you're the only one now, so am i
rick cuevas | 4 & 20
a message from rick
I am a long-time San Francisco Bay Area singer, songwriter, musician, & recording artist. I was raised by parents who were musical. They sang and exposed me to mostly opera and classical music, but they also encouraged my interest in strong well-crafted melodic popular music like Beatles music. I love playing music, whether it's on guitar, bass, piano, or drums. I hope that my joy for music comes through in my songs and their production.
This particular album of entirely original material is a crossroads work of sorts. Halfway through this project (10 May 2007), my dear musical father, Tony Cuevas, passed away peacefully at the age of 80. A few days after, I was inspired to write the song "Sing To The World" in honor of him, and in honor of music in general. My father was such a great operatic baritone, with a very powerful voice, and also sang in vocal quartets in the late 40's, early 50's in San Francisco. If I can't have his physical being here with me, I can at least continue to sing and do music in his honor. I was always impressed by his musicality, and he was encouraging of mine.
Another aspect of this album is the fact that it is 12-string-centric. I previously released an album entitled "Ricky-12" which is available at CDBaby.com. The Ricky-12 contains an assortment of my solo songs from past albums (1991-1996) which featured my 360-12V64 Rickenbacker 12-string. A few fans mentioned that I should do more 12-string songs. So I did. Thanks for the suggestions. This album features the use of both the Rickenbacker 12-string, and a recently purchased Yamaha acoustic cutaway 12-string. Each song has at least one of those guitars on it, and some have the guitar quiet in the mix, but it's there.
As a side note, the song "Hummingbird, Hummingbird" is based on a true story told by my sister Donna Ames. Donna's female friend's 32 year old daughter passed away suddenly in September of 2001 (4 days after 9/11) from an asthma attack. On the day of her passing, an orange hummingbird came down and hovered in front of the grieving parents, flying up to each of their faces and then flying away. They felt as if it was a sign from their daughter's spirit, to say she was OK. The story impressed me enough for me to write this memorial song, even though I never knew the girl. I hope you enjoy it.
In fact, I hope you enjoy the entire album. It is a short album, but if you look at the very early Beatles albums, they were quite short as well! I recorded the songs in the order that you see here, as they came to me. Each song was written and recorded fairly quickly; within a few hours. When I came to song #8 "Nothing is Something, Too", I felt like that was a good song to end with; a good closer song. So I stopped right there.
songs from i can believe:
4 & 20, See It Through, Save It, Wickle Chair, Sing To The World, Clear, Hummingbird Hummingbird, Nothing Is Something Too.
shout outs:
"Thanks Rick for introducing me to your great music!! I loved it along with my six year old; his comment, "Mom, this is groovy; a groove I like!" Keep making music!!
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"I really loved Rick's 4 & 20 and will have to get the rest of his music as well. I heard a bit of the Byrds, the Beatles, and a lot of a very talented artist: Rick!! I am just amazed that I know someone who can write, sing, and play so movingly."
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"I received the CD yesterday, and set down to listen with full attention. I played the CD through three times last night and could not find the words to respond to Rick's honest and straight-ahead songs. Two more plays today and I think it has hit me. These graceful songs are full of Rick's passion and integrity. Full -- like to the brim -- nothing's missing and nothing more could fit. This collection sure reached me and I am thrilled. Thank you, Rick."
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"Ok....I'm a big fan of Richard James.....but....this job is absolutely fantastic. I adore it....it's more "mature" and complex than his past albums, it needs to be listened with attention and concentration to be appreciated deeply."
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"In this one-man release, Rick Cuevas steps outside Zru Vogue and creates a full and compelling nouveau-retro sound that envelopes and invites. The twang and lilt of his 12-string electrifies your senses while the rich, cool tones of his voice bring you along with him on the ride. My particular favorites are 4 & 20, Wickle Chair (ticklingly Byrds-esque), and Nothing is Something too. But then, Save it is growlingly delicious… Well, the whole album is a keeper. Do yourself a favor and buy 4 & 20, and listen, listen, listen."
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"Very impressive in all respects, extremely well done muh man. My fave was Wickle Chair although they all wuz great. Hummingbird, Hummingbird was very moving and beautiful. I heard nice traces of Hugh Cornwell here and there, some Bowie (nice vox) and very groovy John Entwistle bass vibe but most of all I heard Lord Reechard Cuevas and it was cool, very cool."
i can believe