Kinda Love - john g willis

painting of a couple dancing in the desert. The cover of the John G Willis album, Kinda Love.

Produced by John G Willis
Mixed by Clarke Rigsby - Tempest Recorders
Mastered by Nathan James - The Vault Mastering

Kinda Love - Album Cover

CD - Back Cover

CD - Inside Left

CD - Inside Right

Physical copies of the CD are available through Amazon.com, or can be picked up at Stinkweeds Records in Phoenix or Handlebar J in Scottsdale

ALBUM CREDITS

Credits from CD package Human Again The Way I Want To Feel Sophie In My Eyes Just One Thing Listen Up, Baby Kinda Love Tsagooey Make A Memory Spill the Salt C-V Blues One Down

Credits from CD package

Produced by: John G Willis
Mixed by Clarke Rigsby, Tempest Recording
Mastered by Nathan James, The Vault Mastering

Cover painting by Luster Kaboom
Photography and graphic design by Carrie Motzing Photography
Flyin’ Gecko logo art by Celeste Knoles
Mural art by Lalo Cota

This album began as a pandemic project and many of the tracks were recorded in the various musicians’ homes. However, the following engineers and studios were very much a part of this project: Dominic Armstrong – 513 Recording, Darren Baum – Sonic Piranha, Otto D’Agnolo – Mia Studio, John Herrera – Clamsville Productions, Clarke Rigsby – Tempest Recording.

This would not have been possible without all the help & encouragement from the musicians, artists & engineers involved – my sincere thanks to all of you!

Full credits available at johngwillis.com

Thanks to my family far & near: I love you all.

Special thanks to Clarke for bringin' it home

Thanks to Jimmy & Nancy DeBlois for always being there – and for the toy piano!

My gratitude to Nate Nathan, Paul Tuft, Lee Paige, The Nash, Handlebar J & all of the musicians I have been so fortunate to perform with over the years.

And, especially, to Carrie for showing me the possibilities.

Human Again

Human Again (4:19)
(John G Willis, S. E. Willis)

JGW: vocals/bass
Jerry Donato: bari & tenor saxophones
Ray Herndon: guitars
Thommy Knoles: keyboards
Gary Bruzzese: drums/percussion

Vocals & bass recorded at Flyin' Gecko (Scottsdale, AZ)
Drums, percussion & guitars recorded at Mia (Scottsdale, AZ) – Otto D’Agnolo, engineer
Saxophones recorded at Donato's Grotto (Phoenix, AZ)
Keys recorded at Thommy Knoles' house (Asheville, NC)

____________________________________________

Slow fadin' for so long
I thought I must be too far gone
I really wouldn't say that I was living

Cold heart and ice cold feet
Something inside seemed incomplete
And the world seemed so cold and unforgiving

Every day another stumbling block
Then you showed up and you gave me a shock
And just like that I'm human again

You threw a spark and I'm human again
You shocked my heart and I'm human again
Just like that you turned me on and I'm human again

Not sure where I am
Not sure I ever had a plan
My mind is reeling with sensation

Now my skies are always blue
I guess I owe this all to you
I’ll be your forever ever-loving creation

Cuz I lost the feeling in my heart
But all that it needed was a jump start
And just like that I’m human again

You threw a spark and I'm human again
You shocked my heart and I'm human again
Just like that - human again
Cuz you plugged me in and you flipped my switch and now I'm human again

And I know, cuz when
I open my eyes and I can see the light
I open my mouth and I moan with delight
I feel the heat when you touch my face
And I start to sweat whenever we embrace
Oh All I know is you shocked me to my core
I’ve got blood goin to places that it’s never been before

The Way I Want To Feel

The Way I Want To Feel
(John G Willis)

JGW: vocals/bass
Ray Herndon: guitars
Thommy Knoles: keyboards
Gary Bruzzese: drums

Vocals & bass recorded at Flyin' Gecko
Drums & guitars recorded at Mia – Otto D’Agnolo, engineer
Keys recorded at Thommy Knoles' house

_______________________________________

Big Mouth
Big Lies
Now I'm paying the price

You once told me
That you'd be gone
But I didn't think twice

After one short day I lost your scent
In a week I missed your face
After a month your mail stopped coming
And I started feeling this way

With pride as my accomplice
I plot the perfect crime
I’ll steal your heart And lock it away
and post a guard on mine

But you saw right through my foolproof plan
To what I tried to conceal
Now I don’t know what I should call this pain
But it ain't the way that I want to feel

The way I want to feel
Is just like walking on air but above cloud nine
The way I want to feel
is being first across every finish line
I want to feel like our very first kiss
When you smiled into my eyes
I want to feel the way it felt before all the lies

But that’s not how I feel. No, I’m a fool
and I’ve lost the best thing I’ve ever known
If I had the chance to do it all over again
would I still be alone?

Or would we be living our together dream
In a world made of love?
Happily ever after if we'd only just let it
Or is this the way I'm gonna feel?
Oh, I know I don't deserve to feel the way I wanna feel

Cuz the way I wanna feel
Is spending all my days
Adrift on a slow moving stream
The way I want to feel
Is waking with a smile after flying in my dreams
I want to feel the way I felt
when you had love in your eyes
I want to feel the way it felt before you said goodbye

Sophie In My Eyes

Sophie In My Eyes (3:44)
(John G Willis, Betsy Ganz)

JGW: vocals/bass
Ray Herndon: guitars
Thommy Knoles: keyboards
Gary Bruzzese: drums/percussion

Vocals & bass recorded at Flyin' Gecko
Drums, percussion & guitars recorded at Mia - Otto D'Agnolo, engineer
Keys recorded at Thommy Knoles' house

_________________________________________________________

Sophie and me, we took a ride down to the sea
Didn't say a word, but Sophie's still good company
The life of the party, everybody's new best friend
But no one really knew her in the end

So now I'll keep my back to the wind
And I'll think back upon our past
I'm not quite sure why I'm here
But I do what Sophie asks

I walked into the water
And much to my surprise
Here I stand with Sophie in my eyes

Sometimes I thought she cared for me, but Sophie moved too fast
She always said she'd be right back, then fly away and crash
Now she's snaked around my ankles
She's clinging to my thighs
Swirling in a salty sweet goodbye

I never dreamed a day would come
When I'd be charged with such a task
I took a deep breath, I said some words
I fumbled with the clasp
Only moments later, and much to my surprise,
Here I stand with Sophie in my eyes

Oh Sophie - You're unforgettable
Oh Sophie - this is regrettable
Oh but Sophie you're disintegratable
Incineratable
You're so biodegradable

Bye-bye Sophie, Sophie bye-bye

Just One Thing

Just One Thing (4:43)
(John G Willis)

JGW: vocals/bass
Ray Herndon: guitars
Raul Yáñez: Rhodes/Hammond B3
Gary Bruzzese: drums

Vocals & bass recorded at Flyin' Gecko
Drums & guitars recorded at Mia - Otto D'Agnolo, engineer
Rhodes & B3 recorded at Tempest Recorders (Tempe, AZ) - Clarke Rigsby, engineer

__________________________________________________________

Why so mysterious I asked
It's a secret she replied
It's her casual indifference
That keeps me wound up and tongue-tied

And now I’d give my whole world
Just to stay here in this sweet misery
I look at her and time unravels
And my future is plain to see

Except for just one thing
Only just one thing
Just one thing in this life
That I can’t stop thinking about

You know I never believed in miracles
Until I looked into her eyes
And now I’m spinnin & fallin & flyin &
Tryin to make some sense of this crazy ride

You know it's a tragedy I see it so clearly
When she pretends it's nothing at all
But when souls collide you pick up the pieces
Or sit back & enjoy the fall

If you've got just one thing
There's really just one thing
Just one thing in this life
That I can’t do without

I search the stars but only find her face
I search my heart but only find a place

That needs one thing
Only just one thing
Just one thing in this life
That I can't live without

I’ve searched the heavens above but only found her face
I've searched all through my heart but I only found an empty space

That needs just one thing
Only just one thing
Just one thing in this life
That I can’t live without

There's really just one thing in our lives
That I won't live without

Listen Up, Baby

Listen Up, Baby (5:06)
(John G Willis, Gary Bruzzese, Jerry Donato, Chuck Hall, S.E. Willis)

John G Willis: vocals/upright bass/bell pepper
Jerry Donato: saxophones/horn arrangement
Chuck Hall: guitars
S.E. Willis: piano/harmonica
Gary Bruzzese: drums

Vocals, guitars, upright bass and percussion recorded at Flyin' Gecko
Saxophones recorded at Donato's Grotto
Piano & harmonica recorded at Mr. Suchensuch (Flagstaff, AZ)
Drums recorded at Mia - Otto D'Agnolo, engineer

_______________________________________________

Listen up, baby - I got somethin to say
Listen to me, baby - I got somethin' to say
My whole world's upside down, since that day you went away

I'm tired, baby - no sleep since you left town
I'm so tired, baby - can't sleep since you left town
I hate my life when the sun comes up, i hate myself when it goes back down

So help me, baby - tell me what to do
Please help me, baby - tell me what can I do
Cuz life's no good with you
Can't go on living without you

Kinda Love

Kinda Love (6:01)
(John G Willis)

John G Willis: vocals/bass/electric sitar
Diana Lee: vocals
Kyle Appleton: guitar/lap steel
Thommy Knoles: keyboards
Raul Yañez: Hammond B3
Gary Bruzzese: drums/percussion

Lead & background vocals & B3 recorded at Tempest Recorders - Clarke Rigsby, engineer
Additional background vocals, bass & sitar recorded at Flyin' Gecko
Guitar & lap steel recorded at NashWest (Bakersfield, CA)
Keys recorded at Thommy Knoles' house
Drums recorded at Mia - Otto D'Agnolo, engineer
Additional drums recorded at 513 Recording (Tempe, AZ) - Dominic Armstrong, engineer

____________________________________________________________

True love is everything you’ve wished for
Never far from your mind
Justified, but not easy to ask for
It can be so hard to find

So if you’re looking for love, why not make it?
It’s not so very hard to do
When you play with a heart you might break it
But true love makes broken hearts new

And that’s the kinda love that I’m talkin about

True love – came like an answered prayer
To save your wretched life
Sanctified, and burning with passion
It set your heart on fire

So when you finally find love celebrate it
Stop your worries and dance in the flame
Some people say that true love must be fated
I say love comes when you stop playing games

And that’s the kinda love that I’m talkin about

So come on, lift your cup, let’s drink a toast to true love

Yeah, that’s the kinda love that I’m talkin about
Kinda love that leaves nothing to doubt
Kinda love that’ll eat you up inside
Wake you up in the morning keep you up all night
That’s the kinda love that I’m dreamin about
Kinda love that never, ever burns out
Kinda love that moves at just the right speed
Takes all that I am but gives me all that I need

That’s the kinda love I’m talkin about

Cuz love is what you need now, love will change your life now, love will save your life now
I’m talkin about true love

Tsagooey

Tsagooey (1:13)
(John G Willis)

John G Willis: vocals/bass/acoustic guitar/toy piano/chicken/pig/percussion
Diana Lee: vocals
Thommy Knoles: organ
Gary Bruzzese: drums

Vocals recorded at Tempest Recorders - Clarke Rigsby, engineer
Keys recorded at Thommy Knoles' house
Drums recorded at 513 Recording, Dominic Armstrong, engineer
Everything else recorded at Flyin' Gecko

Make A Memory

Make A Memory (5:26)
(John G Willis)

John G Willis: vocals/bass
Jerry Donato: saxophones
Chuck Curry: trumpet
Jim Pfeifer: guitars
Gary Bruzzese: drums
Dom Moio: congas/shakers

Vocals, bass & trumpet recorded at Flyin' Gecko
Saxophones recorded at Donato's Grotto
Guitars recorded at Crazy Composer (Mesa, AZ)
Drums recorded at Mia - Otto D'Agnolo, engineer
Percussion recorded at Mr. Sauce (Phoenix, AZ)
Robert Martinez vocals originally recorded (in 1997?) at Tempest Recorders - Clarke Rigsby, engineer
Extracted from the original recording by John Herrera - Clamsville Productions (Chandler, AZ)

_______________________________________________________

(In memory of Robert Paul Martinez*)

Old days makin music in the yard
Chattin up the girls, and tryin too hard
We were young & free searchin for our voice
And playin that same old tune, like we had a choice

But now it seems like forever since I’ve heard you sing that song
And I’ve give anything for one more chance to play along

Just a memory, like a grainy photograph
But if I try I can hear your laugh
Just a memory, of a distant time and place
I close my eyes I can see your face

Some days I think I spot you in a crowd
Catch myself don’t say your name out loud
Cuz wasn’t that yesterday, driving towards the Bay
Makin big plans, we were on our way

And now it seems like forever since I’ve listened to your song
But it just don’t sound the same with all the years that I’ve put on

Just a memory when times felt right
Pull it close and hold on tight
Just a memory, a distant time and place
Close my eyes I can see your face
Just a memory of a life we once knew
Looking back on those dreams of youth
Just a memory

Close your eyes…

Stay a while
It could be just like before
Won’t you stay a while
Why’d you have to go?

Oh Lord, can you hear their prayers
Please give them relief
Oh Lord, can’t you hear our prayers
Won’t you ease our grief

Oh Lord, let them hear this time
Help them see the light
Help them find some peace this time
Just help us get some sleep tonight

These days I try to take things as they come
You might think I'm stoic, but I’m just mostly numb
You promised someday we’d understand the reasons why
I hope someday comes before I die

And now it seems like I’ve missed you for forever and a day
I’ll listen to your songs and let my memories replay

Make a memory turn back time
A heart like yours is hard to find
Make a Memory cuz you never know when
You’ll close your eyes and need your memories again

*Robert Martinez was a fantastic vocalist and one of my best friends from the day we met in Junior High School. I was honored to help him with the production of what, sadly, turned out to be his only full-length album. It has been out of print for years now, but can still be heard in its entirety here: reverbnation.com/robertpaulmartinez

Spill the Salt

Spill th Salt (5:23)
(John G Willis)

John G Willis: vocals/UBass
Betsy Ganz: vocals
Adam Armijo: guitars
Beth Lederman: Rhodes/piano
Gary Bruzzese: drums
Robby Carrillo: timbales
Dom Moio: congas/bongos/bongo bell/guiro/shakers

Vocals & UBass recorded at Flyin' Gecko
Betsy Ganz vocals recorded at Sonic Piranha (Phoenix, AZ)- Darren Baum, engineer
Guitars recorded at el studio (Phoenix, AZ)
Rhodes & piano recorded at Tracks con Alma (Phoenix, AZ)
All percussion recorded at Top Kat Studios (Mesa, AZ) - Robby Carrillo, engineer

________________________________________________________________________

She took the wafer on the 7th day
In the dark and in a family way
She’ll have a girl child, name her Mary
And pass along the cross she was born to carry

Her virtue was undone and she was scared of hell
Maybe it was the sweet talk or the devil cast a spell
But it must have been bad luck - or just bad timing
That turned lust to shame and vows to pantomiming

Spill the salt, toss it over your shoulder
Spill the salt but don't look back
Spill the salt, toss it over your shoulder
Spill the salt

His hands were shaking as he offered the ring
He'd rather be most anywhere else, but he's doing the right thing
A brand new blessed union was impending
But this brand new blessed start felt much more like an ending

His life had come undone and he was scared as hell
The spirits from last night had his head ringin' just like a chapel bell
Sit Stand Kneel repeat til the final procession
And damn the luck for this impractical conception

Spill the Salt

Light a candle and roll the dice
Knock on wood to enter paradise
Just trust these simple things to lead a happy life
Cross your fingers and pray for grace
And throw the salt in the devils face

A rented tux and an off-white gown
A mother's tears and a Father's frown
Life can change in nothin flat
So if you sill the salt just don't look back

C-V Blues

C-V Blues (3:15)
(John G Willis)

John G Willis: vocals
S.E. Willis: harmonica
Kyle Appleton: resonator guitar/suitcase drums/percussion

Vocals recorded at Flyin' Gecko
Harmonica recorded at Mr. Suchensuch
Resonator guitars & all percussion recorded at NashWest

___________________________________________________________

I got the fever baby
don't know if I'll live or if I'll die
Yeah im burnin with the fever baby
Don't know if I'll live or if I'll die
I'm laid up & broken down
Couldn't love you now if I tried

I’m lying here alone & hot & cold
Wonderin where my baby could be
I'm lyin here shivering & steamrolled
Wondering where could my baby be
Don't you know I need a nurse?
To help me through my infirmity

Miss Rona climbed into my bed last night
To share her misery
Miss Rona climbed into my bed last night
To share her evil malady
She wants to take me away with her
But me, I just wanna lay right here and sleep

One Down

One Down (7:30)
(John G Willis)

John G Willis: vocals/bass
Jerry Donato: saxophones (bari solo)
Chuck Curry: trumpet (trumpet solo)
Greg Varlotta: lead trumpet
Chuck Hall: wah guitar (2^nd solo)
Ray Herndon: guitars (1^st solo)
Thommy Knoles: keyboards (solo)
Gary Bruzzese: drums/percussion

Vocals, Chuck Curry trumpet & bass recorded at Flyin' Gecko
Saxophones recorded at Donato's Grotto
Greg Varlotta trumpet recorded at The Playroom Version 2.0 (El Mirage, AZ)
Guitars, drums and percussion recorded at Mia - Otto D'Agnolo, engineer
Keys recorded at Thommy Knoles' house

_________________________________________________________________

Five hundred hard miles of desert road ahead
And there might as well be five hundred more
Nothing out here but ghosts, dreams
And shrines to those who’ve gone before

This old highways claimed some souls
But It’s never seen nothing like me
Cuz I’m a red eyed rocket to oblivion
Fueled by mezcal and gasoline

I eat the worm
I strap in tight
St. Chris ain't comin' on this ride tonight

One Down, eight to go
Can't you feel you heart skip a beat?
I might be pushin' my luck tonight
But I always land on my feet

I got a broken headlight & a broken heart
Go on ask me if I give a damn
Cuz I'm the winningest loser you'll ever met
But at least I know what I am

I’m a high octane walking disaster on wheels
This road's my only friend
Seems I've been nothing but trouble since the day I was born
And I really don’t care how this ends

I curse the darkness
I curse the light
And I’m ready for my ride to glory tonight

One Down, eight to go
I can feel my heart skip a beat
I'm ridin' that line between luck and fate
But I'll always land on my feet

When there’s nothing left to lose
I can feel the pain recede
I never meant to hurt nobody but myself
I'm only lookin' for some peace