SONG-A-WEEK: E-LL-E ~ RICK BERLIN

ELLE is as remarkable and as beautiful and as mysterious a woman any of us could possibly imagine. She has always reminded me of the girl in Green Mansions, of deep woods, camouflaged by trees, sky, animals, fireflies. She exudes heart, giving love and peace in an unequivocal way. And yet she is strong. One cannot be false around her and get away with it. Nor can she ever be false herself. On those unusual times when one is lucky enough to have a decent conversation with her, in a bar, on the stairs, on the sidewalk it is most often profound but never self-important and one leaves her feeling the richer for it. She listens closely but always has that one thought to convey that reaches into your soul forever. She is the oldest of 12 kids. She changes the atmosphere in any room she enters. I consider myself fortunate to know her and to have this song appear as if from Elle herself. She discourages photographs. This one is of her ubiquitous bike.

This tune's off OLD STAG recorded in my livingroom (details below).

from OLD STAG, track released 14 September 2008
cello katie franich
v2 christina hornby
v1 meredith cooper
viola joe simcox
string arranger brendan cooney (Buried Beds, Dr. Dog)
produced by rick berlin
album recorded by joe stewart in rick's livingroom
(strings recorded in a classroom at bu)
mixed by david minehan at woolly mammoth sound
photos by rene rives
jacket design shaun wolf wortis
mastered by dave locke, jp masters
all songs by berlin
lobsterland music ascap
bar code from hell