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  • The Story of Selma Avenue - Troubadour 77troubadour77.com/.../uploads/2017/11/The-Story-of-Selma-Avenue.pdfThe Story of SELMA AVENUE ... , singing into my hairbrush along with Linda
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The Story of SELMA AVENUE “Selma Avenue” kicks off the “Troubadour 77” collection and it is meant to set the tone and provide some important musical references about the 70s singer/songwriter era, a time in music that was the main inspiration for starting our band, Troubadour 77. Our mission is to carry the torch of that style of music. Many of the references that are written into this song give specific and important historical context, so I am writing this open letter to listeners to encourage them to read about the song so they can better understand what is being referenced and why every line is so important to me. My wish is that it becomes important to you. In 1977 I was five years old, singing into my hairbrush along with Linda Ronstadt in my bedroom in Pennsylvania, wishing I could be a part of the scene that swirled around The Troubadour in Los Angeles. The Troubadour was and still is a club where the likes of Jackson Brown, James Taylor, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, J.D. Souther, Carole King and a host of other great singer/songwriters got their start. After years as a songwriter and recording artist based in Nashville, TN, I am finally writing and recording the music I have always wanted. It feels different than it ever has. Almost like a calling. Like it has purpose, more than it ever did before. So in response, I formed a new band, at 44 years old, with my husband Monty Powell (55 years old), called Troubadour 77. It’s never too late and you’re never too old to pursue your passion. Our band’s mission is to write songs that embody the sonic landscape and lyrical power of what the great artists of the California Country and Singer/Songwriter movement did back in the 70s. We call it “new music with a classic sound.” We believe there is an audience out there who might like to know that there is music being made for them that is reminiscent of what they grew up on, compliments, and can live alongside all of their favorite but worn out playlists. When Glenn Frey passed last year, it was a loss we all still feel. In 2016, I too lost a few close personal friends in the business who have been with me from the start. One of them was my beloved publisher, Bo Goldsen (Criterion Music Group, Los Angeles, CA). His father, Mickey Goldsen started Criterion back in the early 60s and he was the first guy to sign Jackson Browne to a publishing deal, per Bo’s recommendation. Criterion Music owns a few of Jackson’s early gems like, My Opening Farewell, Doctor My Eyes, Song for Adam, Jamaica say You Will and many others. Mickey was pretty forward thinking at the time and was one of the few publishers who also had a small studio attached to his office where writers could demo and work out the early notions of their songs. The studio/publishing offices were located on SELMA AVENUE just off of Hollywood Blvd. Here is a picture of it:

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Page 1: The Story of Selma Avenue - Troubadour 77troubadour77.com/.../uploads/2017/11/The-Story-of-Selma-Avenue.pdfThe Story of SELMA AVENUE ... , singing into my hairbrush along with Linda

TheStoryofSELMAAVENUE

“SelmaAvenue”kicksoffthe“Troubadour77”collectionanditismeanttosetthetoneandprovidesomeimportantmusicalreferencesaboutthe70ssinger/songwriterera,atimeinmusicthatwasthemaininspirationforstartingourband,Troubadour77.Ourmissionistocarrythetorchofthatstyleofmusic.Manyofthereferencesthatarewrittenintothissonggivespecificandimportanthistoricalcontext,soIamwritingthisopenlettertolistenerstoencouragethemtoreadaboutthesongsotheycanbetterunderstandwhatisbeingreferencedandwhyeverylineissoimportanttome.Mywishisthatitbecomesimportanttoyou.In1977Iwasfiveyearsold,singingintomyhairbrushalongwithLindaRonstadtinmybedroominPennsylvania,wishingIcouldbeapartofthescenethatswirledaroundTheTroubadourinLosAngeles.TheTroubadourwasandstillisaclubwherethelikesofJacksonBrown,JamesTaylor,GlennFrey,DonHenley,J.D.Souther,CaroleKingandahostofothergreatsinger/songwritersgottheirstart.AfteryearsasasongwriterandrecordingartistbasedinNashville,TN,IamfinallywritingandrecordingthemusicIhavealwayswanted.Itfeelsdifferentthaniteverhas.Almostlikeacalling.Likeithaspurpose,morethaniteverdidbefore.Soinresponse,Iformedanewband,at44yearsold,withmyhusbandMontyPowell(55yearsold),calledTroubadour77.It’snevertoolateandyou’renevertoooldtopursueyourpassion.Ourband’smissionistowritesongsthatembodythesoniclandscapeandlyricalpowerofwhatthegreatartistsoftheCaliforniaCountryandSinger/Songwritermovementdidbackinthe70s.Wecallit“newmusicwithaclassicsound.”Webelievethereisanaudienceouttherewhomightliketoknowthatthereismusicbeingmadeforthemthatisreminiscentofwhattheygrewupon,compliments,andcanlivealongsidealloftheirfavoritebutwornoutplaylists.WhenGlennFreypassedlastyear,itwasalossweallstillfeel.In2016,Itoolostafewclosepersonalfriendsinthebusinesswhohavebeenwithmefromthestart.Oneofthemwasmybelovedpublisher,BoGoldsen(CriterionMusicGroup,LosAngeles,CA).Hisfather,MickeyGoldsenstartedCriterionbackintheearly60sandhewasthefirstguytosignJacksonBrownetoapublishingdeal,perBo’srecommendation.CriterionMusicownsafewofJackson’searlygemslike,MyOpeningFarewell,DoctorMyEyes,SongforAdam,JamaicasayYouWillandmanyothers.Mickeywasprettyforwardthinkingatthetimeandwasoneofthefewpublisherswhoalsohadasmallstudioattachedtohisofficewherewriterscoulddemoandworkouttheearlynotionsoftheirsongs.Thestudio/publishingofficeswerelocatedonSELMAAVENUEjustoffofHollywoodBlvd.Hereisapictureofit:

Page 2: The Story of Selma Avenue - Troubadour 77troubadour77.com/.../uploads/2017/11/The-Story-of-Selma-Avenue.pdfThe Story of SELMA AVENUE ... , singing into my hairbrush along with Linda

ThereisactuallyacollectionofJackson’searlydemos(19songs)nowavailablecalledTheCriterionDemosthatwererecordedatthislittlepublishinghousestudio.Theyareallguitar/vocalsofthoseearlysongsinhiscareerbeforehewaseversignedtoarecorddealwithDavidGeffen.WhenIspoketoBobeforehepassedinOctober,2016ItoldhimIwaswritingasongabouthisstudioandthepeoplewhopassedthroughitsdoors.Hetoldmesomegreatstories.HesaidJacksonspentalotoftimethereintheearlydays.Ican’thelpbutwonderifDonHenley,GlennFrey,LindaRonstadt,JDSoutherandothers,whowereallsoclose,alsoeverpassedthrough.Ibelievetheylikelydid.Regardless,themusictheywereallmakingtogetheratthattime,andthefriendshipstheyhad,arereferencedinthissong.SomearebasedonthestoriesBorelayedtomeaboutwhatheknewandheardfromthattimeperiodandsomefromtheEaglesdocumentary.IaskedBoifheknewGlennFreyandhesaidyes.Hesaidhewenttohisfuneralservice.Iaskedhimwhatsongsweresungandhesaid,"Justone.Asongcalled“MyOldPals”andthatDonHenley,JacksonBrowneandJackTempchinsangittogether,alongwiththesong’swriter,RichardStekolfromtheFunkyKings".ApparentlyKimCarnesrecordeditin1979.It’shardtosayifIhaveeveryfactcorrect,butbetweenmyconversationswithBo,andothersources,Ihavecobbledtogetherasongaboutthatveryspecialstudiothatwasthehomeofsomeofthoseearlysongsthatarepartofthesoundtracktomanyofourlives.Fastforwardtwenty-fiveyearslaterinthemid-nineties,IfoundmywaytothedoorsofthatSelmaAvenuerecordingstudioandwassignedtoCriterion.InthesongItalkaboutthatandthelegacythatBoleftbehindthroughhislife’sworkofshepherdingthesongsofgreatsongwritersandartists.Thissongismyheart.It’sspecialtome,butwhatIthinkismostimportantisthespiritofthissong.

Page 3: The Story of Selma Avenue - Troubadour 77troubadour77.com/.../uploads/2017/11/The-Story-of-Selma-Avenue.pdfThe Story of SELMA AVENUE ... , singing into my hairbrush along with Linda

ThefirstverseisaboutJacksonBrowneandreferenceshissong“MyOpeningFarewell.”ItacknowledgeshowIasasongwriteramstandingontheshouldersofallthegreatswhopassedthroughthedoorsofthatstudio.Italludestothepassageoftime,howthemusicbusinesshaschangedsomuchandcontemplatesthenotionthatperhapsIshouldhavetakenJackson’sadviceandstoppedbeforeIevenstarted.ThesecondverseisaboutLongbranchPennywhistle,J.D.SoutherandGlennFrey’sfirstduothatwassignedtoAmosRecords,butneverreallytookoff.ItalsomentionsShiloh,whichwasDonHenley’sbandfromTexasbeforehewasintheEagles.Shiloh’ssoulisareferencetoDonHenley.Thephoenixthatroseisofcourse,theEagles.ThethirdverseisabouthowImademyjourneyouttoLAandCriterion.Thebridgereferences“themachinescame”.ThatisabouthowBohadtosellthesacredgroundwherethestudiosatandhouraftertherealestatedealwasmade,thebulldozerscameinandleveledtheoldpublishinghouseandstudio.Itisnowcondos.“Themachines"isalsoametaphorfortherecordbusinessmachineandhowithasawayofstealingthesoulsofartists.However,redemptionisacknowledgedthatthroughalltheloss,thesongsstillremain.Belowisthelyricandaroadmaptomuchofwhatmayseemcrypticwithoutproperexplanation.Iencourageeveryonetocheckitout.It’srarethatasongwriterrevealsalltheinsidereferences,butIbelieveknowingthebackstorywillmakethesongthatmuchmoremeaningfulforlisteners.Also,pleasegowatchTheEaglesdocumentary.Itexplainssomuch!IamgoingtocontinuedoingwhatIamdoingwithmynewbandandseewhereittakesme.OftentimesIwishIcouldhavebeentwenty-somethinginthe1970s.Itwasagreateraformusic.Ithadsomuchmeaning.ItyieldedwhatIbelievetobethebestmusic,thatstillhasstayingpowerandrelevancealltheseyearslater.“Thankyou”isn’tnearlyenough,andasapoetandsongwriterIamoddlyatalossfortherightwordstobeabletofullyexpressmygratitudeforthecontributionsofsuchagreatmovementinmusicalhistory.ButitisallIhave.SowithamostgenuineheartIdosay,“THANKYOU”withthissongtothegreatsongwriters,artistsandMickeyandBoGoldsenfortheiramazingcontributions.Withheartfeltsincerity,AnnaWilson(Troubadour77)

Page 4: The Story of Selma Avenue - Troubadour 77troubadour77.com/.../uploads/2017/11/The-Story-of-Selma-Avenue.pdfThe Story of SELMA AVENUE ... , singing into my hairbrush along with Linda

SELMAAVENUEWords&MusicbyAnnaWilson

PRELUDE:Allthosetroubadourswalkedthroughyourdoors ThesongwritersDesperadosofthetruth Referencing“Desperado”Sotakeiteasybaby,youhavesavedme Referencing“TakeitEasy”/Savedbythefactthatit

allexistedonce,evenifitdoesn’tnow.SelmaAvenue Thestreetwheretherecordingstudiowas.VERSE#1:I'mstandingonyourshouldersatthedoor Jackson’sshoulders/hisearlylegacyatCriterion.Butnooneseemstoansweranymore Studioisclosed/Lossofthemusicindustryaswe

knewit…peoplestealingmusic,lossofthatera,etc.Youopenedwithgoodbye Next3lines:Referencing“MyOpeningFarewell”Andtriedtosparemefromthefight Thefightofthemusicbusinesstobeheard,to

succeed.Asiftobekind Alinefrom“MyOpeningFarewell”VERSE#2:WhenthePennywhistleblewitbrokesomehearts GlennFrey&JDSouther’sduo/alsoGlenn’sdeathItwasjustthedreamoftwothatsetthespark Causeinitsashaphoenixrose Phoenixis“TheEagles”Andwithit,ittookShiloh'ssoul Shiloh’ssoulisDonHenley.“Shiloh”washisband

beforehewasintheEagles.Sothestorygoes Accordingto“TheEaglesdocumentary(onNetflix)Yousawitallunfold Thestudiosawitall.

Page 5: The Story of Selma Avenue - Troubadour 77troubadour77.com/.../uploads/2017/11/The-Story-of-Selma-Avenue.pdfThe Story of SELMA AVENUE ... , singing into my hairbrush along with Linda

CHORUS#1:OnSelmaAvenueTherewereachosenfew Jackson,TheEagles,Linda,JD,Jack,etc.Whocarvedtheirmarkinyou Carvedisareferenceto“Recording”Beforemytime BeforeIcameofageinthemusicbusiness/Backin

thelate60s/early70swhenIwasjustakidinmyroom

Andwhentheirdreamscametrue Whentheyallstartedgettingdiscovered.IdiscoveredBlueBayou Next3lines:ReferencingLindaRonstadt’srecording

ofBlueBayouandacouplelinesfromthesong.SoIsavedmynickelsAndIsavedmydimesYeahIwasdreamin’ofthedayI'dcatcharide Meat5yearsoldwantingtosingandwritesongs.ToSelmaAvenueVERSE#3:Whenthethrillwasstillaround,howsweetthesound Referencing“AfterTheThrillISGone”/The

Eaglessweetharmonies.ButthenCaliforniawavedtothoseoldpals WhentheerawasgoneandTheEagles

brokeup/ReferencingtheKimCarnesrecordedsong“MyOldPals”whichwassungatGlenn’sfuneral.

Andsomeofthatamazinggrace Referencing“AmazingGrace”/Theinspired

songsfromthattimeperiodThatshinedthroughinthoseearlydays Theearly70sStillremained Feelslikethosesongwritersleftsomemagic

inthebuildingforotherstoclaimyearslater…LyleLovett,RodneyCrowell,maybeevenme,etc.

Anditcalledmyname

Page 6: The Story of Selma Avenue - Troubadour 77troubadour77.com/.../uploads/2017/11/The-Story-of-Selma-Avenue.pdfThe Story of SELMA AVENUE ... , singing into my hairbrush along with Linda

CHORUS#2:FromSelmaAvenueYourredlightshinedfortruth TherecordinglightAndledmestraighttoyouInmyowntime 25yearslater/mid1990swhenIwasold

enoughtopursuemydream.Andwhenmydreamscametrue WhenIwassignedtoCriterionIwassingin’mysongforyou ReferencingLeonRussell’s“SongforYou”–

andhowwhenmytimeisover…remember

howweweretogether…andIwassinging

mysongs…undertheCriterionmoniker.Inthetracksofmyyears Referencingsideways“TracksofMyTears”Inbetweeneachline EachlineofeverysongIwroteforCriterionIneverdreamedthatI’deversaygoodbye Neverthoughtthatsacredspotwhere

incrediblemusicwasmadewouldhavetobesoldandbroughttorubble.

ToSelmaAvenueBRIDGE:Thenlikeathiefinthenight BiblicalreferenceThemachinescame Thebulldozers/AlsotherecordmachineAssoonaspenhitpaper Thesaleofthebldg.…1hourafterthe

contractwassignedthebulldozerscame/Alsotheactualphysicalwritingofthesongsonpaperbackintheday.

Yoursouliswhatremained Thespiritofwhathappenedthere/The

SONGSaretheSOUL.Thesongsremain.Whenalltherestwaswashedaway Buildingwasrubble/Bodied(Oct,2016)Yoursongplayed ThelegacyofCriterionandallthe

songwriters.

Page 7: The Story of Selma Avenue - Troubadour 77troubadour77.com/.../uploads/2017/11/The-Story-of-Selma-Avenue.pdfThe Story of SELMA AVENUE ... , singing into my hairbrush along with Linda

Anditgotcarriedonthewind Whereitwillsingononceagain…andagain….andagain…andagain Thesongslastforever

regardlessofhowthingschangeandpeoplepass.

FromSelmaAvenueCHORUS#3:YeahdownonSelmaAvenueTherewereachosenfew Allthetroubadourswhogottowriteand

recordthere…spanning50years.WhocarvedtheirmarkinyouForalltime Meaningthesongslastforever.Youmadeourdreamscometrue Mickey&BoGoldsenwhosignedallthe

songwritersandgavethemashotattheirdream.

Nowwe’resingin’oursongsforyou Theartistsandwriterswhoarestill

performingthesongsandkeepingtheflamealiveforCriterion,Mickey,Boandthefans.

EverynightWewerealljustdreamersWhosomehowcaughtarideToSelmaAvenue PRELUDEREPRISE:AllthosetroubadourswalkedthroughyourdoorsDesperadosofthetruthCopyright2016JazzBirdieMusic(SESAC)[administeredbySelmaAvenueMusic(SESAC)]


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