Brian May & Kerry Ellis 'Golden Days'


[discography | gallery]

Brian May & Kerry Ellis 'Golden Days'

Released on 7 April 2017, reached number 27, on chart for 1 week.
Album length 48:35.

Tracklisting
1. Love In A Rainbow
2. Roll With You
3. Golden Days
4. It's Gonna Be All Right (The Panic Attack Song)
5. Amazing Grace
6. One Voice
7. If I Loved You
8. Born Free
9. Parisienne Walkways
10. I Who Have Nothing
11. The Kissing Me Song
12. Story Of A Heart
13. Can't Help Falling In Love

 

Produced by Brian May and Kerry Ellis
Arranged by Brian May
Co-produced and engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson
Recorded and mixed at Allerton Hill Studios, England
Additional enginerring by John Micelli, Joshua J. Macrae and Stanislav Baroch
Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at the Soundmasters

Kerry Ellis - vocals
Brian May - guitars, vocals, keyboards, sitar, gayageum, and bass on tracks 1, 6, 8 and 11
John Micelli - drums on all tracks except 8 and 11
Rufus Tiger Taylor - drums on tracks 8 and 11
Neil Fairclough - bass on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 12
Jeff Leach - keyboards on tracks 2, 5, 9, 11 and 12
Irene Fornaciari - special guest vocals on 'I Who Have Nothing'

Management for Brian May: Jim Beach
Management for Kerry Ellis: Daniel Hinchcliffe
Guitar technician: Pete Malandrone
Cover concept by Brian May
Package design by Johnathan Elliott

 

Singles: [discography]


Love In A Rainbow


Track 1. Written by Brian May and Kerry Ellis. Length 4:28.
Lyrics:
(Backwards) Love in a rainbow

Love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow

Make love in a rainbow
Give love and be free
Make love, make the day glow
Love gives you everything you need

Find love in a rainbow
Give love to a friend
Make love, make the pain go
Love finds you at the rainbow's end

Breathe in every colour in the sky
Taste the gentle rain as all your
Dreams go dancing by
Calling you away

Dream dreams in a rainbow
Make new flowers grow
Sweet love in a rainbow
Love finds you everywhere you go

Make love in a rainbow
Sweet dreams guaranteed
Make love, make the rain go
Love gives you everything you need

How long did you wish upon that star?
Know your golden angel loves you
Just the way you are

Calling you away
Love in a rainbow
Calling you away
Love in a rainbow
Oh-ooh-ooh, oh-ooh-ooh
Make love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow

Love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow

Believe in a rainbow
No bridge too far
Make love in a rainbow
Love makes you everything you are

(Make love in a rainbow) make love, make love
(Sweet dreams guaranteed) sweet dreams guaranteed
Make love, make the rain go
Love gives you everything you need

Love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow
Make love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow
Make love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow
Love in a rainbow

Roll With You


Track 2. Written by Brian May and Kerry Ellis. Length 3:54.
Alternate Versions:
1. Single Version (3:54) (available on the download only; this is almost identical to the album version but has a lyric change towards the end, and one line is sung by Brian alone, instead of jointly)
Lyrics: (Kerry sings the lyrics in white, Brian sings the lyrics in blue, and the lyrics in red are jointly sung; the lyric changes betwene the album and single versions are shown in square brackets)
Ooh
Oh yeah

I was a girl of just a few words
Playing in the sun
Just a little kid chasing bluebirds
And singing just for fun

But now I've found my voice
And now I've made my choice
Gonna shout it out
Put it all about
Now I can make some noise

I wanna roll with you
Ooooh
I wanna roll with you
Oh, yeah

In my life I go with my hunches

It always was that way
I guess I always roll with the punches
It's all fun and games I say

When the clouds appear
And it's okay
Oh, I know soon they'll blow away

But I have to say
'Cos I feel this way

If that's the way we roll
I wanna roll with you

[Album version only]: Laa, laa, laa, laa, laa, laa
[Single version only]: Laa, laa, laa, laa, laa, laa
I wanna roll with you
Laa, laa, laa, laa, laa, laa

In my world
There ain't no free lunches
I worked my way to everything I own

But I think of you in the coffee bar
And driving in my car
And when they say we won't get far
Say laa, laa, laa, laa, laa

'Cos baby
You're a star
I wanna roll
I wanna roll
I wanna roll, let me hear you
I wanna roll
I wanna roll, yeah
I wanna roll, hey hey

I wanna roll with you

I don't expect perfection
I don't need it to make a fuss
You don't have to make me the Queen of Spain
'Cos I don't need that stuff

Just call me on my iPhone
And tell me you'll come around
I say '
where you been?
It's late o'clock

And, babe, I have to rock'
We're gonna rock
And roll with you

Laa, laa, laa, laa
I wanna roll with you

Laa, laa, laa, laa, laa, laa
I wanna roll with you
Laa, laa, laa, laa, laa, laa
[Album version only]: I wanna roll
[Single version only]: I've gotta roll with you
Oh, gotcha, gotcha, gotcha

I wanna rock and roll with you

Ooh

Golden Days


Track 3. Written by Brian May. Length 4:21.
Brian originally wrote this track for Minako Honda in 1986 and full details can be found on the Collaborations 1967-1986 page. According to an interview with Brian, the track includes one line of Minako's original vocals.

Lyrics:
Golden corn waving in the sun
Golden days unaware we run
Well I won't forget the sound
Golden dreams shattered on the ground

Oh I miss you
Golden days
Oh you'll never know
Golden days

In the sunshine of this year
I remember your face so clear
If you want, we can journey back
Find the traces of our golden days

Golden days
Golden days
How I miss you
Those golden days

Say you hear me
Say your heart beats
Say your love burns on in the rain
And I'll touch you
And I’ll hold you
Once again

Golden corn waving in the sun
Golden days unaware we run

Oooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-oooh
(Golden days) golden days
(Welcome home) welcome home
(Oh, you'll never know) mmm
(How I missed you) how I missed you
(Golden days) golden days
Golden days
Golden days
My golden days

It's Gonna Be All Right

(The Panic Attack Song)


Track 4. Written by Brian May. Length 3:43.
The Radio Edit was released as a single in June 2017, with a shortened title of 'Panic Attack'.

Alternate Versions:
1. Radio Edit (3:53) (available as a download only; this omits the heavy breathing upto 0:04, the 'panic attack' opening vocals are shorter, a 15 second instrumental section is added at around 0:12, the 'attack' backing vocals at 1:05 are lost, and there are some extra guitar bursts in several places)
Lyrics: (the Radio Edit adds the lyrics in red but loses the lyrics in blue)
Panic attack, attack, attack, attack, attack
Panic attack, attack, attack, attack, attack

(Oooh)
(Oooh)
(Oooh)


I can't get my breath
Pain beatin' in my chest
Got nothin' left
Kinda feels like life or death

I got a feelin' of fear
Don't know why I'm here
Keep thinkin' that you're near
Tellin' me - hold on

It's gonna be all right
It's gonna be all right
Somehow it's gonna be all right
Stop and breathe
Stop and breathe

(Oooh) it's gonna be all right
(Oooh) it's gonna be all right
(Oooh) somehow it's gonna be all right
I don't know how but I've gotta believe


Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack

Flush on my face
Desperate for a better place
Keep thinkin' that I can't go on
Look around and everything's wrong

Now the fear speaks loud
Lookin' for you in every crowd
Feel a chill when I turn around
Can't feel no solid ground
Hold on - hold on

(Oooh) it's gonna be all right
(Oooh) mmm, it's gonna be all right
(Oooh) somehow it's gonna be all right
Stop and breathe
Stop and breathe

(Oooh) it's gonna be all right
(Oooh) yeah, it's gonna be all right
(Oooh) somehow it's gonna be all right
I don't know how, but I still believe

I feel like I'm falling
The world is destroyed
As I hurl myself into the void
But angels are calling
I know as we're falling
By a miracle they catch us when we fall

Hold on tight - gotta hold on tight
I don't know how, but I have to believe

It's gonna be all right
It's gonna be all right
Somehow it's gonna be all right
Stop and breathe
Stop and breathe
Stop

It's gonna be all right
It's gonna be all right
Somehow it's gonna be all right
Tell me that you'll always believe

Amazing Grace


Track 5. Written by John Newton. Length 2:47.
This track is a Christian hymn, with words by John Newton written in 1779.
The video of the track features some wildlife noise at the start, lasting 1:16, but the song itself is identical.
Brian performed part of the track during his guitar solo at the show in Brno, Czech Republic, on 12 March 2016.

Lyrics:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see

T'was grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see

One Voice


Track 6. Written by Ruth Moody. Length 3:20.
This track was originally recorded by The Wailin' Jennys, and included on their 2004 album '40 Days'.
Brian also appears on another version of the track, which was released in April 2016, and simply credited to 'Various Artists'. It features Norah Jones, Aimee Mann, Susanna Hoffs, Lydia Loveless, Neko Case and Kathryn Calder, and full details are available on the Brian May Collaborations 2012-2020 page.

Lyrics: (Kerry sings the lyrics in white, Brian sings the lyrics in blue, and the lyrics in red are jointly sung)
This is the sound of one voice
One spirit, one voice
The sound of one who makes a choice
This is the sound of one voice
This is the sound of one voice


This is the sound of voices two
The sound of me singing with you
Helping each other to make it through
This is the sound of voices two
This is the sound of voices two


Ooh-ooh-ooh, oooh, ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, oooh, ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, oooh, ooh-ooh-oooh
One voice


This is the sound of voices three
Singing together in harmony
Surrendering to the mystery
This is the sound of voices three
This is the sound of voices three


Now
Everybody
This is the sound of all of us (all of us)
Singing with love and the will to trust (yeah, yeah)
Leave the rest behind it will turn to dust
This is the sound of all of us
This is the sound of all of us


Ooh-ooh-ooh, oooh, ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, oooh, ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, oooh, ooh-ooh-oooh
One voice

Ooh-ooh-ooh, oooh, ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, oooh, ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh, oooh, ooh-ooh-oooh

Oooh, oooh

This is the sound of one voice
One spirit, one voice
The sound of one who makes a choice
This is the sound of one voice
This is the sound of one voice

If I Loved You


Track 7. Written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. Length 3:32.
This track originally appeared in the 1945 musical 'Carousel'.

Lyrics:
If I loved you
Time and again I would try to say
All I'd want you to know

If I loved you
Words wouldn't come in an easy way
Round in circles I'd go

Longing to tell you
But afraid and shy
I'd let my golden chances pass me by

Soon you'd leave me
Off you would go in the mist of day
Never, never to know
How I loved you
If I loved you

Longing to tell you
But afraid and shy
I'd let my golden chances pass me by

Soon you'd leave me
Off you would go in the mist of day
Never, never to know
How I loved you
If I loved you

Born Free


Track 8. Written by John Barry and Don Black. Length 3:11.
This track was originally recorded by Matt Monro, and appeared in the 1966 film of the same name. It has also been recorded by Roger Williams, Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, and countless others.
This version features a new verse by original lyricist Don Black ('no man should choose your life for you...'), and features the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Steve Sidwell and co-arranged by Brian.
The original promo video features the single version, with wildlife noises at the start and end, extending it to 3:29. The Cecil's Law video features the album version, with wildlife noise at the start, extending it to 3:30.

Alternate Versions:
1. Single Version AKA Large Scale Version (3:11) (this is very similar to the album version, and features the same vocals from Kerry; however the guitars, drums and orchestra are noticeably different in places, and the orchestra is generally less prominent)
2. Acoustic Version (2:52) (a slightly shorter version, featuring just acoustic guitar, a different vocal from Kerry, and a couple of minor lyric changes)

Live Versions:
1. The Sunflower Superjam (2:47) (recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, London, England, on 16 September 2012)
2. Acoustic By Candlelight (3:00) (recorded in Salisbury, England, on 17 November 2012)
3. The Candlelight Concerts - Live At Montreux 2013 (3:02) (recorded at the Stravinski Hall, Montreux, Switzerland, on 19 July 2013)

Lyrics: (the acoustic version loses the lyrics in red, but adds the lyrics in blue)
Born free, as free as the wind blows
As free as the grass grows
Born free to follow your heart

Live free and beauty surrounds you
The world still astounds you
Each time you look at a star

Stay free, where no walls divide you
You're free as a roaring tide
So there's no need to hide

Born free, and life is worth living
But only worth living
When you're born free

Born free oooh

Wooh, no man should choose your life for you
No man has the right to say
You'll live or die today

Born free, and life is worth living
But only worth living
When you are free

Born free

Parisienne Walkways


Track 9. Written by Phil Lynott and Gary Moore. Length 3:42.
This track was originally recorded by Gary Moore in 1979, and was released as a single, reaching no 8 in the chart.
This version was also released on the 'Air Guitar Anthems' album in November 2016, which was compiled by Brian.

Lyrics:
I remember Paris in '49
Champs Elysée, Saint Michel and old Beaujolais wine
And I recall that you were mine
In those Parisienne days

Looking back at the photographs
Those summer days spent outside corner cafes
Oh, I could write you paragraphs
About my old Parisienne days

Oooooh
I recall
Parisienne days
Oooooh

I Who Have Nothing


Track 10. Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Length 4:07.
This track is based on an Italian song titled 'Uno Dei Tanti', written by Carlo Donida and Giulio Rapetti Mogol, in 1963. It was translated into English by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and was first a hit for Ben E. King in 1963.
The true title of the track is 'I (Who Have Nothing)'.
The track features two verses in Italian and the rest in English, and features Irene Fornaciari on vocals.

Alternate Versions:
1. Acoustic By Candlelight (3:00) (recorded in Bury St Edmunds, England, on 5 November 2012)
2. The Candlelight Concerts - Live At Montreux 2013 (2:59) (recorded at the Stravinski Auditorium, Montreux, Switzerland, on 19 July 2013)

Lyrics: (the lyrics in white are sung by Kerry, the lyrics in red are sung by Irene Fornaciari, and the lyrics in blue are jointly sung)
I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no-one
Adore you and want you so
I'm just a no-one, with nothing to give you but oh
I love you


Io, uno dei tanti
Io, che non ho niente
Ti chiedo, amore mio
Ti dedicare la tua vita solo a me


I love you
Per sempre
I love you
I love you
I love you

He, he buys you diamonds
Bright, sparkling diamonds
But believe me, dear, when I say
That he can give you the world
But he'll never love you the way
I love you


Io, uno dei tanti
Io, che non ho niente
(ooooh)
Ti iuro che nostra amore (ooooh)
Potra cambiarla nostra Vita
E noi vedra

I love you
I love you
I love you
I love you
I love you
I love you

He can take you any place he wants

To fancy clubs and restaurants
But I can only watch you with
My nose pressed up against the window pane

I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no-one
Must watch you go dancing by
Wrapped in the arms of somebody else
When darling it's I

Who loves you

I love you

The Kissing Me Song


Track 11. Written by Brian May and Kerry Ellis. Length 3:43.
Alternate Versions:
1. Full Version AKA Single Version (3:56) (available on the single releases; this has the same structure as the album version, but the start of the track loses the keyboards, some backing vocals are lost from 3:14 onwards, part of the track comes from a live performance on the 2012 'Born Free' tour, and it ends with an instrumental reprise)
2. Radio Edit (2:44) (available on the single releases; this is an edit of the full version, which loses the section from around 1:31 to 2:28, but ends the same as the album version, without the instrumental finale)

Live Versions:
1. Acoustic By Candlelight (3:09) (recorded in St Albans, England, on 12 November 2012)
2. The Candlelight Concerts - Live At Montreux 2013 (3:57) (recorded at the Stravinski Hall, Montreux, Switzerland, on 19 July 2013)

Lyrics: (the album version contains the lyrics in white and blue; the full version contains all lyrics; the single version contains all lyrics apart from those in blue and the last line in orange)
It was a stone cold night
And when the snow flakes fell
We had to hold on tight
Before our last farewell

Then the darkness took you from me
As you walked into the night
You said you'd never change
You'd never change your mind

And then I looked away
And I could see you kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me
I could see you
I could see you
I could see you kissing me, kissing me, kissing me
I could see you
I could see you
I could see you kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me

It was a lonely night
When I was watching the TV
Low and behold on tight
There you were singing about me

It was a lonely summer freedom
How you had to fly away
You said you'd never change
You'd never change your mind


And then I closed my eyes
And I could see you kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me

I could see you
I could see you
I could see you kissing me, kissing me, kissing me
I could see you
I could see you
I could see you kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me

Now as the years go by
I still dream the same dream
But I still wonder why
Things are not what they seem

I still hear you saying baby
You will never stay the night
I guess you'll never change
You'll never change your mind


And then I close my eyes
And I can see you kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me
(Kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me)
Yeah
Wooh
Ohh yeah

I can see you
I can see you
I can see you kissing me, kissing me, kissing me
I can see you (I can see you)
I can see you
I can see you kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me


Brian: One, two, three, four

(I can see you) I can see you
(I can see you)
(I can see you) kissing me, kissing me, kissing me

(I can see you) I can see you
(I can see you)
(I can see you) kissing me, kissing me, kissing me

(I can see you) I can see you
(I can see you)
(I can see you) kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me, kissing me


Yeah, yeah

Story Of A Heart


Track 12. Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Length 4:21.
This track was originally recorded by The Benny Andersson Band in 2009.

Lyrics:
This is my story
A story of a heart
And all of it mine

It must have been him
Just a glimpse of a face in the crowd
That's all it takes
My heart is racing

I stand in a trance
As I stare at the back of a bus
Knowing there's no use denying
I can't stop thinking about us

The story of a heart
A story all of it mine
And you took it from me
Every glorious line

I was safe and warm
And now I'm out in the cold
And I know I shouldn't have told my story

I try to resist
But the images keep coming through
So many years
Still I'm defenceless

The house by the lake
His hands resting a while on the oars
Speaking with quiet conviction
Carefully unlocking doors

The story of a heart
I laid myself open wide
Let you read the pages
Where the ink hadn't dried
All emotion pent up inside, my story

Did he see me
Or did I just imagine it all
Putting a face on a stranger
A face I find more and more hard to recall

Never giving up
I looked for you everywhere
Time went by and sadness took the place of despair
In a way you'll stay with me 'til death do us part
Like a shadow deep in my heart forever

The story of a heart
(A story all of it mine) it's a story of a heart
And you took it from me
(Every glorious line) a story all of it mine
I was safe and warm
(And now I'm out in the cold) I'm giving it back
And I know I shouldn't have told my story

The story of a heart
I laid myself open wide
Let you read the pages
Where the ink hadn't dried
Swept away and lost in love what was I to do
I just had to give it to you, my story

A story of a heart
And all of it mine
Now you've heard my story

Can't Help Falling In Love


Track 13. Written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore and George David Weiss. Length 3:10.
This track was originally recorded by Elvis Presley in 1961 for the film 'Blue Hawaii', and reached no. 1 in the charts in 1962.

Lyrics: (Kerry sings the lyrics in white, while Brian and Kerry sing the lyrics in red together)
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help
Falling in love with you

Shall I stay
Would it be a sin
If I can't help

Falling in love with you

Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be


Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help

Falling in love with you

Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be


Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help

Falling in love with you

For I can't help
Falling in love
with you