Hear Me Calling 5/5 Great tune. Love the whistling and that country fueled clickety clack bass line. "So don't cry, my good friend. Fear has no substance of its own. These problems simply Are coming to be answered."
"Hear Me Calling" -- 3.5/5 The Prison suffers, as a standalone piece of music, from being kind of similar throughout at times. Since we're judging the songs, it might be kind of unfair to the material which was designed to be played as a soundtrack to a story. However, I have never been able to get on board with the concept, therefore The Prison has always been just a collection of songs -- one which perhaps dips its toes a bit too far into new age territory for my liking at times. I like this tune, but it doesn't stand out as much as 2 or 3 others on the album.
Back in 2012 I recorded the audio at all four of Michael's UK gigs using a Tascam PCM recorder. At the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, gig Michael played a few songs and told a brief plot summery of The Prison. I though that some here may appreciate hearing it so I've just uploaded it to YouTube. It's just audio. The keen eyed may notice that the photo was taken at the Manchester gig. Never mind though, these problems simply are coming to be answered.
Yeah, I like that too. Seems a very reassuring lyric for the times we live in. The words, the bassline, the “cosmic cowboy” feel to this one. Even as part of a larger whole this track stands out. 5/5.
It helps a lot to have the exact time the song starts. This is a very nice country song with a few not completely obvious chord changes to make it not too predictable without making it sound wrong. It's a very nice song, that could easily have fitted onto one of his non-soundtrack albums. In terms of songwriting, I think Nez is firing on all cylinders in this era. 4.5/5
Today's song is Marie's Theme (The song starts midway through this video): As always, due to the needs of this book/album, this is far too long. Far, far too long. It's a quality composition though and has rightly turned up in numerous setlists. And the alternate version exists for anyone who wants to listen to it at a more palatable length. 4/5.
Marie's Theme - A beautiful song that highlights a major plot point in the story. It's long, but a finely edited version could easily have been a single off the album. The remixed version is very lush. It's no wonder it's a fan favorite as well as a personal favorite of Nesmith who has played it as part of a melody for 'The Prison'. 5/5.
By far my favorite tune on the LP a mega 5. Not sure who is doing the percussion, maybe just wood blocks, but I have always found that to be very cool and unique. It is very prominent in the original mix. Nez really sings this well also. The last two tunes have long running times but this song does not wear out for me and it flows perfectly into the final track.
Last night I watched a live lockdown broadcast from Michael Murphey on Facebook. The theme for that one was Memorial Day and was very moving. I'd recommend it to anyone here as I'm sure it would be of interest to any Papa Nes fans. I've always hoped that the two of them would do something together but.... It's not up yet on YouTube but other shows are. Here's a flavour...
"Hidden Behind All the Logic One Finds Without Truth" Marie's Theme 5/5 One of Nez's finest moments. This could have been edited and released as a single. I love it the way it is though and love all 25 times he repeats that line. This song and the next are just pure perfection, to me anyway.
Too long? This Deadhead had a good laugh at that. Marie’s Theme is 5/5. Here’s the alternate version, included with the expanded digital version of Ranch Stash:
It's been busy IRL, so to speak - catching up with The Prison. Waking Mystery - 3/5 Not really my favorite for this album, just sorta there. Hear Me Calling? - 4/5 Enjoyable track - seems to be a better fit overall. Marie's Theme - 4/5 Quite a pleasant one here, sounds a little more like Nez than some of the others on the album up to this point. I have the later mix of The Prison ('90) and do not have the original or the more recent one.
Marie's Theme was one of the many highlights of his 2013 concerts. 5/5 and then some for it. I'll never get enough
