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Hedge's Dark Cloud Appendage

from Music Box Orphans by John Tabacco

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Words and Music © 1986 by John Tabacco
Published by It Iz What It Iz Music (SESAC)

This is a severe edit of the 1986 song "Dark Clouds", which was part of a three piece suite that included the song "Safe Conservative Clothsure" and "Hedge's Appendage". S.C.C. would not see the proper light of day until Bob Stander produced a version of it in 2016. The "Dark Clouds" hook melody plays over a chord progression used in the Brian Rivera song "Take Another Chance On Love". The "Hedge" progression at the crazy outro slyly references lyrically my favorite book "Breakfast Of Champions". Hence me singing the name "Trout" as in Kilgore Trout. I suspect I was also influenced by the lyrics to a Dan Robinson song Nick and I recorded. The lines of which read : "Pretty clouds go floating by They have acid rain inside of them (note that reference also appears at the end of FGL's song "Don't Run Away).

Here, we also have The Priest blabbering about the "bug from Williamsburg" which is based on a true story. Ya see, the shrill sound you hear towards the end is a partial "sync tone" that was laid down on the 8th track of a reel to reel tape we were recording on back then. The obnoxious tone would enable us to lock up the reel to reel machine with the cheesy computer we had. By some form of carelessness the tone was not fully erased on the 8th track and it suddenly blurted out while I was singing. Thus, I commented on it. Or at least the Priest commented on it. The tone was reminiscent of a very angry cicada who lived in a laundromat, Nick, my sister and I were using whilst in Virginia (we were on a road trip to Disney World). Anyway, my fear of bugs got the best of me and I spastically threw a Clorox bottle at the creature to hopefully scare it away. It didn't work. It just pissed off the cicada and with the loudest scream any bug has ever made it began to erratically swooping down at me at a high rate of speed. Well, I nearly had a heart attack. I started running like a madman toward the exit door smashing into an aluminum water fountain that was in my way. Man, did that hurt. What an ass. I think I may have met up with that cicada twenty years later (note: the cover of the CD single "Heartless Sweetheart").

As remembered in the "8 Track Years" :

After showing Nick DiMauro some basic chord changes for a tune (reminiscent of Chris Pati’s Akai song “I've Got A Feeling This Is It”), he quickly constructed the music for "Take Another Chance On Love". This is my interpretation of the same tune. The drum track was half assed and the song was four different ideas stitched together. It needs massive editing. The grandiose beginning harkens "Hedge" and then the "Take Another Chance On Love" chords follow. They lead into a song called "Safe Conservative Clothesure" (which later gave birth to "The Weight Of Nature" and "They Call Him Willie"). It’s back to the tag changes of "Take Another Chance", some repeats, followed by a middle section stolen from the instrumental "When Love Is An Obligatory Cop Show" and ultimately ending with "Take Another Chance"/ "Dark Clouds" but this time in a minor key juxtaposed with "Hedge, Don't Give Yourself The Finger". All in all it's a wordy mess with high energy, maniac vocals toward the end. It's the 1986 version of my 1979 AKAI extravaganza: "FELLOW PIN HEADS".

Incidentally, the giggle at the very end comes from Cannonball Adderly's classic album John Henry. It later resurfaces in "EATINGAWAYTHESECONDSINTHETHUMBPINATA". The reference to "The Bug From Williamsburg" (sync tone noise) is a story on to itself. And guess what? I'm in the mood to tell it. Ya see, Nick, Laura, and I were coming back home from Florida and we stopped in Williamsburg Virginia to do laundry (canned laughter goes here). At this wash dry we were confronted with a huge bug that kept imposing on our air space. When it settled on the wall, Nick threw an empty Clorox bottle at it. A second of silence ensued. Then all of a sudden, SHIT! This winged beast screamed so loud, it was unbelievable. It flew towards me, and I literally knocked over this aluminum water fountain trying to run for cover. It was a sweaty nightmare we survived for one purpose: basically, to make conversation while waiting on line at the motor vehicles department.

lyrics

HEDGE'S DARK CLOUD APPENDAGE

Hedge...

Mark Clouds he's a Novocaine.
He can rust your slacks
Mark Clouds watch his acid rain eat through your favorite trout

Mark Clouds he's a Novocaine.
He can rust your slacks
Mark Clouds watch his acid rain eat through your favorite trout

Mark Clouds he's a Novocaine.
He can rust your slacks

Hedge...

I say, Hedge don't eat that trout!
Don't give yourself the finger!

Mark Clouds : Now!

Phillip : Hahahahah

Mark Clouds : Hey, give me back my bobo chute!

Phillip : Hahahahah

Mark Clouds : Give it back now!

Phillip : No!

Mark Clouds : You bastard!

Phillip : Ahhhhhh

Mark Clouds : Gimmie that!

Phillip : No!

Mark Clouds : Ehh!

The Priest : Alright, what's going on? Who took out all the...
Who's behind the altar over there?

-Phillip laughs - (sync tone screams)

The Priest : It's like the bug from Wiliamsburg or something.
What, what's going on?

credits

from Music Box Orphans, released July 24, 2016
JT : Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, DX Oberheim Drums, Screaming
Recorded at Suburban Hermit Studios 1, St. James NY
Recording Medium : Tascam 38 - 8 Track Reel to Reel with DBX Noise Reduction

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John Tabacco Stony Brook, New York

John Tabacco is a composer, singer-songwriter, producer, recording engineer, and visual artist.

Like an unfolding musical diary / puzzle, Tabacco’s music and art are constantly being re-worked, juxtaposed and intertwined.

For more info : www.johntabacco.net
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