Music Distribution
We are currently experiencing some short-term hiccups with our physical CD distribution: in the meantime please click on the album links on our Albums page and hit the Amazon buying links to check if your title is available .
Download sales continue to be available via the usual services and you can also still stream our music as usual.
Music Distribution
We are currently experiencing some short-term hiccups with our physical CD distribution: in the meantime please click on the album links on our Albums page and hit the Amazon buying links to check if your title is available .
Download sales continue to be available via the usual services and you can also still stream our music as usual.
Thorne presents The Contessa’s Party
It was the year 2006. And the Contessa throws a stylish party. Find out more here.
Download a hi-res version (1.7Mb jpg)
“The quintessentially fabulous Contessa”…read on
Read Thorne’s notes on the making of The Contessa’s Party
Download bundle of eight three-minute CD song excerpts (22Mb): mp3 | m4a,
all excerpts are around three minutes long
Primary vocals: BETTY (2/4), Kit Hain (3/7), Sarah Jane Morris (1/6/8)
Vocalise: Lene Lovich (2/4/5/6/8)
Rap: Arthur Brown (4)
Secondary vocals: Elizabeth Ziff (4)
Acoustic drums/percussion: Allan Schwartzberg (5/6/7/8)
Congas, bongos: Johnny Folarin (all)
Horn section: The Uptown Horns (all)
Baritone saxophone/trombone section: Crispin Cioe/Bob Funk (3/7/8)
Alto saxophone solo: Crispin Cioe (2)
Baritone saxophone solo: Crispin Cioe (8)
Tenor saxophone solo: Arno Hecht (3/7)
Trombone solo: Bob Funk (2/4)
Trumpet solo: Larry Etkin (1/4)
Synthesizers, keyboards, rhythm: Mike Thorne (all)
Record made by Mike Thorne
Assistant engineer: James Rosenthal
Recorded at the Stereo Society, New York
Mastering: Joe Lambert at Classic Sound, New York
Cover design: JR Rost
Layout, graphics and design: James Mokarry
Production coordinator: Amy Caramante
Booklet illustration:
Marquetry p2 (c1950): Bertram Thorne
Collage p14: Unknown artist, thrift store purchase (2002)
Illustration p10: George McPherson (1998)
Paintings by Felix Berroa: p5 Flautista: High Notes for High Dreamers, p12 Perico Ripiao
Photos: p3 Bill Chapman (c1965); p4 Molesworth, p6 Heinz Zinram (6/22/1954), courtesy London’s Transport Museum © Transport For London; pp8/9 Jon Grindstaff/Molesworth/Ami Russell/Rod Morris; p13 JR Rost
After a wonderfully positive response to the Contessa by the New York dance community, we decided to make a collection of club mixes. The first issue was of Dancing With B. Noted New York remixer Norty Cotto contributes three mixes, and Thorne adds another three, each in radically differing styles. The CD runs for over 70 minutes for just $9 (the same price as all our CDs) from CDBaby. The 12″ vinyl had Norty’s two long mixes, but is currently unavailable.
The second remix release extends Grandma’s Goodbye, and features further mixes from Thorne and Norty Cotto as well as Thorne’s megamix of over 16 continous minutes.
Track listing
Click below or scroll to the individual tracks for lyrics, details and to stream audio tasters.
Grandma’s Goodbye
Sung by Sarah Jane Morris. Read the story of making Grandma’s Goodbye
Grandma's Goodbye
Lyrics
dark now maybe snow, it’s
cold, keep your collar up my love
kettle singing boiler ringing
in your ears a daily due done
working loving
living giving
receiving believing
dancing surviving>to go to work> >to make some money> >to buy some bread> to make us strong>
>>> >to go to work> >to make some money> >>>
goodbye, my love
The new clubs CD includes Thorne’s 16’28” megamix of Grandma’s Goodbye.
download Grandma’s Goodbye club remix excerpts
including three complete tracks
Collection (25Mb): mp3 | m4a
Can Catch
Lyrics
Slipping away, it’s a typical day
The words that I hear are never the words you say
Don’t you think that you’re fooling me
I hear those words that you say, they’re never the words I seeCan Catch
It’s a game
Slipping away, it’s a typical day
Such a shame, by any name, to play the same slick, slippery game
Crime shouldn’t pay, but better if you stay
But it’s no fun, better run, deed done, find a new mate to play
And forget about
Can Catch
Can I, Can I?
Can Catch
It’s a game
Watch a twist
Watch a turn
Watch a slipping sliding downturn
You can’t slip-slide away from me
So give it up, give it out, give it in, give it all to me
Now I know the game that we’re going to play
The only choice, the master plan, when I reach out my hand
I Can Catch
Dirty City
Sung by Kit Hain. Written by Iain Sutherland. Read the story of making Dirty City
Dirty City
Lyrics
the story of my life was such that nobody wanted to hear
and every time I told it they put their hands across their ears
so I went down to the dirty city where the people live on dreams
and sang out on the corner trying to turn the heads of kings and queens
I sang
oo
oo
ooto the dirty city
then I noticed the back of a matchbook and it didn’t make much sense at all
it said people heading to the stars get a better chance to fall
I thought that’s no good to you and me we got so far to go
then I realized though truth is free it’s only the lies that show
I sang oo
oo
oo to the dirty city
some people work hard all their lives and never get a thing
some people seem to do nothing but have all their life can bring
well you and I are working so hard trying to get somewhere
but then maybe when we get there we’ll find we didn’t really care
we’ll sing oo
oo
oo to the dirty city
Fire
Vocals: BETTY. Rap: Arthur Brown. Written by: Arthur Brown/Vincent Crane/Peter Ker/Michael Finesilver. Read the story of making Fire
Fire
Lyrics
Fire
I’ll take you to burn
Fire
I’ll take you to learn
I’ll see you burn
You fought hard and you saved and earned
But all of it’s going to burn
And your mind, your tiny mind, you know you’ve really been so blind
Now’s your time to burn your mind, you’re falling far too far behind
You’re gonna burn
Fire
to destroy all you’ve done
Fire
to end all you’ve become
I’ll feel you burn
You’ve been living like a little girl
In the middle of your little world
Bend your mind, your tiny mind, you know you’ve really been so blind
Now’s your time to burn your mind, you’re falling far too far behind
Fire
I’ll take you to burn
Fire
I’ll take you to learn
Bach
Music: Mike Thorne Fantasy after JS Bach’s original composition, Toccata and Fugue for organ, BWV565. Read the story of making Bach
Things I didn’t say
Sung by Sarah Jane Morris. Written by Shel Silverstein. Read the story of making Things I Didn’t Say
Things I didn't say
Lyrics
I didn’t say ‘Don’t do it, babe,’ when he packed up to go.
I didn’t say ‘Come back here, honey, and try with me once more.’
And when he asked me if I loved him I just looked away
He’s gone, and now I’m hearing all the things I didn’t say.
I didn’t say ‘I’m sorry, babe, ‘cause half the fault was mine.’
I didn’t say ‘We’ll work it out, ‘cause all we need is love and faith and time.’
I said, ‘If that’s the way you want it, then I won’t stand in your way.’
He’s gone, and now I’m hearing all the things I didn’t say.
I didn’t take him in my arms and kiss away his tears.
I didn’t say, ‘My life don’t mean a thing if you ain’t here,’
I thought of all the many games I’d be free to play.
But all I do is listen to all the things I didn’t say.
I didn’t say, ‘Take off your coat, I’ll make some coffee and we’ll talk.’
I didn’t say, ‘The road away is such a long and lonely endless walk.’
I said ‘Goodbye, good luck, God bless you,’ and he just slipped away.
And left me here to live with all the things I didn’t say.
Tuesday Morning
Sung by Kit Hain. Written by Spider Stacy. Read the story of making Tuesday Morning
Tuesday Morning
Lyrics
Too many sad days Too many Tuesday mornings
I thought of you today And I wished it was yesterday morning
I thought of you today And I dreamed you were dressed in mourning
But I knew that you With your heart beating and your eyes shining
Would be dreaming of me
Lying with you on a Tuesday morning
I fell through the window And I found that I was still breathing
I thought of tomorrow And the fear that you might leave me
I thought of tomorrow And I wished it was Monday evening
But I knew that you With your heart beating and your eyes shining
Would be dreaming of me
Lying with you on a Tuesday morning
Turn your face from me I will cover myself with sorrow
Bring Hell down upon me I’ll surrender my heart to sorrow
Bring Hell down upon me And I’ll say goodbye tomorrow
Cos I know that you With your heart beating and your eyes shining
Will be dreaming of me
Lying with you on a Tuesday morning
Dancing With B
Sung by Sarah Jane Morris. Written by Sarah Jane Morris/Mike Thorne. Read the story of making Dancing With B
Dancing With B
Lyrics
Curious faces
In dangerous places
The smell of suspense
It is making no sense as
I’m blind-jumping fences
Carnivorous chases
In small, scary places
Just what to believe
I don’t know when to leave
Cos I’m dancing
I’m dancing, I’m dancing
I’m dancing with B
Who’s teasing me, easing me, reaching for me
B’s dancing with me
I’m dancing with B
My skin crawling crazy, O who might you be?
Wondering what to believe And whose heart on whose sleeve?
Which one will deceive And which web will we weave?
When we really should leave
Is it leather or lace? That mask on your face
Expressions erased With excitement to waste
As I’m dancing
I’m dancing, I’m dancing with B
Who’s teasing me, easing me, reaching for me
B’s dancing with me
I’m dancing with B
The night’s going hazy, O who might you be?
Our demons of sound Luck leaving the ground
Five fortunate feelings More ways to fall down
With your breath on my neck Your hand on my back
You more than make up for Expressions you lack when
I’m dancing, I’m dancing, I’m dancing with B
Who’s teasing me, easing me, reaching for me
B’s dancing with me
I’m dancing with B
Imagining maybe, O who might be B?