I know the exact time and date that I recorded the lead vocal for Big Quake! It was the same day as the major La Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area. I had just gotten back to my West L.A. flat after my vocal session and the evening news was showing huge collapsed portions of the Bay Bridge and the freeway in Oakland. THE DATE : October 17, 1989
I wrote Big Quake with the abundantly talented JANE GETZ: L.A.-based singer-songwriter, jazz pianist, producer AND lyricist. Our collaboration has always been Jane/lyrics and Jon/music. It worked then and it's still working now.
lyrics
BIG QUAKE
(Strider/Getz)
Had a dream last night
Saw the city in flames
Smoke rising from the rafters
Heard a rumble
From a far away train
All the window panes were shattered, scattered
I saw the building
Starting to sway
You could feel it from Baja
To the Golden Gate
Like someone turned on the boombox
I could feel the room shake
Like they were rockin’ me, rockin’, rockin’
Rockin’ me to the Big Quake
Turned on the boom box
I could feel the room shake
Like they were rockin’ me, rockin’, rockin’
Rockin’ me to the Big Quake
Rich man, poor man
Black and white
All the chosen people
In the same boat, rockin’ tonight
Soon they’ll all be equal
Sirens were howling
Started to run
When they said,
“Everybody, to your battle stations”
Like someone turned on the boombox
I could feel the room shake
Like they were rockin’ me, rockin’, rockin’
Rockin’ me to the Big Quake
Turned on the boom box
I could feel the room shake
Like they were rockin’ me, rockin’, rockin’
Rockin’ me to the Big Quake
(Musical Interlude)
Sirens were howling
Started to run
When they said,
“Everybody, to your battle stations”
Like someone turned on the boombox
I could feel the room shake
Like they were rockin’ me, rockin’, rockin’
Rockin’ me to the Big Quake
Turned on the boom box
I could feel the room shake
Like they were rockin’ me, rockin’, rockin’
Rockin’ me to the Big Quake
Turned on the boom box
I could feel the room shake
Like they were rockin’ me, rockin’, rockin’
Rockin’ me to the Big Quake
from STRIDER...Steps Out,
released January 1, 1990
MUSICIANS
CORKY JAMES: Electric Guitars
PETE FAUSONE: Drums, Percussion
JON STRIDER: Vocals, Keyboards, Synth Bass
Songwriters: JANE GETZ (lyrics) & JON STRIDER (music)
Produced and Arranged by JON STRIDER
Recorded & Mixed by PETE FAUSONE, Los Angeles, CA U.S.A (1989)
Mastered by PER LINDBERG at Pling Plong Studio, Malmö, Sweden (2017)
Performing singer-songwriter, musician and record producer from California - 9 solo CD's on New Sky Records - Music style:
"Retro rocking' Country with a Blues&Rhythm twist" and "Rhythm n' Folk" - Career migration track: SF Bay Area to L.A., through Nashville & Austin to Sweden, (for19 years) and back......more
Nobody’s Peach, from Seattle, serve up nine gorgeous songs informed by bluegrass and Americana, gentle as a fall breeze. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 24, 2020
Former frontman of punk band Roidz has crafted a richly layered contemporary pop record exploring the world of lives lived on the fringe. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 7, 2023
Margo Price's latest album tackles loss, failure, and freedom over lush pop, psychedelic country, and rock arrangements. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 13, 2023
Melbourne duo The High Heaven offer an off-kilter take on country music, crafting songs that match the mood of a Sergio Leone film. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 29, 2020
Irresistible classic country music abounds on “Listening To The Music,” full of lap steel, walking bass, and heartwarming melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 5, 2020