We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Shelter In Place

by Michael James

/

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Deluxe eco-friendly cardboard gatefold card case. Full-color 20-page booklet with album notes, lyrics and musician credits. Custom artwork by Jeremy Sutherland, Christina Joy and Tim Roth.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Shelter In Place via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 1000 
    Purchasable with gift card

      $25 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

      $20 USD  or more

     

1.
When The Penny Drops 00:15
info
2.
Come Back Lover 04:15
lyrics
Tell me everything will be okay I want to hold you, but I can’t today I fight the feeling, but I’m stuck at home I try to tell myself I’m not alone Come back lover, find your way Come back home to yesterday Our empty place reminds me The weather today will eventually break So I’ll shelter in our space And I’ll imagine your embrace Pretend that everything’s okay Turn off the TV ‘cause they’ve all gone mad It might be funny if it weren’t so sad Outside my window is the Twilight Zone You’re out there somewhere, too—you’re not alone Come back lover, find your way Come back home to yesterday Our empty place reminds me The weather today will eventually break So I’ll shelter in our space And I’ll imagine your embrace Pretend that everything’s okay Come back lover, find your way I hear your voice before I even dial I see your picture and it makes me smile But any hour we spend on any phone It doesn’t help the fact we’re still alone Come back lover, find your way Come back home to yesterday Our empty place reminds me The weather today will eventually break So I’ll shelter in our space And I’ll imagine your embrace Pretend that everything’s okay Come back lover, find your way
3.
Nothing Lasts Forever 04:36
lyrics
Did you ever love somebody so much That you'd give up your life? If you'd really take a bullet for love Then you know why I'd die for you Baby nothing lasts forever I'm gonna love you dead or alive If we crash the car together We collide, we're beautified, and we're still alive I've been thinking 'bout the home that we built and the garden we tend All the love we made and even the spilled milk I don't want it to end Baby nothing lasts forever I'm gonna love you dead or alive If we crash the car together We collide, we're beautified, and we're still alive Let me explain Cause I really don't want to freak you Everything's here and now You can see it if you open your eyes I can't complain Even though I can't write a haiku: We're all gonna die Live a little while we can Is this a haiku? Are you mindful, do you live in the moment? Everything is right here, right now Are you waiting for the Day of Atonement? Are you feeling aroused? Baby nothing lasts forever I'm gonna love you dead or alive If we crash the car together We collide, we're beautified, and we're still alive I don't wanna grow old without you I'm pretty sure you feel the same When our song becomes a curfew We collide, we're beautified, and we're still alive I don't want to be the last one standing But I don't want you to go it alone So let's make a deal that we move on and find love Life is for the living
4.
Learning To Live Without You 05:23
lyrics
I woke up today but it wasn't a dream The terrible truth is surreal You snuck out the back around midnight it seems And made your escape in the field It wasn't a plan, just an innocent fling You were living your life unconfined You couldn't have known that your impulse would bring Such sorrow to those left behind There's so much pain, I can't contain it I'm absolutely devastated... I'll never see my baby again Is your soul flying free? (Is your soul flying free) Do you still think of me? (Is your soul flying) Is happiness a silent song, A tiny dot in a perfect storm? Oh my God! Will my tears flood the streets? As I learn to live without you Learning to love, learning to live I'm learning to live without you Forgive and forget is a timeless cliche There's nothing you did to forgive I'm hanging on memories of you, yesterday Maybe forgetting's a gift The way that you laid on my lap every night The way that you looked in my soul with your eyes The way that you loved, the way that I pray The way that I feel, I can't make it today There's so much pain, I can't contain it I'm absolutely devastated... I'll never see my baby again Is your soul flying free? (Is your soul flying free) Do you still think of me? (Is your soul flying) Is happiness a silent song, A tiny dot in a perfect storm? Oh my God Will my tears flood the streets? As I learn to live without you Learning to love, learning to live I'm learning to live without you
5.
Scraping The Guard Rail 04:51
info
6.
I Can't Take It 04:31
lyrics
Pick a fight, make a scene, fuel the fire with gasoline In summertime, summer heat, Your little jokes are turning mean Hold it in, building steam, I’m tired of this old routine It’s killing me that you won’t look me in the eye Cigarette, I thought you quit, Another way to make some distance You must want to be miles away from me Losing again, I picture the end, I can’t take it, no I know how you get, let’s not pretend, I can’t take it Losing again, picture the end, I can’t take it, oh I know how you get Passing mood, a waking dream, something makes me want to scream About to tip, bite me lip, gulp my wine instead of sip Nagging pain, a little death, see what I’ve been up against, oh well It’s much bigger than me now An awkward pose, the words I chose, my hands don’t know where they should go I don’t want to think, I don’t want to know, I don’t want to know Losing again, I picture the end, I can’t take it, no I know how you get, let’s not pretend, I can’t take it Losing again, picture the end, I can’t take it, oh I know how you get and I can’t take it
7.
Save Me Tonight 05:18
lyrics
I thought I had my shit together I did everything right Nonetheless I really need you To save me tonight I'm taking inventory On paper we're fine It's just the same old story I'm barely toeing the line Why do I feel like I'm alone? Like nobody's home I need to know Does anyone feel? I turned on the lights But I'm empty inside I need to know Can somebody heal me? And save me tonight? I never tried to change the weather I took it in stride When you broke, I made you better I gave you my life I never asked for any glory I only did what I do But can I make it to the morning? Can I fall into you? Why do I feel like I'm alone? Like nobody's home I need to know Does anyone feel? I turned on the lights But I'm empty inside I need to know Can somebody heal me? And save me tonight? Am I alone, am I the only one who's ever felt this way? Unplug the phone and sink like a stone, or get my ass in gear and choose to live to love another day? Why do I feel like I'm alone? Like nobody's home I need to know Does anyone feel? I turned on the lights But I'm empty inside I need to know Can somebody heal me? And save me tonight?
8.
I'll Be Here 03:58
lyrics
I feel you struggle to manage When you’re out there on your own But I know you'll rise to the challenge When you see you’re not alone When you’re feeling like you’re running on a treadmill I can promise that I'll get you up the big hill I may be quiet, but I'm here When you need a friend to lend a helping hand I'll be here When you need me next to you to see you through I'll be here I can’t imagine how painful Your journey must have been But I’ve seen the diamonds in your soul And you’re gonna shine again When you get a little better at the life thing You're gonna notice that you got a couple strong wings Take a step, I'm by your side When you need a friend to lend a helping hand I'll be here When you need me next to you to see you through I'll be here I know that you try so hard To make it by yourself Just know that I'm never far And I’ll be there to lift you up When you need a friend to lend a helping hand I'll be here When you need me next to you to see you through I'll be here When you're in your darkest hour and sweet is sour I'll be here When everything is upside down I'll be around, I'll be here I'll be here I see the diamond in your soul You’re gonna shine again
9.
Push On Through (Marchesano Remix) 03:39
lyrics
Is this the life you were born to? Nobody warned you Instead they told you everything would be ok And everyone reminds you – Of what’s behind you But you’re not the same And if you think that you could give it one more try It doesn’t matter what the world will say When you don’t give a damn What’s the use in caring – when everyone is daring you to do Just what they want you to – Don’t you Make your mind up as you see fit – You gotta believe it–to make it true And push on through And all the dreams and all the demons – They lie there screamin’ And you couldn’t stand to watch them as they die Pretend you didn’t notice – You found what hope is It’s just another lie And did you think that you were given just one chance It doesn’t matter how the world can break you When you don’t give a damn What’s the use in caring – when everyone is daring you to think and do Just what they want you to – Don’t you Make your life up as you see fit – You gotta believe it – to make it true Push on through
10.
Something (arr. Michael James) 05:19
info
11.
I Can't Make You Love Me (I'm Drifting Alone) 04:52
lyrics
It’s only been a day since you walked away And now I’m out to sea, the sky’s turning grey Everything I do, I do for you Everything I do comes back to you I built this boat for two and I choose you I can’t make you love me if you don’t I love you, goodbye I’m an empty bottle, you’re the note I’m drifting alone It seems like yesterday since you walked away Everyday is like our first date for the the captain and her mate Everything I do, I do for you Everywhere I go comes back to you I built this boat for two and I choose you I can’t make you love me if you don’t I love you, goodbye I’m an empty bottle, you’re the note I’m drifting alone It’s not enough, lied to myself, it’s what it is An empty bottle, candlelight, the reason that I live More than just a memory of something never lived A kiss that’s never kissed I can’t make you love me if you don’t I love you, goodbye I’m an empty bottle, you’re the note I’m drifting alone
12.
Fly Me To The Moon 02:28
info
13.
Nothing Lasts Forever (Slight Reprise) 01:02
info
14.
Rise Up Into The Light 03:41
lyrics
I’ve lived my life I've lived it well Or so I hope Climbing this hill View's getting clear Higher up here As I rise up into the light So many questions So little time But now the answers They grow like vines They climb the wall Won't let me fall As I rise up into the light Take me to my lover Promise not to cry Drop me in the river Or throw me in the sky I shall rise up, I shall rise up I shall rise up into the light I've read the good book I tried my best Even when I stumbled Embraced the test I walked through fire Flames growing higher As I rise up into the light Take me to my lover Promise not to cry Drop me in the river Or throw me in the sky I shall rise up, I shall rise up I shall rise up, I shall rise I shall rise up, I shall rise up I shall rise up into the light Take me to my lover Promise not to cry Drop me in the river Or throw me in the sky
15.
You Think It's Over But It's Not 00:43
info
16.
Color Of My Skin 04:09
lyrics
How come the color of my skin Gives me a pass when you don't get in? We're basically the same Check out our DNA I'm free to do what I please You're face down being choked beneath a knee That's nothing new to me It's exactly what you see People killed because they’re black Thoughts and prayers will never bring 'em back We marched for Civil Rights Too many of us died How come they offer me a job When you can't even go out for a jog? Come with me, let's walk We really need to talk I just want to do some good But don't know where to start I'll come to your neighborhood We can have a heart to heart About the sins built in To the color of my skin How come we in the same band I get all the money when you holding out your hand? The double standard rules They take me for a fool How can we ever get real When open wounds never get the chance to heal? Are you reaching out? - I'll give you The benefit of the doubt How come when you protest "White-splaining" people make everything a mess? And then I go to sleep While orphaned parents weep What kind of garden would we have If every single flower looked the same? It's much more interesting When colors bloom in spring I truly want to do some good But don't know where start I'll come to your neighborhood We can have a heart to heart About the sins built in To the color of my skin About the sins built in To the color of my skin I watched them take his life And now I'm so ashamed My privilege is white My denial blood red stained I'm full of residue Of old systemic views But I commit to change Better yet, I'll be the change I truly want to do some good But don't know where start I'll come to your neighborhood We can have a heart to heart About the sins built in To the color of my skin About the sins built in To the color of my skin
17.
Let's Connect Our Minds 03:38
lyrics
If you’re born in Jamaica Or If you’re born in America There’s a new kind of soldier Whose songs are spreading beyond all borders From the homes in Kingston To the hills of Hollywood The music’s making a beeline The tribe will live on forever Let’s connect - Connect our minds together Let’s connect - Connect our hearts with love Let’s connect - Connect into a movement Let’s connect - Connect our lives with love Your drum is made from an oil can Mine was bought from the second hand It sounds the same all over The rhythm spreads like a four leaf clover From the beach to the night club People groove to the radio Catch the vibe that’s coming down From all the villages to your town Let’s connect - Connect our minds together Let’s connect - Connect our hearts with love Let’s connect - Connect into a movement Let’s connect - Connect our lives with love Anytime I think I’m on my own I reach out to my friends by telephone We’re all in this thing together Let’s connect and change this world right now, forever! Let’s connect - Connect our minds together Let’s connect - Connect our hearts with love Let’s connect - Connect into a movement Let’s connect - Connect our lives with love

about

• Venerable producer/mixer, Michael James, who crafted seminal records by New Radicals, Hole, Edwin McCain, Jawbreaker, L7, Robben Ford, AJ Croce, Kalimba, Chicago, Too Much Joy and others, steps back into the spotlight as a solo artist.

• New concept album, Shelter In Place, is inspired by the 2020 pandemic lockdown. Love, isolation, loss, mortality and hope infuse this revolving tapestry of stories that unfolds like an Altman film to remind us that we are parts of the same shared anatomy. A listen from top to bottom begins with an enjoyable night under the stars, with an orchestra that is suddenly disrupted by a global catastrophe. Lovers overcome obstacles to be reunited, while other couples are far too close for comfort, far too long. Some serendipitously thrive in the new world, while others contemplate their mortality. Everybody eventually learns they are not alone, that we are all in this thing (life) together.

• Stylistically diverse, but primarily sophisticated Rock, with a modicum of Americana, Singer-Songwriter, Jazz-Rock Fusion and cinematic orchestral textures to support the focus on intelligent storytelling. While lyrics are front and center, James plays inventive guitar solos and layered parts on every tune. Will appeal to fans high caliber musicianship, advanced harmonic concepts and organic instruments, reminiscent of Kevin Gilbert’s Thud or Sheryl Crow’s Tuesday Night Music Club. Seven guest vocalists make the album feel like an epic playlist.

• Recorded remotely during 2020, in collaboration with special guests David Kahne (Paul McCartney), Linda Taylor (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”), Chris Hesse (Hoobastank), Jason Cropper (Weezer) and Kenny Brack (Indianapolis 500 winner).

Celebrity Testimonial Quotes:

"Great working with Michael on the album. His skills as a musician and engineer / mixer are at the top of the game. I was really impressed with another one of his skills - his attention to emotional detail in the composition, production and performance. That’s the foundation of this body of work, reaching out in so many ways. Thanks, Michael!"
David Kahne, Producer (Paul McCartney, Kelly Clarkson, Tony Bennett, Lana Del Rey)

“Such a great collective of perfectly crafted songs! Vintage modern sounds married to pristine production by Michael James add up to an album loaded with superb radio potential.”
John Payne, Producer/Frontman (Asia, GPS, Dukes of The Orient, Raiding The Rock Vault)

“2020 was a shared, global experience. How often can you say that? It’s one thing to turn on the news and think, oh those poor people, it’s quite another to realize those ‘poor people’ are in fact…you. Michael has created, or maybe recreated, this once in a lifetime empathy with Shelter In Place. It’s a wonderfully honest and earnest album, free of strategy, free of sales pitch. When no words suffice, he doesn’t use any. When he has more to say, he makes the song longer. It’s a simple narrative and the most complex ideas are best expressed simply. You know how you feel when you listen to CSN&Y, or a guitar solo, or an earthy gravelly vocal? It’s a rhetorical question—I know how you feel, because that’s how I feel. We feel the same. How often can you say that? Thanks Michael, for reminding us.”
Linda Taylor, Guitarist/Producer (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, Art Garfunkel, Terri Lyne Carrington, Christopher Cross, Tracy Chapman, Sara Niemietz)

©2021 Alternator Records catalog # 42069-2. UPC-A 641444206926.
www.michaeljamesproducer.com www.alternatorrecords.com

credits

released September 24, 2021

Produced by Michael James, Urban Olsson, David Kahne, Aaron Durr, Brian Joseph Kenny & Eric Colvin

Mixed by Michael James
​Mastered by David Donnelly at DNA Mastering

Writers & Musicians:

01 When The Penny Drops (Michael James Marchesano)
Michael James: Guitar
Eric Colvin: Drums, Bass, Rhodes

02 Come Back Lover
(Michael James Marchesano, Aaron Durr)
Aaron Durr: Vocals, Keyboards, Drums
Michael James: Guitars, Fretless Bass, Dobro, Keyboards

03 Nothing Lasts Forever (Michael James Marchesano)
Urban Olsson: Vocals, Bass
Michael James: Guitars, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, Piano, Drums

04 Learning To Live Without You (Michael James Marchesano)
Franc Aledia: Vocals
Michael James: Guitars, Bass, Rhodes
Warren “Wishnefsky” Wellen: Synthesizers
Eric Colvin: String Arrangement
Jaben Pennell: Drums
Chris Jansen, Jeremy Sutherland: Additional Backing Vocals

05 Scraping The Guard Rail (All The Way Down)
(Michael James Marchesano, Warren Wellen)
Michael James: Guitar, Fretless Bass
Warren Wellen: Keyboards, Fender Bass, Percussion
Rob Ahlers: Drums
Chris Jansen: Additional Synthesizer

07 Save Me Tonight (Michael James Marchesano)
Franc Aledia: Vocals
Michael James: Guitars, Fretless Bass,
Keyboards, Strings
Aaron Durr: Wurlitzer, String Quartet Arrangement Eric Colvin: Grand Piano, Rhodes, Hammond B3
Jaben Pennell: Drums

08 I’ll Be Here
(Michael James Marchesano, Aaron Durr)
Aaron Durr: Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion
Michael James: Guitars, Fretless Bass
Eric Colvin: Drums, Rhodes

09 Push On Through (Marchesano Remix) (Colin Keenan)
Colin Keenan: Vocals, Keyboards, Acoustic & Rhythm Guitars
Michael James: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, String Arrangement
Shawn Pierce: Piano
Joe Travers: Drums
Chris Jansen: Synthesizer

10 Something (arranged and reharmonized by Michael James)
(George Harrison)
Michael James: Lead Guitar & Solos, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
James Zota Baker: Slide Guitar
Warren “Wishnefsky“ Wellen: Keyboards
David Zeman: Hammond C3
Harry Metzler: String Arrangement
Sam Martinez: Bass
Jaben Pennell: Drums

11 I Can’t Make You Love Me If You Don’t (I’m Drifting Alone)
(Michael James Marchesano, Franc Aledia)
Franc Aledia: Vocals
Michael James: Guitars, Bass
Warren “Wishnefsky“ Wellen: Synthesizers
Eric Colvin: Piano
Chris Hesse: Drums
Kenny Brack: Additional Production

12 Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Bart Howard)
Aaron Durr: Vocals, Synthesizer
Michael James: Guitars, Keyboards
Rob Hall: Bass
Rob Ahlers: Drums

13 Nothing Lasts Forever (Slight Reprise) (Michael James Marchesano)
Urban Olsson: Vocals
Michael James: Guitars, 808 Bass, Reverse Treated Drums
Eric Colvin: String Arrangement

14 Rise Up Into The Light
(Michael James Marchesano, Warren Wellen)
Warren Wellen: Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Michael James: Electric Guitars, Keyboards, Choir Vocals
Eric Colvin: String Arrangement, Bass, Keyboards
Urban Olsson: Drums & Percussion
Chris Jansen: Ghost Choir Cello
Randy Seale: Pro Tools

15 You Think It’s Over But It’s Not (Eric Colvin, Michael James Marchesano)
Eric Colvin: Orchestral Arrangement, Keyboards
Michael James: Guitar, Reverse Guitar

16 Color Of My Skin
(Michael James Marchesano, Morris LeGrande)
Jason Cropper: Lead & Backing Vocals, add. production
Walter Heath: Lead Vocals, add. production
Michael James: Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Slide Guitar, Fretless Bass, Treated Piano, Rhodes, Synth, Backing Vocals, Drum Programming
Morris LeGrande: Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jeremiah Smith a.k.a. TouchTone Da SoundGawd: Drum Programming, Keyboards, add. production
Brett M Grossman: Clavinet, Chains, add. production
Urban Olsson: Drums
Linda Taylor: Excellence & Muse, add. production

17 Let’s Connect Our Minds
(Michael James Marchesano, Luke Lohnes, Eric Colvin)
Eric Colvin: Vocals, Keyboards, Drums
Michael James: Guitars
Brett M Grossman: Bass

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Michael James image

Michael James Petaluma, California

• Producer.Mixer.Engineer.Songwriter.Guitarist
• Gold & Platinum Records
• Discography includes New Radicals, Hole, Far, Robben Ford, L7, Edwin McCain, Chicago, Reverend Horton Heat, A.J. Croce, Butterfly Boucher, Jane's Addiction, Maia Sharp, Too Much Joy, Kalimba, Mario Guerrero and Jawbreaker.
• Former Warner/Discovery head of A&R & Producer, trained by WEA founder Jac Holzman. ... more

contact / help

Contact Michael James

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Michael James, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now