One Small Stepping Man, by Adrian Whitehead

One Small Stepping Man

by Adrian Whitehead

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1.	Caitlin's 60's Pop Song 03:45	lyrics	buy track
If you could talk what would you say? If you could walk you’d run away But where would you go and what’s your plan? The night’s so young and keys are in your hand The toys have come out and oh what a mess But who could get down with a face like that When she comes around, every one’s smile turns upside down She’s so beautiful made for love She’s so beautiful from above She’s so beautiful and the world’s so wonderful when she loves Spilt milk and guilty footsteps there have been But cheeky eyes and little spies have fled the scene Oh when she comes around Mother’s little world turns upside down She’s so beautiful made for love She’s so beautiful from above She’s so beautiful and the world’s so wonderful when it feels right And she’s the one to make it all right So don’t frown ‘cause you’re on the ground Take a breath, you’ll be swung around Rules can bend when everyone’s your friend She’s so beautiful made for love She’s so beautiful from above She’s so beautiful and the world’s so wonderful when she loves
2.	Saving Caroline 06:07	lyrics	buy track
I’ve been thinking a mountain today ‘Cause what I’ve got is a lot to say Like dearest Caroline talking all the time but never making much If you need me I’ll be right there There are many who’d save your despair But not our Caroline she’s talking all the time but never making much If you waiver I’ll catch you I’ll do you the favour of holding you up Join the table there’s no use in dragging your cup She is the one who’s always on top of who she needs Loaded like a gun she’s always a shot above the knees She was a child with the bluest ocean eyes that I could find But beautiful took a fall and now I’m saving Caroline I awoke from the strangest dream Full of nothing but birds and bees and me and Caroline Flying through the sky upon a breeze And it’s funny how you have changed You say it’s me but honey I’m still sane I remember you were tall but if I let you go you’d slip and fall If you waiver I’ll catch you I’ll do you the favour of holding you up Join the table there’s no use in dragging your cup She is the one who’s always on top of who she needs Loaded like a gun she’s always a shot above the knees She was a child with the bluest ocean eyes that I could find But beautiful took a fall and now I’m saving Caroline
3.	Radio One 03:33	lyrics	buy track
Radio One you’re always having so much fun Radio One we’re so glad that you could come But all I get is fuzz and static Alone and panicked on the other side Radio One I was tuned in to myself But then I slipped and fell right through the shelf And now my dials are chipped and broken Alone and panicked and you leave me wired It’s you and me and her and him and them all fighting for airtime It’s two or three and you and me our friends all tuning in to Radio One Radio One I can hear you through the wall Soaking up my sun stupid little know it all But all I get is smoke and damage Alone and panicked on the other side It’s you and me and her and him and them all fighting for airtime It’s two or three and you and me our friends all tuning in to Radio One false move and we’ll be shot Caught between a hard place and a rock It’s code red, SOS flair Staring vague ahead at me You’re not listening It’s you and me and her and him and them all fighting for airtime It’s two or three and you and me our friends all tuning in to Radio One
4.	You Are The Sun 04:39	lyrics	buy track
You’ve been away so long I can’t believe that I’ve gone on without you All this talk of sun and driving on for lazy days has made you come alive It seems that you’d forgotten what it was to see us laugh Years of hiding in the dark has made us very sad, very sad You’ve been gone awhile but you always would come back Winter’s come and gone and it’s your light you are the sun There was a time when it was fine to sit in side and die slowly But lately I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dieing to get out of here Hollow trees lean over since the day you went away And Ali park’s not been the same there’s nowhere left to play, left to play You’ve been gone awhile but you always would come back You’ve been gone awhile but you always would come back Winter’s come and gone and it’s your light you are the sun
5.	Julia 05:01	lyrics	buy track
You’re on the up and down again I know you meet her secretly drinking with her friends You’ll find no opposition here Sign it with a kiss yours sincerely his We’ll go walking in the afternoon Flying by the time it’s getting dark Through the city and her lonely heart Julia come home I’ve waited way too long Save your hair for a day with me there Singing in the park for you She never was a girl for being on time But I’ll forgive the smallest thing when she looks so fine She can be funny on the phone And dancing was a style she developed all alone We’ll go walking in the afternoon Flying by the time it’s getting dark Through the city and her lonely heart Julia come home I’ve waited way too long Save your hair for a day with me there Singing in the park for you Life’s in little places tiny creatures crawl in vain Come and join my friends the birds all call your name Julia come home I’ve waited way too long Save your hair for a day with me there Singing in the park for you
6.	Spector's Dead 03:37	lyrics	buy track
What have you done? You’ve pulled a gun Way too many times I think you’ve lost your mind You tried it out with John And somebody else But he couldn’t see Lucky he was blind I guess what you’ve got makes you kind of mad All your devils deep inside But your crippled mind’s the best you’ve ever had And for what it’s done this time you’re dead You wrote something beautiful according to the sun Imagined something beautiful so where did you go wrong? Spence has run away Fleeing from the bay With a ticket for the south And a motorcycle mouth He spent some time inside But no matter how he tries He never seems to wake From the crazy mess he’s made I guess what you’ve got makes you kind of mad All your devils deep inside But your crippled mind’s the best you’ve ever had And for what it’s done this time you’re dead You wrote something beautiful according to the sun Imagined something beautiful so where did you go wrong? We all want something beautiful
7.	Ways Of Man 04:02	lyrics	buy track
I don’t want to feed your suspicion But I’ve seen this thing before He’s a guy with a wig of condition Beatle boots and Beach Boy hair We both know what you’re doing You remember who I am Don’t know who you think you’re fooling Know that you must have a plan And it’s funny she’s so blind to her always being on his mind It’s crazy she can’t see what the ways of man will always be To someone like her So young like her When he stares across your shoulder Which face does he use on you? A favourite record almost sold her Doesn’t that sound something new? We both know what you’re doing You remember who I am Don’t know who you think you’re fooling Know that you must have a plan And it’s funny she’s so blind to her always being on his mind It’s crazy she can’t see what the ways of man will always be To someone like her So young like her So come on why don’t you just prove me wrong? And it’s funny she’s so blind to her always being on his mind It’s crazy she can’t see what the ways of man will always be
8.	Elle 05:02	lyrics	buy track
Pulling back the blinds of an empty room Tearing through my mind is a terrible tune Elle’s packed her bags and she’ll be out of here It’s very clear tonight She left with all that belonged to her Swallowed all the pills in her plastic purse Twenty dollar bill and this dirty shirt Is all I own tonight I miss you more than anything And I want you back again I miss you more than anything I miss you like the summer back in Adelaide Elleanor when will I see you again? Running through the streets I’m alone again It’s all down to me and I can’t pretend Elle’s packed her bags and she’ll be out of here It’s very clear tonight I miss you more than anything And I want you back again I miss you more than anything I miss you like the summer back in Adelaide Elleanor when will I see you again? When I called they said you’d gone On a bus and she won’t be long But I thought I heard you laughing on the telephone I’m glad you find it so amusing when I’m all alone I miss you more than anything And I want you back again I miss you more than anything I miss you like the summer back in Adelaide Elleanor when will I see you again?
9.	Better Man 03:20	lyrics	buy track
I’m packing all my clothes It’s easy to unfold when things are put away I’ve hung them out to dry It hurt to say goodbye but I had to let them go I’m lost without your love your face and all your fuss ‘Cause now I’m on my own What if I told you you’re the best thing that happened to me? I’ve had my share of hearts and you’re the part that I want to keep I’m lost without your love Not understanding very much When you’re not there So I’m filling all my bins with rubbish to the brims For someone to take away I spent some money on a shirt The kind you use for work Or so I heard some people say If I pick up all my clothes and wash between my toes Maybe then you’ll be coming home It’s hard to breath with ease when everybody’s pushing you down This body is getting old and no soul’s gonna save me when I drown I’m lost without your love Not understanding very much When you’re not there I’ve gone and got a job It doesn’t pay a lot But you’ve got to start down I’m trying to see it right There’s food on the table tonight You’d better hurry if you’re coming ‘round I’ve burnt some bridges today But with yours I want to stay I want to stay I want to stay… So I’m ringing your house again I know it’s way past ten Your mother might be mad This time you’ll see a change Just meet me anyway And I’ll show you a better man
10.	Nothing's Changed 04:52	lyrics	buy track
She blew in like fire from the sun Smoke on her lips and a tale on her tongue She flew out like a baby bird Crying all the time but never heard Looks like nothing’s changed it’s all the same What will you do when you’re all together The only point of agree is the weather Rain falls down like a hangover shower Splashing and grinning and crushing the flower Looks like nothing’s changed it’s all the same Something’s got to change it’s getting late You’re always running too late The show’s almost done and over The scenery’s changed around you Would you even know? Tell me mother what have I done? Receiving your looks so full of wrong How can I fly when I’m trapped inside Scratching and digging and trying to hide From a hole in my roof and it’s leaking water Well at least that’s something to get out of bed for I’m building a house and it’s facing the east Where everyone’s welcome to live in peace Looks like nothing’s changed it’s all the same Something’s got to change it’s getting late You’re always running too late The show’s almost done and over The scenery’s changed around you Would you even know?

about

Usually, my practice is to listen to a CD over a couple of weeks before putting up a review, to get a feel for it and to make sure I initially don't overrate or underrate it. Then there's this disc, which I received three days ago and have listened to only a couple of times, and which I can say is easily the best new disc I've heard in many a month.

Adrian Whitehead hails from Melbourne, Australia, and he's on the incomparable Popboomerang label, home of many great power poppers. He's been mostly a sideman, with my only exposure to him being the track "Spector's Dead" (which appears here) on a Popboomerang comp from a few years ago. As good as that track is, nothing prepared me for how great this full-length is, in which Whitehead has shown his utter mastery of 60s and 70s-influenced pop forms that all of us in the power pop community enjoy. The Rolling Stone record guide once said that not liking the Beatles was as perverse as not liking the sun; the same could be said of this disc if you're a reader of this blog. While it draws its influences from the pop greats like the Beatles and Brian Wilson, it's also reminiscent of contemporary acts such as personal favorites like Derby and The Red Button as well as Jason Falkner, Michael Carpenter and Ken Sharp.

The bouncy and appropriately titled "Caitlin's 60's Pop Song" gets things going, and if your ears don't perk up within the first 30 seconds or so, you might be better off reading Pitchfork. The 6-minute "Saving Caroline" follows, and while my normal philosophy regarding songs is that 3-4 minutes is more than enough for a pop song (unless it's "Hey Jude"), it never wears out its welcome as it captures the late-period Beatles sensibility perfectly. "Radio One" is as catchy as it gets, and its breezy midtempo quality reminds me of Carpenter; "You Are The Sun" is piano ballad bliss that builds to a poptastic crescendo; and "Julia" may be even better than the Beatle track of the same name. Meanwhile, the aforementioned "Spector's Dead" doesn't have a wall of sound but provides enough sonic detours to keep things interesting, and "Ways of Man" has a bit of a Todd Rundgren-at-his-poppiest feel. And "Better Man" might be the coolest track on the disc, complete with an awesome honky tonk piano break in the middle.

Folks, step right up and meet the #1 disc of 2008.

Absolute Powerpop 10/6/08

“Bouncy hooky, enchanting melodies ride proudly atop simple arrangements, letting the pop shine clearly, without hesitation. Whitehead is a bright new talent and we should be talking about him for some years to come - Its a grown up sound that reels you in with its infectious melodies and delicious arrangements”

Not Lame: August 2008

Melbournian Whitehead shines a slightly summer hazy light on an album that just adores pop music. Whitehead’s abiding influence seems to be John Lennon without the cynicism but there’s also some pure CS&N vocal prettiness and plenty of the more ‘70’s guitar driven power pop of a more recent influence, Jason Faulkner. A double-bill gig with fellow Victorian pop fan Brian Estepa could be blissful.

Sydney Morning Herald: 12/9/08

Embracing the sound of the ’60’s is almost de riguer these days, what with artists such as Amy Winehouse and Duffy scoring huge hits with their ’60’s girl group sounds. But it’s not just women who are seeking to emulate the sounds of the ’60’s. Male artists such as James Hunter, The White Stripes, Black Keys and many other bands are striving to recapture the glory days of rock and roll by using vintage equipment and seeking to slavishly copy the sounds of their heroes. While revivalism can sometimes lead to nothing more than a dead end, sometimes it’s the means to an end in itself, sparking new creativity as often when someone goes back to square one they find the spark that energizes them into new discoveries.

Adrian Whitehead has decided to follow a similar path, but not the same one. Revving up his DeLorean to 88 miles per hour, Whitehead travels back in time to the mid ’60’s, when pop music wasn’t afraid to have catchy melodies and arrangements which were well-orchestrated and lush. Produced by Jak Housden, who knows his ’60’s rock, Whitehead has come up with an album as gorgeous as any 5th Dimension, sunshine-pop fest. Brilliantly written songs and perfectly catchy summer melodies fill the air wherever this is played and I am as giddy as a schoolgirl whenever I hear it. Great, great stuff for summer. Or anytime.

Rock And Roll Report 24/10/08

credits

released July 10, 2008

One Small Stepping Man

1. Caitlin’s 60’s Pop Song (3:45)
2. Saving Caroline (6:07)
3. Radio One (3:33)
4. You Are The Sun (4:40)
5. Julia (5:01)
6. Spector’s Dead (3:38)
7. Ways Of Man (4:02)
8. Elle (5:03)
9. Better Man (3:21)
10. Nothing’s Changed (4:53)

Adrian Whitehead - vocal, piano, acoustic guitar
Jak Housden - guitar
Paul Housden - bass
Dan Lucchesi - drums
Terepai Richmond – drums (3)

Music and lyrics by Adrian Whitehead except:
Ways Of Man by Adrian Whitehead and Paul Vallen
Nothing’s Changed by Adrian Whitehead and Laura Kelly

Recorded at Broadcast Studios, Adelaide 2006 & Honey Baby Sound, Sydney 2007
Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Jak Housden
Mastered by Tony "Jack The Bear" Mantz at Deluxe Mastering 2008

PB:028 Adrian Whitehead: One Small Stepping Man

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Adrian Whitehead Melbourne, Australia

adrianwhiteheadmusic.com

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