Category Archives: Album Sidebar

A Gesture And A Word

A Gesture And A WordTrack List

  1. Mystic Redemption
  2. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
  3. Margot
  4. Falling
  5. The Hero Of Your Life
  6. Count On You
  7. Studio Lane
  8. Blessed Unrest (feat Dave Douglas)

In this unexpected final album, the Master calms turbulant waters “with a  gesture and a word” (in the song “The Hero of Your Life”).   There is a parallel narrative about David and Goliath.  As in “Everyone Wants To Be Loved” it is in part about slaying the monster and claiming your heroism. “Now we are crossing over, through weather, wind and strife, and darling you will be the hero of your life.”

“Mystic Redemption”, which opens the album, is about salvation and going to the movies.  It is a pilgrimage and a search for healing.

“Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head” is a dark reinvention of the Hal David/Burt Bacharach classic song.

“Margot” is a commissioned work on behalf of The American Cancer Society about a delightul six year old.

“Falling” and “Count on You” were originally recorded as part of the Early Works double album.  Falling was co-written with the late, great Gordon Gaines, who was my dearest friend and great inspiration before he passed away too soon.  Gordon was one of the finest rock guitarists of his generation.

“Studio Lane” was written for my surgeon Dr Guy McKhann and his family.  It is a small thank you for his tremendous care and skill.

“Blessed Unrest” is a duet with trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas.  It is an uncharacteristic jazz ballad that somehow seems to fit right in, and provide the perfect closer to this final collection of music.  It is, simply, about being in love in the spring time.

A Gesture And A Word is dedicated to my three heroes, Ben, Jesse and Elan.

Early Work 1986-1995

Rob Morsberger Early Work 1986 - 1995

Track List Disc 1

  1. State Of Mind
  2. Down On Me
  3. The Two Lovers
  4. Shotgun Wedding
  5. Catfish
  6. A Touch Of Innocence
  7. A Change Of Heart
  8. Speechless
  9. Love God
  10. 3/4ths In Love (feat. Loudon Wainwright III)
  11. Wake Me Up
 Track List Disc 2

  1. The Dogs Of Anger
  2. The Steel Collar
  3. The Etiquette Song
  4. If God Needed (A Pair Of Eyes)
  5. Like Dislike
  6. An Ocean Of Blue (feat. Suzzy Roche)
  7. Fools Paradise
  8. Stupid Own Way
  9. The Expatriate Song
  10. The Brokenhearted
  11. Rainbow Girl

Early Work is a surprising, eclectic overview of Morsberger’s search for his ‘voice’ as a literate songwriter, with material from the mid-Eighties showing that his songwriting craft was already strongly in place from the beginning. The entire collection represents a unique sound in his catalogue, being essentially built around solo, intimate piano performances and vocal arrangements, with a stellar cast of players teasing these out into assorted duets and trios with a few full band arrangements (guest singers include Loudon Wainwright III, Marshall Crenshaw, Suzzy Roche). The double CD reveals the early work of a uniquely talented man, as he navigates a decade of his life and his art.

“Rob duets Suzy Roche on the slow-moving ‘Ocean Of Blue’ and with Marshall Crenshaw on the country-sway of “Fool’s Paradise.’ The set closes with “Rainbow Girl’ as you truly appreciate Rob as one of the best songwriters of his generation.” —The Record-Journal (CT)

Rob Morsberger Live DVD

The definitive live DVD of Rob’s great band, featuring Jon Herington, Robin Gould and Zev Katz, and special guest Ina May Wool.  Recorded live in February, 2012 at The Bitter End NYC, the film was produced by Dave Davidson for Hudson West Productions and boasts record-quality audio.

These performances are unique documents of a band at its peak, and distinct from previously recorded versions.

Tracklist

  • Christina In Your Salon
  • Relativity Blues
  • The Distinctive Thing
  • The Chronicle of a Literal Man
  • Old Jolly Farm
  • Independent Movie
  • All I Have To Give
  • For Heaven’s Sake
  • A Man Of Much Merit
  • Ghosts Before Breakfast
  • As You Like It
  • You Don’t Get

 

Check out a sample – “Independent Movie”:

Midnight Garden – Brad Roberts and Rob Morsberger

Midnight Garden - CoverTrack List

  1. He Heard A Melody
  2. Premeditated Bliss
  3. Midnight Garden
  4. Venus Flytrap
  5. Nail It Down
  6. The Man And The Birds
  7. Don’t Mistake My Charity
  8. The Breeze
  9. Faith Nor Doubt
  10. At The Ledge
  11. Dead Ahead
  12. All The Songs Have Been Written

A Part of You

A Part Of You - Cover

Track List

  1. This Isn’t Kindness
  2. The Russian Cartographer
  3. An Inside Place
  4. The Man And The Birds
  5. Maydianne
  6. Jacob Wrestles with the Angel
  7. Cancer Road
  8. A Part Of You
  9. A Good Laugh
  10. You Son

Ghosts Before Breakfast

Ghosts Before Breakfast - Cover

Track List

  1. Ghosts Before Breakfast
  2. The Great Whatever
  3. The Distinguished Thing
  4. Cobblestones
  5. The Wild Wind
  6. A Man of Much Merit
  7. Celebrity Artist
  8. For Heaven’s Sake
  9. Rocket Science
  10. Feather In A Stream
  11. Christina In Your Salon

Long known as a literate songwriter with a taste for eclectic source material, Morsberger stretched even his own boundaries on ‘Ghosts’- he comments:  “Themes are…gender, expatriation, art, and especially, again and again, mortality.  There are several historical narratives also…This is probably the most eccentric and ambitious record I’ve made.  It has several long form pieces that move in and out of contrasting styles, and features quite a bit of orchestration.”  Morsberger’s long-time band joins him on ‘Ghosts Before Breakfast’:  Robin Gould on drums, Jon Herington on guitar, with Zev Katz and Paul Socolow sharing the bass chair.  The album will be released as a physical CD on February 14, 2012.

Watch the Hans Richter film ‘Ghosts Before Breakfast’

Rescoring Hans Richter-An Interview

The End of Physics

The End Of Physics - CoverTrack List

  1. Save You Save Me
  2. The End Of Physics
  3. As You Like It
  4. Trouble And Love
  5. Waiting For Wood
  6. So Far Gone
  7. Stay Virginia
  8. Planet Blue
  9. The Well Travelled Road
  10. Handsome Is (As Handsome Does)
  11. Crammond Island

Relativity Blues

Relativity Blues - CoverTrack List

  1. Will You Come To My Funeral
  2. From Where We’ve Fallen
  3. Everyone Wants To Be Loved
  4. Relativity Blues
  5. Relativity Blues Waltz
  6. I Want To Be The One
  7. Postmodern Blue
  8. Loaded For Bear
  9. Enchanted World
  10. Emotional Terrorist
  11. The Last Song
  12. Slowing Down Too Fast

A Periodic Rush Of Waves

A Periodic Rush Of Waves - CoverTrack List

  1. It’s Only A Song
  2. I Want To Be The One
  3. A Necessary Burden
  4. Sense and Sensibility
  5. The Music of Time
  6. Bloodstain On My Sheet
  7. Going Nowhere
  8. On Our Wedding Day
  9. Lives Veer Off Course
  10. Hieroglyph
  11. All I Have To Give
  12. Valentine Girl
  13. Details

The Chronicle Of A Literal Man

Chronicle Of A Literal Man - CoverTrack List

  1. The Chronicle Of A Literal Man
  2. Stroke Of Insight
  3. Independent Movie
  4. Like Eating A Stone
  5. Modestine
  6. When Everything Ended
  7. Old Jolly Farm
  8. Where Is The Song
  9. Nebraska In Winter
  10. You Don’t Get It