main page | the songs | the reviews

Following in the wake of the recent resurgence of popularity of the Patron Saints' Fohhoh Bohob, and my Modern Phonography and Sending Out Signals albums, a newly-born interest in all things Garrison has developed. We have released the 2-CD set Garrison Anthology, which contains all of the aborted Garrison LP tracks, plus a number of live, demo and studio tracks from 1976 to 1979. We're in the process of planning a Garrison Anthology 2, as well. There's plenty of stuff left to release, but in the meantime, here's what's on the first Garrison Anthology...

[Note: If, for some reason, the individual embedded MP3 player controls below each song don't appear or work correctly in your particular browser, you can still click on any song title to hear a soundbite with the QuickTime player.]

CD One-The Early Years (1976-1978)

1. The Boys Are Out Tonight (Behnke)
Practice Demo, recorded July 28, 1976

(Jim Behnke: lead guitar, vocals; Eric Bergman: bass; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Joe Ivins: drums)

2. You Opened My Eyes (Brown)
Single Version; Studio, recorded February, 1977

Recorded in the Summer/Fall of 1976, only 300 of Garrison's single were pressed. Considering that we produced and distributed it ourselves, the record got a fair amount of airplay in various parts of the country (and beyond). They're incredibly rare...I personally only have one (not counting the two I have framed on my wall).This bite is from the A-side of our single. Of all the original tunes that Garrison had to choose from, we all felt that Dan's You Opened My Eyes had all of the ingredients for a "hit." Given the proper exposure, who knows? Here, you can listen to part of the bridge and the chorus, which should give you a taste of its catchy, upbeat feel.

(Eric Bergman: bass, tambourine, vocals; Dan Brown: guitars, piano, lead vocals; Joe Ivins: drums)

3. It’s In De Blood (Bergman)
Single Version; Studio, recorded February, 1977**

The flip-side of our single. We picked Blood because we felt that it's reggae-like feel was a good juxtaposition to the "straight-ahead" feel of You Opened My Eyes. It also helped that both songs were under 3 minutes...not many of our originals were. Perceptive fans will note that It's In De Blood ended up on my 1978 solo album, Modern Phonography.

(Eric Bergman: guitars, percussion, lead vocals; Dan Brown: bass, percussion; Joe Ivins: drums, percussion; P. Lynn Radok: vocals)

4. Ten Cent Angel (Brown)
Studio, recorded February, 1977*

This tops the list as one of the all-time most popular Garrison songs, one which spanned every incarnation of the group. People would come just to hear us play this one tune. This is a perfect example of the strength of Dan's songwriting prowess even from his earliest work, which this was. It was on the basis of this song (and our chemistry, of course) that Dan and I linked up; it was the first thing he ever played for me. A classic.

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: guitars, lead vocals; Joe Ivins: drums; Chris Suchmann: piano)

5. Borrowed Time (Bergman)
Studio, recorded February, 1977**

Another early '70s tune that we breathed new life into. Dan rarely, if ever, used unusual guitar tunings when he wrote  and I almost did, so the juxtaposition of sounds worked really well for us. Borrowed Time has a series of my unique how-the-hell-did-you-make-that-chord fingerings. Sort of a trade secret, as it were.

(Eric Bergman: guitars, vocals; Dan Brown: bass; Joe Ivins: drums; Chris Suchmann: piano, synthesizer)

6. Music In My Mind (Brown)
Studio, recorded February, 1977*

One of Dan's early gems, this had to be one of the first songs we learned to play as a group. It was a staple of our early set list.

(Eric Bergman: bass; Dan Brown: guitars, lead vocals; Joe Ivins: drums; Chris Suchmann: piano, synthesizer)

7. Thinking About You (Brown)
Studio, recorded February, 1977*

One of my personal favorites of all of Dan's songs (and there are many, believe me). I don't think it's hyperbole to say that he had a McCartney-esque ability to pull a lovely melody out of the air and transform it into an incredibly beautiful and memorable classic.

(Dan Brown: guitar, lead vocals; Chris Suchmann: piano)

8. April’s Fool (Bergman)
Studio, recorded February, 1977**

This song was an old favorite from the latter part of the Patron Saints era. The first recorded version is on disc one of my solo CD package. Since Garrison had decided to do only original tunes, we resurrected it and did a similar but tighter version. We would continue to do it live with Phase Two Garrison (with Roy Ellingsen and Kevin Brennan) into the early '80s. By this time, the energy had been turned up a few notches, the lyrics revamped a bit, and April's Fool turned out to be a killer set-ender.

(Eric Bergman: guitars, lead vocals; Dan Brown: bass, lead guitar, vocals; Joe Ivins: drums; Chris Suchmann: piano, synthesizer)

9. A Fortune In Your Name (Ivins/Brown)
Live, recorded June 2, 1977

(Eric Bergman: bass; Dan Brown: guitar, lead vocals; Joe Ivins: drums; Chris Suchmann: piano)

10. Long Distance (Brown)
Live, recorded June 2, 1977*

(Eric Bergman: bass; Dan Brown: guitar, lead vocals; Joe Ivins: drums; Chris Suchmann: piano)

11. Spring Forth (Bergman)
Live, recorded June 2, 1977**

(Eric Bergman: guitar, lead vocals; Dan Brown: bass, vocals; Joe Ivins: drums, vocals; Chris Suchmann: piano)

12. The Almanac (Ivins/Brown)
Live, recorded June 2, 1977

(Eric Bergman: bass; Dan Brown: guitar, lead vocals; Joe Ivins: drums; Chris Suchmann: piano)

13. Valiant Attempts (Bergman)
Live, recorded June 2, 1977**

(Eric Bergman: guitar, lead vocals; Dan Brown: bass; Joe Ivins: drums, vocals; Chris Suchmann: piano)

14. Elmo’s Blues (Brown)
Live, recorded April 8, 1978*

(Eric Bergman: bass; Dan Brown: guitar, lead vocals; Joe Ivins: drums)

15.  She’s My Sister (And I’d Love To Love Her) (Suchmann)
Live, recorded June 3, 1978

(Eric Bergman: bass; Dan Brown: guitar, vocals; Joe Ivins: drums; Chris Suchmann: piano, lead vocals)

16. There's Only You, There ’s Always You (Brown)
Studio Demo, recorded May 27, 1978*

(Eric Bergman: vocals; Dan Brown: guitars, lead vocals)

CD Two-The Later Year(s) (1979)

1. Shaky Ground (Brown)
Studio, recorded July, 1979*

Dan's musical ode to an overabundance of the high life, we often opened shows with this number. When we were auditioning new drummers in late 1978, early 1979, we always used it as the acid test for Garrison energy and compatibility. After listening to every skin-pounder in the New York tri-state area, the second we finally heard Kevin Brennan play Shaky Ground was the second our search was finally over. I never got sick of playing it.

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals; Kevin Brennan: drums)

2. Over My Head (Bergman/Brown)
Studio, recorded July, 1979***

For some reason, the only song that Dan and I ever wrote together. I have very fond memories of sitting on a slate patio by a lake in the summer of 1978 and writing the lyrics together. There are two versions, actually; one clean (the one we recorded and performed, obviously) and one repulsively suggestive, just to amuse ourselves. Boys will be boys! I felt that Dan's voice was much better suited to the song than mine, which is why he's a-croonin' it. Killer live cut.

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals; Kevin Brennan: drums)

3. Son Of The Space Age (Brown)*
Studio, recorded July, 1979

One of Dan's personal favorites, which he often referred to as Garrison meets Life In The Fast Lane, a reference to it's similar feel to the Eagles classic. Another of Dan's high energy rockers.

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals; Kevin Brennan: drums)

4. Golddigger (Brown)
Studio demo, recorded July, 1979*

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals; Kevin Brennan: drums)

5. A Song That Looks Like You (Brown)
Live, recorded October 20, 1979*

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals; Kevin Brennan: drums)

6. All I See (Brown)
Studio demo, recorded July, 1979*

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals; Kevin Brennan: drums)

7. Doin’ It All Myself (Bergman)
Live, recorded October 20, 1979**

(Eric Bergman: slide guitar, lead vocals; Dan Brown: bass, vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals; Kevin Brennan: drums)

8. Fallout (Brown)
Studio demo, recorded July, 1979*

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals,  Kevin Brennan: drums)

9. Go For Your Gun (Brown)
Studio demo, recorded July, 1979*

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals,  Kevin Brennan: drums)

10. Whatever (Ellingsen/Bergman/Brown/Brennan)
Live, recorded October 20, 1979

(Eric Bergman: slide guitar; Dan Brown: bass; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar; Kevin Brennan: drums)

11. Speak Of The Devil (Brown)
Studio demo, recorded July, 1979*

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals; Kevin Brennan: drums)

12. All Men Are Brothers/Monkey Get Off My Back (Bergman)
Live, recorded October 20, 1979**

(Eric Bergman: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Dan Brown: bass, vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals; Kevin Brennan: drums)

13. Too Hot (Brown)
Studio demo, recorded July, 1979*

(Eric Bergman: bass, vocals; Dan Brown: rhythm guitar, lead vocals; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar, vocals; Kevin Brennan: drums)

14. Catch Ya’ Later (Bergman)
Studio demo, recorded July, 1979**

(Eric Bergman: slide guitar, lead vocals; Dan Brown: bass; Roy Ellingsen: lead guitar; Kevin Brennan: drums)

All songs on CD One and CD Two ©1971-1979, all rights reserved.
*  Published by Karmic Birdsongs, BMI
** Published by Chorksongs, BMI
*** Published by Chorksongs/Karmic Birdsongs, BMI

©1971-1979, 2001 Maxfield Multimedia/Patron Saint Records. All rights reserved.
Made in the U.S.A. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

main page | the songs | the reviews