Album Credits

 

 

T.Lee/Bass/Lead Vocals

Savino Izzi/Guitar

Alex Emetti/Guitar/Background Vocals

Danya Thompson/Drums/keys on track 1

Charlie Coffeen-Keys

Rick Cruz/Guitar on track 8

Kim Johnson/Backing Vocals tracks 2,3,4,5,7,9 &10

Carolyn Castillo/Backing Vocals on track 6

Lauren Lo/Backing Vocals on track 1

Tramaine Arte Mis/ Backing Vocals on Track 2

Elissa Sophia/ Backing vocals on track 2

Kevin Decker/Sax

Michael Musto/Trombone

Arman Yazdani/Trumpet

Produced by Danya Thompson

Executive producer by T.Lee

Horn Arrangements by T.Lee & Danya Thompson

Horn Arrangements on track 3 by T.Lee , Danya Thompson & Alex Emetti

Mixed by Danya Thompson with T.Lee

Mastered by Danya Thompson

Remastered by SoundLab

Swan Song Guitars

Front image by Izzie Swan

Patrick Wingard Back cover Photo

Black Vinyl

T.lee

 

we'd be together in my room

i never get tired of playing you

if you were my favorite, id put you on top

and i loved how you crackled and pop

 

you keep spinning, spinning around

always spinning spinning around

you keep spinning around, 

always spinning spinning around

 

i would get lost all in your groove

i usta love how you made me move

my older brother would put you on

you were always so much fun

 

hook

 

i don't why i feel this way

drop the needle on the record

thats what they used to say

 

hook

 

i loved to flip you over

sometimes your bak side was better than the front

they love you in chicago

they love you in Detroit too

they love ypu in new york city

and in london town

 

Black vinyl is my tribute to my older siblings. I am the youngest and I had the benefit exploring a wide array of different music at my fingertips. Vinyl was a different experience and it was more interactive. I would stare at the photos and flip the album cover open and it was like a giant book. The opening guitar lick is inspired by a Monkees song. “For Pete’s Sake” a song written by Peter Tork.  The Monkees song has a really cool intro.

Regulation

by T.Lee

 

all around the world,

we need room to breathe

since i was young

life ain't what it seems

 

Regulation!! The regulation

realization. the reality yeah

stipulation, ooh stipulation

less taxation, you think we got money to burn

 

i got a reason to be

when you tell the truth

and when the people see

they always put the blame on you

 

Hook

 

it's my regulation!!

oooh, ooh, ooh ooh ooh

 

regulation

you gotta live it now

we living in the world right now

you gotta get yo mind together

before it comes back on you

 

it's my regulation

its what we do

Regulation funk began in Chicago at music zone rehearsal spaces. Danya and I were traveling to Nashville to attend namm in a few days. Danya had studio time booked for himself to lay down drums for clients of his. I wanted some of that so I recorded 2 bass heavy originals of mine. One night at music zone danya on drums and me on bass jammed for a couple of hours. I wanted to record something in Nashville. Regulation funk was one of those jam sessions. I was vibing on Curtis Mayfield. Using an envelope pedal, I got the bass sound just the way I wanted (a first)  Lyrics simply mean just do you.

Ride

By t.lee & A. Emiti

 

when im in your bed

the world just drifts away

all my pain and stress, you're sweet

you're my release

 

when life just gets to deep for me

i can't sleep i can't eat

youre my main consoler

your love , you take me

 

ride of your life

you take me

take me higher

 

things i cant explain, i get all tied up inside

days i just don't know

i feel the groove when youre near me

when fantasy is realty

i can't sleep 

i cant eat

youre my main consoler

 

hook

 

ride of your life

i wanna ride

take me higher

i wanna ride

take me over

your love is so sweet

youre my release and i wanna ride, yea

oooh, oooooh

This was an instrumental when Alex let me hear it for the first time. Great soul groove. He didn’t have any lyrics so he asked if I had anything. The song made me think of P funk. I think that every song reminds me of P funk until im proven wrong. I immediately thought of Glenn Goins singing swing down I wanna ride from their live show. The song title ride was in place and I wrote the lyrics around that title. I love the horn arrangements that Danya, Alex and myself came up with. Do yourself a favor and watch parliament live 1978 doing swing down. Glen gives me goose bumps every time I watch it.

T.Lee

 

  Ride was originally written as a hard edged Hip-Hop track. I was listening to a lot of Pharoahe Monch at the time, but since then I feel it has morphed into more of a hard hitting, soulful ballad with Boom-Bap undertones.

Alex

How You feel

By T.Lee

I like to wake up in the morning

with some sunshine on my face

i like to go to sleep dreaming

feeling yo warm embrace

 

tell me how do you feel

tell me how do you feel

 

there's 24 hours to get it right

whateva you got ta do

it could be working yo 9 to 5

or doing tha hoochie coo

 

how do you feel about it

how do you feel

 

hook

 

i like how it feels when i'm on top

always ahead of the game

the bottom can be alright

but it don't feel quite the same

 

Hook

 

I'd like for the band to groove on....right about now

 

 

How you feel was a song that Babybrutha had been performing live for years. The song was inspired sly and the family stone and that familiar percussive beat that Greg Errico played on a lot of songs like dance to the music. Its just a fun song that I wanted evoke pleasure sprinkled with a lot of innuendos. I am trying hard to do my best James Brown screams.

This Journey

By Danya Thompson & T.Lee

 

I can take you on a journey through this thing that we call MUSIC

Starting at the very point that we can all agree influenced

Rhythms that come, arrangements that blow your very mind up

I can't over state. Can’t under explain, the magic of Diz and parker

 

I won't take you too far, 

I won't take you too far on this journey

 

Open up your mind relax your soul prepare your body for the

Percolating grooves where djs rule and beats that pound like thunder

Get on the floor, jack your body

til we all get fucked up

From a city that works, Frankie knuckles was king of this musical mantra

 

Hook

 

If you have an ill no magic pill will cure you from your doldrums

Doing it to death will help you as we break out in a cold sweat

Funk can remove as it soothes whatever pains ya

We can one nation

GC told ya.

 

Hook

This Journey was originally conceived by Danya Thompson. The bass line that follows the hook was Danya. During practice one day Danya Hummed the bass line. We all fell into a groove and the song grew from there. I kept humming what we did for days and I thought of a concept that would take the listeners on a musical journey. Danya took that idea and changes his drum patterns to fit that particular verse. We start with jazz, House music next , followed by Funk and we end with heavy Hard rock. But we won’t take you too far.

Kozmic Zone

T.lee

 

 I can't conceive

 you break me down without even trying

i can't beleive

how you make me dance to your rythms

and now i cant go on

i'm helpless as a fawn you know

now i don't belong

you do this to me

why can't i know betta, why cant i know betta baby

why can't i know betta

when we getting it on im in a cosmic zone

why can't i know betta, why cant i know betta baby

why can't i know betta

when we getting it on im in a cosmic zone

we have our needs

you have yours and i have mine

my lust for the

you pretend and i always fall for it

and now i cant go on

i'm helpless as a fawn you know

now i don't belong

you do this to me

why can't i know betta, why cant i know betta baby

why can't i know betta

when we getting it on im in a cosmic zone

why can't i know betta, why cant i know betta baby

why can't i know betta

when we getting it on im in a cosmic zone

just let me be

you always seem to keep me dangling

now, now give me free

you stole my soul and made it your own

and now i cant go on

i'm helpless as a fawn you know

now i don't belong

you do this to me

why can't i know betta, why cant i know betta baby

why can't i know betta

when we getting it on im in a cosmic zone

why can't i know betta, why cant i know betta baby

why can't i know betta

when we getting it on im in a cosmic zone

 

why can't i know betta, why cant i know betta baby

why can't i know betta

when we getting it on im in a cosmic zone

why can't i know betta, why cant i know betta baby

why can't i know betta

when we getting it on im in a cosmic zone

 

when we getting it on im in a cosmic zone

when we getting it on im in a cosmic zone

(groove with melody of hook)

 

Kozmic Zone is one man’s story about being weak and giving in to temptation of the flesh. Why can’t I know Betta? This song was inspired somewhat by a Maxwell song from either his first or second release. I can’t remember the exact song but I was listening to a lot of Maxwell back then. Kozmic was inspired by Funkadelic use of the word for their song Cosmic slop. Another dark song about how the flesh is weak. Charlie on keys takes this song to another level. It reminds of something Daft Punk might give a thumbs up to. Maybe…..

 

U Good 4 Me


By T.Lee


It’s plain to see, I never knew another woman as cool as me
Such harmonies, they dance inside my head each time we meet


I feel free, you never ever wanna squeeze my wings
When I sing, you always make me feel like Luther baby

 

Good 4 me, Good 4 me

I wanna scream about it

Good 4 me

I wanna tell you why ya


Good 4 me


Everyday situations spend me round and round in a haze
But with you in my scene, the sun is always shining baby


HOOK


Good 4 Me

I wanna scream about it

I wanna scream about it

Good 4 me

 

Good for me was from a previous release but Danya wanted to record a different updated version. Kim background vocals really bring this song to life. I am referring to my wife Dana in this song. Shes been there with me through the good and bad. I was feeling Rick James a little when this song was conceived.

Gimme Yo Passion (Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
By Danya Thompson & T.Lee

I’ve never been one to scream
I speak softly I’m an easy mood
I never ever get real mean
I’m as gentle as the morning dew

But when I saw ya, I completely lost it
Please forgive me, I know not what I say

Gimme Yo Passion, I want yo passion

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Gimme Yo Passion, I need yo passion

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

I never ever get excited
I sit real still I never ever move
I never been one for running
I get there when I get there,
There’s no rush

But when I saw ya, I completely lost it
Please forgive me, I know not what I say

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

I need yo passion

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

I just wanna get next to you

Your passion,

I want yo passion

Da da da da da, da da da ,

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
 

 

Gimmie Yo Passion was a song That Alex wanted to record. It is featured on a previous Babybrutha release but it sounds nothing like what it became. This song is definitely a crowd favorite and most people that know Babybrutha are familiar with this song. The horns, Kim and Charlie really add to this version.

5,4 Give My Life

T.lee & A. Emiti

 

 5, 4 give my life

wont forfeit my soul

free to be alive 

one already knows

breathe in release within u can see in

(inside yourself)

should have thought better

we could have fought better

should have known better

(forgive yourself)

what we got to be grateful, what we got to be grateful

what we could done over in our own eyes

hook

(higher voice)

honey, i know you ain't gon peg me for a loser

on the first date, it was me who came to shower you with laughter

 should have known better

i think i knew betta

every single call i made you seem to drop it

i aint gon shake i aint gon shiver

i misunderstood you aint no giver

but i'll give you everything tat's left in me, honey (stretch out honey)


hook (high voice)

5 4 give my life

wont forfeit my soul

free to be aliiii(ascend)ve

one already knowsI

 

 Alex had written this song a few years back. He had the hook and the first verse. He asked if I could write a second verse. I like the melody and the jazzy vibe of the song. I wanted stick what he was saying in verse 1 but add another element to his story. I love the title 5,4 give my life

T.Lee

 

 5-4 Was written a long time ago when I was  getting into experimentation with chord tapping on the fretboard. With my main influence on that one being Stanley Jordan, it delivers a continuous, laidback jazzy fee

Alex