PHOTO taken at Studio Möllan : MARIAM UCHARU, the background vocalist on Soul Reunion, and myself. I wrote out all her parts, and we painstakingly re-created them, side by side, throughout the whole album. I'm so thankful that she was part of this project. She really gave it her all, and was such an important part of this record's sound. (photo credit: Mattias Hildingh)
ABOUT WRITING & PRODUCING THE SONG...
Believe it or not, this song was initially written in 1972. I remember performing it live with Bill Teague, Carroll Knapp and Rusty Trapps at the Longbranch in Berkeley, California. I think the name of our band then was Fluid Drive, or it could have morphed into the Depressions by then, which later became Delicia and the Depressions. Don't exactly know. The main thing was that I couldn't come up with the second verse.... Cut to Sweden. 2012. Finally started tracking the song at Studio Möllan in Malmö, Sweden, and it was time to finish that 2nd verse. I never could so I used a device that Van Morrison used, turning the 2nd verse into some sung stuff intertwined with horn riffs. That worked. I tracked the lead vocal in 2013. More tracking ensued: background vocals, horns, Skip Edwards on Hammond organ and (really) finally the final mix was completed in May 2016! Hmmm... 34 years. You can't keep a good song down
lyrics
HALLELUJAH HEARTACHE
(Jon Strider)
Hallelujah Heartache
Must I draw a picture
Show you what’s inside of me
Come up with a clue
There’s fog upon the hilltop
Shaky ground down under
I’m praying for a clearing
If the land would just stand still
Have a girl I live with
We treat each other right
But the magic ain’t quite there
And it’s in my heart to care
For the Hallelujah Heartache
The Hallelujah Heartache we feel
Must I draw a picture
Come up with a clue
Hallelujah
Hallelujah Heartache
See her crying, screaming down the stairs
I never really loved her
I never really cared
Then she let that screen door slam
Left behind a lost and lonely man
With a Hallelujah Heartache
A Hallelujah Heartache to feel
Hallelujah Heartache (repeat many x’s)
(c) 2016 Pacific Songworks BMI
NCB License secured - (p) 2016 New Sky Records
credits
from SOUL REUNION,
released November 11, 2016
Produced & Arranged by Jon Strider
Recorded & Mixed by Emil Isaksson, Associate Producer
Mastered by Paul Mahern at Mahern Audio
MUSICIANS
Maciej Szymczynski : bass
Rasmus Svensson: drums
Emil Isaksson: percussion
Mikael Gökinan: electric guitar
Skip Edwards: Hammond organ
Jon Strider: lead vocal, piano
Mariam Ucharu: background vocals
Håkan Guttormsen: trumpet
Robert Nevén: tenor sax
Additional electric guitars*: Thomas Larsen & Jon Strider (lead)
(*recorded at Fabriken Studio, Malmö)
Performing singer-songwriter, musician and record producer from California - 9 solo CD's on New Sky Records - Music style:
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