Oldies But Goodies Jukebox
Religion of the Heart
Artist: Rick Springfield
Album: Karma
Platinum Records – 1999
Song: “Religion Of The Heart”
Written by: Jeff Silverman and Rick Springfield
Jeff: Avid Pro Tools Digital Editing
The original version of this song was released on the “From The Vault” CD. Click here for more info.
“‘Religion Of The Heart’ is another instant classic. The style is the same as ‘It’s Always Something.’ The lyrics are dark and brooding, as is the vocal. The song is very laid back, but guitar driven with some great background organ, and a bluesy lead guitar during the faster chorus.”
–Melodic Rock Karma Review
His hair was bible black, face like a priest
His fingers clutched the precious box and silent as a dream
He hid behind the dark sunglasses
You caught your breath
You thought he was beautiful
You didn’t hear his silent scream
As he spread the dead man’s ashes
Your always trying to find your worth
In the eyes of someone new
You may not think you need this baby but I think you do
You need Religion Of The Heart, Religion Of The Heart
(deep in your system)
You’re just searching in the dark
For a reason to believe
You need Religion Of The Heart
You raise your glass, you drink their wine
But you’re still thirsty all the time
No miracles tonight, and you’ll skip the midnight masses
It’ll be okay in the cool clear, bright light of the day
But you just seem so scattered
As though nothing mattered baby
You’re always trying to heal yourself in someone else’s skin
Turn the thieves out of the temple baby and let it in
You need Religion Of The Heart, Religion Of The Heart
(deep in your system)
You’re just searching in the dark
For a reason to believe
You need Religion Of The Heart
Oh, you think that I am only joking, and it all comes down to nothing
And I’m just talking to your fear but I ‘m not
No, I’m not, and you stand in the field of fire
You need Religion Of The Heart, Religion Of The Heart
(deep in your system)
You’re just searching in the dark
For a reason to believe
You need Religion Of The Heart
Religion Of The Heart–
Circle of Tears
Artist: James Christian
Album: James Christian – Meet The Man
Frontiers Records – 2004
Song: Circle of Tears
Written by: Jeff Silverman and Judithe Randall
Comments:
James Christian is best known for being the front man for the band House of Lords. The band’s first self-titled album was released in 1988 by Gene Simmons’ (KISS) company Simmons Records and received critical acclaim. The album featured the hit “I Wanna Be Loved” which reached number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The second album “Sahara” featured a number of high profile guest musicians, 2 hits on the top 100 and was certified platinum in 1991. House of Lords went on to release eight additional albums, the most recent being “Big Money” on Frontiers Records in 2011.
Dream In Colour
Artist: Rick Springfield
Album: Rock of Life
RCA Records – 1988
Song: Dream In Colour
Written by: Jeff Silverman and Rick Springfield
Arranger: Jeff Silverman
You wake up to tell me (that you’re numb inside, that the feelings all have died)
You’re praying and you’re saying (that you do believe, but I don’t believe that’s true)
Everything has always been there
Nothing goes away that won’t come back
You’re living in a house of cards
And you’re blowing down the stack
She sleeps under a rainbow
She won’t Dream In Colour
She thinks that her soul is painted
Grey or black or white
Sleeping under a rainbow
She could Dream In Colour
Dream In Colour tonight
Glass mirror, look in (I know it’s hard to see, when the one you free is you)
Sleep walking, high talking (but the colours aren’t real and the things you feel don’t last)
You sit there looking at the sunrise
Not knowing if the day has come or gone
Wondering why it turns you off
When it never turns you on
She sleeps under a rainbow
She won’t Dream In Colour
She thinks that her soul is painted
Grey or black or white
Sleeping under a rainbow
She could Dream In Colour
Dream In Colour tonight
Picking at the lock on the front door
Pulling at the shutters on the windows
But you’re living in a house of shadows
Even though you’re lonely you think it’s you
Sitting at that table set for one
You’re waiting for the guest that never comes
She sleeps under a rainbow
She won’t Dream In Colour
She thinks that her soul is painted
Grey or black or white
Sleeping under a rainbow
She could Dream In Colour
Dream In Colour tonight
Tell Me You Love Me
Artist: James Christian
Album: Unreleased – 1994
Song: Tell Me You Love Me
Written by: Jeff Silverman and James Christian
Performed: Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Guitars
Comments:
James Christian is best known for being the front man for the band House of Lords. The band’s first self titled album was released in 1988 by Gene Simmons’ (KISS) company Simmons Records and received critical acclaim. The album featured the hit “I Wanna Be Loved” which reached number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The second album “Sahara” featured a number of high profile guest musicians, 2 hits on the top 100 and was certified platinum in 1991. House of Lords went on to release eight additional albums, the most recent being “Big Money” on Frontiers Records in 2011.
I met James through Judithe Randall who was an amazing friend, co-writer and music matchmaker. Judithe was an incredibly talented and gifted lyricist and artist who was always helping talented people that she believed in. Judith had contacted James who was in Connecticut at that time and asked if he would come to California to record some of her songs. From that point on it was only natural that James and I would end up working together as well. We actually have one song we wrote together called “Tell Me You Love Me” that has never been released.
With the release of “From The Vault,” James and I also both have releases on Frontiers Records.
Footsteps
Artist: Nick Gilder
Album: Nick Gilder
Song: Footsteps
RCA Victor – 1985
Written by: Jeff Silverman and Nick Gilder
Performed: Bass,Drums, Guitars
Arranged by: Jeff Silverman
This song was also featured in the 1986 movie “Youngblood” that starred Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Cynthia Gibb, Ed Lauther and Keanu Reeves. I also co-wrote, performed and arranged on 2 other songs on the record entitled “Nowhere To Run” and “Fingerprints.”
About Nick Gilder: Nick Gilder is a performer and writer who originally began playing with the Vancouver group, Sweeney Todd. The band split up in 1977 and Gilder began a solo career signing with Chrysalis releasing the album “You Know Who You Are.” Gilder’s second album, “City Nights” produced the platinum number one single “Hot Child In The City.” Gilder released several other albums as a solo artist and is the writer for Patty Smythe’s #1 hit, “The Warrior.” Nick has once again teamed up with fellow Sweeney Todd member Jim McCullouch. Nick and Sweeney are now touring festivals, casino showrooms and fairs.
Talk To Me
Song: Talk To Me
1988
Written by: Jeff Silverman and Rick Springfield
Produced by: Jeff Silverman and Rick Springfield
Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by: Jeff Silverman, Palette Studio, LA
All Instruments Performed by: Jeff Silverman and Rick Springfield
Vocals by: Mindee Lee
Notes from Jeff:
Rick and I wrote many songs during the late 80’s into the late 90’s. We mainly wrote songs together for Rick’s artist CD’s but because of Rick’s passion to expand his horizons and our mutual love for R&B, we decided to “pen” a few songs that were specifically arranged and produced for the current R&B pop market at that time. By doing that, we would “cast the characters” by hiring other singers to come in and do the vocals. Mindee Lee did a stellar job singing this song. I feel it’s one of our best “non-artist RS” songs that we wrote together and to this day, can’t figure out why it wasn’t covered.
Maybe one reason was because after my Motown 4 year staff deal ended in 1992, Motown sold their publishing company to EMI Music. With the exception of 3 or 4 songs, all of my over 100 songs written during that time frame were misplaced for nearly 17 years! I found this out around 4 years ago when I went to get the mechanical license / clearance info for the “From The Vault” songs I co-wrote and released with Rick. The first hint that something was wrong was when they said “Dancin’ On The Edge Of The” WHAT??? “You Write The Book”? Etc. Oy!
Thanks to the current staff at EMI, all is back in order. Wishful thinking… but maybe they will be able to find good homes for a lot of the many gems that were never heard but are now back on the map!
How Many Times Must We Say Goodbye
Song: How Many Times Must We Say Goodbye
1988
Written by: Jeff Silverman and Judithe Randall
Produced, Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by: Jeff Silverman, Palette Studio, LA
Performed: All instruments
Vocals by: Marcie Free
Notes from Jeff:
Marci (aka Mark) Free sang on many of my songs over the years and we probably have a collection of over a CD’s worth of material from the mid – late 80’s – 90’s. There is no question how awesome her voice is and I will always be grateful for all her support and great energy she put into every performance.
About Marcie Free:
Marcie Michelle Free (born Mark Edward Free on April 12, 1954) is an American rock singer, best known as the lead singer of King Kobra, Signal and Unruly Child.
Free started singing professionally at the age of 19 while living in Flint, Michigan (1973). In 1975, Free moved to Las Vegas, Nevada which eventually (in 1979) led to Free relocating to Los Angeles, CA where he met Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Beck, Bogert & Appice, Rod Stewart) in 1983. Together they formed King Kobra and were signed to Capitol Records in 1984. Free recorded two albums with King Kobra, Ready to Strike, and Thrill of a Lifetime, before leaving in November 1986 to pursue other musical interests.
In 1987 Free formed a band with guitarist Danny Jacob, bassist and keyboardist Erik Scott and drummer Jan Uvena, which would later take the name Signal. Signal recorded one album for EMI, 1989’s Loud and Clear, before disbanding soon after.
In 1990, Free then joined up with Bruce Gowdy, (Stone Fury/World Trade) and Guy Allison (World Trade) (keyboards), forming a group known as Unruly Child. Unruly Child signed with Atlantic/Interscope Records in 1991 and released their self titled debut album in 1992. In 1993, a solo album consisting of demos Free had sung for a mother/daughter song writing duo named Judithe and Robin Randall was released on an independent label in the U.K. called Now and Then Records. The album entitled, “Long Way From Love” was re-released on Frontiers Records in 1998. This album version included some of the live performances Free gave while in Manchester England for the first rock festival known as “The Gods of AOR” in October 1993.
Shortly after the release of “Long Way from Love,” Unruly Child, after losing their record deal with Atlantic/Interscope, had reformed under the moniker “Twelve Pound Sledge” and were writing new material in hopes of resigning with another U.S. label. That never happened, though songs from these sessions were later released in 1995, as a solo album on independent labels in Germany and Japan, entitled “Tormented.”
Having gender dysphoria all her life, Free came out to the world as Marcie Free in November 1993. In 1995, Free retired from the music business and moved back to Michigan to be close to her family. However she still sings professionally on the side and in September 2009 Marcie, Bruce and Guy reunited Unruly Child and signed a recording contract with Frontiers Records. A new album with that label, Worlds Collide, has been released to critical acclaim.
Crimes Of The Heart
Artist: Martee Lebow
Album: Crimes of the Heart
Atlantic Records – 1986
Song: Crimes Of The Heart
Written by: Jeff Silverman and Vicki Thomas
“This is without a doubt one of the best female AOR albums of the eighties.
Opener, title track “Crimes Of The Heart” (penned by maestro Jeff Silverman) is a terrific semi-midtempo rockin’ AOR gem. From the first note you will be amazed by LeBow’s trained and powerful pipes.”
Hardrock / AOR Heaven
Comments:
Martee Lebow is a singer/songwriter from Binghamton, New York. She recorded her first album “The Lady Wants To Be A Star” in her teens, which was produced by Charlie Calello. The album “Crimes of The Heart” featured Dan Huff on guitar. Dan has not only played on albums with artists such as Reba McEntire and Michael Jackson, he has also produced Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Rascall Flatts, to name just a few.
Martee has collaborated with writers such as Will Jennings, Craig Wiseman, Keith Reid and Jim Messina. Martee has also maintained a successful jingle career, singing on commercials for Coke, Folgers, Budweiser and many more and has recorded background vocals and traveled the globe with the World Music Band, Alabina and Ishtar. She is the lead singer of the Mar-Tays, a New York City band featuring Irwin Fisch, John Siegler, Frank Vilardi, Ira Siegel and Larry Saltzman.
Welcome Me Home
Song: Welcome Me Home
1986
Written by: Jeff Silverman and Nick Trevisick
Produced, Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by: Jeff Silverman at Angel Studios (aka Palette Studio, LA)
Performed: All Instruments
Vocals by: Jeff Silverman
December Nights
Spent all along
I’ve been counting all the days ‘til I’ll be home
Back in your arms
A whisper away
I’ve been dreaming of the words that I will say
But when I call out your name
Will the tears fall like rain?
Or will we both share the moment in silence
Holding each other
Welcome me home
Home to your heart
You’ve’ kept the candle alight in the wind now
Since we’ve been apart
Time may have past
Nothing has changed
Baby we’ll soon be together again
Holding onto forever
The look in your eyes
The day that I left
Has been haunting me with every single breath
Well it won’t be long
Cause I’m on my way
Baby this time in your arms I’m gonna stay
But I just can’t conceal
All the love that I feel
Or when I think of the times that we spent
Without each other
Welcome me home
Home to your heart
You’ve’ kept the candle alight in the wind now
Since we’ve been apart
Time may have past
Nothing has changed
Baby we’ll soon be together again
Holding onto forever
Time may have past
Nothing has changed
Baby we’ll soon be together again
Holding onto forever
Notes from Jeff / About Nick Trevesick:
Nick and I first met when he was an Island writer in LA. This was just before I signed my deal with Motown as a staff writer. We were extremely productive during the short span of time we wrote together. Nick has worked with artists such as Janet Jackson, Atlantic Starr, Debbie Allen, Irene Cara, Danny Wilde and the Rembrandts and Mandy Moore.