacrifice
Just to see you, Just to see you
I'd climb the mountain
And I won't think twice
Just to see you, Just to see you
Just to see you, Just to see you
I'd climb so high to be with you
Just to see you

I have no treasure but what's in my eyes
And I know that I'm a fool
But it's all that I can do

Julie Murphy Wells: Lead and background vocals
Eddie Hartness: Percussion, background vocals
Robbie Schaefer: Background vocals
Michael Clem: Background vocals
Mike Provenzano: Organ
Eddie Hartness: Producer
Recorded and mixed at DP Studios, Arlington, VA

The Opposite of Everything - performed by Phil Parlapiano

After working with Lowen and Navarro for many years, a session of the “All the Time in the World” CD was when Eric so casually and told me about his affliction. After that point, I played every show I could with the boys, seeing Eric go through every change of the disease. What humbled me was his tenacity and courage to continue, though the touring life got more difficult. He is an inspiration to all who feel they have obstacles, forcing them to realize the biggest obstacle standing in the way is their own fear.

-- Phil Parlapiano

Phil Parlapiano

I don't wanna be the one standing waiting all the time for this moment in my life
Better lost and never found, I'm not searching for a key
There's no happy go lucky in me

There's no writing on the wall, all those stories are so tall
So small inside my head
I don't wanna be the one standing waiting all of the time
I just wanna be the opposite of everything

Can it be so wrong
The opposite of everything
And I need to go on
Well I am not going away

I'm not looking for a light
N ot one standing in the dark
Is where I want to be
I don't need to prove you wrong
Open eyes to fill with tears
Shattered sleep in my broken dreams
Or an answer to it all
Questions why I don't belong
And why it don't matter to me
I'm not looking for a light
Not one standing in the dark
Makes me want to be, the opposite of everything

Can it be so wrong
The opposite of everything
And I need to go on

Did you think that I pretend that I could be someone else
And you, you'd never understand
I am just who I am
Change, Change, Don't change
Change, Change, Don't change

I don't wanna be the one standing waiting all of the time
I just wanna be the opposite of everything
And I'm not going away
No, I'm not going away
I'm not going away

Phil Parlapiano: Voice, piano
David Sutton: Bass
Butch Norton: Drums
Doug Pettibone: Guitar
Chet Lyster: Guitar
Dave Sutton and Phil Parlapiano: Producers
Eric Lillestrand at Chessvolt Studio: Recording Engineer:
Thanks to: Taras Produniak, Jimmy Sloan, Wendy Waldman, Kevin Dean at Plyrz.

Cold Outside - performed by Charlie Wadhams

My dad used to play Lowen and Navarro around the house when I was a teenager. He took me to see them in 1995, and I was instantly impressed with their beautiful songs and vocal harmonies. They never stopped making great music, and I am very proud to have been able to pay my tribute to them on this album.

-- Charlie Wadhams

Charlie Wadhams

Something in your eyes
Something in your smile
Says we'd be magic together
Open up your door
Baby it's cold outside

We can build a bridge
We can build a fire
And I feel a change in the weather
Is just about to blow
Baby it's cold outside

I see light coming from your eyes
And I feel like Adam
Sitting on the outside east of Eden
Temptation's smoldering
with a velvet fire
And there's paradise
In your body and mind

Something in the air
Something in the night
Says we'd be wild together
Let me show you how
Baby it's cold outside


We can tuck it in
We can kick it out
Let's don't discuss it forever
Right here right now
Baby it's cold outside

No resistance no regrets
If we feed the habit
Don't make me wait till
The twelfth of never
We've only got one chance to prove
That it's right this time
It's a leap of faith
You just gotta take, yeah

Charlie Wadhams: Vocals
Patrick Bailey: Guitar
John Wood: Keys
Mike Green: Drums, backup vocals
Gabe Noel: Bass
Daphne Chen: Violins, viola, string arrangement
Recorded and mixed by Joel Soyffer at Coney Island Music

If I Was the Rain - performed by Stonehoney

StonehoneyEric & Dan have been true friends & mentors to Stonehoney so you can imagine the excitement we felt when asked to be a part of this tribute record. "If I Was The Rain" is one of our favorite songs and to sing it in tribute to Lowen & Navarro leaves us all a bit speechless. Eric & Dan have shown us how to dig deeper as songwriters. Never settling, never selling out, always pressing their own boundaries. Never giving up. Thanks guys. Thanks for pointing us north, for always being there for us but mostly, thanks for the music. The beautiful music.

-- Stonehoney

 

If I was the rain, I'd polish every out bound train
I'd wash the teardrops from your eyes
So you could kiss the blues goodbye
And if I was the rain, I'd answer all the farmers prayers
Till green was growing everywhere

If I was the rain
I'd play the drums on every tin roof
From Shreveport to Baton Rouge
And let the songs make up themselves
The way the best ones always seem to do

If I was the rain
I'd have no reason to explain
I'd fall between the fireflies
I'd never dampen any life

If I was the rain
I'd feed the rivers and the streams
I'd nourish every cowgirl's dream
If I was the rain


I'd strike a chord within each heart
Where ever they were torn apart
And if that helped them heal themselves
Maybe we'd find out where forgiveness starts

If I was the rain
I'd choose forever to remain
I'd add a sparkle to the night
And marvel at the morning bright

And if I was the rain
I'd bless each blossom to unfold
And I turn each one of them to gold
If I was the rain
If I was the rain
If I was the rain

Performed by Stonehoney
Recorded at Cherokee Creek Studios
Fred Remmert: Engineer/Producer
Dominic Robelotto: Mixing Engineer