Me, You
There's nothing we can do
The truth is something I don't want to see
Me, You
I've thought it all through
My love for you was just a fantasy
It's over now but I can't let it be

I save a place
Deep in my heart
Where I can only dream about you
I save a place
Deep in my heart
But I know this dream can never come true

===========================

"TNTEENAGER"

She's Juke box queen and she's 17
moving to the song and singing along
She's got a bubblegum cough
And her braces just came off
Little jail bait flirt in her mini skirt
She's the top of the class, with a heart shaped ass
You should see her bend
When she drops her ball point pen (wooh!)

TNTeenager, this rock 'n roller's
Gonna blow a fuse
TNTeenager, can't control her
Dancing to the rhythm and blues

Her hair is long, and she can't go wrong
Shaking her hips
And pouting those lips
When she gets 'em out
The boys just got to shout (wooh!)

TNTeenager, this rock 'n roller's
Gonna blow a fuse
TNTeenager, can't control her
Dancing to the rhythm and blues

TNTeenager, this rock 'n roller's
Gonna blow a fuse
TNTeenager, can't control her
Dancing to the rhythm and blues
She's a TNTeenager
A TNTeenager
She's a TNTeenager

===================

"MONITOR"

When I saw you down the hall
I knew you was my monitor
And all I want to do
Is violate you

When I met you on the street
Babe I swore you were no juggler
But my starlet you can ball
And that's not all, oh no!

You're a queen of witches
I'm the ace of spades
On a throne for bitches sits my monitor
My monitor

All the crocodile smiles
Of the jungle crowds excite me
I could mirror every face
Like a vacuum
Squeeze!

You're a queen of witches
I'm the ace of spades
On a throne for bitches sits my monitor
my monitor

And when I saw you down the hall
I knew you was my monitor
And all I want to do
Is violate you
my monitor, I said
All I want to do
Is violate you, my monitor, yeah
All I want to do
Is violate you, my monitor
My monitor

===================

"FIRE IN A WAX MUSEUM"

Fire in a wax museum

Babe was born in a blackboard jungle
School was just another rough and tumble
Fire in a wax museum
She's a fire in a wax museum

Sister strange is such a satellite
I want to make her see stars tonight
Fire in a wax museum
She's a fire in a wax museum
She's a fire

On rue de Baker she's tres tres chaud
She's going to vaporize Madam Tassaud
Fire in a wax museum (she's a fire)
She's a fire in a wax museum
She's a fire

I saw this movie on a flaming disaster
The walls were melting as the film rolled faster
Fire in a wax museum
She's a fire in a wax museum
She's a fire

Fire in a wax museum
She's a fire in a wax museum
She's a fire
She's a fire

=====================================

"CAT'S EYE MOON"

When I looked up there was a zircon sky
And a flashy circle zipped on by
You might think it's just a rolling rune
But I knew it was the cat's eye moon
the cat's eye moon

No craters marred this body's face
Sliding there in outer space
Gliding like a cool balloon
I knew it was the cat's eye moon
I knew it was the cat's eye moon

Oh, heaven knows
Love could be a ball
Oh, heaven knows
Anything goes at all

When I looked up there was a zircon sky
And a flashy circle zipped on by
You might think it's just a rolling rune
But I knew it was the cat's eye moon
the cat's eye moon
Yeah

Oh, heaven knows
Love could be a ball
Oh, heaven knows
Anything goes at all
On a cat's a moon
A cat's eye moon
Cat's eye moon
Yeah, yeah

============================

"RADIO"

Do I listen to the radio
You know I listen to the radio
AM and FM, everywhere I go
It could be a symphony
Or a simple melody
It's good enough
Highbrow or low

There's airwaves in Africa
China and America
Music is a language everyone knows
Everybody knows

There's radio
All around the world
Radio, all around the world
Radio, all around the world

Rock or jazz or country and funk
Pop music and honky tonk
In hotel rooms, everywhere I go

In Beirut and old Hong Kong
Gay Paree, and Hai Phong
Music is a language everyone knows
and everybody knows

There's radio, all around the world
Radio, all around the world
Radio, all around the world

And it's always on the air (on the air)
You just tune in to what you want to hear
And it's always on the air (on the air)
You just tune in a little atmosphere
What do you wanna hear?
(Badadada-Bapbapadada)

We got radio, all around the world
Radio, all around the world
Radio, all around the world
We got it, radio, all around the world
Radio, all around the world
Radio, all around the world
Radio radio radio
Radio radio radio
Oh yeah, all around the world
All the world was rockin'
Goin' round and round and round
And round and round, oh yeah!

============================

"ILLUSION"

I'm a city boy, I'm a city boy
I stand in the shadows of a skyscraper
I stand a the corner, in the streets of vapor
Can you blame me?
If I think it's only an illusion
Just an illusion
I might think it's only an illusion

What a lonely town, what a dirty town
If love is real, or if love is ever
Then I'm feeling nothing
And love is being clever
Can you blame me?
If I think it's only an illusion
I might think it's only an illusion

Can you blame me?
If I think it's only an illusion
Just an illusion
I might think it's only an illusion
Just an illusion
I might think it's only an illusion
Just an illusion

============================

"NO SPEED LIMIT"

I'm a fire on the open road
Moving into overload
I can see the light and shade
As my tail lights in patterns fade
All this artificial energy's
Bound to get the best of me
Time is in a spiral turn
And it's passing I can't discern
But it doesn't really matter at all
(Don't matter at all)
How many times you rise and fall

There's no speed limit
Though I've seen the signs
A thousand time before
I'll never look back no more

Day and night are getting so confused
I'm detached I can watch amused
Certain things get out of hand
On an everyday all night stand
But it's a second hand paradise
Play the game you pay the price
There could be a lot to gain
Then again you could end up insane
But it doesn't really matter at all
(Don't matter at all)
How many times you rise and fall

There's no speed limit
Though I've seen the signs
A thousand time before
I'll never look back no more

There's no speed limit
Though I've seen the signs
A thousand time before
I'll never look back no more
There's no speed limit (no speed limit)
There's no speed limit (no speed limit)

============================

"COLD, COLD SEPTEMBER"

We rode in the night time
Until the morning came
Like rippling water
The seasons changed
Now summer is over
All the leaves are on the ground
The wild wind of autumn
Tossing them around
Do you remember how it was when we were together
Do you remember how it was, not so long ago
Do you remember how it was when we were together

That cold, cold september
Has got me in it's spell
I'll never fall in love again
Still only time is going to tell

A hard rain is falling
But it doesn't really matter
Let it fall on me

Pitter patter
Do you remember how it was when we were together
Do you remember how it was, not so long ago
Do you remember how it was when we were together

That cold, cold september
Has got me in it's spell
I'll never fall in love again
Still only time is going to tell
That cold cold september
Has got me in it's spell
Will I fall in love again?
I guess I'll fall in love again
It's a cold, cold september
A cold, cold september
Going to be a cold, cold
Cold, cold winter, snow

==================================

"RAIN CHASING DREAMS"

Tokyo's kimonos, brighten up the street at night
It's a beautiful sight, that rising sun light
But I had to pack up and go
It was sad but I had to pack up and go
We've got vagabonds, they're here and gone
They cross cross paths mid air
Up the spiral stairs
They all meet up there
In the end it all comes back home
In the end it all comes back home

And I'm caught in the rain chasing dreams
Nothing is what it seems to be
There's not much left to believe in
I'm caught in the rain, chasing dreams

London town's harlequin clowns
On a treadmill of rhythm and song
Be it right or wrong
That's all past and gone
Still those shadows are chasing me down
Those old shadows, they still follow me around
We've got renegades in their polaroid shades
On a search for the Chelsea sun
Love is lost and won
By the heart, buy the gun
As my once perfect memory fades
My once perfect memory's faded

And I'm caught in the rain chasing dreams
Nothing is what it seems to be
There's not much left to believe in
I'm caught in the rain, chasing dreams

And I'm caught in the rain chasing dreams
Nothing is what it seems to be
There's not much left to believe in
I'm caught in the rain

====================================

"FREEWHEELER"

Sleepy eyes, step inside
Waiting so long, standing at my doorway
Midnight sky, riverboat ride
Light up the shore
Like the lamps of Norway
Apricot brandy wine
Syrup sweet and stone forever
Two tone tug on a line
If heaven stakes no sinners
Then hell must be a stealer
To a freewheeler

Lucky high, uptown flight
Devil's coming on
And he's taking over
God, the D train, French wine, rain
Roses of red
And a four leaf clover
Angel on the pavement scores
Dirty face and dull shine halo
Gutter children's blood, gang wars
Out on the street St. Lucifer's the dealer
To a freewheeler

Don't you drift your life away
Don't you drift your life away
Don't you drift your life away, no!
Don't you drift your life away
Don't you drift your life away
Don't you drift your life away, no!

==============================

"WAIT FOR IT"

I've been waiting for my ship to come in
I've been wondering lately how you've been
Hoping for a bit of news
But I never could depend on you
To show me the way back to where we begin

I've been drowning on a bitter sea
Coming up as empty as I'll ever be
Nothing there to ease the fall
When I hear the curtain call
I draw back the blinds on my fantasies

Sometimes you need it
Sometimes you don't
Sometimes you get it
Sometimes you know you won't
Sometimes when you need it
You've got to wait for it
You've got to wait for it
You've got to fight for what you need

There's a light in the distance
I see it every night
It breaks through the shadows
And it shines so bright
Everyone's staring at it
Nobody caring that it's just an illusion

No salvation in sight

Sometimes you need it
Sometimes you don't
Sometimes you get it
Sometimes you know you won't
Sometimes when you need it
You've got to wait for it
You've got to wait for it
You've got to fight for what you need

==============================

"STRAIGHT FROM YOUR HEART"

When you do it, you've got to do it hard
When you do it, do it from the start
Shout it out straight from your heart
Shout it out straight from your heart
Don't be lazy, and baby don't be slow
Don't be lazy, and never let it go
Shout it out straight from your heart
Shout it out straight from your heart

What's going on
What now, my love?
If it don't move
Give it a shove! Well!

Don't be angry, and baby don't get lost
Don't be angry, no matter what it costs
Shout it out straight from your heart
Whip it out straight from your heart
Solo

What's going on
What now, my love?
If it don't move
Give it a shove! Well!

When you do it, you've got to do it hard
When you do it, do it from the start
Shout it out straight from your heart
Rip it out straight from your heart
Whip it out straight (straight)
From your heart

==============================

"SOMEBODY SPECIAL"

You haven't changed since I saw you
Or at least your face is the same
The years have been pretty good
All in all to you
Our paths are crossing again
On a trail mapped out by the stars
I do believe you've been caught chasing dreams in the rain

How're you doing, it been a long time
I've though of you every day
How're you doing, old friend of mine
You'll always be somebody special to me
Somebody special to me
Somebody special
To me

I know that you've had some trials
And I too have sometimes misjudged you
We just saw life from a different point of view
So let's let bygones be bygones
It's all water flowed over the dam
I know you well
And by now you should know who I am

How're you doing, it been a long time
I've though of you every day
How're you doing, old friend of mine
You'll always be somebody special to me
Somebody special to me
Somebody special
To me

===================

"DEAD END ZONE"

I was walking up a blind alley
Not seeing the wide open spaces
Opened my eyes
Caught a surprise
This road leads to
A million places
Down in the subway staion
I heard somebody play a saxophone
Blowing sweet
"Reet petite"
To the echo of my shoes
On the ground
At the dead end zone

I had a one way ticket
To paradise
That I cashed in for
A tangible thrill
When it was over
It was all over
I was left
Holding a sizeable bill
Backstage
Born in a jazzman's
Siutcase
Baby with a bandstand jones
Birdland
The smoke and the band
Started off the roll of my stone
To the dead end zone

There's always good times
To remember
There's mountains of guilt
To forget
Basement dreams
What do they mean?
My vison ain't materialised yet

And back down in the subway staion
I heard somebody play a saxophone
Blowing sweet
"Reet Petite"
To the echo of my shoes
On the ground
At the dead end zone
The dead end zone

==============================

"EVERYDAY ALL NIGHT STAND"

It's raining so hard today
Hope the flight's not cancelled out to L.A.
Not today
We're on at 7:30
The customs men are checking
And I'm dirty (7:30)

I play guitar
In a rock n roll band
Traveling hard
On an everyday all night stand

Bathing in the praises
Of a thousand girls with anxious faces
Oooh the praises
Sweet and strange young ladies
Come backstage so cool or acting crazy (young ladies)

I play guitar
In a rock n roll band
Traveling hard
On an everyday all night stand

Spreading reputation
Records gonna break across the nation
Reputation
Electric emotion
Open up your ears and take the potion (emotion)

I play guitar
In a rock n roll band
Traveling hard
On an everyday all night stand

I play guitar
In a rock n roll band
Traveling hard
On an everyday all night stand
An everyday all night stand
An everyday all night stand

==============================

"PHOENIX AND THE RENEGADE"

Hollow sound, I can not hear you now
I am a child inside that being a man will not allow
All around everyone's casting stones
Broken romance
Price is high on a love loan

You are still a memory that time can not erase
I'm looking for a harmony I know but just can't trace
The truth is that I recognize
That no one else can take your place

Come inside out of the pouring rain
Talk to me, try speaking you mind to the renegade
Take your pick honey 'cos this is it
What have we got to lose
Come on and give a little bit

There is still no other cries the phoenix as she sings
Flying from the fire she has never burnt her wings
Me, I took my refuge hiding underneath the strength
Of strings

Hollow sound, I can not hear you now
I am a child inside that being a man will not allow

==============================

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- All songs composed by Alan Merrill except where indicated.

----- ALAN MERRILL

SNAKES AND LADDERS

The Collections, Volume 3

1. Snakes And Ladders (Alan Merrill)
2. Me, You (Alan Merrill)
3. Restless Soul (Alan Merrill / Shinohara Nobuhiko)
4. TNTeenager (Alan Merrill)
5. Monitor (Alan Merrill)
6. Fire In A Wax Museum (Alan Merrill)
7. Lost In Lust (Alan Merrill)
8. Cat's Eye Moon (Alan Merrill)
9. Radio (Alan Merril)
10. Illusion (Alan Merrill)
11. No Speed Limit (Alan Merrill)
12. Cold, Cold September (Alan Merrill)
13. Rain Chasing Dreams (Alan Merrill)
14. Freewheeler (Alan Merrill / Terry Taylor)
15. Wait For It (Alan Merrill)
16. Straight From Your Heart (Alan Merrill)
17. Somebody Special (Alan Merrill)
18. Dead End Zone (Alan Merrill)
19. Everyday All Night Stand (Alan Merrill)
20. Phoenix And The Renegade (Alan Merrill)
br>

~ The Story ~

This album is Volume 3 of Alan Merrill’s “collections” series, the first two albums being “The Face Of 69” and “Numbers” - “Snakes And Ladders” follows in the same vein, a mix of new recordings and unreleased versions of previously issued material, alternate takes and remixes. The first three songs are new. The title track “Snakes And Ladders” was written in 1978 during Alan Merrill’s time as a founding member of the band Runner, and the song intended for the group’s second album but the band broke up during the sessions for the second LP. “Me, You” and “Restless Soul” are recently written songs, and although Mr. Merrill has vowed to never co-write songs with anyone ever again some years ago, he made an exception for his old friend Shinohara Nobuhiko (of the popular Japanese band The Happenings 4 + 1), who he’s known from the Japanese Group Sounds scene since 1968 and they wrote "Restless Soul" together about the passing of a mutual friend. On this stylistically disparate album, which includes material across his 40 plus year career as a professional recording artist, one can expect to go on a musical visit to many genres of popular music that Mr. Merrill has participated in, glam rock, rock, power pop, country, folk rock and more . For example a new recording of “Monitor” is included on this album, written in Tokyo in 1971 from the classic LP by Merrill’s Tokyo based glam rock band Vodka Collins, and originally on the group’s “Tokyo-New York” album which debuted in 1973. The album has recently been reissued in October of 2011 on EMI Japan. “Cat’s Eye Moon” was written for artist Peter Max’s “Alice In Wonderland” animated film in 1970, one of 30 other glam rock leaning songs Alan Merrill wrote for that project at Mr. Max’s request. The film was abandoned half way through the making of it due the phenomenal costs of animation at the time, but the song lives on. Also on this album is an out take from the album “Merrill 1” from 1971, a power pop song titled “Everyday All Night Stand.” There’s also a stripped down version of “Illusion” and other songs from Alan Merrill’s “Aleecat” album, plus other tracks from “Cupid Deranged” which are included here in different takes of the originally released music.

These album collections are intended to accompany Alan Merrill’s soon to be released autobiography, and there will be a Volume 4 of the collections to complete a CD box set.

~~~~

Alan Merrill photo by Steve Mann - Nov.4 2011 Club - Talking Heads, Southampton, England

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Below photos!

ALAN MERRILL, SNAKES AND LADDERS, THE COLLECTIONS Vol. 3

The Cast:

Alan Merrill, lead vocals, 6 and 12 string electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion

Additional players:

Drums - Yujin Harada, Pete Phipps, Dallas Taylor, Jimmy Wilcox

Bass –Dave Glover, Don Kisselbach

Guitars – Terry Taylor, Steve Gould

Keyboards – Katsuo Ohno, Joel Diamond, Benjy King

Harmony vocals – Steve Gould, Dave Glover, Pete Phipps, Jan Tilley, Jackie Kamm, Laura Merrill, Don Kisselbach, Jimmy Wilcox, Benjy King, Fiona, Janis DeRosa, Sal Bernardi

Harmonica – Sal Bernardi

Engineers – Shawn Kimon, Dean Baltulonis, Kirk Yano, Frank Garfi, Joe Johnson, Brian McGee and more. Mastering- Larry Lachmann

Studios – Studio 900, Stone Room Studios, Wild Arctic, Atomic, Planet, Iguana and more. Executive producer & production– Alan Merrill

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Photos below

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Photo of Alan Merrill by Steve Mann, Nov. 4, 2011

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Alan Merrill sculpture by Kie Spate, 2011

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Alan Merrill photo by Len DeLessio, 2011 New York City

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Alan Merrill photo by Steve Mann, Nov.4 2011, Southampton ,England ---

"Thank you to all the talented artists who contributed to this project!" - A.M.

Alan Merrill photo above taken by Nelson Onofre at Hill Country, New York City -December 20, 2011. ---

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