The Hits Keep Coming [Vinyl LP]

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats

The Hits Keep Coming [Vinyl LP]


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Rick Estrin and his musically fearless Nightcats are modern blues at its most potent, with ten sparkling new originals ranging from from crisp, hooky retro-rock to intense, noirish blues, along with sublime interpretations of Muddy Water’s “Diamonds At Your Feet” and Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows.” The songwriting is quick-witted throughout, and the band’s ensemble playing is infectious and jaw-dropping.  “Estrin defines his own brand of hip.  Superb harmonica work [and] the current litter of ‘Cats, including guitarist Kid Andersen, reigns as the best band anywhere. —Downbeat


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1. Somewhere Else 3:57

I hope that all good things will come your way
I really hope today is your lucky day 
Y’ know I really want to see you do 
Whatever makes your dreams come true 
Somewhere else 
Good luck, baby, somewhere else 
Well I believe I’ll just stick around here myself, but
Good luck somewhere else 
               
I never had a clue that it was only me
Tryin’ to hold you back from your destiny 
But it’s your world and it’s your time
I got to step aside now and let you shine
Somewhere else
Good luck, baby, somewhere else 
And I wish you all happiness and health, but
Good luck somewhere else 

Hey, take a look at you now, you finally free 
All kinda options, and opportunities
You’re chasin’ high class life and luxury
Ya know you’re right where you’re supposed to be
Somewhere else 
Good luck baby somewhere else 
And wherever you go I wish you well, but
Good luck somewhere else

2. The Hits Keep Coming 4:59

The hits keep comin’
and it’s just one more messed up year
and I keep hopin’ for the future, but…
It don’t look too doggone good from here

seem like this mean old world keeps getting meaner 
I feel the end is drawing near
seem like this whole round world is crying mercy
but look like mercy just don't care
 And the hits keep comin’
And it’s just one more messed up year
And I keep hopin’ for the future, but…
It don’t look too doggone good from here 

I’m tryin’ to sleep with one eye open 
I’m living in my running shoes 
I feel the enemy, just tryin’ to creep on me 
and he looks just like me and you 
 And the hits keep comin’ 
And it’s just one more messed up year
And I keep hopin’ for the future, but…
It don’t look too doggone good from here

And if you never see me no more
You never hear my voice again 
Just know this sad old world was heavy on my heart, hey when I said my last amen
 And the hits keep comin’ 
And it’s just one more messed up year
And I keep hopin’ for the future, but…
It don’t look too doggone good from here

3. The Circus Is Still In Town (The Monkey Song) 3:51

I used to have a monkey, jumpin’ up and down 
I used to have a monkey, jumpin’ up and down
Now the monkey’s off my back, but the circus is still in town 

They call it monkey business ‘cause the monkey don’t play 
You got to feed that monkey each and every day 
He’ll have you runnin’ the streets, swingin’ from the vines
The monkey gets hungry on monkey time
I used to have a monkey, jumpin’ up and down.
Now the monkey’s off my back, but the circus is still in town 

When I met that monkey, he was a cute little guy
But it didn’t take long he got gorilla sized
He had me rippin’ and runnin’ tryin’ to stay on the nod
I tell ya, feedin’ that monkey was a full-time job.
I used to have a monkey, jumpin’ up and down.
Now the monkey’s off my back, but the circus is still in town 

The monkey’s off of my back, but the circus ain’t gone 
Clowns and the sideshow freaks live on 
That monkeys laying low, far as I can tell 
But I know he’s out there waitin’ and he’s still alive and well 
I used to have a monkey, jumpin’ up and down.
Now the monkey’s off my back, but the circus is still in town 

So don’t ya do what I did. You better do what I say
And if you see that monkey, run the other way 
Jailhouse, nuthouse, sleeping in the ground 
That’s what you gonna get you let that monkey stick around 
I used to have a monkey, jumpin’ up and down.
Now the monkey’s off my back, but the circus is still in town

4. Everybody Knows 3:42

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded 
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed 
Everybody knows that the war is over 
Everybody knows the good guys lost 
Everybody knows the fight was fixed 
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich 
That's how it goes 
And everybody knows 

Everybody knows that the boat is leaking 
Everybody knows that the captain lied 
Everybody got this broken feeling 
Just like their daddy or their dog just died 
Everybody talking to their pockets 
Everybody wants a box of chocolates 
And a long stemmed rose 
And everybody knows 

Everybody knows, everybody knows 
That’s how it goes 
And everybody knows 

Everybody knows that you love me, baby 
Everybody knows that you really do 
Everybody knows that you've been faithful 
Ah, give or take a night or two 
Everybody knows you've been discreet 
‘Bout all the people you just had to meet 
Without your clothes 
And everybody knows 

Everybody knows, everybody knows 
That's how it goes 
Everybody knows 

Everybody knows, everybody knows 
That's how it goes 
And everybody knows

5. I Finally Hit The Bottom 5:10

I believe I finally hit the bottom and I’m on my way back up again
I believe I finally hit the bottom, now I’m on my way back up again
I finally see those dark clouds drifting
And I can feel that sun come sneaking in

I was laying low for such a long time just trying to let my poor heart mend
I was laying low for such a long time just trying to let my poor heart mend
I found my shelter in the shadows
And I took the darkness for my friend

This time I think I turned the corner, and it just might be comeback time
This time I think I turned the corner, and it just might be comeback time
Today I almost caught me smiling
Girl, when your memory crossed my mind

I believe I finally hit the bottom and I’m on my way back up again
I believe I finally hit the bottom, now I’m on my way back up again
I see those dark clouds finally drifting
And I can feel that sun come sneaking in

6. Diamonds At Your Feet 4:01

She got to take sick and die one of these days 
She got to take sick and die one of these days
All the medicine I can buy
All the doctors she can hire
She got to take sick and die one of these days 

When she’s dead I’m gonna bury her very deep 
When she’s dead I’m gonna bury her very deep 
I’m gonna bury her very deep
Rubies and diamonds around her feet 
She got to take sick and die one of these days

If it was me and all the power was in my hands
If it was me and all the power was in my hands
If it was me and all the power
Was right here in my hand 
She wouldn’t have to go down to the promised land 

She got to take sick and die one of these days 
She got to take sick and die one of these days
All the medicine I can buy
All the doctors she can hire
She got to take sick and die one of these days

7. 911 2:50

Call 911, somebody call the police
Call 911, somebody call the police
Hey, call an ambulance 
Last chance, too late 
You better call a priest

My woman’s trying to kill me 
With all that good lovin’ she got
I guess I’m too damn old, ooh, 
And that woman’s too hot 
I love her all that I can. Love her outta my mind, 
Then she turn around and tell me
That I ain’t even tryin’
Oh, 911, somebody call the police 

My heart’s about to give out
My blood pressure can’t handle the stress
I believe I’m right on track for a cardiac arrest
I keep tryin’ to keep up, tryin’ to do right,
But anytime I try to sleep she wanna love all night
Call 911, Somebody call the police 

Hey call an ambulance
Last chance. Too late, you better call a priest 

(Once upon a time I said) 
If pretty women kill me, then I don’t mind dyin’
But if it ain’t too late, I believe I wanna change my mind 
‘Cause I was foolin’ myself, I must have been high
I’m over the hill, but I ain’t ready to die
Hey! 911! 
Somebody call the police!

Hey, call a ambulance. Last chance 
Too late, you better call a priest

On second thought, maybe not, 
They might get happy and I might get shot!

8. I Ain’t Worried About Nothin’ 3:45

Nothin’ I gotta do; I got nowhere I need to be
If I ever get lonesome, I always got the TV
I ain’t worried about nothing
I ain’t worried about nothing
I ain’t worried about nothing
Ain’t nobody worrying about me

I go wherever I want, whenever I please 
I get sick of the scene, man, I can just leave
I ain’t worried about nothing 
I ain’t worried about nothing 
I ain’t worried about nothing
Ain’t nobody worrying about me 

Don’t nobody mind if I never shave
And I eat like a king straight out of the microwave 
I ain’t worried about nothing
I ain’t worried about nothing
I ain’t worried about nothing
Ain’t nobody worrying about me 

Four in the morning I might feel like, like blowing my horn
Ain’t no problem at all, the wife and kids are long gone
I ain’t worried about nothing 
I ain’t worried about nothing 
I ain’t worried about nothing
Ain’t nobody worrying about me

9. Learn To Lose 3:22

Sometime you got t’ learn to lose
Sometime you got t’ learn to lose 
Don’t wanna hear it but it’s true 
They call it payin’ your dues
Everybody got to learn to lose

You might be way up on the top 
You might be way up on the top 
You gonna be in for a shock 
When that other shoe drops
Everybody got to learn to lose 

You can cry like a baby, kick like a mule
Squall and ya holler ‘til your face turns blue 
It ain’t no use in tryin’ to blame nobody else 
You might as well face it. Better learn t’ take it
Man, I have been there myself 

You can cry like a baby, kick like a mule
Squall and ya holler ‘til your face turns blue 
It ain’t no use in tryin’ to blame nobody else 
You might as well face it. Better learn t’ take it
Man, I have been there myself 

And just remember when you win 
Oh, remember when you win
Don’t you forget where you been 
You might end up there again 
Everybody got to learn to lose

10. Sack O’ Kools 4:10
11. Time For Me To Go 4:29

Look at ‘em 
They’re wiping down the tables and
Sweeping up the floor 
Common sense’ll tell you that
It’s getting time for me to go
And it ain’t no use pretending what it’s really all about
It’s gonna all be over when the lights go out

But hey, whatever I got left to say 
Probably ain’t that important anyway
And most of the folks I used to know 
They split the scene a while ago 
I guess I better pack my stuff  
‘Cause it’s time to wrap this show
But man, I sure don’t wanna go 
 
All you people sure been nice 
But I learned long, long time ago 
You don’t wanna make the people happy twice 
Glad to see you come, and glad to see you go
We might hook back up somewhere down the road, I guess…you never know 
But for now, looks like it’s time for me to go

12. Whatever Happened To Dobie Strange? 4:39

Now I love the people, and I thank God
‘Cause if it wasn’t for the people, man, I’d have to get a job
And I do it ‘cause I love it, it ain’t just about the bread
But the questions some folks ask sometime
Make me wanna scratch my head 
“Hey Charlie, how come you changed your name? 
And what I really wanna know now, Charlie
Whatever happened to Dobie Strange?”

“Say! How come you guys ain’t famous?
You oughta have a tv show. Hey!
I bet you know this one dude that, I used to know.
A halfway baldheaded white dude, hair kinda grayish brown? 
He’s a little overweight, about average height, and his neck is kinda round”
“Hey Charlie (Charlie? I’m Rick) how come you changed your name? 
(I didn’t change my name)
And what I really wanna know now Charlie, 
Whatever happened to Dobie Strange?”

“And I been meaning to ask you, what’s your favorite kinda place to play?  
Don’t you ever get tired of restaurant food? Did ya ever meet Stevie Ray?
Another thing I been wondering, man, how you remember all them words? 
Hey! I bet some of these people sometime, really get on you damn nerves!”
“Hey Charlie, how come you changed your name? 
And what I really wanna know now Charlie
Whatever happened to Dobie Strange?”

All songs by R. Estrin, Locked In Music, BMI, except as noted

Rick Estrin: Vocals, Harmonica
Kid Andersen: Guitar, Bass on 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10, Tubular Bell on 2, ARP Soloist on 12
Lorenzo Farrell: Organ, Bass on 6, Wurlitzer on 7
Derrick "D'mar" Martin: Drums, Percussion
with
Jerry Jemmott: Bass on 1, 2, 5, 9, 11 and 12
Sons Of The Soul Revivers (James, Walter, and Dwayne Morgan): Background Vocals on 1, 2, 4 and 12
Quique Gomez: Maracas and Animal Noises on 3
Lisa Leuschner Andersen: Background Vocals on 12
Charlie Musselwhite, Marty Dodson, Bob Welsh, Boopsy Callinz: Voices on 12

Produced, recorded, and mixed at Greaseland, USA by Kid Andersen
Mastered by Collin Jordan and Bruce Iglauer at The Boiler Room
Photos by Steve Jennings
Design by Kevin Niemiec

Kid would like to thank Grez Guitars, Throbak pickups and strings, and Lisa Leuschner Andersen.
D’mar would like to thank his beautiful wife, Dr. Sylvia Martin.
Lorenzo would like to thank Erin, Bev and David Farrell.
The Nightcats would like to thank El Bowman (aka Kat McNeill and Lance Bowman) for their unwavering encouragement.

Rick Estrin plays Hohner diatonic harmonicas customized by Joe Filisko, and Hohner chromatic harmonicas customized by Steve Malerbi and Mike Easton. Rick uses microphones by Dennis Gruenling at Badass Harmonica, and microphones by Greg Heumann at Blows Me Away.

rickestrin.com