The real question is: are you ready for this song? When The OBViOUS was preparing for "4OBViOUS rEASONS",  mr christopher pulled out "rEADY wHEN yOU aRE!" which he had been holding as an "album opener" for years. This song was recorded as a band on Wednesday, September 13th, 2000, complete with sing-a-long "doot-dos". For the record, The OBViOUS really has nothing against hair gel.

doors in my heart are closing to prepare myself for you
to guard my heart from any harm
till I see a love that's true

I've been going alone, biding my time for awhile
don't want a heart that's broken in two,
....before I meet you

look into these eyese girl,
and see a man revealed
yes I've been hurt a thousand times
now I need a love that's real

I've been going alone, biding my time for awhile
don't wanna heart that's broken in two,
....before I meet you

CHORUS
ready when you are
I'll know you when I see you there
no, You're not too far
just know that I am waiting here... ready when you are

I gaze into the sunset
and try and think things through
yes I know that you're our out there girl 
now I'm waiting here for you

I've been going alone, biding my time for awhile
I'm waiting for something new,
I think that I'm waiting for you.

Repeat CHORUS

SOLO

repeat CHORUS

TAG 
ready when you are......
ready when you are......
ready when you are!

Well, the OBViOUS finally completed a song once believed couldn't be finished with this Wednesday, Sept 13th, 2000 recording.

Six years earlier, mr christopher had spent 2 months in China writing and recording an elaborate demo for this song. Suddenly, his rickety ol' 4-track ate the tape, ruining 2 months work! So disgusted was he, that he left the song alone for years. 

mr christopher: "I was a bit reluctant to attempt the song again in fear of further disaster. 

Despite mr c's paranoia,  this version was recorded with relatively few casualties. Hey, sometimes you've just got to believe!
 

by a cliff on the ocean
I look up in the air
I know that you're right beside me
and you always stay there

but when the clouds get hazy 
and it's so hard to see
now's not the time to go get lazy
now's the time to believe, ...believe 

I seize the moment
and look straight ahead
I follow the voice 
I hear in my head

but when the clouds get hazy
and it's so hard to see
I do the one thing I am sure of
That puts my mind at ease, I believe...

so keep on running with all of your might
you've got to keep on running through the darkest night
you'll see things happen that you've only dreamed
you know it won't be long, you've got to believe

Ooo, you've got to believe!
believe it!
believe...

cause when the clouds get hazy 
it gets so hard to see.
you know when life gets so crazy
and you need some relief, believe...

you've got to keep on running with all of your might
you've got to keep on running through the darkest night
you'll see things happen that you've only dreamed
you know it won't be long, you've just got to believe!

A song written for the lovely co-star of all those great Bob Hope and Bing Crosby "road movies", Dorathy Lamour. 

It's a swing cocktail...with a rock twist! It turns out that mr christopher is a big Bob Hope fan. He happened to come up with this one after watching a "Road Movie" marathon. There are hints of a few "Road Movie" songs in the guitar solo, see if you can pick them out (... it's 'name that tune' in 5 notes!)

Tim and Brad, not being the "road movies" fans that mr christopher is, were on  a litle road trip of thier own during the recording of this one.

I'm falling on the floor
for DorathyLamour
just to watch her dance and sing
On The Road with Bob and Bing

in Bali she's the bomb
with eyes that might alarm
in Zanzibar she paid her rent
singing with her crooning gents

CHORUS:
Dorathy Lamour!
Dorathy Lamour!

utopia is where
well, any place she's there
morocco, she's the desert queen
on camels across the movie screen

RePEAT CHORUS

when I am in Singapore
I still look for Miss Lamour

RePEAT CHORUS

SOLO

(Retard)
I'm falling on the floor
for DorathyLamour
just to watch her dance and sing
On The Road with Bob and Bing

in Bali she's the bomb
with eyes that might alarm
in Zanzibar she paid her rent
singing with her crooning gents

RePEAT CHORUS (2x)
 

mr christopher wrote this tune on the drums (kinda like "Rose Coloured Glasses" from 2OBViOUS!) as a New Years resolution in january 2000. Recording commenced on June 26th, 2000 where Brad went slap-happy on the bass and Tim? ...we'll, we don't know where he went.

This song features the only accoustic guitar on this album, also a mysterious man named "Freddy Scatz" cameos on the 'atonal' organ solos.

CHORUS:
Closer, yeah closer, closer than today
Closer, yeah closer, closer than today

near enough to know your mind
near enough to say
we're closer much closer than today

knowing you're here, when I'm over there
knowing the distance between
space that denies the feeling 
that everything is as it seems

RePEAT CHORUS

near enough to know your mind
near enough to say
we're closer much closer than today

so much to say when things are this way
but actions speak louder than words
I'm trying to find someplace to hide
to keep the distractions at bay

RePEAT CHORUS
I want you to speak your mind
I want you to say
we're closer much closer closer now today

we are getting so much closer
so much closer each and every day now
we are getting so much closer
so much closer each and every day now

RePEAT CHORUS

we are getting so much closer
so much closer each and every day now
we are getting so much closer
so much closer each and every day now

Epilogue:
I wanna be closer to ya, whoaa
I wanna be closer to your heart
I wanna be closer to ya, whoaa
I wanna be closer to your heart

The Single!!! Beatle-esque verses, and a huge rockin' CHORUS that just rips your head off: hEY yOU!!!!!

Work started on this one on June 25th, 2000, while Tim and Brad were honeymooning in Tahiti (...not together obviously) leaving mr christopher alone in the studio. The words weren't finished until the actual vocal session after which christopher complained of dizzy spells from singing so hard!

A live remake of this song was recorded in England at Abbey Road Studios in January 2001 which is where the video for this song was filmed.
 

I've been walking around this town
...wondering what to do
I've been weighing the pros and cons
...of just talking to you.
I've been holding my own for too long now
...and you know what I've found?

CHORUS:
hey you!
you know what I want to do
is spend all my time with you.
now waddya think
hey you!

I'm looking at you
trying to guess what's on your mind
I look at my shoes
but you've turned way too fast I find
you're eyes just say caught you that time
so let me lay it on the line

CHORUS:
hey you!
you know what I want to do
is spend all my time with you.
now waddya think
hey you!

"Think back about 40 years to the musty beat clubs of northern England, with thier distinctly sweaty atmosphere ...and the live band is just workin to get your attention. Here's the same thing, with 40 years later, happening over the internet. "

Released as a 'internet single' in December 2000, this tune tears apart a song covered by the Beatles at the Cavern Club in Liverpool back in 1962.

The tracks were recorded at one of the first band sessions for this album on July 8th, 2000. Tim's creative drum contributions are apparent in the original intro and bridge. Brad effectively slaps this one silly as well. Also featured is guest harmonica player: John Burr.

A live remake of this song was recorded in England at Abbey Road Studios in January 2001, and appears on the "hEY yOU!" CD single as the "abbey road mix."
 

some other guy, now, has taken my love away from me, oh now 
some other guy, now, has taken away my sweet desire, oh now 
some other guy, now, is sayin' she don't wanna hold my hand, 
oh now 
I'm the lonely one 
as long as II can feel all right 

some other guy is sippin' up the honey like a yellow dog, oh now 
some other guy, now, has taken my love just like i'm gone, oh now 
some other guy, now, has taken my love away from me, oh now 
I'm the lonely one 
as long as I can feel all right 

some other guy!

some other guy, now, is makin' me very very mad, oh now 
some other guy, now, is makin' my past seem oh so bad, oh now 
some other guy, now, she was the first girl I ever had, oh now 
Im the lonely one 
as long as I can feel all right 

some other guy!
 

In may 2000, strange things were brewing in the Digital Banana Recording Studio, with the combining of an electronic (...nearly techno) 'intro', a dissonant guitar progression, a beatle-esque chorus, heavy progressive verses, and a dark 'swing' ending into a song revealing The OBViOUS at it's most expressive!

As Tim was out getting spring water for his bonzi tree, christopher stole the drum sticks. Bradley brought on the funk with his slap bass and great vocals on those beatle-ly choruses, all completing this "strangest" of OBViOUS tracks (...well aside for "gOING 2").

You're the only one I ever want
You're the only one I need
...To LOVE

mystery sunrize,
lights up my head
wpaces beside me
are heavy as lead.

canyons' between us
the moon starts to rise
I wander the roads to where I belong 
can you tell by the look in my eyes...?

CHORUS:
You're the only one I ever want
You're the only one I need
...To LoVE

silently spoken
nothing is said
quiet so deafening
that it hurts my head.

city street rider 
just looking for love
cracks in the sidewalk
full of rain from above

CHORUS:
you're the only one I ever want
you're the only one I need
...To LoVE 

OUTRO:
silently spoken
nothing is said
quiet so deafening
that it hurts my head.

Written early in 2000, for "no one in particular" and recorded by no one ...save mr c. "It must be getting late" when something gets recorded this lounge-y. 
Continuing in the tradition of "It's Much Too Soon To Say" and "Gaze In Your Eyes" from The OBViOUS I CD, another attempt to write something 'timeless' was realized. "I've come to realize, that you're easy on the eyes". 

it must be getting late
my eyes won't stay awake
so come here for goodness sake (you're so )

CHORUS:
easy On The Eyes
easy On The Eyes

a sight for these sore eyes
you don't cease to surprise
I've come to realize (that you're)

RePEAT CHORUS

the job's turned me to stone
can't wait to get on home
so we can be alone (cause you're)

RePEAT CHORUS

What The Heck!?! There's rap, funk, odd-time "mod-thrash" all mixed together on this real catchy grooving muther.  Certainly a deviation from The OBViOUS "norm" (...wait, there was never one to begin with...NEVER MIND!) And wait! Isn't that "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in the solo? Whatever!

What planet did this one come from? Well, mr christopher had a hook, a riff and lots of little parts. Bradley and Tim walked "in" with pizza, and walked "out" with this song "Frankensteined" together on  October 25th, 2000.

The final lyrics are rumoured to be spoonerisms of various ingredients found in Brad's favorite salad dressing ... Brad and Tim are also featured vocalists (!?!) on the pre choruses.
 

babe you got another thing coming
If your gonna pull one over on me
babe you got another thing coming
If your gonna pull one over on me  (2x)

can't understand your fatal plan
to knock your man ...right on his can

oh you had a good thing going
and you had a real lover in me

CHORUS:
baby where you're going to  (...going to)?
(Oooh!) where you're going to 
you've got no room for me.

babe you got another thing coming
I'm no ticket to the land of the free
babe you got another thing coming
but you're never going to get it from me

I'm the man who helped you stand 
on this great land.     (Here's my bad-assed band...!)

RePEAT CHORUS

I'm riding a wave of emotion
that is getting the b-better of me
I'm riding a wave of emotion
and I can not seem to get myself free

you bit the hand of your true man
who took a stand against your plan

RePEAT CHORUS

you had a real good thing going
you had a real lover in me
you had a real good thing going
you had a real lover in me

can't understand your fatal plan 
to kill the man with whom you stand

RePEAT CHORUS (2x)

A rather humorous r&b ditty recorded after the sOME oTHER gUY session. Named "dUCKY" after the rather obscure the slang term for being "just fine", christopher would entertain a certain little girl with this song, quacking along with the already "ducky sounding", quacky guitar. However, it was Brad who added the finishing touches to this July 8th, 2000 recording with his fine trombone solo and end voiceover.
 

"so lucky, you're my ducky"  ;-)

Ok musically The OBViOUS call this a "Latin flavored heavy pop tune". With inspriation from Sting (from back in his darker "nothing like the sun" days) and that dang "Beatles influence" on the chorus, this still comes across as a very haunting original tune.

Recorded on November 15th, 2000, at 8 PM, Bradley effortlessly played a superb fretless bass track, while Tim quite easily pulled off some heavy exotic percussion. Christopher, on the other hand, had to call an old girlfriend from ages before to put himself in the right frame of mind to record a convincing vocal for this one. Ah yes, "artist suffering for their art" in action.
 

this empty house , this empty room
this empty space not filled by you.
on quite nights 
I realize how all alone I feel inside

CHORUS:
but on this lonely night I pray
some night when you just lie away
you don't regret the choice you made
but fondly recall those golden days

once so far within my grasp 
now so close, but your attached
life has castles made of sand
each grain someone 
slipped though our hands

RePEAT CHORUS

Recall those golden days
Recall those golden days

memories, like pictures fade
the colors turn to darker shades
But disappeared they never will
I know I can't forget you still.

RePEAT CHORUS

recall those golden days
recall those golden days

I somehow can't forgive myself
just knowing you love someone else
his band of gold, keeps us apart
but we were one once in our hearts

RePEAT CHORUS

recall those golden days
recall those golden days

jUST sAY iT wITH yOUR eYES
(c) mr christopher  June 13,14, 1995

A jamming 'beatle-ly pop thingy' that talks about "other" methods' of communication ...i.e.: via the windows to the soul.  Tim obviously had too much sugar on his cereal for breakfast that day, Bradley obviously was having a spasmodic thumb, and mr christopher found himself singing of some strange misunderstanding he had had earlier when his contact lenses where giving him a problem. Recorded Saturday, October 28, 2000.

we're so afraid to say the words
we both have heard so many times before
what will it take for us to break the silence
and make it mean much more... more than before

deep in our souls, a mystery unfolds
which we keep inside, but betray with our eyes

I want to scream the cryptic dreams
that keeps our voices low... 
you try to speak in coded winks 
revealing what you know... but somehow we both know

deep in our souls, a mystery unfolds
which we keep inside, but betray with our eyes

CHORUS:
we say more with our eyes than we might realize
the time our silence buys soon only leads to lies
so when love's bona fide, but you can't verbalize
the secrets that you hide, just say it with you eyes... with your 
eyes.

do we care, or do we dare to say the words
our hearts already say
can we reveal the way we feel
though we're so afraid...

deep in our souls, a mystery unfolds
which we keep inside, but betray with our eyes

RePEAT CHORUS

Sit down, relax ....but fasten your safety belts. A song written as an exercise to write a "Cheers"-like, sitcom theme song. Initially performed pristinely before a studio audience ...the band realized how campy it would sound to OBViOUS fans listening to this album, thus turning it on it's ear by breaking into the "Sex Pistols-like portion" which was sung completely off the cuff (and off key!) by Brad and Tim (in one take!) on Saturday, November 4th, 2000. Simply ...er, beautimous!

please don't hesitate
you'll just be late again
just say you'll take the train 
and hurry here my friend
when you come around 
you know I'll be found 
in this old familiar place

here were safe from all the protocol relax
oh just sit on back 
and let me fill your glass
and tell me just how
you first made it down
to this old familiar place

BRiDGE:
this place is where we talk of times we've had
a certain sense of de deja vu
time stands still each time that we come back
and yet each day here is brand new

our time seems much too short
before we leave once more
let's try to make a plan 
before we leave the door
where were back in town 
let's plan to come round
to this old familiar place

TAG:
next time around 
we'll both be found 
in this old familiar place

The OBVIOUS joined with former Via Satellite keyboardist "Freddy Scatz" for a very passionate jazz rendition of an old Via Satellite song written by mr christopher almost 13 years earlier.  The recording took place Saturday, November 18, 2000 at about 6:20 in the evening. However, vocals for this song weren't completed until mr christopher finished writing "the missing verse" just before mixing in Tokyo, Japan in Spring 2001.

oh I wouldn't want you to know
oh I wouldn't want you to know

wouldn't you know I've fallin' again 
I wouldn't want you aware
Can't you see what's happening to me.
Oh no you wouldn't know.

oh I wouldn't want you to know
oh I wouldn't want you to know

couldn't I show a little finesse
and drop a hint here and there
by and by you would read the signs
but no, you'll never know

you shouldn't know that I need you
you shouldn't know I care about you
I try to hide what's deep inside
you'll never see it in my eyes, no...

[Solo]

whoa, I wouldn't want you to know
whoa, I wouldn't want you to know what is going on

Wouldn't you know rain's fallin again,
but you'll never know my dear
Can't you see what is happening to me?
Oh Whoa, you'll never know
It's you... but you'll never know......

Tongue-in-cheek lyrics, a testosterone performance... it could only be THE OBViOUS's tribute to the David Lee Roth era Van Halen funk groove rock.  Recorded Wednesday, November 15, 2000, but written 5 years earlier in China from an obviously mysterious state of mind.

something happens when you look in my eyes
no, actually all you did was walk by
it is a mystery that i can't explain
somethin inside of me has certainly changed

CHORUS:
mysterious, mysterious
mysterious, mysterious

my thoughts are blocked out like a solar eclipse
desires of solitude have all taken trips
bermuda's far away, but the triangle's near
i've lost my bearings, somethings happening here

RePEAT CHORUS

[Solo]

up until now i've been doing just fine
sailing alone like a boat down the rhine
but now my head is saying, "get out of here!"
something is pulling me back, something is drawing me near 

RePEAT CHORUS (2x)

"well, we hope you've enjoyed this pirate radio broacast of 4obvious reasons, the latest release from the obvious.

 the obvious guys would like to send out a special thanks to the whole lot of you who have made this tri-continental recording possible 
....including: kevin white, mike phillips and erm in england.
 a special "domo" as they say to: shingo, kaori and the two "junko"s
in tokyo, japan.

 the obvious would also like to thank family and friends in the good ol' us. special kudos to guest keyboardist richard anderson.

 the obvious has made through another year, another album, and it's time to sign off - say goodbye, sayonara,  zie jien, so long..unill next time" from brad, tim and mr christopher ....all of whom are feelin' 'ducky'. ...4obvious reasons."