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Love, Lust & Other Wreckage – Released November 3rd, 2018

Produced By – David Granati

Soundtrack to the upcoming stage performance by playwright Amy Hartman

“Love, Lust and Other Wreckage; A new experiential performance effort by John Vento works as a theatrical confession. Original  songs, intimate storytelling and scenes bounce a unique tension between one man’s journey into the inside of an almost compulsive lust to create music, an insatiable desire to love and the struggle of climbing from the wreckage ensued by this pursuit.  And it’s mostly all true.”

Amy Hartman/Playwright

“I absolutely love this album, great production by David Granati, with standout track, “Let Me down Easy”  !”

Rich Engler – Rich Engler Presents

“I just finished listening to “Love, Lust, & other Wreckage”, and everything about it is awesome. Wonderful production, top notch performance, great lyrics, and interesting arrangements throughout. So creative, and fun, congratulations to everyone involved  ! “

Lee Marks – Lematt  Productions

“Thank you so much Everyone! Being on this Project was very special to me. I loved working with you all & hope to do so again in the future. I spent all day listening & the Mixes, Vocals, & Tones sounded amazing ! Thank you for having me!”

Joffo Simmons/ Drummer Joe Grushecky & The House Rockers

“I’ve been listening to music from John Vento for almost as long as I can remember and supporting local music through my websites for over 22 years. “Love, Lust and Other Wreckage” shows yet another facet of his writing and vocal skills that I had not seen yet. He never ceases to entertain me. Beautiful and melodic are probably the best words I can use to describe this soundtrack! “

Bill Domiano –  buildthescene.com

“This album is filled with grit and world-wearied vocals still hanging on stubbornly to hope. All sorts of catchy guitar textures emerge, overseen by the highly skilled hands of producer/Beaver County musical icon David Granati. Well-timed female vocal harmonies by Cherylann Hawk add some pretty touches.”

Scott Tady – Entertainment Editor – Beaver County Times

Good Life Made – B. Lauble, J.Vento, D. Granati

Had two grown kids, a happy ex-wife, like an old cat, lived all 9 lives, man paid the tolls. Meet his friends at the end of the day, throw a few back, with the money he made, that’s how he rolled. Those times we know, too much fun but so much love, and the price he paid was a good life made. Back in the day, when we would hide, deep in the park, on a moonless night, that’s all we knew. Cold case of beer, a little smoke, roaring laugh, to a stupid joke, we told the truth. Raise up your glass and stand with me here’s a toast to eternity, swallow hard and look around, might be heaven in this old town. See in their face, when you fade away all the kind light, be able to say a good life made.

Let Me Down Easy – M. Vincent

Let me down easy, when you say goodbye, speak to me softly, look into my eyes. You said that you love me, but that was just a lie, let me down easy tonight, let me down easy tonight. Talk about the weather, late night news, what you did at work today, where you get them shoes. Speak to me softly, please don’t make me cry, let me down easy tonight. I never noticed you were slipping away, I didn’t see the look in your eyes. I didn’t notice you were drifting away, no I just didn’t realize. Speak to me softly, please don’t make me cry, let me down easy tonight, let me down easy. Whisper sweet words, I long to hear, say that there’s some chance, you will stay near, if you don’t mean it, well that’s alright, let me down easy tonight, let me down easy tonight, let me down easy tonight.

Baby Blues – B. Lauble, J. Vento

Heard a song, that got me down, as I drove around, thought of all the hell I put you through. We were in the sun and it sank below, waiting on the beach for a fireworks show, glitter in the sky, reflected from your eyes, baby blues, baby blues they were, I didn’t see the light. baby blues, baby blues, so damn bad tonight, without you. Wake up cold, I’m on my own, in a twilight zone, thought of all the hurt I put on you, we were in a cloud when the day would dawn, coming to the end of a marathon. Gentle daybreak chimes, your morning eyes would shine, baby blues, baby blues they were. I didn’t see the light baby blues, baby blues I got’em so damn bad tonight. From that mud there came my lotus, too late for you to notice. It was wrong, to play the part, with a coward’s heart,thought of all the truth in your tattoo. We were drunk on love when you got that rose, hidden safe and sound underneath your clothes, it’s a mystery why I set you free, baby blues baby blues they were. I didn’t see the light, baby blues, baby blues so damn bad tonight, without you.

Well Yeah Maybe – B. Lauble, J. Vento, D.Granati

I can be there if you want me to, at our place on the avenue, well yeah maybe, we can talk it through. We can go there if it’s good for you, resurrect our old taboo, well yeah maybe, learn something new. Under cafe lights, enchanting breeze we tease wine words flow, we both know it’s all played out, and it’s all fine and way past time to breath. I can tell you that my aim was true, but the arrow didn’t have a clue, it’s not crazy, just a point of view. We don’t have to have a bitter end walk away and still be friends, well yeah maybe, but.. we can’t pretend. Under cafe lights, enchanting breeze we tease, wine words flow, we both know, it’s all played out, and it’s all fine, and way past time to leave.

Just Don’t Care – J. Vento, A. Hartman, J. Fox

Autumn stirs the air, all of me in fear, the end is near summer’s dawn, nothing is clear, the ghost of us reappears. Slipping sliding on a frozen glass, falling into that funeral mass, look what happened to me my friends, busted and broken, and I’m numb in the end, I don’t even care. Days to months, months to years, the myth of us laughing, turns to tears, opulent holy hope so near, a dead love affair and I just don’t care. Hey honey pour me a gin, open your sweet spot and let me in, I‘m a dead man looking for a little sin, love weary on a losing end, oh, I just don’t care. Days to months, months to years, the myth of us laughing, turns to tears, opulent holy, hope so near, a dead love affair and I just don’t care. Ride the road, rough and blue, I won’t lie, I miss the mess of you, can’t stand my mind, the way it’s true, running scared, that’s what I do, this ugly love ain’t enough for you, makes me a sinner, now we’re through now we’re through.

I Hope I Don’t Fall In Love With You – T. Waits

Well I hope that I don’t fall in love with you, cause falling in love just makes me blue. Well the music plays and you display your heart for me to see, I had a beer and now I hear you calling out for me,  and I hope that I don’t fall in love with you. The room is crowded, there’s people everywhere and I wonder, should I offer you my chair. Well if you sit down with this old clown, I’ll take that frown and break it, before the evening’s gone away, I think that we could make it and I hope that I don’t fall in love with you. I can see you’re lonesome just like me, and it being late, you’d like some  company well I’ve had two, I look at you, you look back at me, the guy you’re with he’s up and split, the chair next to you is free and I hope that you don’t fall in love with me. Well the night does funny things inside a man those old tom-cat feelings you don’t understand, well I turn around to look at you, you light a cigarette, I wish I had the guts to bum one, but we’ve never met, and I hope that I don’t fall in love with you. Now it’s closing time, the music’s fading out last call for drinks, I’ll have another stout well I turn around to look at you, you’re nowhere to be found I search the place for your lost face, I guess i’ll have another round and I think that I just fell in love with you.

Eye Candy  – B. Lauble, J. Vento

Is it so wrong to sport a slack jaw diamond, valet jump, fight to open her door, leaves the gate like a thoroughbred racer, sinewy paces, she turns their faces to stone. Eye candy much to their dismay, eye candy takes their breath away. She enters the club with a drop dead shadow, watch her flow, go, and ignite, strobe lights flash, freezing her movement, with each frame, another mind is blown. Eye candy much to their dismay, eye candy takes their breath away. All I know it feels right this perfect sight, in my beautiful life. Enter the gig with a fine-tuned motor, sit front row shakes the front man low, pulled on stage like an amazon killer, it’s a thrill, watch her steal the show.

Only Love Stays Alive – B. Lauble, J. Vento, D. Granati

Under cover tan line dove marque, she broke bad and stoney, high times, with the dope dime king kong crazy, my dead end game. Go talk about lust without me, you’re still blinded by our broken light, oh turn around, oh turn around lady, only love stays alive, when our heavens collide only love stays alive, when God takes a side only love stays alive. The boy wonder your mojo guarantee, he was just your pony, you had a fine time on the long cheap, touche’ baby, we share the pain, go cry about love without me, don’t waste tears on your red-eye flight. Only love stays alive, when our heavens collide only love stays alive, when God takes a side only love stays alive.

Rainbows and Lightning – D. Granati, C. Hawk, J. Vento

Pictures of pictures, and pictures of frames, looking through lenses for a spark or a flame, if I can see a love that looks like success, then maybe next time I won’t make such a mess, searching for something with no shame and no blame, a picture perfect love that’s not just a game. Like in a movie on a bench in the park, thought I could find the look of love from afar, then into focus, much to my surprise, there stood an angel looking into my eyes. Pictures of paintings I put love in a frame, from that perspective it just isn’t the same, as being there and seeing how hard I fell, catching my breath between heaven and hell, love can be frightening but it’s beautiful too, rainbows and lightning between me and you. Like in a movie on a bench in the park, thought I could find the look of love from afar, then into focus, much to my surprise, there stood an angel looking into my eyes.  Every day when the sun comes up, I pray to be a better man, as the storm clouds form above, lightning strikes again. All that’s left is a barren wasteland, from the pain and baggage, slice the veins, the blood runs free, broken bones and wreckage.

Humble Way – B. Lauble, J. Vento

Thunder road on the radio, promise land for that romeo, kept the faith kept hope alive, took a bite of humble pie. Man in black on a tv show, surrender sweet baritone, from his heart he did the time, learned to love and walk the line yeah. I’m the phoenix burned by the sun, to rise up another day, I want to become your man in a humble way. My arrogance had laid me low, it’s so rich the taste of crow, vanity with all its might, superman and cryptonite yeah. I’m the phoenix burned by the sun, to rise up another day, I want to become your man in a humble way. Conceit a fuse to light, up in flames like dynamite, my fireball made no sound, as it tumbled to the ground. I’m the phoenix burned by the sun, to rise up another day, I want to become your man in a humble way.

With You-  D. Granati, C. Hawk, J. Vento

When I see you, I see sunshine, you take my breathe away, when you speak softly, whisper with bright eyes, I know with you is where I want to stay. With you I feel like I can rise above the past, baby, with you I learned to love in ways I never knew, with you i’m ready for the road ahead at last, ’cause every day I fall in love with you. When I heard you, calling out for me, I couldn’t face another lonely night, ’cause you just love me, you really love me, I’m the luckiest man alive. Well yeah, my baby, this is what they call the good life, cause I can say that I can finally see the light, this might sound crazy, I see heaven there in your eyes, only love can shine that bright, I’m gonna love you, you’re gonna love me, my heart knows what I need with you.

Follow Your Heart -D. Granati, C. Hawk,  J. Vento, B. Lauble

Silverado Colorado, how I love the west, dusty skies and orange sun, your ink on my chest. When I travel through the winds of the world, I think about you, when I go away, away, I’m blue. Here we are now, ready to begin, let’s just enjoy the journey love, it’s not about the win, sometimes you’ll be behind me, and sometimes you’ll be ahead, and when the bridge is broken down, remember what I said. Follow your heart follow your heart, let it take the lead, right from the start, hold on and keep believing, your heart knows what you need. Follow your heart follow your heart, let it take the lead follow your heart, right from the start, hold on and keep believing, your heart knows what you need. Follow follow follow your heart, your heart knows what you need, your heart knows what you need, your heart knows what you need, your heart will set you free, you heart will set you free, just enjoy the journey love.

I’ll Be Still – B. Lauble

Goodnight, starry skies, August moon, sweet nothing lies, listen to my lullaby, promises you can’t deny, drift away, close your eyes, right beside you darlin’ I’ll be still. Goodnight, fireflies, perfume air, paradise, listen to my lullaby, rapsody I won’t disguise, right beside you darlin’ I’ll be still. Crucify the monster, made to make you small, celebrate the creature, hid inside us all. Goodnight summer rain, drizzle on my window pane, listen to my lullaby, Bella Rose I miss you so, right beside you darlin’ I’ll be still. Now it’s time to say goodbye, Bella Rose I miss you so, right beside you darlin’, right beside you darlin’, right beside you darlin’, I’ll be still.

Love, Lust & Other Wreckage – Project Credits

John Vento – Vocals, Cherylann Hawk – Vocals, David Granati – Acoustic & Electric Guitars (mostly Rickenbacker), Bass Guitar, Keyboards on 9, Hand Percussion, Jules Granati – Drums 2, 9, 11, 12, Congas – 5, 12 Joffo Simmons – Drums 1, 4, 8, Bob Fetherlin – Drums – 6, 7, 10, Hermie Granati – Keyboards – 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, Joey Granati – Keyboards – 8, 13, Ian Arthurs – Acoustic Guitar – 5, Cheryl Rinovato – Electric Guitar Lead – 8, Wil E. Tri – Harmonica – 1, 6, Produced by David Granati Assisted by John Vento & Cherylann Hawk, Recorded & Mixed at Maplewood Studio, Ambridge, Pa. Mastered by – Brian Foraker , Nashville, TN, Graphic Design by Dominec Mollica, Photos by Q2 Photography (Paulette Quinten & Mary Alice Foote) Photo direction – Amy Hartman Models – Nicole Ross & Jenna Weiss