Track by track
The Songs
Ten tracks about ten kinds of love: love born of pain, love reborn, the promise of love between two people, love multiplied, love that feels far away, and love that is true.
Jenn wrote “You Are My True.” The rest she and her collaborators rebuilt from the ground up. Here is each song, who wrote it, and who shaped it in the studio.
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1
I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
3:22Written by Otis Redding and Jerry Butler Arranged by Jeff Babko and Jenn Quader
We start at the end of a relationship. This is unrequited love. The power of that pain. The indignance, despair; the internal pendulum swing between hope and grief as we work to understand and accept how love can sometimes feel.
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2
Straighten’ Up and Fly Right
2:27Written by Nat King Cole and Irving Mills Arranged by Jeff Babko and Jenn Quader
This is love between an “old married couple.” The art of negotiation. Having fun while knowing your ‘opponent’ very well. Outsmarting one another. Keeping each other in line.
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3
Better Place
3:53Written by Rachel Platten and Sally Seltmann Arranged by Jeff Babko and Jenn Quader
This is the tender, healing beauty of renewed love. Finding what you thought you never would or could again. To me, this is the story of Chris and Rob. Rob was married for 18 years to a wonderful man named Steve. Steve passed away suddenly, and Rob was sure the world would end. Years later, he found Chris and understood how it feels to open to love again.
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4
Frim Fram Friend Like Me
3:04Written by Redd Evans and Joe Ricardel (Frim Fram Sauce, 1945); Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Friend Like Me) Arranged by Jenn Quader and Jeff Babko
This is the love of food, of the body, of experiencing all the tangible feelings life offers and knowing that we have the power to give that love to ourselves at all times.
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5
Songbird
3:22Written by Christine McVie Arranged by Jenn Quader and Jeff Babko
This is about the promise of love between two people. The moment you pledge your soul and life to another. When you see nothing but the other person.
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6
Babies
3:46Written by Sasha Brittany Evans Arranged by Jeff Babko
This is about family love. About the wild abandon with which we chase our dreams. About finding humor in the expectations our families have for us. And about how completely adorable a house full of darling little babies would be!
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7
Near To You Medley
5:10Written by Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington (The Nearness of You, 1937); Irving Berlin (What’ll I Do, 1923); Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal (I’ll Be Seeing You, 1938) Arranged by Jenn Quader and Dr. Dennis Michels
This is the exploration of what happens when the person you love is no longer near you. It’s a progression from “I can’t live without you,” to “how will I ever survive now that you’re gone,” to “I find joy in seeing where you once were, and in knowing you’ll always be with me.”
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8
Stars and The Moon
4:43Written by Jason Robert Brown Arranged by Jenn Quader and Jeff Babko
This is the ultimate story of “love that could have been.” We see several types of love: true and deep, wild and passionate, steady and long-suffering. Ultimately, we’re left with an understanding: tender, true love is the best of all.
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9
You Are My True
3:16Written by Jenn Quader Arranged by Jenn Quader and Dr. Dennis Michels Cello arrangement by Jeff Babko
This self-composed song is about life’s softest secret:
Nothing is forever, and yet nothing is ever lost.
Rather, it lives within. -
10
You Are My True, Band Version
2:37 BonusWritten by Jenn Quader Arranged by Jeff Babko, Sean Hurley, Zach Danziger, Jenn Quader and Dr. Dennis Michels
In the studio, the band wrote and completely improvised this reimagination of Jenn’s sweet lullaby. It’s a powerful tribute to the pain of loss and the power of love.
Where to hear the whole thing
The album is on every major service. We hope you enjoy it and feel the love we felt making it!