Damage Control [CD]

Curtis Salgado

Damage Control [CD]


Rollicking old-school rock and roll, gospel-tinged soul and razor-sharp R&B.  Salgado’s huge, expressive vocals deliver wistful, street-wise lyrics that hit hard on a dozen new original songs and a frisky cover of Larry Williams’ "Slow Down."  "Salgado inspires chills. Upbeat and original…poignant and wise with a great sense of humor."  —Blues Music Magazine


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Price: $16.98
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1. The Longer That I Live 3:51


(Curtis Salgado, David Duncan and Mike Finnigan, Odaglas Music, ASCAP/Covered Call Music/Irish Stew Music, BMI)

Let me testify a little bit
Yeah, yeah

What is the meaning of life?
Well, I can’t talk philosophy
I know with every new sunrise
The more it dawns on me
Well, I may be getting on
But I sure ain’t done yet
‘Cause the longer that I live
The older I wanna get

My body’s just flesh and bone
Wrapped around a soul
And when it’s time to leave this earth
I hope I’m the last to know
When I go I’ll be screaming
“I ain’t finished yet!”
‘Cause the longer that I live, yes
The older I wanna get

Now listen
Some folks just lay down and quit
At the end of life’s race
But I’m gonna keep on keeping on
With one foot down in the grave
Oh yeah

You see, I climbed the mountains high
And I played the valleys low
And for all the gigs I’ve done
I ain’t got much to show
No, I’m never slowing down
Until I play my final set
‘Cause that the longer that live
The older I wanna get

Oh, you better believe it, yeah
I want to keep on keeping on
With every new sunrise
The older I wanna get
I wanna push and keep on keeping on
Heading down life’s long road
I’m gonna have to be dragged
Just kicking, screaming, I wanna live a long, long life
Until I get
My final curtain call

2. What Did Me In Did Me Well 4:26


(Curtis Salgado, Vyasa Dodson and Mike Finnigan, Odaglas Music, ASCAP, Irish Stew Music, BMI)

I lost my pride, but gained an insight
Discovered the truth
I was blind
I learned in time
Oh, love is in the details
What did me in
Oh, did me well

My heart was on fire
My path ablaze
Smoke in my eyes
Whoa, I lost my way
But when I saw you again
I knew I knew how far I fell, how far I fell
What did me in
You know, it did me well

Stars align, they’re out of reach
Up above where we can’t see
Heaven has a master plan
And I know it’s looking over me

Well, I had no faith
I stumbled and I fell
So many questions
No answers to tell

Back you came
This time love, love prevailed, yes it did
Now I know
Well, what did me in did me well
Oh, what did me in did me well
Oh, when you forgave me baby, yeah
Don’t you know you did me well
When you brought me back in your arms
Don’t you know baby
What did me in did me well
It’s alright

3. You're Going To Miss My Sorry Ass 4:09


(Curtis Salgado and Alan Hager, Odaglas Music/Ahamusic, ASCAP)

My daddy was wild
He ran with bad men
He robbed a drugstore
With a filthy syringe
He got a nickel and a dime
In the state pen
And the warden said
He'd never last
Well, that wasn't true
Oh, the story instead
Yeah, three squares, a blanket
And a bunkbed
He did 15 years
Standing on his head
And parole
Came up fast

On his release
He turned to say
“I enjoyed myself a vacation stay
I made some new friends
Hell, we had a lot of laughs”

“But don't expect no apology
I got none to give
I showed you how to walk the razor’s edge
And the chance to finally live”

“What's so bad about doing wrong?
My saying “sorry” won't change the past
When you look on back and think of me
You’re gonna miss
My, my sorry ass
Yes, you will now”

Like father like son
I make no amends
I’m causing hell and then some
A hazard to my friends
So I got none
I’m just a rolling stone
I got two big balls made of brass
So if you come with me
You put your life in my hands
I'll get you in trouble
Pull you out again
We’ll cut up this world
Share the dividends
From the treasure down to the trash

We’ll find trouble
You’ll get angry with me
Crying how I put you in jeopardy
But you gonna agree
It was the best time he ever had

“So, don't expect no apologies
I got none to give
I showed you how to walk the razor’s edge
And a chance to finally live
What's so bad about doing wrong?
My saying “sorry” won't change the past
When you look on back
And think of me
You’re gonna miss
My sorry ass”

Yeah, when I'm dead and gone
And I’m buried, oh yeah
Buried six feet down in the cold, cold ground
I know you will think of me from the past
Oh, and you’ll say to yourself
Along with everyone else
“I'm gonna miss
Oh, I’m gonna miss
His old sorry ass”
 

4. Precious Time 4:03


(George Marinelli, Curtis Salgado, Andrew Harrison and Mike Finnigan, Odaglas Music, ASCAP/Irish Stew Music, BMI)

He had a dream he would travel
No destination, no place to stay
Just the clothes on his back and the wind guiding the way
Off in the distance he sees a shadow
The shadow screams and seems to know him by name
Saying, “Life’s finite and it’s time to make a change”

It’s in the way that they tremble when they must say goodbye
The way that they sing to the stars (to the stars)
The way that they cry with no direction in sight
Precious time
Oh, precious time

She had a dream she would be different
And break the chains of a small town charade
And let the beating of her renegade heart just lead the way
Deep in her bones she begins to feel restless
She opens up like a flower in the rain
She takes a step towards the light and another towards the pain

It’s in the way that they tremble when they must say goodbye
The way that they sing to the stars (sing to the stars)
The way that they cry with no direction in sight
Precious time
Precious time

Moments fly by, but the years always seem to just crawl
Trapped in the ages doesn’t feel like freedom’s call
And in time
Time won’t exist at all, oh yeah

Well, they were destined to find each other
Two hearts that are beating the same
And the stuff their dreams are made on
Time spent was not in vain

It's in the way that they tremble when they’re loving at night
The way that they sing to the stars (to the stars)
The promise that they gave in sharing their life
Precious time

It’s in the soul of a sage who knows the secrets to life
The hands when they finally let go
The breaking of routine in this predictable life

Precious time
Oh, precious time, yeah
Hey, hey, hey
Precious time
It’s just the way that we tremble
Precious time

 

5. Count Of Three 3:35

(Curtis Salgado, David Duncan and Jackie Miclau, Odaglas Music, ASCAP/Covered Call Music, BMI)

I lost a friend
So close to me
I always thought we’d talk again
But it wasn’t meant to be

We cared about each other
Oh, heart and soul
I never got a chance to say
I love you so

And when I think about my dear friends
It’s enough to make me cry
Now I always say “I love you”
At the end of my goodbyes

A faded book
Of my photographs
I see our smiling faces
Remember how we laughed
Old lovers and good friends
Well, I’m sad to say
I wish I could have told them, yeah
Before they slipped away

And when I think about it
I wanna break down and cry
So now I always say “I love you”
At the end of my goodbyes

I’m gonna speak my heart
With every chance I get
So I don’t repeat
Oh, this sad regret
So now you’ll know
When I look into your eyes
Why I always say” I love you,” oh yes
At the end of my goodbyes

Living life ain’t easy
We need all the love we can get
You could be here one day
Oh, and gone the very next
So tell the ones you love you love ‘em
Don’t let it pass you by
And always say “I love you”
At the end of your goodbyes
Always say “I love you”
At the end of your goodbyes
6. Always Say I Love You (At The End Of Your Goodbyes) 4:03


(Curtis Salgado, David Duncan and Jackie Miclau, Odaglas Music, ASCAP/Covered Call Music, BMI)

I lost a friend
So close to me
I always thought we’d talk again
But it wasn’t meant to be

We cared about each other
Oh, heart and soul
I never got a chance to say
I love you so

And when I think about my dear friends
It’s enough to make me cry
Now I always say “I love you”
At the end of my goodbyes

A faded book
Of my photographs
I see our smiling faces
Remember how we laughed
Old lovers and good friends
Well, I’m sad to say
I wish I could have told them, yeah
Before they slipped away

And when I think about it
I wanna break down and cry
So now I always say “I love you”
At the end of my goodbyes

I’m gonna speak my heart
With every chance I get
So I don’t repeat
Oh, this sad regret
So now you’ll know
When I look into your eyes
Why I always say” I love you,” oh yes
At the end of my goodbyes

Living life ain’t easy
We need all the love we can get
You could be here one day
Oh, and gone the very next
So tell the ones you love you love ‘em
Don’t let it pass you by
And always say “I love you”
At the end of your goodbyes
Always say “I love you”
At the end of your goodbyes

7. Hail Mighty Caesar 4:17


(Curtis Salgado and Kevin McKendree, Odaglas Music, ASCAP/East Folks Music, BMI)

You know way back in time
Before the fall of Rome
Caesar conquered everyone
The world was his home
They would dance at the plaza
Down at Palace Square
Grooving to the Nubian band playing there
There were four beats to the bar
And the backbeat was new
Cleopatra shakin’ it
Showing ‘em what to do

Hail, mighty Caesar! (Hail, mighty Caesar!)
I said, Hail, mighty Rome! (Hail, mighty Rome!)
Cleopatra was a beauty
Oh, she is the goddess of the sun
Cleo loved his power, Caesar loved her looks
Love brought them together
So they say in history books
(Hail, mighty Caesar!)
But he don't understand
Cleopatra loves her country
She's the queen of Egypt land

Caesar loved his women
Couldn’t leave them all alone
Had a swinging situation
With the nightlife back in Rome
Got hisself a wife, but she ain’t hip to the fact
He loved Cleopatra
That's why he brought her back
He brought her back from Egypt land
To dance at Palace Square
He made a lot of enemies
But Caesar didn't care

Hail, mighty Caesar! (Hail, mighty Caesar!)
Hail, mighty Rome! (Hail, mighty Rome!)
Cleopatra was a beauty
She is the goddess of the sun
Cleo loved his power, Caesar loved her looks
Love brought them together
So they say in history books
(Hail, mighty Caesar!)
But he don't understand
Cleo loves her country
She's the queen of Egypt land

Well, Cleo threw a party
Said, “Let the games begin!”
It was at Palace Square
When who come walking in
His name was Mark Anthony
The new kid on the block
Cleo had to have him
Yeah, she knew the stud was hot
But what about poor Caesar?
He's in trouble all alone
Politicians killing him
In the name of Rome

Hail, mighty Caesar! (Hail, mighty Caesar!)
Hail, mighty Rome! (Hail, mighty Rome!)
Cleopatra was a beauty
She is the goddess of the sun
Cleo loved his power, Caesar loved her looks
Love brought them together
So they say in history books, y’all
(Hail, mighty Caesar!)
Aw, but he don't understand
Cleopatra loves her country
She's the queen of Egypt land

Hail, mighty Caesar! (Hail, mighty Caesar!)
Hail, mighty Rome! (Hail, mighty Rome!)

Hail, mighty Caesar! (Hail, mighty Caesar!)
Hail, mighty Rome! (Hail, mighty Rome!)

Hail, mighty Caesar! (Hail, mighty Caesar!)
Hail, mighty Rome! (Hail, mighty Rome!)

Hail, mighty Caesar! (Hail, mighty Caesar!)
Aw, Hail, mighty Rome y’all (Hail, mighty Rome!)
That’s right

8. I Don't Do That No More 3:43


(David Duncan, Curtis Salgado & Mike Finnigan, Covered Call Music, BMI, Odaglas Music, ASCAP/Irish Stew Music, BMI)

Well, Tanqueray and Stoli
My old my partners in crime
Two friends I knew
Tried and true
Who could ease my troubled mind
And when I finally hit rock bottom
Way down on the killing floor
I almost took my own life
But then I thought twice
So I don’t do that no more

Well, I don’t do that  no more
I had to let it all go
I was high and wild
Burnin’ up miles
Living right out of control
Well now, I like to live on the edge
But it ain’t worth dying for
So oh no, I ain’t never
Telling you no
I don’t do that no more

Had my battles with the hard stuff
It just about killed me dead
It was more than I could take
Made my body shake
Did a number on my head
Well, I swore to the heavens above
If I survive I’ll give it all up
Now the hardest thing I touch
Thank you very much
Is caffeine in my coffee cup

Well, I don’t do that no more
I left it all behind

I had my fun with it
Now I’m done with it
At least I’m not out of my mind
I still like to rock and roll

I guess I’ve always been hard core
But I ain’t never gonna do that
Yeah, true that
I’m never gonna do that no more

I used to be a bad actor
Center stage, bigger than life
Now the smallest things make my heart sing
I know I finally got it right
Well, I was far from sober
Tore up and laid to the side
Now my only vice is loving this life
And watching this world go by


Oh, I don’t do that no more
I got a whole other thing
There’s a smile on my face
I’m in a better place
And my woman treats me like a king, oh yeah
We like to have our fun
And life is better than it was before
I said, oh no!

No, no!

Hell no!
I ain’t never
Never gonna do that, do that

Never, oh no
Never gonna do that no more
9. Oh For The Cry Eye 3:34


(Curtis Salgado, Jackie Miclau, Mike Finnigan and Alby Allen, Odaglas Music, ASCAP/Irish Stew Music, BMI)

It’s tough to be lovers
It’s hard to be friends
When all we seem to do is complain
Might be about money and how it don’t last
Or something I said, or my sins from the past
In spite of myself, I start to defend
So, you go back to the top
And I start back at the end
And we go over and over
Don’t accomplish a thing
I’m like a hand grenade
With a pulled pin

(Oh, for the cry eye)
That’s what my mama would say
She’d tell me
(Oh, for the cry eye)
“Just look at this mess you made”

There must be an answer
Got to be a way
There’s something here that’s bigger than me
Well, I get frustrated, so ashamed
I won’t talk to myself for a week
This bitchin’s just a prison
And I got to break free
The problem’s not you, then it must be me
I might be over thinking or going insane
I’m like a screen door in a hurricane

(Mama’s Voice)
“Aw boy, keep your temper down, son”
“Aw, look at the mess you made”

So, I searched my soul
And here’s what I found
I got a hot temper, need to cool it down
Surrender myself, admit defeat
I’d stop overheating in a heartbeat
My mama was right
When she said in the past
“Be a friend to your woman
And your love will last”
I can still hear her voice
Her wisdom still shines
Just like a diamond in a coal mine

(Oh, for the cry eye)
Aw yeah, that’s what my mama would say
(Oh, for the cry eye)
She’d say, “Your hard headed temper
Gonna drive her away”

(Oh, for the cry eye)
Yeah, my mama told me
My daddy too
(Oh, for the cry eye)
He’d say, “Son, don’t let that temper
Make a fool of you”
(Yeah, that’s right)
That’s what my mama would say
“Aw, look at the mess you made”
She’d say
(Oh, for the cry eye)
“Just look at the mess you made”

(Oh, for the cry eye)
That’s what my mama would say
Oh yeah, yeah
(Oh, for the cry eye)
They’d say, “Your stubborn temper, boy
Is going to drive her away”
 

10. Damage Control 4:04


(Curtis Salgado, Mike Finnigan & Ryan Waters, Odaglas Music, ASCAP/Irish Stew Music, BMI)

Another day just beginning
Another day that will soon end
And all that takes place in between
Is what you call this life, my friend

We never asked to be here, oh no
We didn't have a choice
Nobody asked our opinion
‘Cause we didn't have no voice

Just trying to carry on
And take it easy
Slow your breathing
Keep your head up
Stay down low
And deal with this damage control

They say we‘re flirting with disaster
So say the news and their talking heads
That's everyday operating procedure
Let’s call it what it really is instead

Never asked for special treatment
And hardly ever step out of line
Now it’s kid gloves on and bite your tongue
And think before you speak your mind

So just trying to carry on
Take it easy
Slow your breathing, yeah
Oh, keep your head up
Stay down low
And deal with this damage control

Sometimes I think it’s all a big mistake
Someone upstairs just fell asleep
I don't know about any of that
But I know, I know, I know
It wasn't up to me

So many questions, the cosmic design
The professors and the doctors
And the next Einstein
They’ll never find the answer
‘Cause they don’t know
So I’ll just try to carry on
And do my damage control

I never asked to be here, oh no
I didn’t have no choice
Just along for the ride
Yeah, don’t you know
Try to stay out of trouble, yeah
Just trying to carry on, carry on
And deal with this damage control

11. Truth Be Told 3:15


(David Duncan, Curtis Salgado and Mike Finnigan, Covered Call Music, BMI, Odaglas Music, ASCAP/Irish Stew Music, BMI)

Well, the sun is out
The sky is bright
But I can’t wait
For the evening’s night
My love I’m gonna hold, oh
‘Cause I love her
And she loves me
That’s the way it’s supposed to be
We’ll make it up as we go, oh
If the truth be told

I never knew
‘Cause it’s all so new
Now there’s only one thing left to do
Just let the cards unfold, oh
My love is pure
And my heart is, too
And I wanna spend my life with you
Till the two of us grow old, whoa, whoa
If the truth be told

I can’t believe
After all this time
I found a woman
Who knows my mind
She brought me in from the cold, oh
She gave me her heart
Sealed with a kiss
I’m so lucky to live like this
A love as good as gold, whoa oh
If truth be told

I can’t believe
After all this time
I found a woman
Who knows my mind
She brought me in from the cold, whoa oh

She gave me her heart
Sealed with a kiss
I’m so lucky to live like this
A love as good as gold, oh
If the truth be told

If truth be told, yeah
If the truth be told
She picked me up
Turned me around
Put my feet on solid ground
f truth be told, yeah
Hey, Curtis
I found a love
If the truth be told
If the truth be told
Got to have truth
You got to have love
If the truth be told
Come on
If the truth be told
Yeah if the truth be told

12. The Fix Is In 5:01


(Curtis Salgado, Alan Hager, Ryan Waters, Alby Alan and Suzanne Dominique, Odaglas Music/Ahamusic, ASCAP)

Hello, music lovers
It’s the 21st century
But the more times change
The more the old hustle remains the same
And I’ve learned if it sounds too good to be true
It usually isn’t good…or true
I’ve learned to question everything
And not to be a fool and believe the spin
And I watch my back because
The fix is in

The fix is in
Long before we tossed the dice
They sized us up
And oh, they figured right
They know how to keep you hooked
Take more money from your pocketbook
‘Cause there’s a sucker born every day
They can see you coming a mile away

They’ll meet and greet
Call you their friend
But behind your back
They’re whispering,
The fix is in
Well, well, the fix is in

Now, wait a minute
Remember the crash, 2008 and your 401k
It’s the number on your pay stub that you file away
It’s the golden ticket that’s just a tease
That you’ll retire to a life of ease
But those dreams had vanished
From crooked business dealings
White collar crime, greed and corporate stealing
Not one CEO responsible did time in the pen
‘Cause they’re the one percenters
Americans
The fix was in
The fix was in

Somebody, play me the blues!

Now listen
It’s election time
We’re standing in line
Elephants, donkeys, casting pearls before the swine
They promise to make a change
Tell us what we want to hear
Tempt us with hope
And hook us with fear
It’s the same old okey doke
I think you might agree
Back room politicians
With trump cards up their sleeves 

Still, I always show
To cast my vote again
But it’s hard to trust the system
When the fix is in
Well, yeah, the fix is in

I, I know, it hurts you, don’t it?
Supposed to look out for one another
I can’t trust nobody these days
What’s happening to our country?
There’s so much greed
The fix is in, oh
The fix is in

13. Slow Down 3:27


(Williams, Arc Music/Larina Music, BMI/Sony/ATV Songs LLC, BMI)

Well, come on pretty baby, won’t you walk with me?
Come on pretty baby, won't you talk with me?
Come on pretty baby, give me a chance
Try to save our romance

Slow down
Baby, you're movin' way too fast
You gotta gimme little lovin'
Gimme a little lovin'
If you want my love to last


Well, I used to walk you home, baby, after school
Carry your books home, too
But now you got a boyfriend down the street
Baby, what you tryin' to do?

You better slow down
Baby, you're movin' way too fast
Oh, you gotta gimme a little lovin'
Gimme a little lovin'
If you want my love to last

Rock and roll!

Well, you know that I love you, tell the world I do
Come on pretty baby, why can't you be true?
I need your lovin' oh so bad
Best little woman that I ever had

Slow down
Baby, you're movin' way too fast
You gotta gimme little lovin'
Gimme a little lovin'
If you want my love to last

Oh, you gotta gimme a little lovin'
If you want my love to last
You gotta gimme a little lovin'
Gimme a little lovin’
If you want my love to last
I know it will last


Produced by Curtis Salgado
Mixed by Sandy Solomon

Recorded at:
Ultratone Studios, Studio City, CA, engineered by Johnny Lee Schell
Rock House Recording, Nashville, TN, engineered by Kevin McKendree
Greaseland Studios, San Jose, CA, engineered by Kid Andersen

Additional recording at:
Falcon Studios, Portland, OR, engineered by Dennis Carter
Dockside Studio, Maurice, LA, engineered by Justin Tocket

Mastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
Photos by Jessica Keaveny
Packaging design by Kevin Niemiec

Special thanks to:
Randy Fennell, Johnny Lee Schell, Kevin McKendree, Kid Andersen, Mike Crider, Kathy Goranson, Suzanne Dominique, Dave Duncan, Mike Finnigan, Michael Bard, Wendy and Philip Salgado, Tracy Arrington RIP.

Curtis Salgado plays Hohner Harmonicas customized by Joe Filisko

Management: Shane Tappendorf, Odaglas LLC, odaglasllc@gmail.com
Booking: Intrepid Artists, staff@intrepidartists.com, (704) 358-4777