Happy New Year 2025 - New Song Alert - The Hill

The Hill – Paul Burke DiMarco ©2024

 
Intro:

Time sure seems to be still

The river rolls on by the hill

 

Warm breeze moves through the shade

As the train she rumbles on by

 

The brothers lie upon the rose

Now silent and still

 

They lay with her now

The crowd forever gone

Those left behind sing their song

 

And there she still lays

Silent and strong

Time just lingering on

 

Melody line:

 

Freight train drives away the dawn

Moves the mist from the morning song

Time keeps rambling on

Subtle slide…….. a weary voice now gone

 

She rides long gone from the hill

Having gotten her fill

Her engine roars as time goes by

 

A warm breeze still yearns

Is there anything more to learn

Brothers side by side

Outro riff:

Gregg Allman Band Uncle Sam's - Music Review

 

Just a quick word about the new archive release from Greg Allman "Uncle Sam's" live from July 1983. I was definitely interested in grabbing music from this era of Gregg's musical sojourn. This was the time when Gregg was back in the small venues. Venues who am I kidding? We're talking shotgun bars, road houses were you were afraid to use the bathroom. I'll have a bottled/can of beer no I don't need a glass. Have I had my tetanus shot yet? The bouncer smells. The floor is sticky. No I'm not eating here. Okay you get the idea. A dream location for a die hard fan to stand directly in front of the band only this time it's Gregg and Dan.

My expectations were the musicianship would be solid but the crowd would drown out the mix. A just okay bootleg scrubbed up the best they could. But since those early 80's shows were seminal to me I wanted in. I had witnessed this tour but farther down the coast in Wildwood, New Jersey.

I distinctly recall losing our minds in that bar. We jumped and danced and yes rocked on the floor all night right in front of the band. We might has well have been on stage with them. Did I say small venue? Did I say narrow shotgun? Yeah it was ridiculous to be able to see Gregg in that venue. Just eight years earlier he was dressed in white at a white piano at the far end of the Spectrum hockey arena in Philadelphia. We were on a mission from god.

I can still see clearly in my minds eye Dan grinning at me. I was there for the music and the music was there for me. I certainly was air guitaring my brains out. We went off so yes I gotta check the disc out. It was a helluva a night. What a privilege. The stage a small riser maybe six inches off the ground and the entire band right there playing for twenty five to fifty people plus staff. It wasn't crowded on the floor and you could walk up to the bar. I mean ridiculous and sublime to get to see his band in that venue with those few people. That's a private show anyway you cut it and it was a blast so I jumped on this release.


I just want to thank Michael, Devon, Bill, Kirk and John for getting this into my hot hands. So how does it sound? Immaculate. The playing is intimate the voices are almost conversational in dynamics. The sound is achingly clear. The mix is beautiful for a live show. I guess technology has come a long way or back in 1983 they had really tweaked the sound before the gig.

Expectations were low and I was overwhelmed. I can't overstate it and the only draw back is the closer. The sound quality falls off but with every instrument wailing on stage it was a miracle it wasn't a hot mess. Slight mic feedback and Gregg gets pushed back in the mix. He had to with the whole band blowing hard all at once. It's a fiery rendition of Statesboro so it's a minor point. But it should enlighten the reader to how excellent the eight prior tracks sound. A really enjoyable listen!

Gregg is obviously having a good time and is in excellent voice. The band is tight and Dan Toler's work on both acoustic and electric is just beautiful. He accompanies Gregg righteously. Dangerous Dan indeed. The horn section comes in at the right moments and doesn't drown out the band and it really rounds out the sound on those ABB standards. Danny and Frankie lock in at very noticeable moments. Bonham wasn't the only one who could play triplets and it's powerful. Sentimentally we have the Toler Brothers and the Finney Brothers and I was with my Brother at the show. That's just a nice touch.

This release exceeded my expectations by a very long shot. Kind of like the wait, wait, wait this is really good moments you have when you hear a piece of music or see something dramatic. A more than worthy release that will grab your attention in the clarity of sound and the musicianship.

It was a helluva night for us that summer in 1983. My back to the stage I felt a gentle hand on my back. As I turned I felt another hand calmly slide into mine. No thank you Gregg for not giving up!

New Song Alert: Better Days

                                                                  

Better days will come for you

In the by and by

Better days will come for you

I know it’s true

The breeze on the wind and the sky so blue

 

I know it’s rough and how it feels

Life in your head when they come at you

But move on through don’t break stride

Your smile and love            will see you through

 

I know he wrecked the car

And walked out on you

She sighed and said she’d always be so true

Better days will come if you only try

Better days will surround you and allow you to fly    

 

All alone he doesn’t want to join in

All alone she knows where they’ve been

Out of the judgement zone where they can just be

Better days     for you and me

 

Better days will surround you and allow you to fly

Like a new set of strings on an old guitar box

Better days always here to unlock

 

Lovely to see you when you walk in

Eyes so clear ready to begin

When the truth finally gets to you

 

Better days                         nothing left to do

La la la la

Feel it in every way

La la la la

See it through

Better days                        for me and you

   © 2024 – Paul Burke DiMarco – 9/9/24