47UMa

 

 

MEGAWAVE Records MEGW 0082

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This is the debut CD by Detroit area world beat band, 47UMa®, fronted by past Billboard Magazine pick-hit vocalist Gail Baker. The band is named after the star 47 Ursae Majoris b, located near the Big Dipper and speculated to support life on its nearby planets. This star was discovered in 1996, about the same time that Baker and percussionist Mike Friedman started talking about forming a band. They chose 47UMa® during their search for a name that would that would globally connect with a world rhythm and attract life. This release captures the performances by Baker, Friedman, bassist Steve Rouse, and special guest lead and rhythm guitarist Jake Reichbart.

Gail Baker's credits include 1980 Detroit Free Press and Detroit jazz radio favorite "Live at Chaps-on-Main", 1983 hit "What If Thinking", and a 1997 Silent Radio® retrospective on the MEGAWAVE label. Mike Friedman is a long-standing Detroit area session and soundtrack drummer. Both Baker and Friedman have toured nationally with different groups over the years. Steve Rouse likewise has appeared regularly at Detroit venues throughout his career. Multi-genre guitar talent Jake Reichbart, an international talent and active session player, has been a member of Lunar Octet and Five Guys Named Moe.

47UMa® plays rockin' dance music, with reggae, ska, soca, samba, African, blues, New Orleans, and rock-n-roll influences. The band's original songs are upbeat and inspired by personal experiences and world images. This thirteen-song, fifty-two minute release was produced by John Palmer and Gail Baker, recorded and mixed at Megawave Studio One in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and mastered by Jeffrey Campo at Soweto Productions near Detroit. Since the completion of the CD, the band regrouped and formed Zebula Avenue, featuring Gail Baker, singers Maureen Honoré and Maggie McCabe, who also plays electric mandolin, bassist Greg Nance, guitarist James Niemi, drummer Sandy Lovely, and percussionist Mahindi Masai.

However, two of the original members still perform as 47UMa. For bookings, please contact: 248-545-1867.

 

47UMa is:	Gail Baker	rhythm guitar and vocals
	Mike Friedman	drums and percussion
	Steve Rouse	bass
Very Special Guest	Jake Reichbart	rhythm and lead guitars
Backup vocals	Gail Baker
	Mike Friedman
	Monica Kirsch

Recorded at Megawave Studio One by Andro-Media Productions

Engineered by John Palmer

Produced by John Palmer and Gail Baker

Mastered by Jeffrey Campo at Soweto Productions

Photographs by Howard Andrews, John Palmer, and the

Space Telescope Science Institute

Graphic Design and Layout by John Palmer and Gail Baker

All selections published by Elkridge Music Publishing (ASCAP)

 

Thank you to Chris Marquardt, of Spanish Pronto for translation and coaching

on "Ojos bien abiertos" and Pablo Freile for the Swahili translation and

coaching on "Karibuni." Thanks also to John and Roberta Palmer, Mike

Harper, Monica Kirsch for helping with backup vocal arrangements, Harriet

Hammer, Ron Wolok, and our friends and families. Jah love!

 

 

1. Soca to Me 3:28

2. African Dream 4:01

3. Wheel of Life 3:42

4. Spread It Everywhere 6:04

5. Street Beat 3:29

6. The Rhythm 3:59

7. Ojos Bien Abiertos (Eyes Wide Open) 3:28

8. This Feelin' 3:02

9. Karibuni 6:13

10. This Small Town 3:22

11. It's Time 3:50

12. Please Help Me 3:49

13. Like the Wave 2:58

 

Soca to Me

© 2001 Gail Baker and Chris Moyer

 

Throw your hands up to the sky

Everybody don't ask why

You can do it if you try

Sing Aye Yai Yai

 

Oh you lovers do not cry

Do not quarrel do not sigh

You have what you cannot buy

Sing Aye Yai Yai

 

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

 

One day you're low, one day you're high

I think you know exactly why

Laugh and love 'til you die

Sing Aye Yai Yai

 

Look your brother in the eye

Tell him to give love a try

Learn to spread his wings and fly

Sing Aye Yai Yai

 

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

 

Oh now, throw your hands up to the sky

Everybody don't ask why

You can do it if you try

Sing Aye Yai Yai

 

Oh you lovers do not cry

Do not quarrel do not sigh

You have what you cannot buy

Sing Aye Yai Yai

 

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

Aye Yai Yai, Aye Yai Yai

 

 

African Dream

© 2000 Gail Baker and Mike Friedman

 

I saw the grass plains

I saw the mountains

I saw the firelight, the people dancing, the shadows

I heard the music rise up and fill my soul

I surrendered to the rhythms of the night drum

 

I knew instinctively

A distant part of me

Felt the harmony

Deep in my African dream

 

I saw the night sky, the eagle soaring

I saw the valleys, the ocean roaring

I saw the moonlight, the starlight dancing

I saw the children, eyes wide open with wonder

I feared to wake, fearing to break the dreaming

 

I knew instinctively

A distant part of me

Felt the harmony

Deep in my African dream

 

I saw the running herds, the halo sunrise

I saw the meadows, the flaming desert skies

I saw the forests, the jungle darkness, the ghettos

I heard the night calls rise up the fear in my soul

I sang in anguish, in love, in peace and in freedom

 

I knew instinctively

A distant part of me

Felt the harmony

Deep in my African dream

 

 

Wheel of Life

© 2001 Gail Baker and Mike Friedman

 

Wheel of Life, keep turning

Everything is, everything is a beginning

Wheel of Life, keep turning

Everything is a beginning

 

People who look for love they should find it

Why are so many hearts left alone?

Just you remember that love is a seed, yeah

And keep right on looking

Right up to the end

Because in the end you will find

All that you need

 

Wheel of Life, keep turning

Everything is, everything is a beginning

Wheel of Life, keep turning

Everything is a beginning

 

Sometimes your friends, they misunderstand you

Your heart it is breaking I know

Just hold on tight to the dream that you planned, yeah

Everybody they try to call you a fool

But who is the fool when the truth

Is at hand?

 

Wheel of Life, keep turning

Everything is, everything is a beginning

Wheel of Life, keep turning

Everything is a beginning

 

 

Spread It Everywhere

© 2001 Gail Baker and Mike Friedman

 

Jah love!

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

 

I am alone

My arms ain't held nobody for so long

This situation it must change I know

But where is this love that I must find

That I must find and call my own?

 

What stroke of cruel fate can this be?

Everybody seems to have a love but me

What stroke of cruel fate can this be?

 

The planets must be misaligned

A Saturday's child left behind

Losing and losing again

I call to you my spirit friend

 

Come out from the darkness

Jah love is needed here

Come out from the darkness

 

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

 

Restless I roam

This feeling deep inside it can't be wrong

Everything, everything must change, I know

But where is this love that I must find

That I must find and call my own?

 

What is this fate, what is this mystery?

Everybody seems to have a love but me

Left all alone, is this my destiny?

 

The planets must be misaligned

A Saturday's child left behind

Losing and losing again

I call to you my spirit friend

 

Come out from the darkness

Jah love is needed here

Come out from the darkness

 

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

Spread it spread it spread it everywhere

Jah love!

 

Street Beat

© 1998 Gail Baker and Mike Friedman

 

Meet me on the corner round nine tonight

Everybody dancin', feel all right

The band will be the best in town

Dancin' to the street beat comin' down

Oh, oh, don't ya know?

 

Oh, won't you go?

Please, don't say no

We dance, we sing, we laugh, we love, you know

Come on baby, please, I love you so

 

Bobby's on the park bench, Annie's in the street

Eatin' crawdaddy and tappin' their feet

People will be comin' from miles around

Lookin like a good time shakin' down

Oh, oh, don't ya know?

Oh, oh, gotta go

 

I got the pretty dress, you got the shoes

Together we will look like we just can't lose

Dancin' all night 'til the mornin' come

Bareful kissin' in rising sun

Oh, oh, don't ya know?

Oh, oh, gotta go

 

Oh, won't you go?

Please, don't say no

We dance, we sing, we laugh, we love, you know

Come on baby, oh please I love, I love you so

 

 

The Rhythm

© 2001 Gail Baker and Mike Friedman

 

When the moonlight comes over the waters

And the lovers they cover to kiss

And the people and music gets started

Come join us you don't want to miss

 

Oh now the rhythm, oh, the rhythm yes it feels so fine

The night goes on, and the music fills your mind

The lessons of love you will learn now you will find

They will last your whole lifetime

Your heart will fill, your eyes will shine again

 

When the raindrops they cover the window

And the markets they close for the day

And the nighttime it falls on your doorstep

Just listen the drums soon will play

 

Oh now the rhythm, oh, the rhythm yes it feels so fine

The night goes on, and the music fills your mind

The lessons of love you will learn now you will find

They will last your whole lifetime

Your heart will fill, your eyes will shine again

 

 

Ojos Bien Abiertos

(Eyes Wide Open)

© 2000 Gail Baker and Mike Friedman

 

Wakin' up it's not yet a sunrise

Sleep it beg him not to go

He stare out to the back sky morning

Think of her and sipping joe

 

(and now he's) Walkin' down to the Gulfstream waters

Shrimp boats take him off the shore

The sun it warm him, soon it burn him

Like so many women he know

 

When will he find her?

When will that woman appear?

The one with the dark eyes,

The one with the mystery air.

He dream of her daily, oh oh,

Is she out there?

 

Maybe when the springtime flowers

Maybe when the summer ends

Yes he's keepin' his eyes wide open

Looking for her

Looking again

Lookin' around every bend

 

Walkin home in the evenin' tide

(and he's) Feelin' sad and low inside

He calls to her

¡Oh senorita! ¿Donde estas?

You cannot hide.

 

¿Ya quiere verla?

¿Ya quiere a esa mujer?

De ojos oscuros

La tan misteriosa mujer

Sonado con ella, oh oh

¡Bonita mujer!

 

Maybe in the autumn showers

Maybe when the winter ends

Con los ojos bien abiertos

Looking for her

Buscandola bien

Lookin' around every bend

 

 

This Feelin'

© 2000 Gail Baker

 

Oo oo, I hope this feelin' keeps on growin'

Oo oo, I hope this feelin' keeps on growin'

 

You're on my mind

Every single minute of the day, oh my

Deep within me there's a dream

That you and I can have

Everything we've wanted

Deep in my dreams I'm haunted

 

By you, oo, I hope this feelin' keeps on growin'

Oo oo, I hope this feelin' keeps on growin'

 

But what if you stop the dream?

Will it mean that my dreams are over?

Does a heart ever stop a fantasy?

I want you for my lover

 

I don't know how

To tell you 'bout this love I'm feeling

It's too late now

Feel the magic, feel the healing

I know one thing for sure

You're everything I've wanted

This dream is so real I'm haunted

 

By you, oo, I hope this feelin' keeps on growin'

Oo oo, I hope this feelin' keeps on growin'

Oo oo, I hope this feelin' keeps on growin'

Oo oo, I hope I hope I hope I hope I hope

Oo oo

 

 

Karibuni

© 2001 Gail Baker and Mike Friedman

 

Karibuni, Karibuni oh oh oh

Karibuni, Karibuni oh oh oh

 

Oh now welcome, to my village

Welcome to my home

Oh welcome to my table

Welcome to my town

 

Strangers we may be, we are part of humanity

Oh different we may be, we can find commonality

Blind but now we see, we can stop the insanity

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

 

Oh now welcome, to my homeland

Welcome to our song

Welcome, welcome from the people

Welcome, come sing along

 

Strangers we may be, we are part of humanity

Oh different we may be, we can find commonality

Blind but now we see, we can stop the insanity

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

 

Ingawa sisi tu wageni

Ni sehemu ya wanadamu

Ingawa sisi tupo tofauti

Tunaweza kutafuta usawa

Tulikuwa vipofu sasa tunaona

Tunaweza kuzuia utofauti (wazimu)

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

 

Karibuni, Karibuni oh oh oh

Karibuni, Karibuni oh oh oh

 

 

This Small Town

© 2001 Gail Baker

 

I'm goin' ridin' yeah now I'm gonna cruise tonight

And where I go I'll make a scene, I won't even try.

Yes I can do it, yes I can do it, yes I can

I can do it, yes I can do it, yes I can.

 

I'm too big for this small town

I'm too big for this small town

The news is goin' fast, the news is goin' round this town.

 

Now my momma told me someday I would be a star.

I got a '57 Chevy and a brand new Fender guitar

Yes I can play it, yes I can play it, yes I can

I can play it, yes I can play it, yes I can

 

I'm too big for this small town

I'm too big for this small town

The news is goin' fast, the news is goin' round this town.

 

Cruisin' down Main Street it looks like I'm wastin' my time

'Cause I got plans and you know that they're mine all mine

Yes I can do it, yes I can do it, yes I can

I can do it, yes I can do it, yes I can

 

I'm too big for this small town

I'm too big for this small town

The news is goin' fast, the news is goin' round this town

The news is goin' fast, the news is goin' round this town

The news is goin' fast, the news is goin' round this town

 

 

It's Time

© 2001 Gail Baker

 

It's time we start really listenin'

It's time we try to really hear

The melody so beautiful and clear

 

And singing

Ah, give a little more love while you're here

It's such a short time

So give a little more love while you're here

Smile upon your brother, it's part of the plan

Try to make your wildest dreams come true

If you can

 

It's time we paid more attention

It's time we spent a lot more time

Working out the harmony, and rhyme

 

And singing

Ah, give a little more love while you're here

It's such a short time

So give a little more love while you're here

Smile upon your sister, it's part of the plan

Try to make your deepest love come true

If you can

 

Smile upon each other, it will feel so fine

Out of many one people, oh, one mankind

 

 

Please Help Me

© 2001 Gail Baker and Mike Friedman

 

Won't somebody, please, help me?

I need some help today

'Cause I'm trying, yes I'm trying

To keep this world a-spinnin'

It's harder every day

 

Yes, it's getting harder, harder everyday

Yes, its' getting harder, hear me when I say

 

The people in the Holy Land they murder

The children of the shamrock they do too

And all the tribes of Africa, they have no reason

To fight the way they do, oh oh

 

Won't somebody, please, help me?

I need some help today

'Cause I'm trying, yes I'm trying

To keep this world a-spinnin'

It's harder every day

 

Oh the colors of the people are like flowers

Blooming now in every shade and hue

And how you worship, now you know

It really doesn't matter

If it brings joy and love and peace to you, oh oh

 

Won't somebody, please, help me?

I need some help today

'Cause I'm trying, yes I'm trying

To keep this world a-spinnin'

It's harder every day

 

 

Like the Wave

© 2001 Gail Baker and Mike Friedman

 

See the man runnin', oh the man he lost his way.

See the man runnin', oh the man he lost his way.

Can't remember when he stop to hear the music play

All his happy memories begin to fade.

 

Stop it all now

(no tick tock)

Stop the clock now

Oh feel it now

Start the motion

Go like the wave

Out on the ocean

 

See them all runnin' they are lost inside the maze

See them all runnin' and their eyes begin to fade

Wake up in the morning and the mind is purple haze

Forget to be themselves along the way

 

Lay your body down and breathe the air

Lay your body down and breathe the air

Lay your burden down, oh no more cares

Look inside yourself now if you dare

 

Stop it all now

(no tick tock)

Stop the clock now

Oh feel it now

Start the motion

Go like the wave

Out on the ocean.

 

 

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