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Cast​-​Iron Songs and Torch Ballads

by Dan Montgomery

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rcornell88
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rcornell88 Yep, as advertised, Dan and band are a little louder than usual and a little classic rockier than usual, but those are great things in the right (Dan's) hands. And there's still time to hush it down a bit on the emotion-soaked pair of "Glitter" and "All That Matters Now," and "Baby Your Luck's Running Bad" blends the shimmer of Philly soul with the grit of Memphis soul. Solid as cast iron and plenty of torch-level heat. Favorite track: Glitter.
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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    12' Vinyl LP , Limited Edition Gatefold Cut Away Sleeve include download card with all music, lyrics, credits and artwork.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Cast-Iron Songs and Torch Ballads via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    edition of 300 

      $20 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

1.
Start Again 04:17
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Start Again Everything you knew has changed - Things you used to do now seem so strange When everything just hurts you - And your own self deserts you And there's no one to turn to You Gotta Start Again - You Gotta Find a new way What you did back then - Don't mean a thing today All of the things that you relied on - Seems like they just up and died one day You gotta start again Nothing haunts you more than the empty page - Nothing taunts you more than the words that you can't say You're drinking all alone - You're sinking like a stone - And no one seems to know You Gotta Start Again - You Gotta Find a new way What you did back then - Don't mean a thing today All of the things that you relied on - Seems like they just up and died one day You gotta start again All of the things that you relied on - Seems like they just up and died one day You gotta start again
2.
If I Said It 03:34
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If I Said It Somebody's been taking up all your time Tugging on your coat sleeve and tellin lies Well to tell you the truth - I've made my mistakes But I think me and you - We got what it takes If you look in my eyes - You'll see no diguise = You'll see no lies If I said it - Then I meant it - If I say it than you know that it's true If I said it - Then I meant it - So I meant it when I said it to you There's no way of telling - How long these things can last I'm the kind of fella - Who learns from his past Forget what you've heard - From my enemy I'm a man of my word - As you can see If you look in my eyes - You'll see no diguise = You'll see no lies If I said it - Then I meant it - If I say it than you know that it's true If I said it - Then I meant it -If I said it that's what I'm gonna do I'm an open book - Go on take a look - I hope you like what you see The good, the bad, it's all me - The only way I know to be If I said it - Then I meant it - If I say it than you know that it's true If I said it - Then I meant it - So I meant it when I said it to you If I said it - Then I meant it - If I say it than you know that it's true If I said it - Then I meant it - So I meant it when I said I love you
3.
Beaumont 05:54
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BEAUMONT She moved into a trailer – With a drunken sailor – But she couldn’t keep things shipshape The more that he kept drinking – The more that she kept thinking – About making her escape. Cause after he flipped out – She started to slip out And once he shipped out – She just split town – She told me I gotta get to Beaumont tonight – Can you help me friend If I can get to Beaumont I can set things right – And I’ll never have to ask again She never said what she was going for – Could be a man – Probably to score I stopped asking long ago – Some things you just don’t need to know Like some dumb caper – Hanging bad paper And you can’t make her – See what’s at stake for her – She told me I gotta get to Beaumont tonight – Can you help me friend If I can get to Beaumont I can set things right – And I’ll never have to ask again And I was wondering if she made it this time – Was she finally free Then the phone rang and a voice came down the line – Saying would you accept the charges please She moved into a trailer – With a drunken sailor – But she couldn’t keep things shipshape
4.
Sort it All Out 03:51
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SORT IT ALL OUT You’ve been on my back all night – I’ve been just as bad Mayne the reason that we always fight – Is that we won’t let anything pass I don’t know, why we go – Around and around like this Let’s not fight, let’s say goodnight – And seal it with a kiss Cause I don’t want to fuss and fight – We can sort it all out in the morning Things will look better in the light – We can sort it all out in the morning In the heat of the moment words get said – That never should be spoken It’s a shame to start calling names – Cause that’s how hearts get broken There’s no telling with all this yelling – Where it’s gonna end Let’s not fight, Let’s say goodnight – While we still can Cause I don’t want to fuss and fight – We can sort it all out in the morning Things will look better in the light – We can sort it all out in the morning I can’t be held responsible for the things I said before – I don’t wanna hear the stories of your old boyfriends any more Cause I don’t want to fuss and fight – We can sort it all out in the morning Things will look better in the light – We can sort it all out in the morning
5.
Glitter 04:15
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GLITTER Now the party’s over – All the lights are on Where’s everybody going – Hey, where’s everybody gone when The band’s done playing – There’s just this ringing in my ears I don’t know how long it will be staying – A couple nights, a couple years You’re never gonna get all that Glitter off you – You’re never gonna get all that Glitter off you Now you gotta go home Well it seemed so sweet so sinful – Looked so much better in the dark Now it seems so simple – And you wear it like a scar You’re never gonna get all that Glitter off you – You’re never gonna get all that Glitter off you Now you gotta go home Everything is spinning round – I can’t tell up from down no more Everything that’s bad looks good – And I don’t do the things I should no more Now the night is over – And the sun’s come up again And your one true lover – Is home alone in your bed You’re never gonna get all that Glitter off you – You’re never gonna get all that Glitter off you You’re never gonna get all that Glitter off you Now you gotta go home
6.
In For a Penny 03:58
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IN FOR A PENNY Wanna do good – Don’t wanna do wrong – Wish I could Wanna do smart – Don’t wanna do dumb – But dumb’s more fun In for a penny – In for a pound That’s what I heard – That’s what I’ve found And once you start there’s no turning round In for a penny – In for a pound Wanna do right - Don’t wanna do wrong – Stay out all night Tell the truth – Don’t wanna lie – But you know why In for a penny – In for a pound That’s what I heard – That’s what I’ve found And once you start there’s no turning round In for a penny – In for a pound You can paint it black – You can paint it white – But all that paint – Don’t make it right In for a penny – In for a pound That’s what I heard – That’s what I’ve found And once you start there’s no turning round In for a penny – In for a pound
7.
Baby Your Luck's Running Bad 04:46
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BABY YOUR LUCK’S RUNNING BAD Nobody stays a winner forever – Even Dick Clark got old If you wanna see God laugh – Just tell him your plans He’s a spiteful so and so What a spiteful so and so I’m not the kind to run into a fire – There’s better ways to be burned You can’t help someone else if they won’t help themselves At least that’s what I’ve learned That’s what I’ve learned I’ve got to go away – But I’ll be back someday It’s not personal – Don’t be sad Baby your luck’s running bad You spent a little time on the top of the hill – You learned to like the view It felt so fine for such a long time But now the rent is due Yeah the rent is due I’ve got to go away – But I’ll be back someday It’s not personal – Don’t be sad Baby your luck’s running bad Nobody stays a loser forever – We all love a second act They’ll flip their lid for a comeback kid And that’s when I’ll come back Yeah I’ll come running back Cause when you’re riding high – I’ll be right by your side Until then - Don’t be sad Baby your luck’s running bad
8.
Lonesome Train 03:52
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LONESOME TRAIN I don’t know what I’m gonna do when that day comes It won’t be long till my time is at hand I’ve made mistakes, I know I can’t erase them But I’ve made more than any ordinary man I’ve cheated and swindled my sisters and brother I’ll tell the truth now, for once I won’t lie I swear I always loved my father and mother Though I could never say that and look them in the eye I’m riding on a Lonesome Train – I’m riding on a lonesome track I’m riding on a Lonesome Train and I ain’t coming back I spent my life a slave to temptation I know I’ll owe more than I can afford I spend my nights now down at the railway station Waiting on that man to yell All Aboard And when I hear the shout that starts my heart yearning And I step onto that long black train I know that I ain’t gonna worry bout returning I know it’s only just going one way I’m riding on a Lonesome Train – I’m riding on a lonesome track I’m riding on a Lonesome Train and I ain’t coming back And as I sat there I started to wonder Would it really be like people say With someone waiting when I get off up yonder To read a list off of my life’s mistakes And if that’s true then I know I’m in trouble And I am only just about to learn pain I’d trade everything I’ve stolen and double If I could only just get off this train I’m riding on a Lonesome Train – I’m riding on a lonesome track I’m riding on a Lonesome Train and I ain’t coming back
9.
All That Matters Now 03:24
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All That Matters Now If I should wake up and this is all just a dream I hope I forget all these things I've seen And just remember what you mean to me And that's all that matters now If I should wake up and you're lying next to me And I have a smile that's pure ecstasy Don't worry if that's all that's left of me Cause that's all that matters now Not the bills on the table - We'll get them when we're able Not the wolf at the door - He can't hurt us anymore Take my hand and I'll help you get back home Cause that's all that matters now If I should wake up and all these fears have washed away like sand And you reach over and you take my hand Just know I'll never let go again And that's all that matters now
10.
Rock Hard 03:06
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ROCK HARD It takes a whole lot of luck just to survive It takes a whole lot of living before you come alive You gotta learn to protect yourself Cause it’s so damned easy to wreck yourself Now I can’t tell you how it’s gonna be But one thing’s for sure – You gotta be Rock Hard They say life is short, I say life is long And if you wanna get through it then you gotta stay strong You can’t worry bout peoples’ lies You gotta learn to keep your eyes on the prize Things ain’t always what they seem to be But if you’re gonna make it – You gotta be Rock Hard When things are good everybody’s there Fair weather friends, we’ve all had our share Everybody’s cool when it’s time to shout But who’s left standing when the bottom drops out I can’t tell you what you’re gonna see – But when you need me most – I’m gonna be Rock Hard

about

“Tomorrow’s Classic Rock… Today”

Singer-songwriter Dan Montgomery will be releasing his seventh album Cast-Iron Songs and Torch Ballads April 7. It was recorded at The Shack in the Back studio in Memphis, TN with Montgomery and Robert Mache’ producing. It’s being issued on 12” vinyl LP, digital download and via
streaming services by Fantastic Yes Records.
It’s not unusual for an artist to signal a “return to their roots” a few albums into a career. Usually this brings out mandolins, banjos, and variations of the folk tradition. Cast-Iron Songs and Torch Ballads is NOT that.
After six critically acclaimed Americana albums later, Montgomery reconnected with the raw rock he played in his youth. “I came into possession of a Danelectro, plugged it into an amp and new songs immediately came pouring out. And they were songs with riffs! It was wild to experience my current singer-songwriter self, meeting up with that Classic Rock kid from the past. But it felt totally natural. I knew right away that I had to book time and cut an album with
my band while the moment was hot. And I did!”

Dan’s roots may not be folksy and down home but they are no less real. Coming of age in South Jersey in the early Seventies, he cut his teeth gigging at dances and parties when he was fourteen. “I was the youngest in the band,” says Montgomery. “The first songs I played on stage were by Grand Funk, Bad Company, and Bachman Turner Overdrive. It was wild. At one of our gigs a guy showed up with a gun because our drummer was fooling around with someone’s wife. And he was only a junior in high school!” The time and the place were ripe for Dan to begin his musical education, performing what is now called Classic Rock. “It was just new rock back then, pre-Freebird rock. I loved it.”

Ultimately, Dan began writing his own songs and quickly found this environment to be unsuited for his compositions. “I became really serious about lyrics and that flew in the face of dancing and fist fighting so I began playing solo on the local coffeehouse circuit. It was great. I learned a lot about folk and country songwriting and eventually my electric guitar began to gather more and more dust.”

Leading up to this release, Dan Montgomery has enjoyed what the Philadelphia Inquirer recently described as “a career of consistently stellar work.”  It has also been a career unafraid of tackling
deep issues.  “Few writers can write about tough times as unflinchingly,” says the Memphis Flyer. “A dynamic songwriter,” concurs Big Takeover Magazine. On Cast – Iron Songs and Torch Ballads, Montgomery takes things up a notch by using classic rock embellishments that make this his most commercial effort yet, creating a place where lyrical depth and radio friendly production exist in harmony.

Kicking off the album is “Start Again,” a song about new beginnings and living in “the now,” a theme which runs through the whole album. The soaring slide guitar by Robert Mache suggests endless possibilities and the danger one might encounter with any new journey. Sometimes an
empty page can be a scary thing.
“Beaumont” is a true story though the name of the town has been changed to protect the guilty.
The biggest production on the record, this tale is told over a cinematic sonic soundscape with lush backing vocals by Candace and Robert Mache.
“Sort It All Out” could have been recorded in 1973 but manages to stay in the present with the immediacy of its message. Pounding drums and bass by James Cunningham and Tom Arndt
match the intensity of the song’s meaning. The addition of gang vocals and handclaps makes for
an instant classic.
The most heartfelt composition on the album, “All That Matters” is that rarest of things; a love song with no Get Out Clause. The commitment expressed in the lyrics sits on top of a perfect power ballad arrangement with exquisite backing vocals by the band.

This collection, as a whole, places Dan Montgomery on a level with not only the best Americana singer-songwriters but classic rockers as well. And it happened instinctually. “It’s amazing what holding the right guitar in your hands at the right moment can do,” says Montgomery. “The music definitely came through me on this one.” Montgomery plans on a full
band tour to celebrate these songs in June.

credits

released April 7, 2023

Produced by Robert Mache and Dan Montgomery
Engineered by James Cunningham
Recorded at The Shack in the Back Memphis, TN
Mixed by Robert Mache

Dan Montgomery - Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards
Robert Mache - Electric, Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals
Candace Mache - Vocals
James Cunningham - Drums, Percussion
Tom Arndt - Bass, Vocals
with Rick Steff - Keyboards
Jim Spake - Saxophone



All songs written by Dan Montgomery 2023 Fantastic Yes Music/BMI

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