1. If You Wanna Get To Know Me
Words & music Ruby Bird
New version, not previously released, ©2013
Ruby: This song was inspired years ago by a common behavior I had observed of women in nightclubs where we frequently played. I thought it was funny, but they had such an attitude. I wonder if in the end it helped them find what they were looking for.
2. The Listener
Words & music by Billy Carl Mancini
New, not previously released, ©2013
Billy: In my other life I run Second Story Recording Studio. I often find myself listening to my client’s life stories, trials and tribulations. Of course I share my stories too. So I feel a bit like the comic strip character Lucy from Peanuts with my “Doctor is In” sign. 5 cents please.
3. Bridge 51
Words & music by Billy Carl Mancini
Remastered with new intro, originally released on “Tuning In, Tuning Out” CD by Bird Mancini ©2010
Ruby: There is an actual bridge on I 89 near Burlington, Vermont named Bridge 51. As Billy and I were crossing this very high stretch of road over the Green Mountains, we both thought about the metaphoric implications to this stage of our lives. Billy came up with this beautiful song as a result. This version has a brief guitar intro that we left off the original version on “Tuning In Tuning Out”.
4. You Don’t Know What I’m Saying
Words & music by Billy Carl Mancini
New, not previously released, ©2013
Billy: This was actually written many years ago but is one of those songs that never made it to a CD until now. Some songs never leave your consciousness, they just rattle around until you get them out.
5. What Gets Me This Way?
Words & music by Billy Carl Mancini
New instrumental version, not previously released, ©2013
Original version with lyrics released on “Pie In The Sky” CD by The Sky Blues (early Bird Mancini), ©1996
Billy: There are words on the original version, which was more blues based. This instrumental version was created for film but didn’t make it there…. yet. Any filmmakers need a song?
6. Midway Dream Café
Words & music by Billy Carl Mancini
Remastered, background vocals added
Original version released on “Pie In The Sky” CD by The Sky Blues ©1996
Billy: I used to run a blues jam at The Midway Café in Jamaica Plain, MA, and would run into all kinds of people. There was a regular named Sally who couldn’t sing very well, but always enjoyed herself. There was a guy at the bar who was a Vietnam Vet but also a flower child too. Why the song turned out to be bossa nova style, I have no idea—it just did.
7. Jet Setting In Morocco
Words & music by Billy Carl Mancini
Remastered, original released on “Bird Mancini” CD by Bird Mancini ©2002
Billy: Here’s what a reviewer said: “Beautiful and enchanting piece that is not unlike the smoothest Brazilian jazz that most people in the US first heard on the mid 60s classic, “The Girl From Ipanema” by Astrud and Joao Gilberto.” I don’t know why I wrote that song or where it came from. It’s one of those songs that just happens, but probably it’s me just wishing I could do what I want do.
8. Pond Life
Words by Curt Naihersey, music by Billy Carl Mancini
Reworked, remixed and remastered. Original version released on “The Prodigal Muse” by Mr. Curt ©2000
Ruby: Many years ago Boston music legend, Mr. Curt, composed the lyrics to this song in response to a call for songs about Jamaica Pond, for an eventual CD release as the Save The Pond project, or something like that. Billy came up with the music and we recorded and submitted the entry. The project was abandoned and never released until Mr. Curt included the original version on his CD “The Prodigal Muse.” This version has an added bass guitar and some new vocals, but is still pretty faithful to the original.
9. Patagonia
Music by Billy Carl Mancini
New, not previously released, ©2013
Billy: I woke up with this one in my head. Had to run to the recorder to save a sleepy version. Ruby came up with the title…we spent part of our honeymoon at Lake Patagonia in southern Arizona.
10. Somedays
Words & music by Billy Carl Mancini
Remastered, original released on “Funny Day” CD by Bird Mancini ©2007
Billy: Bossa nova feel, light percussion, sparkly guitars and dreamy vocals—all contemplating the fact that we can only change ourselves…not people, places or circumstances around us.
11. Northridge
Words & music by Billy Carl Mancini
Originally released on “Tuning In, Tuning Out” CD by Bird Mancini ©2010
Billy: This is not the first song I ever wrote, but among the first. There actually is a Northridge, I’m told, in California, but I didn’t know about it at the time the song was written. It’s just a place I imagined.
12. Running To You (Coda)
Words & music by Billy Carl Mancini
Remastered instrumental coda, organ intro added. Entire original song with lyrics released on “Bird Mancini” CD by Bird Mancini ©2002
Billy: This is the coda to a full-length song we used to play out every week, and jam the heck out of it at the clubs. It merges rock to a Santana groove, according to one reviewer.