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Colin Hay: Gathering Mercury

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Compass Records
Released: 2011.05.09
Time:
 39:04
Category: Pop/Rock
Producer(s): Colin Hay
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.colinhay.com
Appears with: Men at Work
Purchase date: 2012
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Send Somebody (Georgiades/Hay) - 4:37
[2] Family Man (Hay) - 4:24
[3] Invisible (Hay) - 4:03
[4] Dear Father (Hay) - 3:19
[5] Gathering Mercury (Hay/Noel) - 4:21
[6] Half A Million Angels (Georgiades) - 4:03
[7] Far From Home (Hay) - 3:53
[8] Where The Sky Is Blue (Hay) - 4:05
[9] A Simple Song (Hay) - 3:30
[10] Goodnight Romeo (Hay) - 2:49

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Colin Hay - Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Gryphon Twelve-String Guitar on [4], Harmonium on [4,10], Lap Steel Guitar on [8], Banjo on [8], Woodskin on [9], Producer, Engineer

Chad Fischer - Drums on [1,8] Percussion on [1,2,5,7] Piano on [1,5], Backing Vocals on [1,5], Bass Guitar on [5], Xylophone on [1], Bells on [2], Mellotron on [4], Co-Producer on [1,5], Additional Engineering, Mixing
Joe Karnes - Bass Guitar on [1,7,8]
Jeff Babko - Piano on [2,6,8], Organ on [3,7]
Jimmy Earl - Bass Guitar on [2,3,6]
Cecilia Nöel - Harmony & Backing Vocals on [3,6,7,8], Maracas on [9]
Charlie Paxson - Drums on [2]
Michael Georgiades - Acoustic & Electric Guitars on [1], Backing Vocals on [1]
Randy Cooke - Drums on [3,6,7]
Sean Woolstenhulme - Electric Guitar on [3,6]
Luis Conte - Percussion on [3,6]
Oliver Kraus - Cello, Viola & String Arrangements on [4]
Rob Clores - Piano & Harmonium on [5]
Kaveh Rastegar - Double Bass on [9]

Randy Leroy - Mastering
Martin Smith - Photography
Robert Hakalski - Package Design, Booklet Photos

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Recorded at The Washroom, Topanga, California; Lookout Sound, Los Angeles, California.



While Colin Hay’s voice and visage are familiar to millions as front-man, songwriter, and vocalist of pop sensation Men at Work (“Down Under”, “Overkill”, “Who Can it Be Now?”), the past ten years have found him re-introducing himself to a new generation of fans. The frequent use of his music in TV and film—including hit shows such as Scrubs (on which he has made several cameo appearances) and Army Wives, the hit sound track to the film Garden State and the recently released Morning Glory—has proven the timeless appeal of his songs: quizzical, curious, cynical yet open-hearted. GATHERING MERCURY is a portrait of Colin Hay the performer, songwriter, and recording artist and—perhaps most importantly—the man behind the persona. The lyrics reveal the emotional peaks and valleys of the past year during which time Hay lost his father; but Hay stands the test of a true artist and demonstrates his ability to marry immediacy and depth without being maudlin or sacrificing the pop accessibility for which he is known.

CompassRecords.com



Limited edition containing four bonus tracks of 'stripped' mixes. Gathering Mercury is a portrait of Colin Hay the performer, songwriter, and recording artist and perhaps most importantly the man behind the persona. The lyrics reveal the emotional peaks and valleys of the past year during which time Hay lost his father, but Hay stands the test of a true artist and demonstrates his ability to marry immediacy and depth without being maudlin or sacrificing the pop accessibility for which he is known.

Amazon.com


Gathering Mercury is the eleventh studio album album by Colin Hay, released on May 9, 2011 on Compass Records. Regarding the album's thematic content, Hay stated, "I think it’s about life and loss and the injustice of the way the universe is set up; how we lose people we love."

The album is partly inspired by the passing of Hay's father in 2010. Upon the album's release, Hay noted, "The loss of my father last year brought an unavoidable emotional contingent to writing and recording. I don’t have a definitive belief in an afterlife, but I do feel like I had his help when I was working on this album, especially alone late at night, in the studio. [...] The night my father died, I was in Glasgow on the River Clyde, about twenty streets away from where he was born. There’s some kind of bleak poetry in that, very bleak."

Gathering Mercury was recorded at Hay's home studio, The Washroom.

Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album a positive review, stating: "Although it’s a full production with electric guitars, pianos, backing voices, and drums, it leaves the impression of an intimate acoustic performance, partially because the songs are so casually lyrical in their description of the everyday."

Wikipedia.org
 

 L y r i c s


SEND SOMEBODY

Hello to who I’m talking to no more automation
I’m hoping you can walk me through and solve my situation
It’s after midnight and I’ve been on hold so long
You broke through the silence now I’m not alone

You’re asking me to help you see the words begin to flow
This was not my plan or my intention how was I to know
For such a short time feel I’ve known you for so long
And I don’t think I can make it all on my own

So send somebody ’cause I’m stranded and there’s no place left where I can run
Send somebody ’cause I’m hanging by a thread now the whole damn thing’s undone

You have to know I can’t let go now I’ve made this connection
It’s either love that runs the show or random speculation
In my desperation I’m a danger to myself
I need your direction yeah I need someone else

So send somebody ’cause I’m stranded and there’s no place left where I can run
Send somebody ’cause I’m hanging by a thread now the whole damn thing’s undone

From my window as the leaves begin to fall
Before the cold wind comes please hear my call

And send somebody ’cause I’m stranded and there’s no place left where I can run
Send somebody ’cause I’m hanging by a thread now the whole damn thing’s undone

Send somebody ’cause I’m stranded and there’s no place left where I can run
Send somebody ’cause I’m hanging by a thread now the whole damn thing’s undone

Somebody, send somebody, send someone…


FAMILY MAN

Back in 1934
He came bangin’ on the backstage door
Askin’ for my hard earned pay
Then he drank it all away you know
That’s the way it goes
It was come what may

Off we all went to the war
They stole five years, and so much more you know
I was a stranger to my wife
This is the story of my life you know
Slow slow quick quick slow
Then we were on our way

I looked through my window and the slate was gray
Over the rooftops and far away
I had a secret I had a plan
One day I’ll be a family man

And on that Butlins holiday
I heard a calling seems like yesterday
We sailed off to that distant shore
40 years and maybe more you know
On and on we go
Then it all fades away

Out through my window and into the gray
Over the rooftops and far away
This was my secret this was my plan
Now I’m remembered as a family man

Out through my window and into the gray
Over the rooftops and far away
I had a secret I had a plan
One day I’d be a family man


INVISIBLE

I wake up to the sound of ringing in my ears
I turned it up too loud for way too many ears
I’m walking streets that I have known for mostly all my life
Moving though the motions in my desperate paradise

I’m invisible, to the naked eye
I’m invincible no more no more
I’m invisible as far as I can see
Invisible yeah invisibility

I open up my eyes and bear witness to the sun
I stretch my bones and check that I can still walk and run
A trip to the grocer’s store and then the pharmacy
She’s on the telephone as I wait patiently

I’m invisible to her naked eye
I’m invincible no more no more
I’m invisible as far as I can see
Invisible you no longer see me

My footsteps leave no trace through the shifting sand
My reflection disappears as I reach out for your hand
It’s not over till the sun falls into the sea
And I am floating in the sky looking down on me

I’m invisible cast me to the wind
I’m invincible no more no more
I’m invisible as far as I can see
Invisible now I can be free


DEAR FATHER

Dear father I’ve got your photographs
Thank God for photographs hip hip hooray

Dear father I know you loved to laugh though
In most of your photographs it didn’t seem that way

Dear father I can’t let you go just yet
And I still can’t forget you walking around

Dear father you’re starring in my dreams
And you’re stealing all the scenes where did you go?

In my wandering mind I stumble through time
I sing through the air I look for you there

Dear father I never got to say goodbye
I was singing on the River Clyde and I didn’t know

Dear father I see you dancing still
And I think I always will till the day I die

Dear father I feel your healing hands
As I fall asleep I can plain as the day

Dear father you’re in my reflection now
As I reach out and touch you now where did you go?

Dear father I am still curious why
You still make me furious it was so long ago

Dear father I’ve got your photographs
Thank God for photographs hip hip hooray


GATHERING MERCURY

Free falling floating through this dream
I could hear a strange calling from behind the scenes
I could not open my eyes I was barely alive
Is this all I’ve been and all I am and will be

Until I cross over
One life is all I can see
Until it’s all over
I’m gathering mercury

Free falling over an endless sea
I could feel my heart stalling getting harder to breathe
As the boat casts away should I go or stay
Is this all I’ve been and all I am and will be

Until I cross over
One life is all I can see
Until it’s all over
I’m gathering mercury

Free falling now I want to sing
I can hear my voice calling it will hear everything
I cut myself free I crawled back to see
All that has been and all there is and will be

Until I cross over
One life is all I can see
Until it’s all over
I’m gathering mercury

Until I cross over
One life is all I can see
Until it’s all over
I’m gathering mercury
I’m gathering mercury


HALF A MILLION ANGELS

Walkin’ around like I’m in a trance
Thinkin’ I lost you to circumstance
Feelin’ the weight as the world pulls me down
While my heart and my head spin around

Stayin’ alone on top of the hill
Then one day I lost my will
Thought I was drowning in the sea of loneliness
Couldn’t hear a sound through the roar of the emptiness

So I listen in the distance
The voices that I hear sound like
Half a million angels
Singing very clear

Even if they can give me strenght or help me make it through
Half a million angels will never take the place of you

I think about you nearly all the time
Sometimes your presence is so defined
Whether you’re near or far away
Makes no difference in my heart you’ll stay

So I listen in the distance
The voices that I hear sound like
Half a million angels
Singing very clear

Even if they can give me strenght or help me make it through
Half a million angels will never take the place of you
Half a million angels will never take the place of you


FAR FROM HOME

I hear the calling of the music
Comes floating on the wind
It’s standing on my doorstep
Outside my window looking in

I pack my shoes into my suitcase
I pack all my cares away
Everywhere I go is someplace
And down my head I lay

We’ve traveled so far and we’re still far from home

No final destination
And no closing of the door
I’m not looking for salvation
Just give me more and more

We’ve traveled so far and we’re still far from home
We’ve traveled so far and we’re still far from home home

Time no longer goes slow
Forever faster c’mon round and round here we go

I’ve been driving such a long time
Down Highway 92
From darkness into sunshine
All roads lead back to you

We’ve traveled so far and we’re still far from home
We’ve traveled so far we’re still far from home
We’ve traveled so far and we’re still far from home home
We’ve traveled so far and we’re still far from home


WHERE THE SKY IS BLUE

How do how do you do
I loved you since I first saw you
Tell me will you be mine
Through the winter and into summertime
I can see the sun is poking through
Shining on the likes of me and you
I am going why don’t you come too
Let’s go where the sky is blue

Glasgow dear old Glasgow town
We love you but we’ll be seeing you ’round
We’re walking down that beaten track
Can’t say for sure we’re comin’ back
The north wind is chillin’ to the bone
This house no longer is our home
Let’s sail away just me and you
Let’s go where the sky is blue

My how how the time has flown
An’ I’ll never leave you all alone
Forever and a day I say I do
Let’s go where the sky is blue

How do how do you do
Yeah all those all the things you do
I want to have this dance with you
The first one and the last one too
Come with me darlin’ if you will
We can’t win if we’re standing still
Let’s change yeah change our point of view
Let’s go where the sky is blue
Let’s go where the sky is blue
Let’s go where the sky is blue


A SIMPLE SONG

I do like a simple song
Where everyone can sing along
It doesn’t matter where you’re from
Most people like a simple song

It sure is sweet to fall in love
Feels like a gift from up above
Can’t seem to ever get enough
Yeah it sure is cool to fall in love

But things don’t often stay the same
She says she wants to give you back your name
It’s never simple who’s to blame
And it always gets so complicated

One day you wake up on your own
If I had kis they’d all be grown
Of all the people I have known
True friends there’s not too many

But I don’t want to bring you down
And I still get to play from town to town
There still is magic all around
And when I hit the ground I’m running

I don’t want to die alone
Where I cannot reach the phone
In my multi-story home
No I don’t want to die alone

It’s not preyin’ on my mind
But I do think about it from time to time
And it’s not likely to happen soon
But you may not even see it coming

So help me sing this simple song
Where everyone can sing along
It doesn’t natter where you’re from
One day we’re here and then we’re gone

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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