writer: Doug Koempel
album: Tightrope! (BOF-65) 1989
artists: the Memory Brothers
publishing: Blue Baker Music BMI
lead vocal: Doug Koempel
background vocals: Kevin Conner and Doug
acoustic and electric guitar: Kevin Conner
backing tracks programmed and played by Doug
sequenced on Korg M1's internal sequencer
instruments: Korg M1, Casio CZ-101 and Alesis HR-16
recorded at: Bird-On-Fire Recording Studio / West Union, Iowa
Doug's notes:
This song is one of my favorites. The ephemeral nature of the past - as in places and acquaintances - inspired "Heart Motel."
"Well, the sign to the lounge, it is weathered and worn,
And the neon lights, they don't flash anymore.
But I can see the ghosts, every time I drive by,
Of laughter and lovin' in the middle of the night"
Remember the Brothers, they were a great band,
We were a couple of their biggest fans,
At the Heart Motel back in the good ol' days,
They would dedicate a song and then begin to play"
Written in the mid-'80s, these lyrics turned out to be a bit prophetic as most of the places referenced are now - some thirty years later - sitting abandoned and/or dilapidated. And many of those dear acquaintances are but distant memories.
In the '70s on my way to gigs at "Charlies" in Algona, Iowa, I would drive past a place in Charles City called the Hart Motel. Just like the venue mentioned in the above lyrics, Hart Motel is no longer there; but it was the inspiration for the song title and eventually became the emblematic "Heart Motel" referenced in the chorus.
click on video link at top of page to play "Heart Motel."
album: Tightrope! (BOF-65) 1989
artists: the Memory Brothers
publishing: Blue Baker Music BMI
lead vocal: Doug Koempel
background vocals: Kevin Conner and Doug
acoustic and electric guitar: Kevin Conner
backing tracks programmed and played by Doug
sequenced on Korg M1's internal sequencer
instruments: Korg M1, Casio CZ-101 and Alesis HR-16
recorded at: Bird-On-Fire Recording Studio / West Union, Iowa
Doug's notes:
This song is one of my favorites. The ephemeral nature of the past - as in places and acquaintances - inspired "Heart Motel."
"Well, the sign to the lounge, it is weathered and worn,
And the neon lights, they don't flash anymore.
But I can see the ghosts, every time I drive by,
Of laughter and lovin' in the middle of the night"
Remember the Brothers, they were a great band,
We were a couple of their biggest fans,
At the Heart Motel back in the good ol' days,
They would dedicate a song and then begin to play"
Written in the mid-'80s, these lyrics turned out to be a bit prophetic as most of the places referenced are now - some thirty years later - sitting abandoned and/or dilapidated. And many of those dear acquaintances are but distant memories.
In the '70s on my way to gigs at "Charlies" in Algona, Iowa, I would drive past a place in Charles City called the Hart Motel. Just like the venue mentioned in the above lyrics, Hart Motel is no longer there; but it was the inspiration for the song title and eventually became the emblematic "Heart Motel" referenced in the chorus.
click on video link at top of page to play "Heart Motel."
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