Greetings from Laurel Canyon!
Most of my Idelic column posts start with a few lines from a favorite song from my record collection. This week, I only played one old song from my collection (well, with lyrics). The song “Return To Love” is from Swedish singer-songwriter Nicolai Dunger’s album Soul Rush.
As a favor to Mercury Rev’s A&R, Kate Hyman, I had lunch with Nicolai and his manager, Per. We ate at a Hugo’s on Santa Monica Blvd. I was new to V2 Records, but from my years at Interscope, I was used to what I called a “mercy meeting.” You know, someone wants to meet the VP of A&R—Nicolai was on tour supporting Mercury Rev, and they were cool, and Kate was a friend.
A remember drinking lots of ice tea. Asking lots of simple questions. The usual A&R kind of shit. What bands you do dig? Who do you compare you music too? These two Swedes seemed happy enough. They smiled and said “Yeah, ya,” like a Swedish musician would. At the end of our meal they handed me a CD or two. I remember looking at the cover and complimenting on the artwork. I flipped the CD over and a song title caught my eye.
“You have a song called “Dr. Zhivago’s Train”!
Nicolai replied, “Ya ya.”
“No, I mean, you have a song called, “Dr. Zhivago’s Train”!
“Ya ya”
“That’s a great concept for a song, really cool. I’m actually going to listen to this.”
Nicolai and his manager looked at each other puzzled. A few hand shakes and smiles later, I remember getting into my Chevy Tahoe and taking out the CD, and putting it on.
Mindblowing!
My boss laughed at me. Typical “Sidel,” for starting the job wanting to sign two bands just weeks into the new gig. He let me sign The White Stripes, but I was determined to work with Soul Rush.
Somewhere in the universe there are a few hundred copies of this amazing album with the Idelic logo on it. Very proud and in love with this magical album.
FYI. These are the words to. “Dr. Zhivago’s Train”
Hold on, when the train is moving
Through the sound of change
And tell those boys back in town
That there will be a call
Oooo train is comin’ on
Oooo train is comin’ on
A train is comin’ your way
And it sounds like
Just like a chase straight through the season
Or why not through your heart
It makes us see the strengh that surrounds us in all
Our failures
Just like the train in the film Doctor Zhivago
Horseflies, taxes, behind us.
Idelic Single of the Week: mary in the junkyard – Crash Landing
