Max from PowerPop posted about this album in December of last year (read it here) and I immediately became intrigued. After listening to it on repeat, I went back to Max’ review and am impressed at how spot-on his observations are; in particular Ronnie Lane writing and singing on, “Evolution” and Pete’s strong acoustic performance on the tracks. Yes, it was on Spotify, so I gave it a listen – and fell in love. Of course, Spotify is the way to see if you like an album enough to buy it. I bought it used at discogs and was blessed enough to find the, “Limited Edition Deluxe Package” with six bonus tracks.  I enjoyed flipping through the booklet, seeing the many photos of Meher Baba, who the album is dedicated to, and learning how the album and its songs, especially track 2 and track 9 came about.  Since listening to it many times,  these five tracks are my current favorites.  I’ve included YouTubes, lyrics, and a Spotify playlist at the bottom.  If you have an extra 21 minutes, please give them a listen and let me know what you think.  Which one(s) is/are your favorite(s)?

Evolution (Track 2)
Written by:  Ronald Lane

Well, once I was a stone, many years ago
Into a pool was thrown, many years ago
Time passed by and the pool ran dry
Excavated was I, and tempered and beat in the fiery heat
By the hand of a man, whose name was Dan, Dan the blacksmith

Well once I was a daisy, many years ago
In pastures green and lazy, many years ago
But I was et by a goat who fell in a moat
And forgetting to float he sunk like a lead and stayed until dead
And was relieved to find just how kind it all was

Well, once I was a bullfrog, had to struggle for survival
And once I was a carp and lived in waters on the meadow
And once I was a mynah bird, quoting verses from the Bible
I said pretty boy, oh pretty boy, Saint Luke

(Guitar solo)

Then I was born a human baby, many years ago
I remember I was born unto a lady, many years ago
All our hopes were piled on the back of a child
Who turned out to be wild, sent the devil a prayer
Caused the parson to swear so I took my leave
To lie and thieve, on my way to jail

Well, I've been a tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor
Known good times and disaster
But now I found a teacher and my teacher has a master
And the master is perfection, so he'll help us get there faster
Don't need no proof, 'cause that's the truth, and I'll drink to that! 

Forever’s No Time At All (Track 3)
Written by:  William Morris Nicholls, Kate Mc Innerney 

And nothing sure is forever
When forever's no time at all
As I lie amongst the heather bed
High above the ocean's roar

I seem to hear my name being called
Yet who am I waiting for
And I love the lover who loves with
All the love he has and more

And now that the summer's ending
And your baby cries out to sea
I do feel that I am drowning
In the love that you're sending me

And now that the summer's ending
And your baby cries out to sea
I do feel that I am drowning
In the love that you're sending me 

Sheraton Gibson (Track 7)
Written by: Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend 

I'm sittin' in the Sheraton Gibson playin' my Gibson
And boy do I wanna go home.
I'm sittin' in the Sheraton Gibson playin' my Gibson
And boy do I feel all alone.
Cleveland, you blow, you blow my mind.
Cleveland, how I wish I were home this time.
Don't want to be unkind.

But I'm sittin' in the Sheraton Gibson playin' my Gibson
Thinking' 'bout a sunny barbeque
I'm sittin’ in the Sheraton Gibson playin' my Gibson
And my mind is a Cleveland afternoon.
Cleveland, how you blow my mind.
Cleveland, I wish I were home this time
Don't wanna be unkind.
Cleveland, how you blow my mind.
Cleveland, how I wish I were home this time.
Don't wanna be unkind.

Oh Cleveland, how you blow my mind.
Oh Cleveland, how I wish I were home this time
Don't wanna be unkind.

But I'm sittin’ in the Sheraton Gibson playin' my Gibson
And boy do I wanna go home. 

Parvardigar (Track 9)
Written by: Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend 

Adopted from Meher Baba's universal prayer

O Parvardigar, the Preserver and Protector of all
Without beginning are you Lord without end
Non-dual, beyond compare, and none can measure You
Without color, expression, or form, nor attributes to live

You are unlimited and unfathomable
Imperishable beyond conception by our minds
None can divide you, oh God you are eternal
None can see you but with eyes divine

You always were, You always are, and always will be
You are everywhere, in everything and beyond
In the firmament above and in the deep
On all the seven planes and farther on
And in all that's hidden to our eyes and always see

Beyond the trinity of words and in the vow
You can not be perceived or no one shall repent
O Parvardigar preserve protect us all
Without beginning are you Lord without end
You always were, You always are, and always will be

You are the Creator, the Lord of Lords
The Knower of all minds and hearts
Omnipotent, omnipresent, from you we cower
You are Knowledge, Infinite Bliss, Infinite Power

You are the ocean of knowledge knowing all
Infinitely knowing, but can but tell
The knower of the past, the present and future
crowning even this, your knowledge itself

Oh Merciful Benevolent Eternal
You're the trinity of Knowledge, Truth and Bliss
You are the Source of Truth, The One with infinite attributes
You are the Ocean of Love we sorely miss

You always were, You always are, and always will be

You are the Ancient One, the Highest of the High
You are Prabhu and Parameshwar
You are the Beyond God, Beyond-Beyond God also
Parabrahma; Paramatma and Allah
Yezdan; Ahuramazda and God the Beloved

O Parvardigar, the Preserver and Protector of all
Without beginning are you Lord without end
You are named Ezad, the only one worthy of worship
We sing the universal prayer to you Amen 

The Seeker (Track 11)
Written by: Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend

Looked under chairs
Looked under tables
Tried to find the key
To fifty million fables

They call me, The Seeker
I've been searching low and high
I won't find what I'm after
'Til the day I die

I asked my idols
The questions to my mother
I bought tickets just anywhere
Hoping to discover

They call me, The Seeker
I've been looking low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
'Til the day I truly die

People tend to hate me
'Cause I never smile
As I ransack their homes
They wanna shake my hand

Focusing on nowhere
Investigating miles
I'm a seeker
I'm a really desperate man

Asked Bobby Dylan
I asked the Beatles
Asked Timothy Leary
But he didn't help me either

They call me, The Seeker
I've been looking low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
'Til the day I die

I learned how to raise my voice in anger
But now, look at my face, ain't this a smile?
I'm happy when life's good and when it's bad, I cry
I got values but I don't know how or why

I'm looking for me
You're looking for you
We're looking at each other
And we don't know what to do

They call me, The Seeker
I've been searching low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
'Till the day I die

I won't get to get what I'm after
'Til the day I die