In Remembrance-PQ-Jan.21.2010

CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE SONG It’s Not Dark Yet, sung by Porkbelly Futures featuring Paul Quarrington with Rebecca Campbell and Chas Elliott, Stuart Laughton, Martin Worthy.

In Sept. 2008 Chas Elliott and I wended our way up to his cottage in the Kawarthas. Chas is the resident “Bon Vivant” in our band Porkbelly Futures and apart from playing the bass, he advises on all the finer things in life. Specifically, food and drink. The menu had been planned, so the talk on the way up was about wine. We were the advance team for the rest of the Porkbellys who were due to arrive the next day.

Adjacent to his cottage is a storage shed. It may have once been a garage of some kind but now it’s where they store the sort of things one finds put aside at a lakeside cottage. Children’s size cross country ski’s, a weightlifting bench with various weights, a rug, two slabs of drywall, a slalom water ski, a chainsaw and couple of old tires, an odd number of snow shoes and a table saw. We emptied out the shed and put its contents outside under the trees and covered it all with tarps and plastic sheets. Inside the now empty shed, we rolled out the carpet and proceeded to set up my drums, his bass gear and our portable recording equipment. Mics, stands, computers and cables were all connected. We did some level checks and waited for everyone to arrive.

The next day Paul Quarrington, Rebecca Campbell and Stuart Laughton rolled in with instruments, groceries and just the right amount of wine. You know how much that is… For the next four days we would be playing, writing, recording and experimenting. These recordings were going to be for our ears only. No one but ourselves would hear them and with that in mind we could truly let our guard down and be as bad or as brilliant as providence would allow. Not much thought was given to what we’d actually play on each song, although often there was at least a short discussion about song structure. I guess you could say that these sessions could be called “pre-production” sessions that would eventually lead to a new record. But truthfully we were just hoping to have some fun, find out more about each other musically and perhaps take Porkbelly Futures to places we didn’t think was possible.

We had done this a few times before and each time we had discovered something remarkable. On this occasion we had an assemblage of new songs, half finished songs and a notion to try a couple of cover tunes. We had talked before about doing some covers and it seemed to make sense that we should do at least one Dylan tune. Paul had chosen “It’s Not Dark Yet.”

At the end of the recording, as the strains of the final chord faded, I remember looking up and into the eyes of my bandmates. It felt, as the spell melted away, like we were slowly surfacing from some deep immersion. I can clearly recall turning and looking out the window to my left, through the trees and out onto the lake. There was a sense of calm and gratitude for the privilege of sharing such a moment with these gifted musicians and friends.

Dylan’s lyric “It’s not dark yet…but it’s getting there” hung in the air. And as Paul had sung those words, no one in that shed was aware that he was already gravely ill. Eight months later our dear friend would be given a fatal cancer diagnosis. Inspired by his courage and lust for life, we would climb aboard his bandwagon and go careening through the next eight months, at an ever frenzied pace. Straight at the precipice that lay ahead, January 21,2010, without letting up.

I believe there was only one take of this song. There’s only one on the hard drive and I think that if we had done another, we would have at least fashioned a proper ending for it. Oh well…

When I listen to this, I am transported back to that precious moment and at the same time, I find myself looking ahead. Looking ahead wistfully to what might have been. But also looking forward, as Paul would’ve done, to what might be. Oh the possibilities! But most of all, I feel love and gratitude.

So as you listen to this, if you find yourself dwelling on the past, cherish it. And if your eye sets upon the future, run headlong into it. And if you’re near someone you care for, tell them you love them.

MW

Maple Blues Lauds The Crooked Road

The December issue of Maple Blues Magazine had this to say about PBF’s latest recording…..
This quirkily named supergroup was formed by four close friends: Canadian Brass trumpeter Stuart Laughton, novelist Paul Quarrington, veteran drummer Martin Worthy & classically trained bassist Chas Elliott. Hanging out at the yet-to-be-renovated Gladstone Hotel, they performed songs that drew on their diverse backgrounds, calling themselves ‘a thinking person’s bar band’. Rebecca Campbell joined as a vocalist for the self-titled second CD. Meanwhile, Quarrington had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and, as was his fashion, went into overdrive mode, recording his solo CD among his diverse other projects. Many of his new songs were too personal for a Porkbellys album and most of them are outside the scope of this column as well, although you’ ll enjoy the fishing song, “Big Ol’ Bass”, with Colin Linden on dobro and “Hey Hollywood” will stay with you for days. Quarrington had been the lead vocalist for the band and wrote many of their songs. One gap has been filled by Worthy & Campbell, who now share vocal duties. As for the writing, Quarrington and his passing dominate the disc. Three songs were written by him, three were written with Worthy and another about him. The CD opens with Worthy’s rollicking tribute. He had been with Quarrington on the day the diagnosis was delivered. They were sitting in the back yard and Quarrington brought out a lot of wine. The song is “I Ain’t
10 MapleBlues December 2010
Leaving (‘Til The Wine Is Gone)”. Two of Quarrington’s are excellent rockers, “Nothing Costs A Nickel” had been on the set list for a long time but never recorded and “It Deals With You”, which came to him after watching a game show. Martin Worthy and longtime producer/ collaborator David Gray contributed “BooCatDo”, which all cat lovers will relate to. It and the opening song point to Worthy as the one picking up the torch. He has big shoes to fill. He does have help, though, and that includes the full band: Teddy Leonard continues on lead guitar and Chris Brown replaces the late Richard Bell on keyboards. The concluding song is by Quarrington & Worthy. “The Crooked Road” is the route to the journey’s end, gently & beautifully sung by Worthy & Campbell over a couple of acoustic guitars. No other song would have sufficed. There’s lots more at www. porkbellys.com.

Martin Worthy, Dan Hill perform Quarrington`s ARE YOU READY

In this performance, singer-song-writers Dan Hill and Martin Worthy perform the song together for the very first time, in honour of their friend and colleague Paul Quarrington at the tribute to him presented by the Kingston WritersFest.

Here is the backstory … in May 2009, shortly after a diagnosis that would end his life, Paul Quarrington decided he would finish what he started. A book, which inspired a film, which commissioned a song. That song, and the incredible insights that came with the making of it, became the heart of the film Paul Quarrington Life in Music. Are You Ready became the song.

ARE YOU READY was co-written by Paul Quarrington, Martin Worthy and Dan Hill. Commissioned by BookShorts Inc. for the documentary film PAUL QUARRINGTON LIFE IN MUSIC, broadcast by Bravo Canada.

ARE YOU READY performed by Paul Quarrington is also available on iTunes.

For more film and music inspired by the written word, visit MovingStories.TV

Porkbelly Futures talk about The Crooked Road

In anticipation of the new CD release from Cordova bay Records, Porkbelly Futures band member Martin Worthy provides fans with a few “behind the songs” anecdotes about some of the tracks. Watch the website here for music excerpts!

Coppertown

In my early years, I had occasion to live in a few small towns. Before the internet connected everyone everywhere, it was possible to live in a place where the world seemed to whizz past and around you. A place where there were no pressing problems and the tribulations of the inhabitants might seem so trivial that even God would give them a miss. Folks seemed to want to live there in order to “give their dreams a rest…” and get out of the fray.

BooCatDo

I had the music idea for this song for quite a while. However, given the weight of the past year’s events, I couldn’t seem to find a lyric idea that was upbeat and fun. I looked out the window and saw my neighbour’s cat “Boo” lolling, carefree in the sun on the grass. I thought “I wish I could be just like him…”

Judgement Day

When Paul and I first got together to write songs in 1972, we wanted to be one of the few local singer songwriter teams to play entirely our own repertoire. He would come to my place, late in the morning and each day we’d write a song. We did that for around 2 years. The good songs would stick, the others would fade. I found this lyric but neither Paul or myself could remember the music, so I wrote new music and added a few more lyrics. Again Rebecca sings the hell out of this one. The song’s about consequences. Somehow it seemed apt.

The Crooked Road

This is last song Paul and I collaborated on. We talked, late at night about a song like this. A song that seems like it has always been there. Something that’s at once new, yet familiar. I said I had an idea for a song called “The Crooked Road”. Time was running short for Paul, so the thinking was that I would begin the song, get it close and he’d wade in to finish it. When I played it for him, he wondered what I thought he should add. I said I thought it needed a fourth verse to tie it together and close it out. ( his specialty) His feeling was that, at this point, the song had a “nice open ended sense of closure. If that’s at all possible.” He could write a fourth verse but it would take the song to a place where one would have to write a lot more to get it back to where it is now. “Why don’t you just take the first line and sing it again at the end? You’re done.”  Despite the fact he didn’t actually write any of the content in this song, I share the credit with him because he helped shape the notion and spirit of it. And if he hadn’t pointed the way, I might still be writing it.

The Crooked Road will be released in October 2010 – to pre-order online, visit Cordova Bay Records website here.

Crooked Road Song Notes – It Deals With You

Paul was inspired to write this song after watching a game show in which the contestants must stand with their hand on a brand new pick-up truck. After hours and sometimes days, the last person standing with their hand on the truck, would win it. At some point early in the game, one fellow dropped out. When asked why, he said that he turned to the person next to him and saw the devil staring back. “When you look at someone and the devil is staring you in the face, it deals with you!!”

IT DEALS WITH YOU LYRICS

The law had me on the run
So I’d gone into hiding
I was out on the bum
Down by the railway sidings
I was makin’ the measure of a southbound train
I had my fill of pleasure, i had my fill of pain
When nothin’ works out like you want it to…
It deals with you

I was down by the river
Where the cool waters flow
I was hungry and shiverin’
I had no place to go
I took the rivers’ direction
I did not trust the wind
I was lead to reflection on the nature of sin
When the lord tells you ten things that you shall not do…
It deals with you….it deals with you
It deals with you….it deals with you

I was down in the valley
Where the devil met the christ
Both had asked for a talley
Of my virtues and vice
I was had a loved one but i had one no more
All the things that i have done, wore upon me like sores
You know that eternity is overdue
It deals with you…it deals with you…
It deals with you…it deals with you…

CREDITS

Composer – P.Quarrington
Publisher – Cordova Bay Music Publishing- Pork Belly Music
Martin Worthy-Lead Vocal-Drums
Rebecca Campbell-Harmony Vocal-Ac.Guitar
Stuart Laughton-Slide Guitar-Harmony Vocals
Teddy Leonard-Elec. Guitars
Chas Elliott-Bass Guitar
Megan Worthy-Harmony Vocals

Performed on the CD The Crooked Road released by Cordova Bay Records (Oct 19, 2010)
(Pre) Purchase THE CROOKED ROAD CD from Cordova Bay now!

Crooked Road Song Notes – The Difference You Make

I was determined to have a few Q/W songs on this album. So I wrote this song with a view to collaborate with Paul. I played it for him and asked him to write a lyric for the second verse. We were in the studio doing a demo of it. It took him 5 minutes….and it’s the best verse. Rebecca sings this song so well!

Listen to an excerpt of the song >> The Difference You Make (Excerpt)

Performed on the CD The Crooked Road released by Cordova Bay Records (Oct 19, 2010)

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

Composers – P. Quarrington-M.Worthy
Publisher – Cordova Bay Music Publishing- Pork Belly Music
Rebecca Campbell-Lead Vocal- Ac. Guitar- Percussion
Stuart Laughton-Pedal Steel-Harmony Vocals
Martin Worthy-Drums-Harmony Vocals
Chas Elliott-Bass Guitar
Teddy Leonard-Elec. Guitar
Chris Brown-Hammond Organ

LYRICS

Funny how the rain comes every time you go
First I’m standing in the sunshine
Then I’m standing in the shadow
Of a cloud that seems to follow me
It’s one I’ve come to know
The temperature’s falling
And the wind, it blows…

And when it blows I bend and bend
Til I feel that I might break
Oh you don’t know
The difference you make

Funny how the sun goes down
And disappears from sight
First I’m standing in the sunlight
Then I’m underneath the streetlight
The skies so full of shadows and clouds
It can’t even hold the moon
Morning ain’t arriving
Any time soon

And when it does I bend and bend
Til I feel that I might break
You don’t know
The difference you make
And when the storm is raging round my door
And the ground begins to shake
You don’t know
The difference you make

Oh, I don’t need to know that you’re here beside me
It’s enough to know that you’re somewhere out there

And when it blows I bend…

(Pre) Purchase THE CROOKED ROAD CD from Cordova Bay now!

Crooked Road Song Notes – Crazy Rain

This next year will be a year of “firsts”. This song imagines myself up north on a perfect summer’s evening, fishing for the first time, forever without my friend. I tried to invest it with meaning without being too maudlin. Paul said that he thought it was impossible to cast your line into the water and be a pessimist. “It’s an act of faith.” For me, fishing is a metaphor for how Paul lived.

CRAZY RAIN

Performed on the CD The Crooked Road released by Cordova Bay Records (Oct 19, 2010)

Martin Worthy-Lead Vocal-Drums
Rebecca Campbell-Harmony Vocal
Stuart Laughton-Pedal Steel-Harmony Vocals Teddy Leonard-Elec. Guitar Chas Elliott-Bass Guitar Chris Brown-Hammond Organ
Composer – M.Worthy
Publisher – Cordova Bay Music Publishing- Pork Belly Music

LYRICS

Verse:
A perfect day sittin’ by the river
the sky’s a sea of blue
A gentle breeze blows across the water
I feel the ghost of you
The glory of creation is laying out in all it’s grace
But there’s this crazy rain
Runnin’ down my face

Verse:
I cast my line out into the water
Just like we used to do
An act of faith, that’s what you said
Can’t help but think of you
The sun in splendor sinking down
All that’s fine and good is in it’s place
But there’s this crazy rain
Runnin’ down my face, down my face

Bridge:
What’s gone is gone, what’s done is done
That’s some folks point of view
But when you think you’re done with the past
It’s not done with you

Verse:
Twilight falls along the shore
The stars they spark and wink
I’ll just sit a little more
And think and think and think
About the mystery of creation
How the days can disappear without a trace
‘Cept for this crazy rain, still this crazy rain, oh this crazy rain

(Pre) Purchase the CD from Cordova Bay now!

Crooked Road Song Notes – Can’t Find My Way

For the longest time after his divorce, every song Paul wrote was about the dissolution of his marriage. Only Paul could write such a happy sounding song about being so sad…

Listen to an excerpt from the song >> Can’t Find My Way Back  (Excerpt)

CAN’T FIND MY WAY – LYRICS

Sitting in a bar, drinking in a bar
Wondering how the hell you are
My new best friends have all gone home
But that’s okay, I kinda want to be alone.

I can’t find my way back to you
Doesn’t seem to be nothin’ I can do
A hundred lies would all have to be true
And I can’t find my way back to you

Driving in a car, tryin’ to see how far I can go
On a single tank and a cheap cigar
Every town I pass looks a lot like my home
Feel like I’m livin’ in the twilight zone
I can’t find my way….

I’m in an old hotel, I like old hotels
Despite the way they look and the way they smell
Tomorrow may bring a small shaft of light
But if it doesn’t, ah hell that’s alright

I can’t find my way………

CREDITS

Composer – P.Quarrington
Publisher – Cordova Bay Music Publishing- Pork Belly Music
Martin Worthy-Lead Vocal-Drums
Rebecca Campbell-Harmony Vocal-Ac.Guitar
Stuart Laughton-Pedal Steel-Harmony Vocals
Teddy Leonard-Elec. Guitars Chas Elliott-Bass Guitar
Chris Brown-Hammond Organ
Megan Worthy-Harmony Vocals

Performed on the CD The Crooked Road released by Cordova Bay Records (Oct 19, 2010)
(Pre) Purchase THE CROOKED ROAD CD from Cordova Bay now!

Crooked Road Song Notes – Nothing Costs a Nickel

Like a lot of stuff Paul wrote, he would come at things from an oblique angle. This is about feeling like an anachronism. He was also determined to use the word “bull….” in every verse. He quietly produced this little gem at a rehearsal 2 years ago and it’s been a mainstay of the PBF set list ever since.

Crooked Road Song Notes – I Ain’t Leavin’ (Til the Wine’s All Gone)

After receiving his diagnosis, Paul and I drove home from the doctor’s in stunned silence. We sat in the back yard for a while and soon after, he vanished for a couple of hours. Just as I was getting concerned, he reappeared holding two very large bags with many bottles of Chateau Neuf, Amarone etc. He looked at me and said “No more cheap wine!!” This was written as the finale for his tribute this spring at The Opera House.

Listen to an excerpt of the song >> I Ain’t Leavin ‘Til the Wine’s All Gone (Excerpt)

I AIN’T LEAVIN’ (‘TIL THE WINE IS ALL GONE)

Performed on The Crooked Road CD released by Cordova Bay Records (Oct 19, 2010)
Composer – M.Worthy
Publisher – Cordova Bay Music Publishing- Pork Belly Music
Martin Worthy-Lead Vocal-Drums
Rebecca Campbell-Harmony Vocal-Percussion
Stuart Laughton-Slide Guitar-Harmony Vocals
Teddy Leonard-Elec. Guitar
Chas Elliott-Bass Guitar
Chris Brown-Hammond Organ
Megan Worthy-Harmony Vocals

LYRICS

I had a friend and he used to say
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
Seems like he told me just the other day
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
When the wine’s all gone, we’ll just open another
Keep the party rockin’ ‘til four
I think it’s high time, for drinkin’ only fine wine
Just promise me there’ll always will be more…..

You’d better be believing, this be no time for grieving
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
I ain’t gonna stop ‘til I’ve drunk the last drop
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
When the wine’s all gone, there’ll be a space at the table
An empty glass by the door
A few steps to the gate
And as it’s still swingin’ you might hear me singin’ for more

Pay no attention at all to that clock on the wall
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
The best epitaph is to hear you all laugh
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
When the wine’s all gone, we’ll just go to my neighbour
And we’ll knock knock knock knock knock on his door
We’ll tell the fella, (we’re) gonna raid his cellar
Then we’ll come back to mine and we’ll pour, more, more, more…..

(Pre) Purchase THE CROOKED ROAD CD from Cordova Bay now!