Parador Alternate Takes

01. This Is Everything (alternate)
02. Too Quick To Love (alternate)
03. Stayin’ Home Again (alternate)
04. Erase Me (alternate)
05. Altitudes (alternate)
06. Joke (alternate)
07. Through Any Window (alternate)
08. Drink Up (alternate)
09. Who Blew Out The Sun? (alternate)
10. Parador (alternate)
“Parador Alternate Takes” by Wisely
Ella Records LA-2012 | released 2006 | CD/mp3

Think of it as PARADOR’s fraternal twin– the same, but different and not to be missed. Twisted arrangements, startling interpretations, alternate lyrics and beautiful artwork compliment the main release.

“You crazy mofo, I love you for releasing the ALTERNATE TAKES. The tenderness, the fret buzz, it’s back and everything.” ––Christian, Los Angeles

   CD | PayPal | $5
   downloads | iTunes
   downloads | direct from artist via bandcamp (mp3/AAC/FLAC…)


Identity Crisis: Album By Committee

Hollywood Hills, by Orrin Anderson, 2006

Hollywood Hills, by Orrin Anderson, 2006

In 2003, in a crazed burst of artistic uncertainty while preparing to record PARADOR, I circulated a CD-R of demos to 22 friends. Unable to decide which songs to focus on for the next album, I hoped that peoples’ preferences would bring me clarity. Based on their opinions, I created a perceptual map to illustrate trends. Unfortunately, pretty much everyone liked different songs, and none of them were particularly enthralled with the lack of coherance across the entire body of work. The experiment failed. When Linus of Hollywood swooped in to produce PARADOR, I would leave it to him to choose which songs to record.

We worked on the record for the better part of two years, squeezing it in between our other projects and tours. We wrapped in late 2005, and only after sitting with the final mixes for a while did I realize that those old demos I’d circulated illuminated our process in making the PARADOR. So, I decided to release both albums on the same date, with the same song list––but in wildly different versions.

PARADOR ALTERNATE TAKES is not yet digitally available––being shot through with stolen samples that I’ll be replacing.

Co-writers include: Andy Dick, Andras Jones, Tracy McMillan, Rebecca Lord, Linus of Hollywood and Benno Nelson.


Album Credits | Lyrics

Produced by: Wisely
except 8 by Linus of Hollywood & Wisely and 3 by Dorian Crozier & Wisely

Mastered by: Ryan Perez-Daple
Photography: Orrin Anderson
Design: Pete Rosenzweig for worknonwork

All songs by William J Wisely Jr (©2005.Wisely Publishers ASCAP) except add cowriters: Tracy McMillan (©2005.Wisely Publishers ASCAP/Super Joe Music ASCAP)1, Rebecca Elizabeth Lord (©2005.Wisely Publishers ASCAP/Becky Buckskin ASCAP)2,10, James Benno Nelson (©2005.Wisely Publishers ASCAP/National Dynamite Music ASCAP)3, Andras Jones (©2005.Wisely Publishers ASCAP/Previous Music ASCAP)6,8

Additional Musicians:
Vocals: Tracy McMillan 1, Rebecca Lord 10
Guitar: Dorian Crozier 3, Linus of Hollywood 8, Paul Gilbert 8
Bass: John Fields 3, Bruce Witkin 8
Keys: Dorian Crozier 3, Linus of Hollywood 8
Drums/Percussion: Dorian Crozier 3, Adam Marcello & Peter Anderson 8


Lyrics

This Is Everything

Waiting for my entrance
Blowing past the street signs
Missing every other turn
Still getting there on time

Staring into loop holes
Faking every short cut
Knowing that my very best
Is on the other line

This is everything
Everyone you ever knew
Everywhere you ever went
Looking back at you

Tripped up on a green light
Waiting there for nobody
The future that I left behind
Standing in the way

What about the third time
Hanging in a long line
For a shimmer on a shoulder blade
Give me a sign

This is everything
Everyone you ever knew
Everywhere you ever went
Lookin back at you
This is everything
Everyone you ever knew
Everywhere you ever went
Looking back at you…
Staring back at you


Too Quick To Love

That dirty old t-shirt never looked better
Than hung on the frame of my beautiful Heather
She’s young, and I’m stung

Through all of the pain and all my denial
The arguments lasted for miles and miles
We went deep, deep into love

So long baby Heather
You were sweet to try
But I’m lost
And I’m too quick to love

The bedroom was burning, sweat on your face
The golden retrievers that slept ‘cross our legs
I insisted, you resisted

So long baby Heather
You were sweet to try
But I’m lost
And I’m too quick to love
Yeah I’m lost and I’m too quick to love

If I were the steam train you’d be the brakes
If I were Manhattan you’re a cabin up state
Long distance
My resistance

So long baby Heather
You were sweet to try
But I’m lost
And I’m too quick to love

So long baby Heather
You were sweet to cry
But I’m torn
And I’m too quick to love
Yeah I’m torn
And I’m too quick to love


Stayin Home Again

I fought for signs of life behind the crowds
Where flowers die beneath the man-made clouds
I swore another year would not go by

And I feel like staying home again
You are just the right medicine
I don’t care how we’re going to make it through
But, I’ll stay long as you want me to

The home town sings a song that understands
While freeways cut to ribbons all my plans
I’ve broken down but now I think I’ll stay

It’s so real, it seems so real?

And I feel like staying home again
You are just the right medicine
I don’t care how we’re going to make it through
But, I’ll stay long as you want me to
Nowhere’s a town I’m getting used to…

Seems so real, it’s so real?

And I feel like staying home again
You are just the right medicine
I don’t care how we’re going to make it through
But I’ll stay long as you want me to…
And nowhere’s a town I’m getting used to


Erase Me

Songs of love lay on deaf ears wasted
Painters return to their canvas in the basement
You carved a number in the arm of my imagination

Pages torn from the books of history
Poets declare their words are mere confetti
Weep not for me, as I burn all I’ve created

But you, you can’t erase me
Songs of love lay on deaf ears wasted
You might think, you might think you found my replacement
But you, you can’t erase me
You can’t erase me

These old songs, they don’t need much protecting
But to watch me bleed, hell it must seem I’ve reached perfection
I’ll die laughing in the halls outside your coronation

But you, you can’t erase me
Songs of love lay on deaf ears wasted
You might think, you might think you found my replacement
But you, you can’t erase me
You can’t erase me
You can’t erase me


Altitudes

Some call her quiet, others call her just plain weird
We hooked up in England days before she disappeared
Love had a way of crushing those she’d known
I thought I was strong, thought I’d maintain control

In her altitudes

These stones will wake her, stones tick her window pane
Her lights burn bright, can’t she recognize my name
Am I a first or am I a scar of war
I’ll shatter the glass certain what she’ll use it for
In her altitudes
Miles beyond you
Altitudes

I visit her father silent in his wheel chair
Told him I knew what he’d done to her sophomore year
“Someday sir, the dreamers will cage the ghost”
Pressing my face into the hollow of her throat
Suppose I should have learned by now
Ain’t no one going to pin her down

In her altitudes
Miles beyond you
Circle confound you
Altitudes
Miles beyond you
Her circles confound you know
Altitudes
Miles beyond you
Altitudes


Joke

How can you stand there after all we’ve been through
And act as if good fortune’s nothing new?
You had me half believing that if your dream came true
I’d be receiving something too
But that’s a joke
And I was laughing too
But if you’re a joke
I’m a fool

The rat race ran your circles and I had to grab the wheel
The doctor said your ulcer would never heal
That’s a joke
You trying be cool
But if you’re a joke
What’s it to me
What’s that make me
I’m a fool

Now we speak of money which we held in such disdain
How once the world was ours, shit would change
But that’s a joke
And I’m laughing proof
But if you’re a joke
What’s that make me
If you’re a joke
I’m a fool

You’re a joke
You’re a joke
But if you’re a joke
What’s it to me
If you’re a joke
I’m a fool


Through Any Window

Early in the morning when the sun comes through any window
Breaks the promise that each day is a new early morning, through any window

Blue is the memory of her bedroom eyes
Green as the envy I can’t hide
Red is the color that she lays so bare
In early morning, through any window

Sunlight kissed me on my head of gloom in early morning
Glide across the bed then fade by noon through any window, in early morning

Blue is the memory of her bedroom eyes
Green as the envy I can’t hide
Red is the color she lays so bare
In early morning, through any window

School bus take them far from home
Take the children far from home
Take the children far from home
Soon to see how sad their lives become, through any window

Blue is the memory of her bedroom eyes
Green as the envy I can’t hide
Red is the color that she lays so bare
In early morning, through any window
In early morning, through any window


Drink Up

These are the days
These are the good ones
After this it’s all down hill
I’ve got a raise
But something smells rotten
All good
Till you can’t pay the bill

Don’t know what this has to do with drinking
Hooking up, that’s all I want to do
But that old song’s got me thinking
Drink up ah-ah, all your sorrow
Drink up ah-ah, it’s almost tomorrow
Drink up ah-ah, time is borrowed
Drink up tomorrow we’re through

I’ve heard it said
Seen it written
You can’t stand still on a moving train
The seats are soft
Cabin’s air conditioned
You can’t feel
The wind or the rain

You ride along laughing and drinking
Hooking up with whoever you choose
But the train you’re on is a ship that’s sinking
Drink up ah-ah, all your sorrow
Drink up ah-ah, it’s almost tomorrow
Drink up ah-ah, time is borrowed
Drink up tomorrow we’re through

These are the days
Of ones and zeros
After this there’s nothing new
Of all the ways
I could’ve been heroes
Tonight’s the best I’ll do

I’ll figure out what this has to do with drinking
And hooking up when those days are all through
As the harsh truth starts to sink in
Drink up ah-ah, all your sorrow
Drink up ah-ah, it’s almost tomorrow
Drink up ah-ah, time is borrowed
Drink up tomorrow we’re through

Drink up, all your sorrow
Drink up, it’s almost tomorrow
Drink up, time is borrowed
Drink up tomorrow we’re through


Who Blew Out The Sun?

Who blew out the sun
Shinned up a ladder and snuffed out the life giving one
Can’t you comprehend the magnitude
When you blew out the sun

Who pulls down the clouds
Drags them back hissing and kicking to die on the ground
Why oh why do I confide in you
When you blew out the sun

How am I so blind as to abide you
Beauty belies you hide every wound
Towards the night we glide me tied behind you
Drawn towards the light of lost afternoons

Who punched out the moon
Picked up a stone and plucked the old bird in the eye
How will I survive your vicissitudes
When you blew out the sun
When you blew out the sun
When you blew out the sun


Parador

I’m your puddle of water, you jump over me
Your rusty old screen door, come and go as you please
Everything comes to you so easily
There’s so much more to you than me

So I look up find you flying over Parador
Wishing I had wings to fly too, wishing I was self-absorbed
Got to find another hobby, keep me busy and take up time
I’ll forget that you don’t call me and slip inside this dream of mine
Over Parador

Gather up my scratchy records, collect some extra time
Got to find another reason, to keep your heart from reaching mine
I’m your Mario Lanza’s “Last Concert In Spain”
Want to be your Getz/Gilberto
Making sure I get played and played and I’m not crazy
I’m not crazy

So I look up find you flying over Parador
Wishing I had wings to fly too, wishing I was self -absorbed
Got to find another hobby, keep me busy and take up time
I’ll forget that you don’t call me and slip inside this dream of mine…

Oh-no