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High Times in the Dark

by The Claudettes

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1.
You used to check on me at night Ask is everything all right Spend an hour on the phone You get so dirty when you're stoned You don't call me that much Bad babe, losin' touch I used to hear the doorbell ring Out the window, hear you sing And I'd come racing down the stairs Find only flowers sitting there You don’t come over that much Bad babe, losin' touch I've been asking where you've been I've been asking all your friends And I've been seeing other men Hold my breath and count to ten I don't ask for that much Bad babe, losin' touch When we would all go out to eat I'd be the first to take a seat It wouldn't mean a thing to see Who would sit down next to me I like you on the other side So I can look right in your eyes You don't come sit with me much You don't come visit me much Yes, I miss you that much Bad babe, losin' touch
2.
24/5 03:22
24/7's too much, how 'bout 24/5? Lothario and Romeo, it's about time you took a dive I know you get excited, but really now, this is gettin' silly You want it all the time, but there's such a thing as gilding the lily We'll always be together, OK, every year, not every day You can just call me Southwest, 'cause I wanna get away This is like a comedy act, and you're the Smothers Brothers Smothering me with your love, Dick and Tom, go and visit your mother 24/7's a joke, I offer 24/5 Casanova, Don Juan, take it easy, you're in overdrive That's enough with the heat, I predict the weather's gonna get chilly I gotta say I'm beat, y'know there's such a thing as gilding the lily 24/7's your idea, not mine, relax Every single day's a bit much, every scene's a climax You can't write a screenplay like that, I mean, come on, really Give your audience a breather, now, there's such a thing as gilding the lily If this is all a movie, here's the teaser: you've been gilding the lily You want it all the time, but there's such a thing as gilding the lily
3.
I'll dream about you, I swear to God I will And I'll do it, too. It'll blow this place sky-high Smile at me and I swear to God I'll dream about you tonight Laugh again, just laugh again Hum a song under your breath Say my name, look at me This isn't just a threat: I'll dream about you, I swear to God I will I'll blow this place sky-high Keep on smiling at me, and I swear to God I'll dream about you tonight Dreamin'…dream about me Do this crime. Do it with me. Please say OK. Do it this way: Put your hands in your pockets, look around Look down, then look at me Blush a little, fix your hair And I'll do it, oh, you'll see: I'll dream about you, I swear to God I will I'll blow this place sky-high Keep on smiling at me, and I swear to God I'll dream about you tonight
4.
Creeper Weed 02:33
We'll smoke and then it's my time, it's gonna be a high time But it's creepin' after us And I'm smilin' 'cause I had mine, we're wearin' nothin' but the moonlight But it's creepin' after us When I woke you were gone, left a note on the table "Don't have too much fun, call me when you are able" Then thirty-seven days later, we get our menus from the waiter But it's creepin' after us And then we're drinkin' at the hotel, made so much noise they said to go to hell But it's creepin' after us Take a train to a train, hung-over kiss at the station I said "I'll see you in May," felt a slight devastation Then I went back to our room, and I turned on the light You had left something there: the book you'd bought for the flight The window's open 'cause it's springtime, The record's spinnin' 'cause it's nighttime But it's creepin' after us Our minds are reelin' 'cause it's high time, the sun'll rise again in no time And I'm smilin' 'cause I had mine, and I can see you in the moonlight But it's creepin' after us
5.
Oh, I've got mine, now you go get yours. Yeah, I've got mine, you can go get your own. 'Cause I've got mine, so you can go get your own I was given mine when I was born. And here is mine, but where is yours? Don't feed the animals, no. It's sad, but they're on their own. We're ridin' high, they're just gettin' high. They won't even try! We sell and buy, they're just getting by. Grandkids, wave bye-bye! There's really nothing we can do. There's really nothing we can do for you. You've got to want it, if you're to have it. You've gotta work for it, and I've just had it With you animals. I will not feed you animals. We're ridin' high, they're just getting' high. They moan and bitch and cry. Buy low, sell high. They don't even try! Grandkids, wave bye-bye! You're on your own. And I've got mine, and you can't have it. I've got it all. You can't have any. And I've got plenty. You don't get any. Bye-bye. Goodbye. Grandkids, wave bye-bye!
6.
I've got one special bottle I've been saving. I'll open it up, but only on the day when What I wanted comes to pass And justifies a crystal glass The bottle's in the back of the cabinet I thought about having it just for the hell of it Maybe it's dumb that I leave it sealed But my day hasn't come, and a deal is a deal I really thought I'd get to drink it last year But, just like me, it's sitting here There's not a buzz, there's nothing to savor No one does anyone any favors So I've got this one old bottle and it's worth a lot My favorite gift I ever got You don't have to open a present to love it I'll smash the thing, I'm not above it I've got that one old bottle, I can't stand the sight of it Let's drink it now, let's make a night of it It's probably not as great as they say I'll drink it tonight, get it out of the way This waiting and waiting It's me in the cabinet No one will savor me, no one is having it, no I've got that one old bottle, it's the good stuff I'll chase it when I've had enough
7.
Declined 02:42
Dear Sir: Thank you so much for that most generous offer But sir: I regret to inform you, there's a lot of competition to fill this position So many are hoping to fill this opening And as for you? DECLINED. And as for you? DECLINED. You have been DECLINED. 100% DECLINED. Dear sir: I appreciate your interest in working with me Dear sir: There is no committee, it's only me Dear sir: I wish you the best in all your future endeavors But sir: There is no interest whatsoever DECLINED. Please do not apply again, you're DECLINED. There will be no change of mind. DECLINED. Dear sir, as I've outlined: You're DECLINED. Enclosed please find: You're DECLINED. Delivered, sealed, signed: DECLINED. On behalf of womankind: DECLINED. Thanks so much for taking the time, but DECLINED.
8.
I must've driven home but I don't remember a thing Vile mess in the back seat, a side mirror missing He said "DON'T CALL ME," my head is pounding I don't do that stuff any more I used to die a little at a time Ecstasy and steep decline Night after night, leave a little behind Oh my lord, what a time I remember so badly wanting to beat your heart The game is over before you start If you bust out the lights and insist on the dark I don't do that stuff anymore Endless battles amount to war So I settled down, I don't settle the score I tiptoe around, I don't slam the door I don't do that stuff anymore Adrenaline racing, bet we get caught Exotic trespassing, burning all we were taught Bold faced lies about where we were going Smiling eyes knowing what we were knowing Of living in nowhere but residing in heaven Our reckless adventure winding down around seven Now I'm lying still by News at Eleven But I know that my mirrors are both intact I'm sure that my friends will both call back It's not up to me to outfox the cops Or win the whole night as I pick the lock Such a dangerous place, but I want nothing more Than to abandon all hope and walk through a door To when we were all just fun-loving whores We treated the night like it was ours, not yours I don't do that stuff anymore God, I loved life so much, I was just so in love with it I kissed it so hard and held it so tight I loved it, I loved it, I loved it, I loved it I don't do that stuff anymore
9.
I have read that most accidents happen So I became a shut-in, suddenly Why would you go out, when most accidents happen? Stay home until the captain says it's safe again. And there are men, and these are very bad men. They're hell-bent, but we will never know when The experts agree that most accidents happen. There's no persuasive gap in the data here. The numbers don't lie, that most accidents happen. If you don't wanna die then you'll listen. And be afraid of those unlike yourself Or anyone who claims to need your help. Wake up, I didn't make it up. Most accidents happen. I'm shook up, you can look it up. Most accidents happen. I have read that most accidents happen You all just sit there clapping. Are you crazy? Wake up, I didn't make it up. Most accidents happen. I'm shook up, you can look it up. Most accidents happen.
10.
There was the first one, he was so much fun He was older, I was young I know he loved to kiss me, but he loved his whiskey more And so I had to show him the door Y'all have good rhythm, ooh, I like that part But you know you drummers keep breaking my heart I couldn't stay with 'im, it got way too dark He was the first drummer to break my heart The second guy was only 21 when he said he wanted to be mine He figured me out so fast, I loved him in no time But then there was the accident and he went and found religion I wasn't done carousing yet, I couldn't go there with 'im You pride yourself on knowing when to stop and start But you're always going and breaking my heart You got good feel, ooh, and you know all the parts But you drummers keep breaking my heart The third and fourth ones were both named Nick One got sick of me, the other just got sick Ooh, I should switch to guitarists, that would be smart 'Cause drummers are always breaking my heart And I got plenty to write for vocal parts 'Cause so many drummers have broken my heart And I'll have plenty to write for vocal parts As long as you drummers keep breaking my heart
11.
The sun will fool you That's how you are I get accustomed to your warmth Then on the coldest days You're there, you're right there But I feel nothing from you And I shiver and my eyes water We have to revolve around someone It's you, it's always you So, why, on the coldest days, do you look down on me? You do look down on me And I'm cold, with no comfort from you But you're there I can't really feel you, but you're right there If you weren't I'd collapse and disappear in the dark You must be giving off just enough warmth To keep me clinging to life Around you The sun will fool you That's how you are You look the part, they think of you as warm And I remember our days at the beach But it's cold now, and you're right here, but I don't feel you The sun will fool you It looks down at me It blinds me like it's hot It reminds me how it feels to be warm But I shiver and my eyes water You look so warm People think of you as warm But the sun will fool you And the wind will chill you to the bone As the sun looks down Too far away to help you now

about

Johnny Iguana's piano still propels the Claudettes' rockin' roots music, but Berit Ulseth's sublime voice steals the show on the band's fifth release. Produced by Grammy winner Ted Hutt (Violent Femmes, Flogging Molly, Lucero, The Devil Makes Three, Old Crow Medicine Show), this atmospheric album conjures images of Julie London and Allen Toussaint in a '60s hot-rod band. It's a seductive swirl of vital yet vintage sounds the band calls "garage cabaret."

Claudettes co-founder Michael Caskey is back, bringing dazzling drum skills to the studio and ebullient personality to the stage. In the wake of a series of sudden tragedies and deaths in the band’s realm—and amidst a national mood of pessimism and contention—Johnny and Michael lock arms with Berit and bassist/guitarist Zach Verdoorn to create an album that wears its heart on its sleeve but (like the band's much-talked-about live shows) overflows with humor, love and a lust for fun. All songs on "High Times in the Dark" were penned by Iguana, who has recorded with Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and other blues giants plus his punk-organ band oh my god. With this album steeped in American roots music and a piano-powered approach that stands apart from the guitar-driven bands, the Claudettes push forward with a blues-jazz-soul sound that's original and alive, with rock 'n' roll drive and punk spirit.

credits

released April 3, 2020

Brian Berkowitz—Composer
Michael Caskey—Drums, Group Member, Keyboards, Percussion
The Claudettes—Primary Artist
Timothy Hiatt—Photography
Ted Hutt—Engineer, Mixing, Producer
Johnny Iguana—Group Member, Keyboards, Piano
Ryan Mall—Mixing
Kate Moss—Graphic Design
Stephen Shirk—Engineer
Ryan Smith—Mastering
Kate Stone—Back Cover
Berit Ulseth—Group Member, Vocals
Zach Verdoorn—Bass, Group Member, Guitar, Vocals

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The Claudettes Chicago, Illinois

The Claudettes stare down dark personal and national moods, seizing high times on the road and on their best album yet. Piano is still the core of the Claudettes' music, but Berit Ulseth's sublime vocals steal the spotlight on the band's fifth release. Produced by Grammy winner Ted Hutt, this richly atmospheric album conjures images of Julie London and Allen Toussaint in a '60s hot-rod band. ... more

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