"I had originally penned this tune for a group I briefly moonlighted with called The Goodnight Process in the spring of 2010. The band had been a local staple on the Portland, ME music scene playing pop/rock that was very influenced by groups like Rooney and Sondre Lerche, but when I joined the group we took a more straight ahead 70’s power pop approach, trying to draw heavily on groups like the Knack and Electric Light Orchestra.
“Don’t Steal My Heart Away” could have been a The Leftovers tune, but playing it with a whole set of musicians in the Goodnight Process really shaped how the song would eventually turn out. I dug this tune so much, and the audience reception to it was always great whenever we played it live, so after my stay in The Goodnight Process, this was one of the first tunes I wanted to record for my upcoming solo album of all original material.
This track features some excellent synth and back up vocal work from Kris “Fingers” Rodgers, and a killer lead guitar solo that channels The Shirelles “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, thanks to guitar monster Miek Rodrigue." - Kurt Baker, Portland Maine
"Don't Steal My Heart Away"
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"Don't Steal My Heart Away"
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"Don't Steal My Heart Away" + "Hanging On The Telephone" 45 Vinyl
Kurt Baker From The Leftovers Embarks On Solo Career
Debuts First Single, “Don’t Steal My Heart Away”
Los Angeles Portland Maine’s Kurt Baker from The Leftovers embarks on a new solo career with his first original material since the release of his group’s Crappy Records</a>/Oglio debut, “Eager To Please". Kurt’s new track “Don’t Steal My Heart Away” is available now at all digital retailers as well as special fans only versions at his Facebook and WordPress pages. This is the first single from his upcoming solo album of all new material, due later in 2011 on Crappy Records/Oglio Record, a Fontana/Universal distributed label.
“‘Don’t Steal My Heart Away’ could have been a The Leftovers tune, but playing it with a whole set of musicians in the Goodnight Process, a band I briefly moonlighted with in the Spring of 2010, really shaped how the song would eventually turn out. I dug this tune so much, and the audience reception to it was always great whenever we played it live, I knew this was one of the first tunes I wanted to record for my upcoming solo album.” – Kurt Baker, Portland Maine
The new single was produced by Jonathan Wyman (also produced The Leftovers first ever release) at Portland’s legendary The Halo studio and features Geoff Useless, Craig Sala, Kris “Fingers” Rodgers, Josh Malia and a killer lead guitar solo that channels The Shirelles “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, thanks to guitar monster Miek Rodrigue.
“Don’t Steal My Heart Away” is the follow up release to Kurt’s cover of The Nerves “Hanging On The Telephone” from his Got It Covered EP, a side venture in fun 80’s power pop influences. “Hanging On The Telephone” is available as a seven inch vinyl 45. Catch the new Kurt Baker Band at the Paul Collins presents Power-Pop-A-Licious Fest at Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park NY beginning on April 30, 2011.
LYRICS
"Don’t Steal My Heart Away"
It started out like nothing new, it’s still the same old story
I saw her dancing at the show, she looked my way and suddenly
I got the feeling, hits me every time
One more one night stand, where do I draw the line?
(Hey now baby) You’ve got A lot to Learn
(About some loving) But since it is your turn
(So don’t misuse it) Don’t steal my heart away
She said she’s like to know me more, but I know all about her
She’ll have her way til she gets bored, I’m through with this encounter
No more guessing and hide your disguise
You’ll be on to the next one before it’s goodbye
(Hey now baby) You’ve got A lot to Learn
(About some loving) But since it is your turn
(So don’t misuse it) Don’t steal my heart away
Tell me - tell me what your doing, I can’t stop from losing
It’s a shame they call it love
So i’m through, being your affection, if you just want attention
And i’m not giving it up
No more guessing and hide your disguise
You’ll be on to the next one before it’s goodbye
(Hey now baby) You’ve got A lot to Learn
(About some loving) But since it is your turn
(So take it easy) Don’t steal my heart away
1. Let Me Out
The Knack are the quintessential Power Pop band, everything down to the black skinny ties and Beatle boots. "Get the Knack" belongs in every music fans record collection, and was one of the first Power Pop records I ever bought. "Let Me Out" is a burst of pure adrenaline and I couldn't think of a better track to start of the album. My performance and version reminds me of the work that I did on the Leftovers album "On the Move", which I'm really psyched about. On a funny side note, rumor has it that the Knacks singer/songwriter Doug Fieger wrote songs exclusively from the perspective of his "Schlong", which makes perfect sense if you go back and read the lyrics to songs like "My Sharona" and "Let Me Out". Doug Fieger died shortly before we recorded our version, so this is dedicated to him.
2. Hanging On The Telephone
Many people know this song as recorded by the beautiful Debbie Harry and Blondie, but in fact the original was written by Jack Lee, who played in the legendary LA punk/pop group The Nerves. Along with Lee, the other members included Paul Collins and Peter Case. Both members would go on to front bands like The (Paul Collins) Beat and The Plimsouls.. both staples in late 70's Power Pop. My version stays pretty true to the original, but it also reminds me of a great Swedish rock n' roll band called the Hellacopters. I saw them once in Boston and it totally blew my mind.. actually, they were probably the greatest band i've ever seen live. Speaking of Boston, Kay Hanley from the legendary Boston group Letters to Cleo, sang back ups on this! She is awesome! The intro sound clip is taken from Linus's voice mail on his phone. He's got a fancy phone... my phone doesn't even have a voicemail option, it's that old!
3. Pump It Up
When Linus and I got together to discuss "Got It Covered", one of the songs that we really wanted to model some of our work on was a track called "Bandages" by Hot Hot Heat. I remember always hearing that song in High School and thinking how ridiculously catchy it was, yet wild and spastic sounding. Elvis Costello is the king of making music that can be described at times as "Organized Chaos", so on this track we really tried to channel something along the lines of musical spontaneous combustion. Our "Pump It Up" comes off as a wild party anthem, and I love wild parties... esp. if there is beer and snacks involved!
4. I've Done Everything For You
Rick Springfield is the man. You cannot deny his awesomeness. When The Leftovers were working on our record "Eager to Please", Rick had just released a new single called "Victoria's Secret". We all had a laugh about it, but Linus and I quickly switched the subject to how much we love Springfield's "Working Class Dog" album. It's pure 80's pop at it's best. During the recording of this song we found out that he was actually playing the entire "Working Class Dog" album in its entirety in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ( home to Beer & Cheese, two favorites of Linus and myself). We almost cancelled the session and boarded the plane but then Kay Hanely stopped by to record some killer back ups and we ended up just going to Mel's diner in Hollywood were we drank many Budweisers and got in fights with dorky LA douche bags who claim Taylor Swift doesn't write her own songs.. (She does by the way, and is kinda hot).
5. Is She Really Going Out With Him?
In a way, this song is kind of autobiographical. I spend a lot of time in coffee shops in my home town of Portland, Maine, usually drinking coffee and looking out the window and seeing all these beautiful girls walking with a bunch of meat head college guys. This might happen everywhere. "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" is a hopeless romantics lament and I've always loved the way that Joe Jackson comes off as your "average guy" songwriter. I've always felt a connection to his lyrics, and at the same time loved his infectious melodies. This was the first song we recorded during the session, it just came naturally!
6. Cruel To Be Kind
I'm a VH1 classics junkie. I really don't like cable TV very much. I don't even have cable were I live, but whenever I get a chance to eat dinner at my parents house, you can bet your fortunes that I'll be sitting on the couch watching Metal Mania or Pop Up Video rather than eating a pot roast. I've always seen Nick Lowe's video for "Cruel To Be Kind" on VH1. It's always stuck with me, and the chorus is just so infectious. This might be one of my favorite songs on the album. Ironically, Kay Hanley (my producer Linus of Hollywood has a band with Kay called Palmdale), who sang back ups on this record also did a stellar version of "Cruel" for the hit teen movie "10 Things I Hate About You" with Letters to Cleo. This one is for Heath.
7. Turning Japanese
The Vapors are total 1 hit wonders, and there is nothing wrong with that! Take a tune like "Turning Japanese", a new wave classic that transcends generations. You can't help but feel good when you hear this song. Growing up I always would buy old Beatles or Beach Boys albums, but the first "New Wave" record I ever bought was "New Clear Days" by the Vapors, which features "Turning Japanese". It was probably the best 75 cents I've ever spent (besides that Milky Way I just purchased at the gas station). This was the last song we recorded during the "Got It Covered" sessions, and totally represents how much fun we had making this album.
THE LEFTOVERS’ KURT BAKER HAS GOT IT COVERED WITH SOLO DEBUT FOR OGLIO RECORDS
FIRST SINGLE IS HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE
Los Angeles, CA - (August 1, 2010) Kurt Baker from The Leftovers embarks on a solo career with his new release, Got It Covered, for Oglio Records, a Fontana/Universal distributed label. Got It Covered was produced by Los Angeles based pop genius Linus of Hollywood and features guest appearances from Kay Hanley of Palmdale and Adam Marcello. For his debut release, Kurt takes on some of his favorite Power Pop songs of the 70’s and 80’s covering tracks from Blondie, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, The Knack, Nick Lowe, Rick Springfield, and The Vapors.
The first single from the Got It Covered EP is “Hanging On The Telephone”, originally by The Nerves and later covered by Blondie. The video was directed by Reginald Groff for Groff DRTV Productions and edited by Richard Pelletier.
Kurt Baker is a singer, songwriter and rock n’ roll performer from Portland, Maine, who is a founding member of the notable pop/punk outfit The Leftovers. They formed in 2002, have toured all over North America and Europe, and released many acclaimed records including Eager To Please for Crappy Records/Oglio which featured the single “Telephone Operator”. Kurt’s signature unique blend of ultra catchy Beach Boys and Beatles styled melodies under a relentless wall of high energy guitars and pounding rhythms have earned him the praise of Lookout Records’ Larry Livermore, Screeching Weasel’s Ben Weasel and Bowling For Soup’s Jaret Reddick. Kurt’s solo tour will kick off in Portland and will return to Spain in the fall of 2010.
“There are a couple of things I pride myself in, buy first is my ability to spot raw talent. The first time I met the Leftovers - goofy teens from Maine who drove ten hours just to play a free party in Queens - I knew they were the real thing. Kurt Baker's got an ear for pop melody that only comes along a few times in a generation, and a true love for the minutiae and history of rock 'n' roll. I can't wait to hear what he comes up with next.” - Jim Testa, Jersey Beat
"Hanging On The Telephone"
Got It Covered commercial with Jaret Reddick
Got It Covered CD Release Party at Space
Got It Covered CD Release Party Promo
Got It Covered Video Blog #1
Watch the entire Video Blog series > youtube.com/kurtbakermusic GOT IT COVERED LYRICS Let Me Out
Let me out
Come and get me out
Cause I've been stuck in for too long
Let me out out
Come get me out baby maybe be where I belong
The time is right for stepping out in the light
My cup is full and I'll be pulling the wool tonight
Let me out
Come get me out you know that She don't understand
Let me out out
Come get me out baby I'm just living for the band
It's getting tighter and I'm feeling the bite
But I don't care because I'm getting my share tonight
Tonight tonight tonight
Let me out
Come get me out I'm just a prisoner of your love
Let me out out
Come get me out baby i will never have enough
I guess I'm getting while the getting is right
She may be faking
But I'm taking my chance tonight
Hanging On The Telephone
I'm in the phone booth, it's the one across the hall
If you don't answer, I'll just ring it off the wall
I know he's there, but I just had to call
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
I heard your mother now she's going out the door
Did she go to work or just go to the store
All those things she said, I told you to ignore
Oh why can't we talk again
Oh why can't we talk again
Oh why can't we talk again
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
It's good to hear your voice, you know it's been so long
If I don't get your call then everything goes wrong
I want to tell you something you've known all along
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
I had to interrupt and stop this conversation
Your voice across the line gives me a strange sensation
I'd like to talk when I can show you my affection
Oh I can't control myself
Oh I can't control myself
Oh I can't control myself
Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
Hang up and run to me
Whoah, hang up and run to me
Whoah, hang up and run to me
Whoah, hang up and run to me
Whoah oh oh oh run to me
Pump It Up
I've been on tenterhooks
ending in dirty looks,
listening to the Muzak,
thinking 'bout this 'n' that
She said that's that
I don't wanna chitter-chat
Turn it down a little bit
or turn it down flat
Pump it up when you don't really need it
Pump it up until you can feel it
Down in the pleasure center
hell bent or heaven sent
listen to the propaganda
listen to the latest slander
There's nothing underhand
that she wouldn't understand
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don't really need it
She's been a bad girl
She's like a chemical
Though you try to stop it
she's like a narcotic
You wanna torture her
You wanna talk to her
All the things you bought for her
putting up your temperature
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don't really need it
Out in the fashion show
down in the bargain bin
you put your passion out
under the pressure pin
Fall into submission
hit-and-run transmission
No use wishing now for any other sin
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don't really need it
I’ve Done Everything For You
This one way love affair ain't fair, it ain't fair to me
It's all give and take and you just take
I can't take it you see
Well, I'm givin' up on love this time
Me and my friends, we'll do just fine
I've done everything for you
You've done nothing for me
I've done everything for you
You've done nothing for me
You said someday I'd have a whole lotta money,
I'd be a millionaire
But when that didn't happen over night
I found out how much you really cared
Well, all you want is a whole lotta money
All the rest is just jivin' honey
I've done everything for you
You've done nothing for me
I've done everything for you
You've done nothing for me
When I first met you, you didn't know how to love a man
All those things about makin' love you didn't understand
Now you know about everything
I'm turning you in for memories - you see
I've done everything for you
You've done nothing for me
I've done everything for you
You've done nothing for me
I've done everything for you
You've done nothing for me
I've done everything for you
You've done nothing for me
Well, I'm going out on the town tonight
And get just as wild as I can be
I'm gonna find out what it's like to be lose, high and free
Well, I don't care what that the people say
I'm changin' my mind, I'm changin' to stay
I've done everything for you
You've done nothing for me
I've done everything for you
You've done nothing for me
You've done nothing for me
You've done nothing...
You've done nothing...
You've done nothing for me
Is She Really Going Out With Him
Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street
From my window I'm staring while my coffee grows cold
Look over there! (Where?)
There's a lady that I used to know
She's married now, or engaged, or something, so I am told
Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
'Cause if my eyes don't deceive me,
There's something going wrong around here
Tonight's the night when I go to all the parties down my street.
I wash my hair and I kid myself I look real smooth
Look over there! (Where?)
Here comes Jeanie with her new boyfriend
They say that looks don't count for much
If so, there goes your proof
Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
'Cause if my eyes don't deceive me,
There's something going wrong around here
But if looks could kill
There's a man there who's more down as dead.
Cause I've had my fill
Listen you, take your hands off her head
I get so mean around this scene
Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
'Cause if my eyes don't deceive me
There's something going wrong around here
Cruel To Be Kind
Oh, I can't take another heartache
Though you say oh my friend, I'm at my wit's end
You say your love is bonafide, but that don't coincide
With the things that you do and when I ask you to be nice
You say you've got to be...
Cruel to be kind in the right measure
Cruel to be kind it's a very good sign
Cruel to be kind means that I love you
Baby, got to be cruel, you got to be cruel to be kind
Well I do my best to understand dear
But you still mystify and I want to know why
I pick myself up off the ground to have you knock me back down
Again and again and when I ask you to explain
You say, you've got to be...
Cruel to be kind in the right measure
Cruel to be kind it's a very good sign
Cruel to be kind means that I love you
Baby, got to be cruel, you got to be cruel to be kind
Well I do my best to understand dear
But you still mystify and I want to know why
I pick myself up off the ground to have you knock me back down
Again and again and when I ask you to explain
You say, you've got to be...
Turning Japanese
I've got your picture, of me and you
You wrote "I love you", I wrote "me too"
I sit there staring and there's nothing else to do
Oh it's in color, your hair is brown
Your eyes are hazel, and soft as clouds
I like to kiss you when there's no one else around
I've got your picture, I've got your picture
I'd like a million of you all to myself
I want a doctor to take your picture
So I can look at you from inside as well
You've got me turning oh I'm turning yeah I'm turning
now I'm turning that
I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
I've got your picture, I've got your picture
I'd like a million of you all to myself
I want a doctor to take your picture
So I can look at you from inside as well
You've got me turning yeah I'm turning
oh I'm turning ah I'm turning yeah
I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women
No fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's dark
Everyone around me is a total stranger
Everyone avoids me like a Cyclone Ranger
Everyone
That's why I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
(think so think so think so)
Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so
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