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A Sunshine State of Mind

by The Soul of John Black

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1.
Magic Woman 03:50
chorus- oh she's a magic woman called the sun yeah she came runnin' to shine on my good side and take the clouds away verse- oh she's a magic woman broke the clouds and brought back the sun again to shine on my good side and take my blues away i learned how to love again i took to wing and i flew to the sun again just open my arms and watched me float away chorus- oh she's a magic woman called the sun yeah she came runnin' to shine on my good side and take the clouds away oh she's a magic woman and i know that i won't have to run again she shined on my good side and glaciers just melted away i learned how to love again and i flew on the wings of a dove again just open my heart and watched me float away chorus- oh she's a magic woman called the sun yeah she came runnin' to shine on my good side and take the clouds away shine shine shine shine down on me oh my soul i never felt so free sometimes when you shine you take my blues away i was lost out in the woods i never thought that i ever could your soul made me happy and you took my blues away chorus- oh she's a magic woman called the sun yeah she came runnin' to shine on my good side and take the clouds away
2.
such a beautiful day and i want to spend it with you such a beautiful day ain't nothing that i'd rather do verse- darling what you doing the day is green and blue and let's take a walk in the park one that's made for two only me and you you know that special place i'd like to go whisper to a flower sweetly now we're one with mother nature chorus- such a beautiful day and i want to spend it with you such a beautiful day ain't nothing i'd rather do 2nd verse when the sun is rising we walking ocean side and leaving our foot prints in the sand anywhere together i think it's perfect weather for trying something old school like holding hands underneath the sweet magnolia now we're one with mother nature chorus- such a beautiful day and i want to spend it with you such a beautiful day ain't nothing that i'd rather do
3.
East LA Lady 04:26
i took the freeway to where i like to play on the other side of town they got some pretty little spicy things you know they never let me down sippin' on corazón and i'm in the zone you know i never felt so good she sangin' hey lover if you wanna dance then make your way over to my hood oh chorus-- east la, andale'! i'm on my way to the other side of town i wanna dance with you chica cause you know how to shake it down, oh! tejano mama oh you makin' me wanna try something that i never tried she said, i wanna take you to a special place and hopped up on my electra glide she talkin', you got some cheddar that could make it even better i'll show you things that you won't forget i said, tell me your name one more time she said, they call me little red corvette, oohhh!! east la, andale'! i'm on my way to the other side of town i wanna dance with you chica cause you know how to shake it down, oh! she shimmy shimmy and she shake shake shake until i just couldn't take no more news flash! they found your boy he was laying half dead still on that dancing floor, ooh! east la, andale'! i'm on my way to the other side of town i wanna dance with you chica cause you know how to shake it down, oh! east la, andale'! i'm on my way to the other side of town i wanna dance with you chica cause you know how to shake it down, oh!
4.
Higher Power 03:28
i was makin' plans when the real life hit me i woke up and found a message waitin' for me on the table by the clock and the humidifier i smoke too much these days i need to get a little higher i read some books and i've been tryin' to find myself within you know we get like that when good times start to runnin' thin first thing you wanna do is try to change your life find that higher power get back to the real light 2 x we vibrate we resonate with a higher power i was feelin' good but didn't recognize the feelin' it's been so long i even thought that i was somewhere dreamin' on a river by a tree and sitting in the shade it don't take much to satisfy my restless heart these days i read some books and i've been tryin' to find myself within you know it gets like that sometimes when we just need a friend someone to let you know it's still alright to cry find that higher power get back to the real light 3 x we vibrate we resonate with a higher power
5.
i wanna love you baby but you won't let me take a chance i wanna stir your gravy all you got to do is ask if you're hot blooded for a pillow babe you can't satisfy your cat if you wanna hug a sweet johnny bear i have to volunteer for that give it to me hey hey hey hey hey give it to me hey hey hey hey hey gonna get tired of that rabbit babe runnin' all under your chin i'm gonna let you try it babe i bet you be my new best friend i you're hot blooded for a pillow babe you gonna want a little more it's just a house call for the doctor babe and i'll be knockin' at your door give it to me hey hey hey hey hey give it to me hey hey hey hey hey i wanna hug you baby and ain't nothing wrong with that i'm a chiropractic genius babe i got to straighten out your back if your hot blooded for a pillow babe i bet you'll be up all night i don't care how much you wiggle a pillow can't treat you right give it to me hey hey hey hey hey i'll be your johnny baby, johnny bear
6.
intro- you remember we used to listen to lenny kravitz? he had a few jams like this. a little cha cha vibe, nice for the lovers do you remember the time when everything was fine and we used to go out at night a few drinks with friends and we're back on the floor again dancing under the moonlight well, this is a dedication to all those occasions when we had a good time oh! sangria wine it was always cool to hang do a cha cha salsa thang we could dance with the moon and play our favorite tunes and do the lenny lenny love cha cha all night long lenny lenny love cha cha and do the lenny lenny love cha cha all night long lenny lenny love cha cha now do you remember when i used to pick you up and you wouldn't let me even take one picture of your sweet sexy body i had to put it in my mind you used to sing that song those were some good times well, i remember the time i stood in line for the lenny but when i got to the front no tickets, not any my man called on the phone said... i got two tickets for you homes you take your girl to the show i know you wanna go and do the lenny lenny love cha cha all night long lenny lenny love cha cha do the lenny lenny love cha cha all night long lenny lenny love cha cha goof it now like an ocean breeze you and me don't it feel good, don't it feel real good now yes it do, yes it do cha cha cha cha cha, che cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, che cha cha cha
7.
too much tequila and i don't think i can make it home i gave my keys to rosita and she said she would make sure that i got back home there's a real thin line between love and mistakes and i make lots of both all the time i think i know my limit i just got caught up in it sorry if i'm crossing the line sometimes i tend to wear my feelings so i'm rolling up my sleeves with a grin i think i know my limit i just got caught up in it drinkin' with the champion she knock me out again oh! too much tequila and i don't think i can make it home i gave my keys to rosita and she said she would make sure that i got back home i should have kept my cool not acting like a fool sorry but it happens sometimes i think i know my limit i just got caught up in it lickin' salt and squeezin' the lime sometimes i'm dealing and i'm feelin' pretty good it's so nice to see a real live friend i think i know my limit i just got caught up in it drinkin' with the champion she knock me out again, oh! too much tequila and i don't think i can make it home i gave my keys to rosita and she said she would make sure that i got back home
8.
Shake It Off 03:18
shake shake off that voodoo shake shake off that voodoo we've been talkin' bout sunshine but we ain't said nothing bout this rain for every drop of that goodness you know there's gonna be a little pain creepin' up your neck and down your iliac ooh you were cool you were made in the shade until you got something on your back you gotta chorus - shake shake off that voodoo shake shake off that voodoo we've been talkin' bout sunshine but we ain't said nothing bout this night she's the one who's takes over when you turn out all the lights creepin' up your neck and down your iliac ooh you was cool you were made in the shade until you got something on your back you gotta
9.
Lemonade 03:20
chorus- i got a lemon tree in my backyard baby pickin' lemons all day long i got a lemon tree in my backyard baby pickin' lemons all day long and then i squeeze em' all night oh! lemonade! all night long verse - oh i like the way you shake that thang whip it up real good got lemon meringue? squeeze a little bit in ya ice tea glass drink it down slow don't you move too fast chorus- 2nd verse- do i have to tell you you should already know the best fruit is at the bottom come on let's go get down off the ladder take a look at these ain't even gotta peel just cut and squeeze
10.
verse- would you mind if we turn up the heat make it feel like june in the middle of spring i'm wondering can we have a summer time thang we got cozy in the winter time so intertwined but summer you get so free and i'm wondering can we have a summer time thang chorus- oh! we made love thru the winter then winter turned to spring and i'm wondering can we have a summer time thang x2 verse- can you see the splendor on the green it's just a natural thing two people coming together i'm wondering can we have a summer time thang and i knew it when i saw you you were everything in my summer time dream and i'm wondering can we have a summer time thang chorus-
11.
too much tequila and i don't think i can make it home i gave my keys to rosita and she said she would make sure that i got back home there's a real thin line between love and mistakes and i make lots of both all the time i think i know my limit i just got caught up in it sorry if i'm crossing the line sometimes i tend to wear my feelings so i'm rolling up my sleeves with a grin i think i know my limit i just got caught up in it drinkin' with the champion she knock me out again oh! too much tequila and i don't think i can make it home i gave my keys to rosita and she said she would make sure that i got back home i should have kept my cool not acting like a fool sorry but it happens sometimes i think i know my limit i just got caught up in it lickin' salt and squeezin' the lime sometimes i'm dealing and i'm feelin' pretty good it's so nice to see a real live friend i think i know my limit i just got caught up in it drinkin' with the champion she knock me out again, oh! too much tequila and i don't think i can make it home i gave my keys to rosita and she said she would make sure that i got back home

about

John A. Bigham's innovative soul-roots outfit The Soul of John Black presents A Sunshine State of Mind, a compilation of upbeat tunes that embody the "essence of summer".

The inspiration for A Sunshine State of Mind came to JB during the winter in his home town of Los Angeles. "Although the sun shines all the time here, the mood brightens even more once the summer months arrive," he explained. "I wanted to write songs that would keep that attitude going year-round." Each of the tracks in the album has a lighthearted feeling, complimenting the upbeat theme of the overall collection.

From "Higher Power", a soulful anthem with an uplifting message of community and interrelatedness, to the driving groove of "East LA Lady", Bigham displays the unique stylistic fusion that has won praise from Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, National Public Radio, and others.

"Lemonade" combines California sunshine with blues, funk and a second line beat that comes right out of New Orleans, while "Johnny Bear (Give It To Me)" is an uptempo blues romp that JB conceived as a modern-day tribute to the suggestive lyrics of classic bluesmen. "They couldn’t come out and say it, but you knew what they were talking about," he explains.

"Too Much Tequila" is an easygoing jam that could be considered a Jimmy Buffett-style "Margaritaville" for the new millennium, and "Lenny Love Cha Cha" is a remember-when tribute to classic Lenny Kravitz grooves that also nods to the golden days at the start of a new relationship.

On the album closer "Summertime Thang," JB follows his heart and embraces the soul portion of The Soul of John Black. He credits his family’s appreciation of soul music for his depth of feeling in bringing out his soulful voice. "I've been listening to more soul recently," Bigham said. "I never chose the songs. They chose me."

BeScene praised the songs as "cuts tailor-made for these popsicle-melting months" while Blinded By Sound enthusiastically admitted that "I can't get these songs out of my head and don't really want to."

Originally from Chicago, JB draws from the soul-filled South Side’s strong blues background and from the melting pot of styles that make up the Los Angeles scene, which he has been part of since the 1980’s. His musical resume is equal parts impressive and diverse, including work with Miles Davis, Dr. Dré, Nikka Costa, and Eminem, as well as an eight-year tenure playing guitar and keyboards in pioneering ska-funk-punk band Fishbone.

credits

released June 4, 2013

Written, performed, and produced by John A. Bigham aka John Black
All songs by John A. Bigham (Big Slamm Music / ASCAP)

all sounds by John A. Bigham
with
Oliver Charles - live drums (“Magic Woman”, “Beautiful Day”, “East LA Lady”, “Higher Power”, and “Too Much Tequila”)
Jacob Luttrell - electric piano (“East LA Lady”, “Lenny Love Cha Cha”, and “Too Much Tequila”)
Chris Joyner - electric piano (“Lenny Love Cha Cha”)
Andre Holmes – bass (“Shake it Off”)
Jonell Kennedy - background vocals (“Higher Power”)

Recorded at Tiger One Studio, Los Angeles
Mixed by Richard "Segal" Huredia at Hollywood Music City Studios, Los Angeles
Mastered by Robert Hadley

photo by Pep Williams
graphic design by Brooke Barnett

JB says: Thanks to everyone who participated in this project. Special thanks to the most high for bringing the sunshine…

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The Soul of John Black Los Angeles, California

"Funky blend of blues, soul, and rock" from ex- Fishbone and Miles Davis sideman, merging rootsy, bluesy fundamentals with modern soul, funk, and hip-hop influences.

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