In 1993 Liz Phair released Exile In Guyville, her song-by-song reply to The Rolling Stones' 1972 album Exile On Main Street. Phair sequenced her songs in an attempt to match the pacing of the Stones album. In a similar way I made my own response/tribute to a personal favorite - Paul McCartney’s 1970 album McCartney. The McCartney album was a source of inspiration and a springboard for new ideas. Like his approach, I embraced the haphazard alchemy of painting with sound.
Paul’s first solo release was an escape for him, a way to reconnect to his creativity. He recorded it (mostly) at home, playing all of the instruments. It was his refuge from the chaos of the outside world and he approached the making of the album as an experiment. He said the making of the album was "very necessary at that time, cause otherwise, I wouldn't have anywhere to go to get away from the turmoil." In those solo sessions, it became clear to Paul that treating his music as therapy was yielding positive results: "it's a bit like after an operation, where you want to rest but you've got to push it." (from Man On The Run by Tom Doyle).
In March 2020 Matt Keating and I were beginning to mix the debut album for our band Bastards Of Fine Arts, but the project was put on hold due to the pandemic. My wife and I were isolated at home with two young kids. My studio was my refuge from the madness of the world. It was not in the plans for me to make a solo album that would be released before our debut album, but I had a sense of urgency. What if I was next to get sick? Would this be the last thing I make?
I wanted to leave something behind that I would be proud of. Just in case.
- Steve Mayone, Brooklyn NY, September 2020
released October 1, 2020
Steve Mayone - vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, lap steel, bass, drums, percussion
Yuval Lion - drums on Like You've Never Been Away
Andy Plaisted - drums on Stuff and Sweet Little Anchor
Steve Sadler - guitar and synth on Underwater Cave
Billy Beard - big drum on Underwater Cave
Airport Goodbyes:
Tauras Biskis - drums
James Rohr - piano, organ
Jef Charland - upright bass
Mike Castellana - guitar
Martha Bourne - lap steel
Dedicated to Adam Schlesinger (1967-2020)
Recorded and mixed at Proof Box Studios (Brooklyn, NY and Somerville, MA)
Mastered by Brandon Wilde at Studio 76 (Brooklyn, NY)
Studio76brooklyn@gmail.com
Cover photo by Suzanne Cope
Layout and design by Sarah Beth Wiley
sbwsdesign.com
mayonemusic.com
bastardsoffinearts.com
REVIEWS
“Mayone is a master songwriter, but also a virtuoso musician and arranger. [the album] was not created under ideal circumstances, but I dare to call it a small masterpiece.” - Moors Magazine
“Switching easily from roots Americana to well crafted power pop to country ballads... it's a tuneful, personal album. A form of therapy in an uncertain world. He's left a legacy.”- Spirit.Rocks/Roots In November
"Original great musicianship, likeable tunes, and a likable album (and try not toe- tapping to Happy Alcoholidays)" - Congelton Chronicle
“Steve Mayone has created an album of material that’s totally original, while cleverly referencing and emulating McCartney’s 'McCartney'. 'Mayone' is a 2020 classic; let’s hope it lasts as long as 'McCartney'.”
- Musicriot
LYRICS
The Sweet Suzanne mayone
Instrumental
Dragging Me Back mayone
I tried to escape and run away move a little further down the track
I tried to escape and make my break but something keeps dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me back
I tried to flee from your tyranny had enough of your lying trap
I thought I was free from your grip on me but something keeps dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me back
I awake to the paper at my door headlines inked in black
I try to ignore the info war but something keeps dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me dragging me back
Something keeps dragging me back
Muddy Cove mayone
Instrumental
Missouri Loves Company mayone
Missouri loves company and I could use a friend
Standing on the corner in the pouring rain
Kansas City’s pretty when I’m all lit up at night
I’m just a boy from Illinois with nowhere to sleep tonight
Missouri loves company and I could use some faith
Jesus wants to know me in the show me state
Looking for salvation but it’s proving hard to find
A broken boy from Illinois on his own tonight
Missouri loves company and I could use some help
Waiting for an answer by the wishing well
Gonna cross the Mississippi into open arms
God help this boy from Illinois find his way back home
Missouri loves company and I could use a pal
Can’t go any lower no one wants me now
Through snow and rain I drove all day to see the city lights
I’m just a boy from Illinois with no hope in sight
I’m just a boy from Illinois with no one to hold me tight
I’m just a boy from Illinois
Underwater Cave mayone
Instrumental
Stuff mayone
Christmas lights abandoned bikes unwanted toys and broken kites
Empty spools and rusty tools things we no longer like
Birthday cards we must discard but we hate to give things up
Oh there isn’t enough room for all this stuff
Photographs and bric-a-brac we can’t seem to give away
It’s either destined for the trash or a yard sale someday
Pots and pans collecting dust don’t you think we have enough
Oh there isn’t enough room for all this stuff
The house is small the backyard too we are running out of room
We can’t ignore our urge to hoard we better straighten this out soon
We start to clean we end up mean we have a fight and give up
We’re gonna die under this pile of useless stuff
We’re gonna die under this pile of useless stuff
I’ll Take You As You Are mayone
I don’t care who you know
In this crowded bar
Your checkered past is useless to me now
I’ll take you as you are
I don’t care who you use to love
In the backseat of your car
You checked them off one by one
I’ll take you as you are
Oh my little darling
You hit me like a storm
You came up with no warning
And threw me overboard
I don’t care about your younger years
When you were a shooting star
You burned so bright and left a trail of tears
I’ll take you as you are
Oh my little darling
It hit me like a wave
A shipwreck on the ocean
You cast me away
Now I don’t care who I use to be
That was a different man
My only hope you like what you see
Will you take me as I am
Will you take me as I am
Sweet Little Anchor mayone
She's my sweet little anchor
Hanging round my neck
Keeping me tethered
So I won't fall off the edge
She's my sweet little anchor
Sturdy sea legs
She's dreaming of my baby
And a white picket fence
She's the best little lover I've ever had
Lately things are getting tense
She’s my sweet little anchor
Weighing on my mind
She wants to have a family
I want to have my wine
She's the prettiest picture that I've ever seen
Got me hanging on a line
Sweet little anchor
Sweet little anchor
She's my sweet little anchor
Got her hands on my deck
She's a whale of a good time
She’s got me feeling like a wreck
She's my sweet little anchor
I'm overboard in love
She knows just what she's after
She knows just what she wants
She's my sweet little devil and my deep blue sea
Wants to be my number one
Sweet little anchor
Sweet little anchor
Sweet little anchor
Sweet little anchor
Can Do Attitude mayone
Instrumental
Like You’ve Never Been Away keating/mayone*
How did you slip through my fingers
Why did I ever let you go
Something here seems to linger
The shadow of your ghost
How did you slip away so softly
You left an echo on the line
I think of you quite often
And the shadow of your smile
Is this a happy never after
Can an old debt be repaid
I can still hear your laughter
Like you’ve never been away
Like you’ve never been away
When did you slip the mortal coil
I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you
A flower in the soil
I guess will have to do
Is this a happy never after
Can an old love keep the flame
I can still hear your laughter
Like you’ve never been away
Like you’ve never been away
Singalong Stuff mayone
Instrumental
Happy Alcoholidays keating/mayone*
Happy Alcoholidays
It's time to give our thanks and praise
To the grain and the grape and the hops
We're gonna drink 'em until we drop
Gather round the silver keg
Tap it to the last of its dregs
Down the hatch on the house it will pour
'Til you wake up on the bathroom floor
Happy Alcoholidays
Hallelujah to amazing grace
He turned water into wine
Whatever happened to that guy
Gather round the watering hole
Give yourself a lethal dose
There'll be plenty of hell to pay
Tomorrow on New Year's Day
Lift your spirits high
Raise your glasses to the sky
Hungover when you awake
On the morning of Christmas Day
Happy Alcoholidays
Raise your voices in thanks and praise
To the yeast and the sugar and brine
We're gonna have ourselves a hell of a time
Gather at the neighborhood bar
Throw away the keys to the car
We'll be hurting in a world of pain
Tomorrow on New Year's Day
There'll be plenty of hell to pay
Tomorrow on New Year's Day
Airport Goodbyes keating/mayone*
I have to say I hate airport goodbyes
Leaving you alone at curbside
A ticket in your hand looking oh so sad
There must be a better way to say goodbye
I’ve never liked airport goodbyes
Leaving you with a suitcase by your side
Kiss me again before you have to catch your plane
There must be a better way to say goodbye
I’m just no good at airport goodbyes
Crowds of people standing in line
Kiss me a little more before your boarding call
There must be a better way to say goodbye
I’ve got no love for airport goodbyes
Heartbreak under neon signs
I’ll watch you walk away as you head down to your gate
There must be a better way to say goodbye
Won’t you hold me a little more before they lock the cabin door
There must be a better way to say goodbye
There must be a better way to say goodbye
There must be a better way to say goodbye
Say goodbye say goodbye
Say goodbye say goodbye
Say goodbye
© 2020 Mayone Music SESAC
*© 2020 Mathew Keating Music ASCAP/Mayone Music SESAC
