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Reflections Of An Average Soul – Released February 2, 2002

Produced By Buddy Hall & Rob Garrison

With his diary like lyrics Vento makes song writing seem easy on this acoustic based album.  For this project Vento assembled a stellar supporting cast , led by well known  producer Buddy Hall and engineer Rob Garrison. Reb Beach  guitarist for the metal band Winger, wields the lead axe on a few cuts , while B.E. Taylor adds his distinctive voice to the song “Brother”. With all things considered, the singing, lyrics, and musicianship on “Reflections of an Average Soul “ elevate Vento’s solo effort well beyond the audio equivalent of a vanity press. As a solo artist and front man for the J. Geils Band- influenced Businessmen , Vento displays great natural instincts for creating simple ,soulful songs. It’s my hope that he will share this gift with audiences on a more frequent basis. Scott Tady / The Times – Beaver Newspapers Inc. – Thursday March 14, 2002

 

HOURGLASS

Well i’m sitting down at this bar Staring at this beer One, two, three, four decades Gone don’t know how i got here Three great kids later, I’m worried  about Their  lives Makes me kinda Crazy lots to Sleepless nights It wasn’t that long ago we Walked up/down that hill Each and every morning to Catch a bus for school Old man swanson he let those bullets fly Across the big blue arco station We used to stroll on by And do you remember when rose dinkins struck out east? Everything had changed when she killed schrott and connolly Four short decades Where did all those years go? Making it though one day at a time The only way we know Time flies fast… Like the sand in a big old hourglass Time flies fast and that you know It’s gonna kick you in the ass All of us got real scared When my good mamma died I want to thank you for all your help I made it though that night We all thought we were cool Yet we couldn’t get a date All them girls were so stuck up But we all believed in fate Remember when we drove Drove all night long To wildwood deep down new jersey Just a-singing those kiss songs One, two, three, four short decades Where did all those years go? Making it though one day at a time The only way we knew Time flies fast…like the sand in a big old hourglass Time flies fast and that you know It’s gonna kick you in the ass Ya been to frankstown road? Well they destroyed our home Where we were born It’s all gone Ain’t no more, man These day’s we’re a little grayer And a whole lot more wide Maybe a little smarter Certainly not wise And i better finish this here beer Head on down to my home One, two, three, four decades gone But i know where i belong Lyrics – John Vento Music – John Fox John Vento – Lead Vocal John Fox – Acoustic Guitar Norman Nardini – Background Vocals Susan Halpin – Intro Vocal Buddy Hall – Banjo, Bass, Percussion

THE DAY THE LADY CRIED

She stood in the harbor On a bright september day The sun from the dawning Began to warm her face And her heart is fair Trust is everywhere Majestically she rose Her torch showed us the way Everyone is welcome To a new american day And her heart is good Comforting the world Then a storm cloud gathered day turned to night with a sudden flash of thunder power and might She looked from the distance A tear fell from her eye It later came to pass As the day the lady cried As the darkness fell that morning And grew throughout the day Never had a warning Innocence gone away And her heart is mad Fire in her eyes A people all together Standing side by side Hopeful for the future Hopeful for the light And her heart is strong The battle may be long Then a storm cloud gathered day became night with a sudden flash of thunder power and might She looked from the distance A tear fell from her eye It later came to pass As the day the lady cried Voices from heaven Voices from pain Those that paid so dearly Surely will rise again And all those that love em’ Never let em’ die Freedom that they cherished On the day the lady cried Voices from heaven Voices from pain Those that paid so dearly Surely will rise again And all those that love em’ Never let em’ die Freedom that they cherished On the day the lady cried Voices from heaven Voices from pain Those that paid so dearly Surely will rise again And all those that love em’ Never let em’ die Freedom that they cherished On the day the lady cried Voices from heaven Voices from pain Those that paid so dearly Surely will rise again And all those that love em’ Never let em’ die Freedom that they cherished On the day the lady cried Voices from heavenVoices from pain Those that paid so dearly Surely will rise again And all those that love em’ Never let em’ die Freedom that they cherished On the day the lady cried Lyrics – John Vento Music – Buddy Hall John Vento – Lead vocal Buddy Hall – Guitars, Bass, Drum Programming Reb Beach – Background Vocals

JUST DON’T CARE

Just don’t care Oh mist fills the air As if the end is near Summers gone and that is clear Water crystals reappear Winter is here Balanced on an icy edge One wrong shift and it might end Looks what happened to some of your friends Leaves are falling once again When will the frost begin Days to months Months to years Laughter and smiles turn to tears Optimism and hope to fear How does it happen when you just don’t care Our roots are deep they always were Winters breeze will not hurt We have known the cold war in the past Still found a way to make it last Will it last Frigid wind will soon subside Lord please hold me tight Daytime will defeat the night It isn’t easy Only right Life together is worth the fight Days to months Months to years Laughter and smiles turn to tear Optimism and hope to fear How does it happen when you just don’t care Spring is here The flowers arrive Grass getting greener on the other side Going to the new sunlight Vivid us of views on life Days to months Months to years Laughter and smiles reappear Why does it happen when they just don’t care Lyrics – John Vento Music – John Fox John Vento – Lead Vocal Buddy Hall – Strings, Percussion John Fox – Acoustic Guitar

BROTHER

So brother tell me where have you been hiding Theres gotta be some good in your life Now i’m not pushin No and i’m not pryin I just wanna know your alright I’ll reach out for you brother Don’t ya think that i understand I’ll speak out for you brother ready with a helping hand Reach out Speak up Look out Don’t ya think that i understand We’re here for you brother When you want bto take that chance So brother tell me have the years been good to you And are you really clean like they say Now i’ve been patient and i’ve been prayin’ But letting go gets harder each day I’ll reach out for you brother Don’t ya think that i understand I’ll speak out for you brother Ready with a helping hand Reach out Speak up Look out Don’t ya think that i understand We’re here for you brother When you want to take that chance When you want to take that chance You just gotta reach out your hand Cause theres a lot of good  people  waiting To welcome you home Lyrics – John Vento Music – John Fox John Vento – Lead Vocal Reb Beach – Electric Guitar Buddy Hall – Bass, Drum Programming B.E. Taylor – Background Vocal

GROW UP FAST

You grow up fast when your mom dies young You learn to last and to overcome the pain You grow up fast when your mom dies young You learn to last and to overcome the pain Time and again Now some get sad, some get mad Some get bored, and some turn bad The choice is there so don’t be scared Just use your memory instead of fear to move on You learn to smile when your mom dies young Go the extra mile for the things undone To be free, she’s part of me You learn to cry when your mom dies young The years go by, like the songs we sung There’s a way, for another day Now some get sad, some get mad And some get bored, and some turn bad The choice is there so don’t be scared Just use your memory instead of fear to move on Ya get so scared when your mom dies young You’re just a kid tryin’ to have some fun Many tears been shed since my mom died young. I’ll never know why so I gotta move on and let it be It’s a mystery Lyrics – John Vento Music – Tim Hadley John Vento – Lead Vocal Buddy Hall – Electric Guitar, Background Vocal, Drum Programming

CAN’T TAKE IT

I know what your thinkin I’ve been this way before I know what your after You’ve been this way before One look in your eyes And I can see what love is When I’m held in your arms I can feel what love is And then I know one thing that life’s about When I promise to change I just go right back I just can’t take it no more You know I’ve tried so long I just can’t be that guy that always seemed so strong I just can’t take it no more You know I’ve tried so long I just can’t take it no more I know why were fighting A promise i just can’t keep I know that your waiting for the person I’m tryin to be One look in your eyes And I can see what love is When I’m held in your arms I can feel what love is And then I know one thing that life’s about When I promise to change I just go right back I just can’t take it no more You know I’ve tried so long I just can’t be that guy that always seemed so strong I just can’t take it no more You know I’ve tried so long I just can’t take it no more I knew deception would destroy all the trust But I kept those secrets from you knowing too much I tried to steal your dreams by palying those games I know your disappointed that I am still the same One look in your eyes And I can see what love is When I’m held in your arms I can feel what love is And then I know one thing that life’s about When I promise to change I just go right back I just can’t take it no more You know I’ve tried so long I just can’t be that guy that always seemed so strong I just can’t take it no more You know I’ve tried so long I just can’t take it no more Lyrics – John Vento Music – Bill Hibbert & Tim Hadley John Vento – Lead Vocal Bill Hibbert – Acoustic Guitar Buddy Hall – Bass, Percussion, Background Vocal

WHEN THE PIECES FALL INTO PLACE

His body lay cool and mud His face turned toward the sun The blood ran crimson from his head We knew that he was done His lips were moving when I approached Yet he spoke not a word As if some kind of prayer His voice was not to be heard His wrists were chained and they were shackled This poor boy just couldn’t leave his gun Though he was doomed when we advanced This poor boy, just couldn’t run That’s the way it happened in the early vietnam sun It was just before the dawn came that the fighting had begun But then the fight was over and we moved across the field We searched the foxholes and bunkers to see how many we killed That was when I saw him lieing in pain The medics tried to save him he died without giving his name What kind of power are we fighting That would chain a boy to a gun Leave him firing hopeless as the cowards left on the run There’s a question left to be answered When the pieces fall into place But there’s one thing when the day comes, of this boy they’ll be no trace When the pieces fall into place There will be chance for the human race When the pieces fall into place There’s finally a chance in the world for the human race When the pieces fall into place Don’t worry, they’ll fall into place Lyrics – Butch Clark Music – John Fox & John Vento John Vento – Lead Vocal John Fox – Acoustic Guitar , Background Vocals Buddy Hall – Bass , Drum Programming

Reflections of an Average Soul Project Credits

Album – Reflections of an Average Soul, Artist – John Vento, Producer – Buddy Hall, Engineered  By – Rob Garrison Recorded @ Beacon Hill Studio – Dormont, PA Mastered By – Rob Garrison – San Antonio, TX