Let it Rain (demo 1999)

Boogie-woogie is alive and well

Faux Jean is a singer-songwriter from Duluth, Minn. Each week he adds a new song to an evolving record series over on Bandcamp and writes about it here. “From the Mixed Up Files of Mr. Matthew T. Schindler” is somewhere between a fake newsletter and a faux press release for the eponymous wabi-sabi private label album series that continues to evolve over there. Thanks for checking it out.

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Hola faux amigos!

The other day I did something that I’d never done in my adult life.

I voluntarily listened to an album by the Grateful Dead.

It was good.

I had some feelings.

I did this because I’d been listening to Bob Dylan’s audiobook The Philosphy of Modern Song, and he raved up the song Truckin’ by the Dead, as well as their live performances.¹

So I listened to the whole album.

I might do it again at some point.

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Today’s song addition to the “Mixed Up Files” record falls into the boogie-woogie idiom that “Truckin’” espoused all those years ago. (Listen in the player below.)

The song is called “Let it Rain.” It’s a little messy, but I think I used a click track at least, so the tempo doesn’t go all over yonder.²

At 42 seconds, you can hear my Spring Collection bandmate/brother-in-law Pav yell “HEY!” as he had entered the rehearsal space and tried to scare me, since I was so focussed on the recording process.

I worked on a lot of songs in August of 1999! Who-oo!

Flip side of the envelope, which had been printed for mailing out the AQUARIUS record by the Spring Collection.

So, 24 years ago this month, I made this little idea, and waited all this time to share it with you now.

That’s show business, my friends!

I stepped out on Maxell for a second, thinking this brand might be better.

Here’s where the sausage gets made nowadays.

Oh, before I go, I did send the Mixed Up File from two weeks ago out to radio and it will be on all the streaming services as of September 4, so click on the image below to pre-save it on Spotify if that’s your thing. Also, please request it on your favorite radio station!

I remain your humble servant,

OX&C,

Faux Jean

Here are the lyrics:

Well I drank myself drunk I was out all night
and I didn't get to sleep till a quarter to five
Well I'm lyin' in bed and the phone it rings I said
Let it ring let it ring let it ring let it ring oh yeah
Let it ring let it ring let it ring let it ring
Let it ring let it ring let it ring
let it go
Whoooop!

Well I thought I'd smoke a cigarette,
And here comes her godamned cat,
Let me smoke, babe, get away from me, I said
Get away get away get away get away oh yeah
Get away get away get away get away
Get away get away get away
Get away get away get away get away
Get away get away get away
Get it on
Whoooop!

Well there I am I'm lyin' in bed
And I ain't seen the sun since a quarter a ten
And it started to rain and it ain't a waste I said
Didn't mind it all when the clouds rolled in
Let it rain let it rain Let it rain let it rain, uh-huh
Let it rain let it rain Let it rain let it rain
Let it rain let it rain Let it rain let it rain all day
Let it rain!
Whoooop!

1. Highly recommend having Uncle Bob read you to bed each night, dozing to his musings on great music.

2. Each track has at least 3 parts comped down to it—so track 3 has drums, bass and some vocals, for instance.