Roller Coaster

by Alexander & the Greats

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1.
Roller Coaster 03:19
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It’s been a long time coming Now we’re rocking and we’re rolling and we’re skanking and we’re strolling now You better stand up for this news It’s not a hard-knock life We’ve only got blue skies, we’re really in the money now I’m putting on my dancing shoes What’s the point in rocking if the songs all suck? What’s the point in dancing if the band ain’t fun? What’s the point in playing if the crowd don’t come? What’s the point in stopping when the night’s still young? We’re gonna rock you like a roller coaster Like an explosion, like a supernova We’re gonna rock you like a roller coaster, yeah Now that we’ve started rocking There won’t be no stopping ‘til the cops come shut us down The pressure’s raising up the roof. Here’s a message to you Rudy, this one’s for you Let the pressure drop a drop on you. Calling all the rude girls the Greats are coming Calling all the rude boys the Greats are coming Calling all the whole world the Greats are coming The Greats are coming, the Greats are coming
2.
Nobody Said Your Name 02:58
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Why are you crying? Is it all too much? I’m so sick of trying You’re so out of touch With all the clues that people gave you Nearly every single day You would think you’d get the picture But you’re blind to your own ways You’re an arrogant manipulative slug You’re a pitiful self-sabotaging punk Nobody said your name, another false alarm my friend Nobody said your name, and now my patience’s wearing thin I told you once or twice or several hundred times Nobody cares to see you taking people’s lives No one said your name Take a look at yourself Look into your eyes Put aside all your wealth Lose your family ties Not everyone enjoys your presence With your condescending ways If you brought yourself back to earth Maybe we would let you stay You’re consistently found talking down on us You’re an indie hipster drowning in your blood No one said your name
3.
Spider Fight 03:15
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Creepy crawly In and out the webs I’m weaving Down up don’t know which I’m seeing Trapping flies their brains I’m eating Oh Ten months I’ve been living breathing Living in this web I’m weaving Hiding from those flying heathens Oh I’m not looking for a spider fight Sixteen legs and fangs that bite I’m not looking for a spider fight I’m just trying to live my life Webs I spin appear transparent Stickier than gum on pavement Don’t get caught you can’t afford rent Oh Stick around unwelcome young guest Hanging there your heart’s beating fast You look like the perfect breakfast Oh Like my home? I built it myself Only me and nobody else Why would I require your help? Oh Traverse with the other spiders Life is hard being a fighter Settle down upon my white turf Oh
4.
Midnight Bound Steady Sound 03:39
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Walking down the street no one around Open up my ears hear a little sound Stray cats strut in the dark of night While the little boys and girls turn out their lights Somewhere up ahead about a hundred feet People come on down to hear the reggae beat Underneath the glow of the neon sign People gather ‘round to keep the scene alive Midnight bound steady sound We’ve got the rude boys out tonight There ain’t a cop in sight The rude girls coming down To spin their body ‘round And all the rude boys want to dance And all the rude girls want romance And the rhythm guides their feet As they move to the reggae beat We have a couple drinks it’s a party now No matter what you think ska’s the only sound Listen to the groove of the rudest band Let them set the mood within your head The band don’t miss a bit and their playing loud On top of Coventry in that little town Ska’s not dead that’s no surprise Here is Cleveland keep the beat alive
5.
Bombshell 02:33
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She’s a real bombshell She’s ready to explode Light a match and she’ll ignite And soon enough she’ll blow She’s a real bombshell She’s ready to explode Light a match and she’ll ignite And watch the fire glow I’m talking ‘bout the things she says And how she always wears her hair a mess I’m talking ‘bout the way she walks And how she smiles every time she talks I’m talking ‘bout that perfect touch The one that lets you know you’ve got her love I’m talking ‘bout the way she moves And like a record she falls in the groove
6.
Double Agent 02:50
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(instrumental)
7.
Some Say (Love Today) 03:49
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I’ve been eyeing this girl for quite some time now And it looks like I’m in heaven ‘Cause this angel I see is making a strong connection with me And we’re approaching the next level Some say you gotta wait and wait your whole damn life Just to feel love I say I’m in love today Ooh, little girl Gonna love you so right, gonna love you all night, gonna love you love you all my life Rude girl spin me around and take a taxi downtown See the street lights all shine brighter In the city we laugh and sing and dance and hold hands In the evening we get higher
8.
Little Tommy Terror 03:42
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Tommy was a little boy, only four foot tall Never did what he was told, always found himself some trouble Everyday he’d ride around, in his beat up Chevy Staring from behind his shades, in his coat of leather You better look out Here comes Tommy Terror Tommy turned seventeen, stole himself a bottle Never did it leave his hand, only summoned his dark monster Tommy took it everywhere, hung ‘round in the shadows If they ever saw him there, they’d hang him in the gallows Tommy Terror, he might be the baddest man you’ve ever seen Tommy Terror’s still around, pray that he don’t hunt you down Tommy didn’t need no cause to incite a fight Always had a gun with him, never let it leave his side Every bar that he’d walk in, people would duck and hide Never knew what he would do, Tommy left them terrified
9.
Forward Motion 03:14
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We had a rather bitter goodbye We had our final farewell show I had to keep my arms from swinging I thought you would like to know After two years of beat-keeping Every weekend on the road I had to tell you I’d be leaving Into a cloud of fog I’d go But it’s forward motion that’s moving me Can’t stop I’ve got the world to see Believe me nothing ends happily Can’t you see? What started as a sweet thing Turned to a shrinking cage And when we left for learning We turned another page For seven years we played on From clubs to coffee shops From Real Life to Like a Fox From Gaga to prog rock But it’s forward motion that’s moving me Can’t stop I’ve got the world to see Believe me nothing ends happily Can’t you see? It’s just me, can’t you see?
10.
Grow Up 02:36
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I’ve often seen the warning signs Telling me I’ll pay the price With passing years I’m still doing fine It’s no mystery That life is what you make of it Time will pass us by And if you want to live your life Make no sacrifice I don’t wanna grow up I don’t wanna grow up I don’t wanna grow up today Wanna live my way Gonna see the world someday Twenty-two and life’s flying by Still not giving in To everything that society Makes you believe in I don’t wanna grow up I don’t wanna grow up today Wanna live my way Gonna change the world someday
11.
Pick It Up Strut 01:31
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(instrumental)
12.
Warning Signs 03:30
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I told you once before you wouldn’t have your way It doesn’t matter now you’re living day by day Stability has packed its bags and moved away It doesn’t really matter anymore Warning signs led the way Say goodbye, all work no play Stick it out ‘til your final day You never listened when your family proclaimed There’s more to life than happiness and love and fame You have to work to earn your bread, submit to pain And it doesn’t really matter anymore The time will come, you’ll find out All is gone, you’re without Everything you have learned to love
13.
I. Jericho's Lament 02:55
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March on Jericho March down country roads If you don’t pay the toll To get back to your home Come on lady please Can’t you see I’m on my knees? Begging, begging please Just let me get some sleep I’ve worked a long, hard day I should’ve earned the right What do I have to pay To rest my head tonight? My money ain’t enough To buy a man some love As if my life ain’t rough Please lady don’t be tough Why would you change the lock? You said I had a month After thirty endless days I’ve worked my ass for pay I’ll have it in a week At very most a month This rent ain’t worth my sleep So let me in at once
14.
II. Regression 00:40
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(instrumental)
15.
III. Destination 02:19
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I don't know where I'm going but I know where I've been Seems like every road leads to a dead end It'll all turn out okay, I hear everybody say But I don't know where I'm going I've learned a lot in life, everyday I pay the price To find my destination But every time I try to open up my eyes All I see's a lonely nation So I close my eyes and pray Just to see another day Just to see another place I can't use a guide to save my life No compass here to show me In this dark relapse I am hopeless and alone Only blackness 'round to greet me So I close my eyes and pray Just to see another day Just to see another place I don't know where I'm going but I know where I've been Seems like every road leads to a dead end It'll all turn out okay, I hear everybody say But I don't know where I'm going

about

Roller Coaster is an album about growing up, not growing up, love, hate, partying, and what it’s like to be a spider. Above all, this album is a celebration. A celebration of life, music, and fellowship. Each of these songs was performed by different lineups of the Greats, at different venues across the great state of Ohio. Each song carries a memory of these gigs. It has sparked memories within us as band members; hopefully it will do the same for those who were in the audience those nights. As is typical with all ska bands, the Greats’ lineup was constantly changing due to availability and location. In the end, the seven-piece ska band hosted fifteen members in its functionally dysfunctional family over three short years. We realize that this album took forever to make, and that no one expected us to have another show, let alone an album...so surprise! With two EPs, a few unreleased tracks, and now finally a collection of tunes large enough to call an album, the Greats proudly present Roller Coaster.

credits

released June 29, 2018

Alexander & the Greats is:

Alex Dominish - Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, Melodica, Percussion
Mike Guynn - Vocals, Bass Guitar
Greg Ritchey - Drumset

Additional Personnel:

Logan Trask - Vocals
Sarah Perlin - Vocals
Kevin Lehtinen - Trombone
Bryan Powell - Trumpet
Bruce Christensen - Vocal Dubs, Samples


Each and every former Great helped shape these songs over the past few years into what they are presented as on this album. Thanks for keeping the beat alive - once a Great, always a Great.

Kayleigh Shaw, Kate Keverline, Kati Coppolino, Erik Christensen, Chris Teets, Stephen Stavnicky, Pavan Kota

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Recorded at the Hudson Cavern in Mentor, Ohio.

Produced by Bruce Christensen
Engineered by Bruce Christensen
Made possible by Bruce Christensen
We are forever indebted to Bruce Christensen.

All songs written and arranged by Alex Dominish.

Recording commenced in November 2015 and happened sparsely throughout the next year (whenever we happened to be in Mentor simultaneously). The final touches were completed in July 2017.

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Alexander & the Greats Cleveland, Ohio

Alexander & the Greats was a ska band based out of Cleveland, Ohio. They formed in 2013 and were making music until 2017. Over those years they hosted over 15 members and played less shows than that. Feel free to grab and share the music with whomever you want, and thank you for keeping ska alive. ... more

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