Sundogs - Bust It Up

Bust It Up
by Jed Moffitt

Whether it’s a kid with a new toy, a relationship, or even stewardship of a government, why is it that we so often have to wreck things before we give them up? Seemed like a good topic for a tune! Call outs to Stan’s production work with what the Sundogs call “The Machine” subtle and percussive guitar parts, horn parts, background vocals, a full range of interdependent elements contributing to the kinetic momentum of a driving tune with an unusual rhythm. It all leads to a roller coaster effect, building momentum until Eric Patterson jumps off into a truly legendary tenor sax solo. A studio pro and music educator from Seattle, Eric articulates the changes and develops ideas in a monster solo that tells the story of the tune in itself. If you listen to nothing else listen to the last 2 minutes…and to the ending, where we all fall off a cliff together.

Some wild drumming by Ben Smith propelling us as the tune unwinds. Ben Smith is the Sundogs’ Jeff Porcaro. The drummer for Heart for many years, we are truly privileged to have Ben put down a magic carpet of groove on so many of these tracks. Like Pat Metheny said recently in the Rick Beato interview. The drummer is the true leader of every band. Nowhere is this more apparent than on “Bust it up”.

Jimmy got a race car
it was number one, gold star, on his Christmas List
Took it out the box,
set it on the floor, and smashed it with his fist

Wanted you…for a year, now you’re here…
Find, I’d bury you like a bone
So he ran it off the roof, into a ditch, where it crashed among the stones

You gotta bust it up real good, to get it ready, to let it go…
You gotta bust it up real good, to get it ready, to let it go…

Leonard lived with Susie,
but he went out on a Tuesday with Charlene
What’s a bit of foolery,
with a friend, and a getaway that’s clean?

Victimless crimes, are there really such things?
It’s a matter of time, until the fat lady sings
You reap what you sow, I think you know what I mean

You gotta bust it up real good, to get it ready, to let it go
You gotta bust it up real good, to get it ready, to let it go

It takes courage, to leave your garden
For someone else, to tend
They say, trash into treasure
Karma will be better

When Donald was a boy,
he said someday I’ll be the president
The nation is my toy, I think I’ll buy it up and charge them rent

All in all, I’d rather stay in my hotel
Another point of view, is a special kind of hell
I’m late to play the back nine, got some real estate to sell

You gotta bust it up real good, to get it ready, to let it go…
You gotta bust it up real good, to get it ready, to let it go…
You gotta bust it up real good, to get it ready, to let it go…
You gotta bust it up real good, to get it ready, to let it go…

Jed Moffitt: songwriter, co-producer, vocals, keyboards
Stan Snow: producer, backing vocals, guitars, bass
Ben Smith: drums
Mia Boyle: backing vocals
Eva Acton Stokes: backing vocals
Eric Patterson: tenor sax and horn arrangements
Javier Gonzalez: trumpet
Don Gunn: drum session engineering, mastering, mixing AltMix version