However, (and
here I take a deep breath) when I was offered the opportunity to be part of this Ebook, I realized I was being offered a complicated "First" for me. I could be
part of a book. Never have before! Thus began the task of meditating until a
motivation came over me that would inspire a focus for the chapter. I quickly
realized that presenting my publically-released catalog would be the subject
matter but finding a common thread that embraced 10 presentations proved to be
quite a challenge.
After endless
hours of note-taking and thinking about my works, I realized there was one
common point to everything I had ever released: Naughtiness. So, here we
go...
1977
#1- My first
record release was on October 27, 1975. I wrote the lyrics & music to
"Let's Have An Affair". As lead singer and primary songwriter for Sonoma
County-based $27 Snap On Face, I wanted to write a hit right off the bat and I
think I did. The song just celebrated it's 40th anniversary in 2015 and I did a
special performance of the song to an unsuspecting public by performing the
song, vocally and w/harmonica solo, to people passing by on a busy street. The
song has been the subject of several "tribute" videos and some of them can be
seen on Youtube. The song earned $27 it's only BMI royalty check. (It remains
un-cashed and is in my collection). the song was debuted on a Sacramento
television station during the band's appearance on the March of Dimes Telethon.
The solo on the song is me on a harmonica. The purpose was to pay tribute to
The Dave Clark Five. As a kid, I remember played their song "Over and Over"
endless times to learn the solo in it. I can still play the solo exactly as
recorded. The last time I played the song was at the memorial for deceased
drummer, Ron Ingalsbe.
#2- 1977 saw
the release of the one and only album by $27 Snap On Face. I wrote 4 of the 10
songs and co-wrote 2 others. All the songs had a them of naughtiness. "Mr.
John" which featured no guitars; only accordions and keyboards, was about a
frustrated serial killer in England. He was in love with the Queen but, due to
her not acknowledging him, he turned to murdering vodka whores. The song "Two
Timer" was written for a group of gay men from San Francisco who followed the
band for about a year until they realized I would rather have sex with their
sisters. "I Guess I must Look the Type" contained more lyrical images of
desire. My other songs on that album (1,000 copies on blue vinyl) continued
this trend.
#3- 1980
brought The Sonoma Soundtrack album; a benefit disc from radio station KVRE.
Proceeds went to The Sonoma County Junior Symphony and Preparatory Orchestra.
Approximately 120 songs were submitted for consideration on this 12-song album
and I won a spot with "Give Me Another Round". The song is a tribute to Sonoma
County bars and I named a lot of them. The "solo" is a blending of bar sounds;
laughter, drink glass', dice cups, etc. In addition to the obvious tribute to
bars in the area, it was also my way of venting the many hours I'd spent in a
bar looking at the pretty girls but never having the nerve to talk to them.
Lusting and losing...
#4- "I'm
Ready to Fight" was recorded in 1980 during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. I
played all the instruments. It was a message of Patriotism and I sent a
presentation of this song to President Jimmy Carter who send me a thank-you
letter and autographed picture. This record now resides in the Official White
House Vinyl Collection. While recording it, I thought about the brave soldier
who returns from war to be greeted by a loving woman. I wanted that kiss too.
This record was a 500 disc release and no copies were sold.
1981 - HEAVY MENTAL MUSIC
#5- During 1981's "International Year of The Disabled Persons" global event, I released my most time-consuming musical production to date. "Heavy Mental Music" was issued on 3000 green vinyl disc'. Monies raised went to Becoming Independent. The song broke a lot of musical ground. All instruments were played by adults with disabilities. My audio participation is hidden in the mix of both sides. It took me 2 years of daily practice to get the drummer to play his part. The song won many awards including recognition by President Ronald Reagan who referred to it in a telegram to me as a "musical message of Hope". This song also resides in the Official White House Vinyl collection. At the end of the song are the only lyrics; 2 dozen adults saying "I Love You" one after another. I found that inspiring, naughty, very rock & roll and inspiring all at the same time.
#6- 1986 was
the year I release my only official music video: "Animal Clout" I entered it
to the television station KFTY for their 2nd Annual Video Awards competition,
hosted by Afton Auld. The song won for "Best Music Video" and featured dozen of
animals singing the song. The animalistic nature of the song was an R+ rating
performance for me.
#7- In 2000,
I released "Sick Sense: a journey through Anguish". During one of the most
difficult periods of my life, I recorded 22 songs in an ice cold garage where I
was living for a short time. No heat, no bed, no furniture. Just me and my
tape recorder on a cold concrete floor. Songs like "Miss Leash" (about
flirtation), "Help is on the way" (first date anticipation) and "Take My Ring"
(about the prospect of marital bliss) fueled me. During this time, I did not
feel worthy of any woman's attention so I wrote about what I could not have.
This compact disc, w/lyric sheet, sold fairly well until an incident with
someone who bought it that caused me to recall the cd.
I composed a song called "Almost Over" that was my attempt to explain the torment I was feeling mentally and so I used conflicting musical patterns to explain my tension. I based it upon the known bad side affects that strobe lights can have on people's nervous systems. I got a letter one day from a lady who was listening to it in her car when that song came on. For unknown reasons, the song made her have a seizure and she was forced to stop her car. The seizure was so severe that she couldn't get the song to stop playing and was subjected to it for 15 minutes before she could stop the cd. She told me she went through months of therapy. I was devastated and immediately recalled as many of the cd's as possible. I destroyed all copies except for one which resides in my files. I will never re-release the disc. I try to vent my naughtiness, desires and loneliness, I caused great harm to someone I have never met.
I composed a song called "Almost Over" that was my attempt to explain the torment I was feeling mentally and so I used conflicting musical patterns to explain my tension. I based it upon the known bad side affects that strobe lights can have on people's nervous systems. I got a letter one day from a lady who was listening to it in her car when that song came on. For unknown reasons, the song made her have a seizure and she was forced to stop her car. The seizure was so severe that she couldn't get the song to stop playing and was subjected to it for 15 minutes before she could stop the cd. She told me she went through months of therapy. I was devastated and immediately recalled as many of the cd's as possible. I destroyed all copies except for one which resides in my files. I will never re-release the disc. I try to vent my naughtiness, desires and loneliness, I caused great harm to someone I have never met.
#8- "I Love
to Learn" was released in 2004. It was a benefit for the California Public
Library System. One verse discussed my need to "stack wood"; a reference to
having more sex. No one caught the hidden meaning. The song was sent to
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who acknowledged it in a letter to me. I had hope
to do a video of the song but never did. It raised some money to buy books and
I got to hide another R+ in a song!
#9
"Tambourine Scars" was released in 2011 and is both an autobiographical story of
the damage I did to my right wrist as a result of 30 years of rock & roll
tambourine playing and a tribute to Mitch Ryder. Great Sonoma County veteran
rockers helped me record this song: Paul Burke, drums. Tom Miller, bass.
Mikie Kovach, Lead guitar. Alan Watt, guitars. I only released 100 copies on
cd. Again, not sold, just given away. The song was debuted on Sonoma County
radio station KSRH on it's "American Garage" radio program and it jammed the
phone lines with callers. The naughty part?...something about a devil with a
blue dress..."
PUSSY RIOT - RUSSIA
#10- In late 2015, I released my first digital-only presentation: "Buttons From Russia". It is an open letter to Russian President Putin and denounces his treatment of the Russian female band, Pussy Riot. It also denounces the music piracy industry that exists in Russia of stealing the music of artists from around the world and selling it in Russia without paying royalties. My album by $27 Snap On Face has sold huge numbers of copies and I receive nothing; not even a free copy! But BFR has received air play in Amsterdam, Berlin and Munich and is doing quite well in Europe. It has charted at #1 on Reverbnation. My first genuine #1 record. I am grateful to Jim Cassero, guitars and co-producer, Robin Hildebrant, bass, and Ed Bale, drums. This song is my strongest recording and one that I am very proud of. A video is in the planning stages. And the naughty part?...that's easy to figure out! Listen to the first sentence...
DAVID PETRI - BUTTONS FROM RUSSIA - SONG
Well, I guess
I can say that my greatest hope was not to be a lead singer of a band but rather
a successful songwriter. I think I have almost accomplished that. I will
always write. I already have a full length album ready for release later in
2016. Will I ever sing in front of a "live" audience again? I don't know.
Will I write more songs? Yes. Will I ever release them? Only if I get the
naught right.
DAVID PETRI - VIDEOGRAPHY:
"LET'S HAVE AN AFFAIR"
TIE YOUR BOOTS TIGHT
and I release more music in 2019 as well as music video. Now, I await 2021 so I can release another new music video AND a new 12" vinyl album titled "TALL FINGER BUFFET"....I rock on.
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