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once stood a band: the studio sessions

by AVALON USA

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1.
RUN IN THE RAIN words & music BY JOEL PIRARD I RESPECT WHAT USED TO BE AND HOPE TO GOD THAT WE WILL SEE RETURN TO LIFE THAT WAS YIELDED UPON THIS GLORIOUS EARTH I USED TO HOPE FOR LIFE ANEW IN LANDS THAT HAD BEEN SO ABUSED NOW I HOPE THAT WE WILL SEE THE SUNRISE AND REBIRTH IT USED TO BE YOU'D SEE THE STARS AT NIGHT YOU'D SEE THE WORLDS AFAR BUT NOW YOU CAN'T LOOK TO THE SKY THERE'S NOTHING THERE TO SEE THE CLOUDS THAT MAKE UP OUR SKIES ARE YOURS AND MINE I WONDER WHY NO ONE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOW IT MAKES US CRY TO RUN TO RUN IN THE RAIN TO RUN TO RUN IN THE RAIN THE TIME HAS COME TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALL OUR FEARS WILL REALIZE THE TRUTH BE KNOWN WE MUST STOP PLAYING WITH OUR LIVES TO HELL WITH PROFITS WE MUST FIGHT IF NOT FOR OUR SAKES FOR THE RIGHT OF OUR CHILDREN'S DREAMS, TO ONE DAY RUN OUT IN THE RAIN TO RUN TO RUN IN THE RAIN TO RUN TO RUN IN THE RAIN
2.
skyhunter 05:19
Skyhunter words & music: Jeff Kalmar A hunter in the fated heaven Howls the Hunters wisdom to the seven sister stars. A dawning fantasy, reunion with the parent sky A child awakens wonder in his eyes The shadow of the Hunter of the skies Timeless cloud-borne wanderer Returning to the monarch's canyon Up the towered peaks A still-life dwelling, stones that roared Before the rivers whisper Etched them into monuments that rise No higher than the Hunter of the skies And the truth shines so freely in the life Running molten down the walls Of the canyons to the rising sun The Silent One, Rejoicing in the splendor of his flight A shadow in the face of morning frames the Hunters silhouette With cold corona fire In hail of prominence, the Hunter in the fated heaven Howls the Hunters wisdom as he flies T he canyon echoes with his sunburst cries The shadow of the Hunter of the skies We are such fragile things Fluttering on silk-spun wings But don't you know we live for just a day Its such a tragic thing, the fledgling dying on the wing Is stricken as the Hunter speeds away And don't you know we live for just a day
3.
the abuser 02:33
The Abuser Words: Bruce Henninger, Music Joel Pirard PICTURE SOMETHING WONDERFUL A BEACON IN THE NIGHT SHINING PROUD AND WHOLESOME LIKE A DIAMOND IN THE LIGHT PICTURE SOMETHING POWERFUL A LIGHT WITHIN THE DARK A TOOL TO SHAPE THE WORLD A WAY TO LEAVE YOUR MARK WATCH THE WORDS RISING HIGH ABOVE THE NORM UNTOUCHED BY GUTTER-TONGUE A PILLAR NO HAND CAN TEAR DOWN IT’S SONG FOREVER SUNG IT CAN WEAVE A MAGIC WEB EXCITE YOU TO THE CORE OVERWHELM WITH IT’S POTENTIAL TO OPEN ANY DOOR THEN COMES THE ABUSER TURNING TRUTH TO TRIVIA TURNING GOLD TO LEAD WELCOME THE ABUSER WITH THE WORDS THAT ARE SAID DRAWN THE MAGIC IN THE WONDER WITH THE WORDS THAT ARE SAID CONVERSATION DISSERTATION ELUCIDATION EXPLANATION EXPOSITION EXPLORATION INFORMATION CONFIRMATION POSTULATION ELABORATION VERIFICATION EXCLAMATION TOO MANY WORDS FOR THEIR OWN GOOD
4.
gulag 10:35
Gulag Cast adrift from his home and land Comes the writer words in hand No one knows if he’ll stay or go He’s just going where the current flows He was guilty of no lies He just wrote the tale of his eyes What he saw was what was shown And for this they made him leave his home Red flag blood flows no one on their side allowed to know No truth may show, in the echoes of silence, he knows Now he comes to our shores With his tale of death and war Some desire not to hear what he says Because it does not cheer them But the words he says are true Do your best they still haunt you No amount of mirth will dull The truth that’s shown to you Red flag blood flows no one on their side allowed to know No truth may show, in the echoes of silence, he knows Now the time has come to open up your eyes and see Now the time has come to hear the words Hear the words he tells you Listen to what he tells you He won’t lead you astray Red flag blood flows no one on their side allowed to know No truth may show, in the echoes of silence, he knows
5.
FLIGHT OF FANTASY words & music: Joel Pirard AT THE INSTANT OF THE OVERTURE, DO YOU BELEIVE? ALL THE STORIES AND THEIR CHARACTERS, THEIR MIGHT DECIEVES IN A MOMENT OF WEAKENED WILL, IS EVIL BORN? IS THE PLOT LINE TRUE AND STILL, OR IS IT DEFORMED? IS THE ANSWER WHAT WE SEEK? OR IS IT WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR? NOTHING IS THE SAME AS IT SEEMED NOT SO VERY LONG AGO WILL THE TALE BE TOLD OR IS IT LOST? CAN WE BE SAVED? ALL OUR THOUGHTS MUST BEAR THE PILGRIM'S COST NO EARLY GRAVE AS THE TALE UNFOLDS IN ECSTACY, WILL A POEM ARISE? THE FLIGHT OF FANTASY, CAN WE SURVIVE? YOU CAN FIND ME IN BETWEEN, WHAT IS FLESH AND FANTASY ALL THE ECHOES ARE IN SAGAS THAT HAVE ALL BEEN SEEN BEFORE
6.
Once Stood a Man lyrics by Bruce Henninger, Music main theme by John Curtin, additional music by Joel Pirard, Dan Bonadeo, Jeff Kalmar & Bruce Henninger Once stood a man, on the doorway of time dreams of a future where our destinies would shine he showed us a Utopia where we would rest at last and our achievements would eclipse the errors of the past (chorus) Where will be humanity a hundred years from now? reaching for the heavens, or one beneath the plow? Will people place their futile faith in leaders who are blind? Will Man put an end to war, or will war put an end to mankind? Saw his world around him, and he knew that it must change Fancied that he knew the way society would rearrange A dissolution of the old to make way for the new A better bread of humankind, and all that they could do (chorus) Where will be humanity, a million years from now? spinning with the Gods, or still asking ourselves how? Wise men ask which will it be? Everything or nought? Will we ever be free of the bands which we're not? ---------------------------------------------- interlude ------------------------------------------------ Who can know the unseen currents,in the river of time The ebb and flow of human tides leave the prophets far behind There is no great final solution, to raise ourselves from our confusion pinnacle is just illusion dream us all of some grand conclusion ----------------------------------------------- But it isn't all so easy, this dream of absolutes the notion that we may someday, attain the highest truth For we are merely human, and sometimes bound to fail Leave perfection to the Gods, while we work out our travails! ------------------------------------------------- So let us keep on trying, to be the best that we can be The restlessness inside us all, will never give us peace but this struggle is what we crave, the need to be unsure humanity will always change, in that humanity endures!
7.
AFTER THE CALL words & music Joel Pirard RUNNING FLYING IN THE SEASONS OF THE SUN CALLING OUT FOR JUST THE SONG FEELING BEING IN THE MOMENT FOR TO CRY IN A MYSTIC LULLABY WE ARE THE ONES WHO HEAR THE CALL WE SING THE SONGS AFTER THE FALL OF THE NIGHT CALLING FALLING LIKE A SNOWFLAKE IN THE SKY OR A SOARING BIRD OF FLIGHT SEEING REVEALING THE THOUGHTS FLOW IN OUR MINDS AND THE THOUGHTS OF OUR KIND, SAY FEELING ALIVE OPEN YOUR EYES WE SING THE SONG MAKING US STRONG FOR OUR LIVES
8.
All Words Copyright 1991 Bruce Henninger, Main Musical themes, Joel Pirard & Jeff Kalmar & John Curtin Part 1 SWAMPFIRE Copyright 1991 Joel Pirard Wake up in a dreamland, a bustling swampland mall A cozy place that feels like home and yet there’s something wrong A place of our imaginings, that beckons us inside To share in life’s simplicity , and leave reality Outside So many friendly creatures, surrounding me right now I know I don’t belong here but they will not let me out So I will play the innocent and take on a disguise And take my place in line to fool The friendly watchful eyes But my premature discovery raises rancor By even the most gentle, reason fled No time to waste in final desperation Make an escape and the flying weights Hit the LIZARD on the head Where does the dreamer end Where does the dream begin? Where does the substance fade and the Myth come rushing in? We are all just aspects of the things that we create Profane and sacred, good and evil In the depths of love and hate. Pursued to the waters edge, I draw my gun They stop and gasp for such a thing is never done I tell them that I meant no harm to any one, and that they must let me leave They stand and watch helpless as I Step into the boat Cast of from their peaceful shore A wayward soul afloat Far from shore in another song Where my dreamland starts to fade The creatures watch me vanish, then Turn and walk away… BRIEF RETURN main musical themes copyright 1991 by John Curtin When the Dreamer ends will he remember, His return to this land, where things got out of hand Will he remember, the mistake that was made And the price that he paid, when the Dreamer ends… The rope was placed around my neck through ignorance and fear In my heart I find no room for malice or resentment They do what they feel they must They cannot know their reasons. Perhaps its best to end it here, to put the strife to rest Just before the final fall A hand of understanding Reaches up to where I stand A gesture of compassion But I worry what will come Once the final panel fades Death no longer a stranger here How will the magic change? When the Dreamer ends will he remember, The tree upon the hill, the thoughts that made them kill Will he remember the evil that was done Witnessed by the setting sun When the dreamer ends He will remember. JUGGERNAUT Copyright 1991 main musical themes by Jeff Kalmar & Joel Pirard I remember He has been here before now, and I am here again A dark-masked man here by this fool’s façade Call me OLD MAN JUGGS but I am really so much more An innocence destroyer well you f***ed with the wrong mother A LECTER Incognito, a maven of depravity I will strike into your hearts and Make you know MORTALITY Cruel ghoul, murder maker Soulless machine, life debaser You who left your justice swinging at the end of a hangman’s rope The first to die will be a sign This memory that stains your lives The tree there on your bloody hill will know a different blood tonight The DEACON and the BLIND MAN Each will suffer like the other This JUGGERNAUT will war tonight! The SPINY friend will feel the spines SHOPKEEPER with bloody eyes Three SMALL BROTHERS nailed Upon the wood The MADAME and THE BITCH Each will suffer like the other This JUGGERNAUT will kill tonight! Skin the LIZARD Stuff the OWL Let the dog have the bones Crack the shell and slice the tender flesh! Don’t think that you can stop me The way you did before Slap me and I’ll disappear Behind my old familiar face Terror in the shadow Your cowards realization You have met the ENEMY And he is me! HE IS ME! PLAYING POSSUM Copyright 1991 main musical themes by Joel Pirard Who am I? What did I dream? The JUGGERNAUT Within me has stretched its legs enough Playing Possum, Playing Mind Games Its really harmless stuff Who am I? What was my dream? This fancy of another Now given its release It belongs to all of us To believe in as we please! Where does the Dreamer stop And the Creation come to life? Where are all the choices made between the dark sides and the light? The facets of our inner selves. what is right and what is wrong Hold the answers to the questions That are asked within our song If this Dreamer has offended Think on this and all is mended You can be the Dreamer too And Dream the Dream that’s right for you And Dream the Dream that’s right for you And Dream the Dream that’s right for you AND DREAM THE DREAM THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU!
9.

about

AVALON USA
JEFF KALMAR, GUITARS TRACKS 1-4 , 7, 8, BASS TRACK 5, 7, 8, BACKING VOCALS TRACK 2
JOHN CURTIN, BASS TRACKS 1-4, 6, 7, GUITARS TRACK 5, 6
BRUCE HENNINGER, DRUMS
JOEL PIRARD, ALL KEYBOARDS, BACKING VOCALS TRACK 4
DAN FRANK, LEAD AND BACKING VOCALS

Captured here are 5 songs originally recorded for MCA Records, along with the rest that came after, and a bonus track (Exploring the Deep) featuring John on bass, all tracks, except former Orion drummer Roger Schnur.
When the MCA submission fell through the band decided to disband, but years later they decided to record the balance of songs written that were not recorded earlier, and compile for an independent release. This is the result.

credits

released April 17, 2016

REVIEWS:
"The music and songs all sound very good. I you like bands like KANSAS, STYX and HYBRID ICE, this is stuff worth giving a listen." The CDR starts with a song called FLIGHT OF FANTASY. This is an beautiful uptempo pomprocker like RUSH ( Moving Pictures) and the first HYBRID ICE. Many keys is this song. AFTER THE CALL continues and contains, again, many pompy keys, very HYBRID ICE and STYX - like. This song has a rather mellow chorus (bit like JUGGERNAUT on their first lp), but ends with a very nice and smooth guitar solo. Next up, after a key-guitar duelling intro, SKYHUNTER goes into a slight progressive early 80's KANSAS-type song, with a great pompous synth solo at the end.

The shortest track on the cdr is called RUN IN THE RAIN and this song starts like the previous ended, yes indeed, with keys all over, and they'll be very present through the entire song. Than we come to a 10 minute epic song called GULAG. This song is very KANSAS related ( except for the violin), has as long instrumental intro and middle part. It reminds me a lot to KANSAS' Magnum Opus epic from the Leftoverture album. Again (yes, I know I repeat myself), many keys, guitars ( no heavy ones though) and we even can hear some madoline. Very good song.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Willy van Buel)

"cool"
by MC LOGO 65
Rating: 10

Excellent band. Great songs. Great writing.
Much love from the PStarR family circle!!!
A '10'.

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AVALON USA New Windsor, New York

AVALON USA
started in 1989, when Jeff Kalmar and Joel Pirard agreed to start a new band together."We scouted around searching for musicians of the caliber that had been the strength of our other band" Jeff stated. Bruce Henninger, was recruited , John Curtin had been sitting in from time to time and came aboard as bassist/lead guitarist, soon followed by Dan Bonadeo. Thus the birth of the band. ... more

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