THOSE DAYS ARE OVER

Discography

This was the final iteration of Mark Urgent. The three remaining members (Denny, Dick and Barry) secured a local recording studio and produced the songs on this album. Jim Greene engineered the sessions and was with us throughout, lending his talents. Chuck Surack allowed us to borrow some of his keyboard gear for the sessions as well. Local legends Kenny Taylor and Geo Conner joined in on guitars while Kenny Aronoff (then with the John Mellencamp band and later with The Smashing Pumpkins and John Fogerty) joined us on drums for several of the cuts.

The final song, Those Days are Over, was a fitting ending for the team as they had worked hard for years, putting heart and soul into the band.

Liner notes

  • Inspired by the Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues,” we enlisted some great musicians to join Denny Geiger, Dick Swary and me. Famous drummer Kenny Aronoff played an amazing, synchronized drum beat and suddenly the song took off. Denny and I wrote the lyrics about the various classic rockers who were now being featured on music videos, including Clapton, Deep Purple, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix and more. Kenny Taylor played blazing guitar solos and harmonica. And to top it off, Steve Billings wrote a horn section arrangement that took it over the top.

  • The opening verse was written about my father who passed away early in his life. The song was in the style of recording artist Tears for Fears. Horn arrangement by Steve Billings. Denny sang a great lead, and together, we sang harmonics reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel.

  • A song about paranoia. I sang the lead, Denny and Dick played and sang background vocals, as well as played the drums and guitars. Some of the best vocals we ever sang together and a tasteful acoustic guitar solo by Dick. Note the great drums, which were double tracked by Denny. We borrowed the keyboards from Sweetwater.

  • Inspired by The Who, this is a powerful performance by Denny on vocals. Again, borrowing keyboards from Sweetwater, we created a symphonic sound that was huge. And to top it off, we even included a backward string section before the final chorus.

  • Kenny Aronoff joined us on drums, along with Geo Conner on guitar. Geo’s bluesy lead guitar solos are outstanding. Steve Billings lends his talents on horn arrangements, and we have a song about a beautiful convertible.

  • A bizarre song inspired by Pink Floyd. Denny’s vocals are a true tour de force. Dick’s guitars are tasteful and creative. Dick, Denny and I sang three-part harmony as we played to the beat of a drum machine. A truly original song.

  • A Springsteen-ish song with a blazing sax solo by Rick Brown and drums from Mellencamp’s Kenny Aronoff, this an intimate rocker that was great fun to play in the studio.

  • This was the first and only song Dick sang lead on for our band. A great performance from him, he brings a little Roy Orbison to the song. The only song to not have Denny sing lead or back-up vocals on, this was a perfect song to end our album and career on. Geo Conner plays outstanding guitar solos two times at the end of the song.