Another of the Dizzyland Tapes. We recorded 3 songs at our friend Hank Decken’s studio in New Hampshire. So that we had something for club owners, and could send it out to gauge interest in possibly securing a recording contract.

They’re rough 16-track analog demos. We recorded quickly, and with very little overdubbing.  This one is the typical “chase chicks” song.

Remember… we were playing on stage with bands like Extreme, and Killer Dwarfs, and Little Caesar.  Grunge hadn’t happened. It was all T&A Rock back then. This was typical of what was working in the bars at the time.

Listen up my friend…I got a tale to tell
An’ when the story ends, you’ll know the game real well
Don’t need no dice. No gamblin’ house
Just need a lady-nice
To play “cat an’ mouse.”

Oh no…

The game’s got not rules. You gotta live to learn
Just play it cool, and ya won’t get burned
Give the girl some slack, an’ you’ll score the win
Maybe, she’ll come back
Maybe, let you in
But if you squeeze too tight, she gonna shut the door
Home alone tonight
Tomorrow, back for more
It’s always the same. No matter what you do
Chick knows the game. She’ll get the best of you.

Unless…

Ya take a shot o’ whiskey…an’ give the girl some time
Cos’ when she’s feelin’ frisky…you know you’re feelin’ fine!

Cat & Mouse
When the cat’s away the mice will play
Cat & Mouse
Just play it cool. Or, she’ll trap you in a
Cat & Mouse
Well it’s a game o’ sin…we play to win
It’s called
Cat & Mouse
Just play it cool…the trap is set, for you

Round two!

Your head, starts to spin. Your feet come off the ground
This one night o’ sin, makes the world go ’round
She brings ya in the house, drags ya to the floor
A game o’ Cat & Mouse, leaves ya beggin’ for more.
She’ll build ya’ up, but she’ll strip you down.
Then, she’ll strut her stuff, around an’ around
It’s always the same. When you’re sixty nine.
To play is a game. But, to win, is a crime!

So, take a shot o’ whiskey…an’ give the girl some time
Cos’ when she’s feelin’ frisky…you know you’re feelin’ fine-yeah!

Cat & Mouse
When the cat’s away the mice will play
Cat & Mouse
Just play it cool. Or, she’ll trap you in a
Cat & Mouse
Well it’s a game o’ sin…we play to win
It’s called
Cat & Mouse
Just play it cool…the trap is set, for you

Here, kitty kitty…
I got some cat-nip for you…
Oh yes…
…’cha let me stroke your tail one time!

(solo)

Cat & Mouse
When the cat’s away the mice will play
Cat & Mouse
Just play it cool. Or, she’ll trap you in a
Cat & Mouse
Oh! Oh! It’s a game o’ sin…we play to win
It’s called
Cat & Mouse
Just play it cool…the trap is set, for you

Meow!

The third of the Dizzyland Tapes. A trio of 16-track demos we put together at a friend’s studio so that we had material together for club owners, & potential managers. We were hoping to snag a record deal. Little did we know it was early 1991, and by the end of the year, our career would be over thanks to a band called Nirvana.

This was about my roommate Christine. She was a stripper at a club on Boston’s North Shore. A beautiful girl, who knew how to tease like no other. Meanwhile, she was the sweetest, nicest girl. Nobody would’ve ever known. But she certainly inspired us to write a song about how girls tease and never follow through. I think Chris was flattered that we used her…so to speak.

No…we never slept with her. I think we wanted to though.

Little Devil, I see that look in yer eye…
Makes me think, you’re an angel-in-disguise
Things that you do, when you swing your hips
That innocent smile, doesn’t quite fit…anymore

Oooh…when I see the way that you walk
Yes…an’ I hear those words that you talk

You strut your stuff. Cos’ you know that you’re just havin’ fun
Playin’ it tough. Cos’ you know that the damage is done

Little Devil, I’d like to take you home
But, it looks like I’m goin’ home all alone
All night long, I thought you’d wanna please
But, now I know deep inside that, you’re gonna tease me

Oooh…I didn’t get a chance to catch your name
Oh…I guess it doesn’t matter. Cos’ you’re all the same

You strut your stuff. Cos’ you know that you’re just havin’ fun
Play it tough. Cos’ you know that the damage is done
It’s all a game to you, you think you can win
Well, if that’s the case, this shot you take on the chin
…on the chin

(solo)

You strut your stuff. Cos’ you know that you’re just havin’ fun
Play it tough. Cos’ you know that the damage is done
It’s all a game to you, you think you can win
Well, if that’s the case, this shot you take on the chin…On the chin. On the chin.

Cos’ I’m not like the other guys
I can see you with my own two eyes
No surprises at all
Oh! Oh! Oh!

Go, Little Devil!

This was not a Shatter’d song. This was an acoustic piece, written by one of our good friends Paul Burke. Paul would roadie for our guitarist Rick on occasion. We never really had roadies though. We had friends that came, and hung with us when we played.

Paul is an extremely talented guitarist in his own right. He came by the house one day and laid this down on an old 4-Track recorder. Did it in one take for reference for me. He’d asked if I could write lyrics for him. I was honored, and told him absolutely. I asked what the song was about.

Paul told me he’d written it just after a breakup. He & the girl had parted amicably, and he wanted the song to be about friends…Reflecting on their time together, and wishing each other well. He had said there was no hurry, and laid it down once…glitches and all. It’s as raw as it gets.

I listened a few times but the words didn’t come to me immediately…until  I awoke one night during a huge thunderstorm, and packed the 4-track into a paper bag and walked it to our rehearsal studio. I had the song in my head. I knew what I wanted it to be, and plugged in to the PA, and dropped down two takes of vocals. The only vocal effects are a bit of reverb, and some EQ.

I only did the vocals as a reference, and would love to someday hook up with Paul, and do a proper version of this track. There are obvious vocal flaws here. But, I think the spirit of the song was captured on the tape, and didn’t want to overdo it, and lose what we had.

A lot of people liked it when they listened. I think at one time, we planned to do the song formally. But…it never came to be. If anyone knows Paul Burke, tell him to get in touch, and let’s do this thing right. WE… could be the NEXT American…oh shut up!

Stars shine in the sky
Like the sparkle in your eye
Though we’ve grown so far apart
I’ll always hold you in my heart

You choose to walk a different road
Hoping someday you’ll find your own pot of gold
When it’s over…and your story’s told
I’ll be here to give you shelter from the cold

Always swore that we’d be friends
Stay together ’til the end
Broken hearts always mend
Here’s to you my love I send

You choose to walk that different road
Hoping someday…you’ll find…that pot of gold
When it’s over…and your story’s told
I’ll be here to give you shelter from the cold

Known each other for so long
For you my friend I write this song
Please be careful…and be strong
Keep the faith and carry on

Usually the second song in the set. I thought this was a generic throwaway. But, it went over well. So, we kept it. One of those “rebel” songs. You know…stand up for yourself blah blah…crap. I had a friend, who was in a “signed band,” compare us to RATT when he heard this. I think, at the time, we took it as a compliment. But, in hindsight, I think he was ripping us. Fun Fact: That friend, is now making a nice living as a Rod Stewart impersonator. So…yeah. Hi Jay!!!

Livin’ your life with your back to a wall
By someone else’s rules
The time has come for the walls to fall
And you’ve got to choose
Making your way, out on your own
An’ you’ve set your sights
You’ve gone off, and you’re on your own
In to the night

But don’t look back
Take a look to the future
Don’t turn back
Head straight for the light-and

Run off into the night
Shatter all your fears
Cos’ everything’s all right
So, wipe away those tears
Don’t be afraid of the dark
Cos’ tomorrow’s a brand new day
Then, you’ll make your mark
There is no one right way
There’s only your own way
Who says who makes the rules?

No. Not me.
Oh no, not me
I don’t make ’em up
Got to break ’em sometimes

Don’t let anyone tell you
How to live your life
You’re free…to do as you choose
And you know what’s right

But don’t look back
Take a look to the future
Don’t turn back
Head straight for the light-and

Run off into the night
Shatter all your fears
Cos’ everything’s all right
So, wipe away those tears
Don’t be afraid of the dark
You know, tomorrow’s a brand new day
Then, you’ll make your mark
There is no one right way
There’s only your own way
Who says you gotta choose?

(solo)

Run off into the night
Shatter all your fears
Cos’ everything’s all right
So, wipe away those tears
Don’t be afraid of the dark
You know, tomorrow’s a brand new day
Then, you’ll make your mark
There is no one right way
There’s only your own way
Who says you gotta choose?

First of all…spelling intentionally changed. This was a song about my anger toward my father (He was an auto mechanic. Get it? Idle?). I’m in the process of writing a book. In it…the details of our failed relationship are revealed. But, the short version is; disappointment in his failure to be a good parent. A pretty personal song. The band loved it. It was basically our “Cats In The Cradle.” Everyone understands these feelings. If you don’t have someone like this in your family…you know someone that does. This was one of those times when we weren’t just a good-time, party band. We did some “deeper” stuff.

All the time we were together
You said the you would be there when I needed a friend
Now I find out the truth was
You were never there in the end

Never what I need
Never there for me
You never gave a damn about anyone else but yourself
I see

Now that we’re apart, I can open up my eyes
I’m gonna take it back to the start
I can’t take no more of your lies

Never what I need
I was too blind to see
That you never gave a damn about anyone else but yourself
I hope you’re happy in your lonely hell

Oooh, Broken Idle
I’m not comin’ back this time
Had it up to here with you
I’m tellin’ you now that we are through
Oooh, Broken Idle
I can’t take this pain no more
Tell you what I’ve got to do
I gotta head out of this open door-Go!

(Solo)

Some say when you reach this age
You become just a bit more wise
Guess I’m old enough
To see through your disguise
I was too blind to see
That you never gave a damn about anyone else but yourself
I hope you’re happy in your lonely hell cos’
I can’t take this pain no more
I’m heading out the door

Oooh, Broken Idle
I’m not comin’ back this time
Had it up to here with you
I’m telling you now that we are through
Oooh, Broken Idle
I’ve finally opened up my eyes
I am so sick n’ tired of your goddamned lies
I see through your thin disguise.

Broken Idle…