Jason from the Jungle Gym Jam will personally autograph your copy of the "Everyone's Invited!" album to your family so you can easily enjoy the music in your car, kitchen or home theater. Comes in a wonderfully designed 4-panel digi-pack with artwork by children's illustrator Melissa Bailey.
Includes unlimited streaming of Everyone's Invited!
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Inspiration
I was driving my daughter to the grocery store. On the way to the store, we pass a bowling alley. I was telling her all about the bowling alley and how one day she might want to have a bowling party. It really clicked for me as a great song idea and I believe I wrote the chorus in my head while we were shopping.
Writing
This song probably came together the most quickly out of the entire album. When we got home from the grocery store, my daughter was in bed for a nap and the goods were put away, I worked out the lyrics, promoting the benefits of bowling for kids, engaging them in conversation, and then teaching them how to roll a good ball. I brought the lyrics to Amy for some refinements. Then we shared the song with children’s song wizard Dave Kinnoin, who provided helpful critiques before we took the song into the studio.
In the Studio
I was really impressed with the big, driving sound of Ross’ drums, reminiscent of Mighty Max Weinberg’s (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) more recent work. I also gave our producer Dave Cushing my rhythm guitar tracks done two different ways: with a somewhat clean “Steve Miller” type tone and a more overdriven “Aerosmith” type tone to choose from. The “Steve Miller” tone won out. I also added a honky-tonk piano part over the top – rhythmic, short 8th notes and slides like you’d hear on the classic early rock-n-roll tracks from the 50s. I made a second trip back to the studio to re-record my vocals when I wasn’t satisfied with the original vocal. It’s important to know whether you’ve done your best work that’s right for the song, but to understand the difference between that and trying to be someone else, like a singer with a different voice type or range.
lyrics
Intro:
E | D | A E | A |
Verse 1:
A
Let's have a party! I know a great game
F#m
It's got ten pins and you play for ten frames
D Bm
There's counting and exercise and manners to learn
G E
And everybody gets to have a turn
A
Now come up to the desk and get your bowling shoes
F#m
Then go to the rack, what color ball will you choose?
D Bm
It doesn't matter if it's sunshine or rain
G E
It's a party inside on a bowling lane
Chorus:
A
B-B-B-Bowling, B-Bowling
Let's get the ball rolling
D
At the foul line
It's time to stop strolling
E D7
Knock 'em all down, you can call it a strike
A E A
B-B-B-Bowling is the game that I like
Verse 2:
Now put on your shoes, make sure they fit right
Look up at the scoreboard; your name is in lights
Fit your thumb and two fingers in the bowling ball
And face those ten pins standing straight and tall
Now take 3 steps while you swing your arm back
Look up at the pin that's in front of the pack
Then on your last step let your front foot slide
And let your arm go, give that ball a ride
Chorus
Bridge:
Bm D A
And we learn to wait our turn
E
Root for our friends and play it fair
Bm D
If you don't get 'em all the first roll
E
There's a chance to make the spare
Solo (over half a verse)
Chorus
Chorus (reprise)
B-B-B-Bowling, B-Bowling
Let's get the ball rolling
At the foul line
It's time to stop strolling
When it’s too cold to ride my bike
B-B-B-Bowling is the game that I like
Tag line:
A E A
B-B-B-Bowling is the game that I like
A E A
B-B-B-Bowling is the game that I like
credits
from Everyone's Invited!,
released January 28, 2014
Jason Didner -Lead vocals, electric guitar
Meg Beattie -vocal harmonies
Judy Helbig -Bass guitar, vocal harmonies
Ross Kantor -drums, vocal harmonies
Produced, engineered and mixed by Dave Cushing at Snowdome Studios, Montclair, NJ
Mastered by Scott Anthony at The Viewing Room, Springfield, NJ (storybooksound.com)
Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym JamMontclair, New Jersey
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