Tom Tom Club - EP - Downtown Rockers

Release Date: September 11, 2012| Label: Nacional Records

On September 11th 2012, iconic group Tom Tom Club released 'Downtown Rockers', their first new material in more than decade. The EP features 6 new songs, and will be released digitally and on vinyl.

'Downtown Rockers' Is The First New Material Released By
Tom Tom Club In More Than 12 Years.

Recorded After An Extensive US And European Tour,
The 'Downtown Rockers' EP Also Features A Remix By
Dance Floor Classic DJ Arthur Baker .

'Downtown Rockers' features Tom Tom Club's characteristic upbeat fusion of electro and funk. Chris Frantz explains, "We recorded the basic tracks soon after Tom Tom Club toured with the Psychedelic Furs in October of 2011 at our home studio. These tracks were built from improvised jam sessions with Bruce Martin on keyboards and Pablo Martin on guitar, Tina Weymouth on bass and Chris Frantz on drums. This is the same way we began "Remain In Light" with Talking Heads. This time our only instruction to the other players was to keep the parts simple with lots of space like Booker T. and the MGs would do."

 

The lead single "Downtown Rockers" pays tribute to the many bands that created the downtown music scene in New York City in the 70's from The Velvet Underground to the Talking Heads. The song was mixed by Ed Stasium, who also recorded and mixed Talking Heads '77 and umpteen Ramones classics. Arthur Baker, who has worked with Tom Tom Club in the 80s, also produced a dance remix of "Downtown Rockers".

Credits - Downtown Rockers

Chris Frantz: Drum, Percussion & Vocals

Tina Weymouth: Bass Guitar, Synths, Tambourine & Vocals

Victoria Clamp: Vocals

Bruce Martin: Keyboards & Percussion

Pablo Martin: Guitars

 

Awesome Thanks go to Natalie Bergman of Wild Belle for her guest vocals on "You Make Me Rock And Roll" / Elliot Bergman of Wild Belle for adding baritone sax and electric kalimba to "Won't Give You up" and "You Make Me Rock And Roll" / Dickie Landry for adding tenor sax on "Kissin' Antonio" and "Sweets To The Sweet".

 

PRODUCED BY:
Chris Frantz & Tina Weymouth.
Recorded and mixed by Tyler Bird at Clubhouse Music Studio except "Downtown Rockers" mixed by Ed Stasium at Kozy Tone Studio. All vocals, additional percussion and overdubbed synths recorded by Tina except Natalie's vocals recorded by Tyler. Mastering by Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering Studios. Vinyl cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman mastering.

 

LYRICS - Downtown Rockers

Downtown Rockers

Na na na na na na na na na na! Downtown Rockers!
I remember you, Downtown Rockers!
Na na na na na na na na na na! Ooh, Downtown Rockers!
I will still love you! Downtown Rockers!

 

The Velvet Underground
The Modern Lovers
The New York Dolls
Patti Smith

 

Na na na na na na na na na na! Downtown Rockers!
I remember you, Downtown Rockers!
Na na na na na na na na na na! Ooh, Downtown Rockers!
I will still love you! Downtown Rockers!

 

The Ramones
Television
Suicide and
Blondie!

 

Na na na na na na na na na na! Downtown Rockers!
I remember you, Downtown Rockers!
Na na na na na na na na na na! Ooh, Downtown Rockers!
I will still love you! Downtown Rockers!

 

Richard Hell
John Cale
The Cramps
The Urban Verbs
The Heartbreakers
B-52s

The Dead Boys and
The Shirts
Talking Heads

 

Na na na na na na na na na na! Downtown Rockers!
I remember you, Downtown Rockers!
Na na na na na na na na na na! Ooh, Downtown Rockers!
I will still love you! Downtown Rockers!

Won't Give You Up

There was a time I’d take a chance - make love to you!
Those were the days, the fearless days when love was new!
You made me laugh! The way you danced was truly fine!
We had a dream! We had a style! A real good time!

 

Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’m not that kind!)
Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’d lose my mind!)

 

Now here we stand! You are my rock, so strong and free!
A love sublime, a perfect kiss! Make love to me!

Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’m not that kind!)
Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’d lose my mind!)

 

Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’m not that kind!)
Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’d lose my mind!)

Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’m not that kind!)
Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’d lose my mind!)

 

Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’m not that kind!)
Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’d lose my mind!)
Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’m not that kind!)
Won’t give you up! Won’t give you up! (I’d lose my mind!)

You Make Me Rock and Roll

In my heart I see your beauty!
In my mind I see your soul!
In my eyes I see your body!

 

You make me rock and roll! Rock and roll! Rock and roll! Rock and roll!

 

In my bones I feel your rhythm!
In my veins the pulse and flow!
In my dreams I feel your fire!

 

You make me! Rock and roll! Rock and roll! Rock and roll! Rock and roll!

 

You make me want to crow
When you take me on a high!
Then bring me down real low
Just to see a lover cry!

You turn me all around
Until my head is in a swoon!
You hurl me to the ground
Then present me with the moon!
You break my heart in two. . . Oooh oooh oooh!
Then tell me you’ll be true. . .Oooh oooh oooh!

 

You make me feel so good
But you like to see me sad!
Feeling misunderstood
And all the time you say I’m bad!
You spin me on my head

And you roll me on my back !
You make me play as dead
Then you toss me in the sack!
You tell me you’ll be true! Ooh ooh ooh!
Then break my heart in two! Ooh ooh ooh!

 

You make me! Rock and roll! Rock and roll! Rock and roll! Rock and roll! Rock and roll!
Shake it! Shake it, shake it, shake it! Rock ‘n’ roll!
Get on up! Rock ‘n’ roll! Shake it, shake it, shake it! Rock ‘n’ roll!

Kissin' Antonio

1. Ah-ah-ah-ahaaah!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah!

   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!
   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!
   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!
   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!

   Ah ah! Ah ah! Kissin’ Antonio!
   Ah ah! Ah ah! Kissin’ Antonio!

2. Ah-ah-ah-ahaaah!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaaah!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaaah!

   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!
   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!
   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!
   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!

   Ah ah! Ah ah! Kissin’ Antonio!
   Ah ah! Ah ah! Kissin’ Antonio!

3. Ah-ah-ah-ahaaah!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah!

   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!
   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!
   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!
   Kissin’ ! Kissin’ ! Kissin’ !!!

   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah! Kissin’ Antonio!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah! Kissin’ Antonio!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah! Kissin’ Antonio!
   Ah-ah-ah-ah aaah! Kissin’ Antonio!

Sweets To The Sweet

Please little girl
Eat your carrots and peas —
You’ll bring the world
Down to its knees!

 

From coast to coast
My little one
You’ll be the toast
On every tongue!

 

Grow up strong
My honey bun!
Fill my cup
My buttercup!

 

Sweets to the sweet! And nuts to the nuts.

 

Come little guy
Eat your peaches and cream
Apple of my eye
Ancestors’ dream!
Fruit of the vine
Cream of the crop!
Take all your time
Taste every drop

 

Grow up true
My honeydew!
Super fly,
My pumpkin pie!

Sweets to the sweet! And nuts to the nuts.