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No. 6

by The Coal Porters

supported by
Rollo LaRue
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Alex Monroe
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Jay Ell
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Chris
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1.
The Day The Last Ramone Died 03:50 video
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A hot August day out Hollywood way I stood with two friends from my home The Starwood, it said, at 8pm in red A group would play called Ramones (A group would play called Ramones) Tickets in hand, we went to see this band Not knowing our lives would change soon They looked quite a sight, like the Shadows Of Knight 4 guys from Queens called the Ramones (4 guys from Queens called the Ramones) Gabba gabba hey 1,2,3,4 they did say DeeDee, Johnny and Joey are taking our blues away Now we've lost Tommy so listen to a song where we all cried I put in my old leather jacket The day the last Ramone died The day the last Ramone died The singer held his ground Thru the swirling, happy crowd The guitar man's spider legs apart The bass player's hair was whippin thru the air The drummer pounded with all his heart (The drummer pounded with all his heart) 40 years on you can still hear their songs their t-shirts worn & torn with pride I'll never forget, though I'll always regret The day the last Ramone died The day the last Ramone died Gabba gabba hey 1,2,3,4 they did say DeeDee, Johnny and Joey are taking our blues away Now we've lost Tommy so listen to a song where we all cried I put in my old leather jacket The day the last Ramone died The day the last Ramone died
2.
Save Me from the Storm 03:29
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I asked the old man who lives down by the shore Tell me 'bout the tempest, you've lived through some before He said I know it's true I keep a weather eye, a vane of weed to guide me Keep my powder dry. All of life is water, tears and sweat and brine, When the earth is washed away the higher ground is thine. Moses built his house on clay It will stand 'til judgement day Ahab built his house on sand Saw it trickle from his hand We built these Temples to convince us that we're not alone Tear down this humble shack and turn this skin to bone Save me from the storm No-one man's redeeming craft Creatures fore, creation aft Who do we say sorry to? Judge us now by what we do Look in the mirror in the water, see your saviour's face You are alone if you are free from his embrace Save me from that place Thank you for your wisdom lord, all these debts we can't afford, saints and sinners come aboard I went back to that old man who lives down by the shore He's said I've seen my final tempest, I can do no more He said "the seas you've sailed are written on your brow Your hand's on the tiller, you must steer this vessel now"
3.
The Blind Bartender 07:24
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Now the greatest soul I ever did see Was one old man who couldn't see me No light or dark defined his view But behind a bar he knew what to do And what to do was mixing drinks And pouring beers by a battered sink And though the orders stayed the same It was from their voice that he knew their name For no face he saw or would ever see He was born that way and was a friend to me One Tuesday eve in West L.A. It was getting dark and this guy wouldn't pay He grabbed this nurse, he smashed a chair From behind the bar a hand whipped thru the air Then a low voice growled "friend you'd better beware" "Or my friend Jack is gonna part your hair" So the guy paid up and raced out the door While me and two punks laughed our way to the floor "Hey Carlo", we asked "how'd you know where to swing?" "A blind wasp," he said, "still has its sting" Now the very last time I saw my old friend I was drinking alone for I had come to an end It was me and him and a silent TV And he asked for real what did I want to be? So I told him out loud "I'm a singer, you see My songs will feed the poor and set all men free" Not from a barstool they will go on, get outta this place Go out and make us proud! Go save the human race Don't throw your life away don't you live in fear Yeah, me, I gotta say I'm trapped in here For I can see him now still holdin' court Greeting old friends talking about sports Listening to men slowly breaking in two Sayin' "c'mon pal, I've got faith in you" Sayin' "never give in & your dreams will come true If I had the chance that's what I would do" Twenty years on I drove back to the bar Feelin' real good in a dirty new car Would my friend be there? Would he know me at all? Would he care that I'd come? Should I stop and call? The name had changed you could smell split beer Behind the bar stood a kid with a sneer "Never heard of the man, never heard of that place, how could he work here without seeing a face?" Because he saw into souls like he saw into mine Because he gave us his love when he gave us his time For I can see him now so very proud of his bar Greeting old friends asking how they are Listening to men who were breaking in two Sayin' "c'mon pal, I've got faith in you" Sayin' "never give in & your dreams will come true If I had the chance that's what I would do" Yes, I'm older now got a wife and two kids Don't drink anymore but what if I did I'd whisper his name and raise a quiet toast The best man in God's bar now serves the Holy Ghost I'd pray the Lord would let him see me now As I walk with my kids as I've taken a vow Never wrote the song which freed ll mankind But I tried to write it with the presence of mind Of an old kind man who never had his sight But who set me straight and who I thank each night
4.
Chopping the Garlic (Instrumental) 03:18
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5.
Salad Days 02:47
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Our sound was like a rolling Dixie thunder Blowing hard off the Gulf of Mexico We howled at moons, we moaned at midnight Hungry as a bear in winter snow Hungry as a bear in winter snow Someone was saying "Nashville's the place" For folks who long to have a famous face The band and me were so young and free Didn't want to hear "I told you so" We snag our songs, we righted some wrongs Tho' time was ticking loudly doncha' know Time was ticking loudly don't you know We signed a deal, our record seemed so real When we heard it on a late night John Peel show Our future was bright as a Mardi Gras night We figured fame & fortune would flow Figured fame & fortune would flow Someone was saying "enjoy while you can" As friendship was the price of any band The guys and I never asked the reason why Lady Luck might frown as she walked in We'd saved not a cent, barely made our rent No more gigging with McGuinn No more gigging with McGuinn A voice was heard saying "boys...come on in" For time is up and you all didn't win We're hungry now, as poor as a pauper Shabby as a serf in Shakespeare's play I think way back and say to you, copper You sure can't eat your salad days You sure can't eat your salad Sure can't eat your salad Sure can't eat your salad days!
6.
Unhappy Anywhere 03:13
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Hit the road with a bundle, heavy as a heart I'm folding the map, now, I know where to start, These signs & lines lead me to your name I can't pick one out they look the same The lights of old Aberdeen won't show this moth a flame, The seas of California can't wash away this pain, All the trees of the forests won't soothe me with fresh air, I can be unhappy anywhere I can be unhappy anywhere I have to smile at how things ended up this way, We agreed it's bet we don't repeat the things we'd say That whisky evening told you what was on my mind I repent at leisure, I'm not the thinking kind I wrote you a postcard, a stamp from god knows where Here's the number of the pay phone in the one bar I can bear, If you call I'll get someone to say that I'm not there I can't be unhappy that you care I can be unhappy anywhere Through the fog there's a ringing, this time I'll take the call You say I've been thinking I've got nothing here at all Ok, split the difference, divide the pain we share Meet you halfway happy here and there We can't be unhappy everywhere Meet you halfway happy here and there We can't be unhappy We can't be unhappy We can't be unhappy everywhere
7.
Train No. 10-0-5 04:26
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Train number 10 oh 5 Train leaving 10 oh 5 All aboard Miss Moses He can't stay alive Train number 10 oh 5 Sun coming up one morning Softly on an old southwestern town I see the stout gallows a-buildin' And I wonder if we'll ever be found The man a-sittin' in the jailhouse The drifter the courtroom said was me Has dined on his very last supper In an hour his soul is set free Cold ground awaits my double The Dixie Flyer is a-waitin' me 'bout the time the drifter meets his Maker I'll be 60 miles towards Tennessee You can argue over horses You can argue over good land If you argue over a woman Never overplay your hand Never overplay your hand All aboard Miss Moses He can't stay alive Train number 10 oh 5 Train number 10 oh 5
8.
Play a Tune 03:26
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When I was a little girl I loved my fiddle and bow Had no idea what music could get me through When I was hurt with a broken heart and didn't know where to go I ran to my Mamma and said "what should I do?" She said:"Play a tune my darling Play a tune for me, Play a tune my darling And the world sings a tune with you" Busking on the street, college would cost me dear Cold in my fingers, future in my head As I tuned up my fiddle, didn't know what they wanted to hear I asked my Momma, do you know what she said? "The world has enough discord, bring some harmony People needs their hearts to sing so give them melody Play a tune my darling Play a tune for me, Play a tune my darling And the world sings a tune with you" Standing by your bedside, watching your last days Held your hand for the last time, fighting back the tears You could no longer speak to me, our wise and loving Fay But as I held up my violin, I knew what you wanted to hear "It will be alright It will be alright, you'll see Just play a tune my daring Play a tune for me"
9.
The Old Style Prison Break 03:49
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The colour of the poster... Says what the film be Midnight blue a thriller... White says comedy... When it comes to westerns... Americana brown Shoot the scene in sepia, wrap it by sundown Grey hat on the Good Guys... black hat goes to jail, you can bet he's busting out, got no chance of bail then his brassy girlfriend... show us with a cake, files his way to freedom, it's an old-style prison break The old-style prison break... A move I'd make A claim I'd stake... The old style prison break, The old style prison break, A move I'd make A great escape, the old style prison break I'm not looking backward... the worlds the wrong way round, all our thoughts are in the clouds... they should be on the ground, Step it out a-lively... in fancy working boots Set these muddy tyres rolling to your roots Story's always tidy in an hour or two Count on the director to tell you what to do You can cut the bad bits, leave them on the floor That take had it all; let's do one more An old screen play writer sits high above this town With his pipe and dressing gown he moves the words around Who will win the goldrush or fail in poverty Who will rise above it ring the bell of liberty The old-style prison break, a move I'd make a claim I'd stake...The old style prison break, The old style prison break, A move I'd make, A great escape, the old style prison break.
10.
Another Girl, Another Planet 02:48
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I always flirt with death I could kill, but I don't care about it I can face your threats Stand up straight and tall and shout about it I think I'm on another world with you I'm on another planet with you You always get under my skin I don't find it irritating You always play to win I don't need rehabilitating Another girl, another planet Another girl, another planet Space travels in my blood And there ain't nothing I can do about it Long journeys wear me out But I know I can't live without it Another girl is loving you now Another planet, forever holding you down Another planet
11.
The Blind Bartender (Alternative Mix) 07:29
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12.
Salad Days (Alternative Mix) 02:51
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about

The Coal Porters new album, No. 6, is produced by John Wood, the legendary British folk-rock mastermind who recorded the classic albums of Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, Beth Orton and Squeeze. No. 6 is a bit of a departure for the Coal Porters as it pushes their musical boundaries further than ever before.

This new album features Kerenza quadruple tracking herself into a string quartet, Andrew on a ukulele, Sid on trusty autoharp and mandolin, both Neil and Paul on dobro, a Byrdsy acoustic 12-string guitar, and very emotional, long, sweet trumpet solo by Cuba’s noted “son y mambo” music virtuoso Eikel Venegas. There has never been music like this before. And already, the album’s opening track, Sid’s “The Day The Last Ramone Died,” is being hailed as a classic (and a much viewed video on YouTube).

Recorded in two creative bursts in late 2014 and in 2015 this is the Coal Porters album which took three years to incubate. Four new Sid songs, three new Neil Bob Herd originals, and Kerenza Peacock contributed her first recorded lead vocal on a very personal song with Play A Tune while also gracing the record with a totally catchy instrumental, Chopping The Garlic. The album goes out on a high note with the band’s warm-hearted cover of the Only Ones’ classic hit Another Girl, Another Planet.

credits

released September 24, 2015

No. 6 - The Coal Porters

Produced & Mixed by John Wood
Engineered by John Wood & Simone Filiali
Recorded Strongroom Studios, London

Paul Fitzgerald: banjo, dobro, vocals
Sid Griffin: mandolin, autoharp, clawhammer banjo, harmonica, vocals
Neil Bob Herd: guitar, bajo sexto, dobro on Unhappy Anywhere, vocals
Kerenza Peacock: fiddle ukulele, vocals
Andrew Stafford: doghouse bass, backing vocals

Special guest: Eikel Venegas, trumpet on The Blind Bartender
Tali Trow, backing vocals, bass on Train No. 10-0-5, guitar on The Blind Bartender


No varmits or critters were harmed in the making of this album.

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The Coal Porters London, UK

The Coal Porters claim to be the world’s first “alt-bluegrass” act, demonstrating the power of fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when matched with four-part harmonies and memorable melodies.

They have taken this sound around the world being featured on NPR’s Morning Edition in the USA and having recorded a live session for Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2. ... more

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