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Twice Upon A Rhyme

by Paul Levinson

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    this is the original Twice Upon a Rhyme LP, released in 1972 on HappySad Records, sealed in shrink wrap, never played

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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 4 Paul Levinson releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Cloudy Sunday, I Only Want You, Spun Dreams, and Twice Upon A Rhyme. , and , .

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1.
TODAY IS JUST LIKE YOU Words & Music by Paul Levinson April 1969 Ooh, today the sky is blue You know your eyes are too Today is just like you Yeah, the sun is everywhere Just like your golden hair Today is just like you What a beautiful day, girl You’re the same way, girl Hope you both stay girl, and Oh, see how the colors glow Just like the love you show Today is just like you What a beautiful day, girl You’re the same way, girl I sure hope that you both stay girl ‘Cause tomorrow will shine, and Life will be fine, as Long as you’re mine girl, and Wow, I got your love somehow The perfect time is now Today is just like you Today is just like you
2.
LOOKING FOR SUNSETS (IN THE EARLY MORNING) Words & Music by Paul Levinson & Ed Fox March 1969 We wander a wet and windy shore Washed by the morning hour Looking for last night’s flower On the floor We drank of the dark red wine before Now that it’s turned to water We hope that the day is short And knock on evening’s door (chorus) Looking for sunsets in the early morning Always longing for more Looking for sunsets when world is dawning And love is hiding from the roar The morning rolls out its awning like a store Baby, we won’t go shopping We’ll search ‘till the sundials stop And love begins to pour (chorus)
3.
GENTLE BLUE CHERRY BELL Words & Music by Paul Levinson & Ed Fox December 1968 Lie down by the lavender lakes And watch as the sugary snowflakes Float in a musical suite (chorus) Gentle blue cherry bell Of soft white fringes Gentle blue cherry bell My whole night hinges On you The dusk is a soft silken drape That falls on the lyrical landscape Set to a love sonnet’s beat (chorus) (bridge) See the night There’s light all around I see the night It’s bright on the ground While in the sky The pastel play, the breeze ballet Is breathtaking, I’m shaking (chorus)
4.
I’M SEEING YOU IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT Words & Music by Paul Levinson & Ed Fox January 1969 The first time that I saw you girl I didn’t blink an eye Seen so much more before you Just as common as the sky But now a sun is rising As I look at you tonight I’m seeing you in a different light I’m not sure what’s occurring But it all fits into place ‘Cause something warm is stirring As I gaze into your face It’s life that’s advertising And the signs are big and bright I’m seeing you in a different light I’m seeing you in a different light . . . The blush of Aphrodite Is alive upon your cheek I’ve seen the light despite me What a fool I was last week! But now I’m realizing girl It’s love at second sight I’m seeing you in a different light
5.
LEARN TO LEARN Words & Music by Paul Levinson & Ed Fox February 1969 The Friday sidewalks sure look crowded Crowds rushing home with Sunday eyes And me, I walk among the clouded Into a night of starless skies I’ve got to learn to learn Not to hide my face from the sun Now the truth is dawning I’ve been one with no one Lost in the wilds of misconception Mistaking love’s embrace for chains I feel the depths of my deception My world is cardboard when it rains I’ve got to learn to learn That away is the worst way to run In the glow of morning When the day is so young I’ve got to learn to learn That a love song is meant to be sung In the warmth of morning When the world is so young
6.
LOOKS LIKE A NIGHT (I WON’T CATCH MUCH SLEEP IN) Words & Music by Paul Levinson & Ed Fox May 1969 Looks like a night I won’t catch much sleep in I’m wide awake on you girl The kind of night that is well worth keeping Tomorrow and through, girl, A lifetime or two I close my eyes but instead of sleepin’ I’m well aware of you girl The shades of sky slowly fade and deepen But you’re bright as new, girl You’re taking me to A world of falling rain fountains Ice blue streams and apple green mountains If you love me and really mean to I’ll be always loving you Looks like a night I won’t catch much sleep in I got the day in you girl Your kind of light hits me soft and sweepin’ I smile when you do, girl You’re beautiful too
7.
Raincheck 04:12
RAINCHECK Words & Music by Paul Levinson & Ed Fox December 1968 Girl, you’ve got love to give me But I can’t take it now You’d spend your weekends with me But I can’t make it now (chorus) Take a raincheck Please don’t stay Save all your lovin’ for a sunny day Take a raincheck But don’t go far Soon as I’m able I’ll be where you are Girl, it’s a nasty forecast With dark clouds overhead But soon as the storm has blown past I’ll make good on what I said (chorus)
8.
YOU ARE EVERYWHERE Words by Paul Levinson Music by Paul Levinson & Danny Kaley August 1967 I watch the treetops Catch the breeze, shed their leaves Like tears upon the ground I watch the raindrops In the sky, and I cry For in everything I see you You are always there In the rain and in the trees You are everywhere, yeah, you are everywhere Icy waves leaping In the sea, how the high tide Drenches all the shore I see willows weeping As they cry, so do I For in everything I see you You are always there In the skies and in the seas You are everywhere, yeah, you are everywhere Although your love is gone My love still lingers on For in everything I see you You are always there In the rain and in the trees In the skies and in the seas In the waves, baby, and in the breeze You are everywhere, yeah, you are everywhere
9.
FOREVER FRIDAY Words & Music by Paul Levinson & Ed Fox June 1969 In the near and distant past I have passed Near the steeples, and the windows Were stained and strange And the ring of voices out of range And I found I couldn’t sing (chorus) It’s forever Friday As I see the world in my way Sunday’s just a shadow play, for me It’s forever Friday As I walk the ghost-town highway Just a mirror-glass away From the seventh day In a far and touching word I once heard Morning raining, and the windows Shined open clear In the light of one alive idea And I glimpsed of everything, but now (chorus)
10.
THE SOFT OF YOUR EYES Words & Music by Paul Levinson October 1968 Like a sun that starts to rise In the cream of morning skies And gives its gentle glow So as the soft of your eyes Like a very special prize Long kept hidden in disguise But now I really know So as the soft of your eyes And there’s always a place for me Here, in the soft of your eyes And a kind loving face for me Here, in the soft of your eyes And the time forever flies And the dreaming knows no ties Just warm familiar flow So as the soft of your eyes
11.
ANTIQUE SHOP (THE COMING OF WINTER) Words by Paul Levinson Music by Peter Rosenthal June 1968 Brief patches of light Sneaking through the rusty leaves Brief snatches of sight Slipping past the autumn thieves (chorus) Relics of summer psychedelics An ever-dwindling splinter Browse around while the world dies down Witness the coming of winter Few flowers to smell Pretty face already shed Few hours to tell Many things that might be said (chorus) (bridge) But don’t let your mind stray too far It might get hung up on a faded buttercup Or tuned down to the muted sound Of half-forgotten seas And the soft as cotton breeze
12.
NOT YET READY TO SAY GOODBYE Words by Paul Levinson Music by Linda Kaplan & Paul Levinson October 1968 Things been getting’ worse, lately Been lovin’ in reverse, lately Almost time to say we’ve had our fill Seems from here the road is all downhill Don’t you believe it girl, we’ve something still (chorus) Hey, we’re not yet ready to say goodbye “Sure gonna miss you” just won’t get by Goodbye don’t make it We can’t forsake it We’re not yet ready to say goodbye Life’s been down on us, lately Been causin’ quite a fuss, lately Breakin’ up would be the simple cure But the treatment would be mighty poor Long empty evenings never feelin’ quite sure (chorus) (bridge) Can’t say so long – it’s been so long Can’t say that’s all – ‘cause that’s all wrong (chorus)
13.
THE LAMA WILL BE LATE THIS YEAR Words & Music by Paul Levinson & Ed Fox November 1968 (a brief question and answer period) Children don’t you know it’s past your bedtime You’ve been waiting all day for the sun Didn’t come so now it’s eyes-are-red time He’s been holding out on everyone People all been cold for such a long time Never seen the likes of this before He would always come and bring the warm time Maybe he don’t love us anymore (chorus) The lama will be late this year The lama will be late this year I fear he’s been delayed Heaven knows where he’s strayed We’re gonna have to wait this year The lama will be late this year The lama will be late this year I fear we’ve been repaid The mistakes we have made We’re gonna have to wait this year It’s time all right and yet it’s not the right time Maybe there’s some thing we’ve gotta learn We’ll just keep on spinning through the nighttime ‘Till we light the way for his return (chorus)

about

In 1972, Paul Levinson released Twice Upon A Rhyme, with Ed Fox, Peter Rosenthal, Boris Midney, Donny Frankel, Mitch Greenberg, Jay Sackett, Alan Fuhr, Jesse Stiller and other musicians on HappySad Records - a mix of sunshine pop and folk-rock psychedelic. South Korea's Big Pink/Beatball reissued Twice Upon a Rhyme on CD in December 2008 and Vivid Records did the same in Japan in 2009. Whiplash/Sound of Salvation released a vinyl remastered re-pressing in December 2010, and again in 2012.

Praise for Twice Upon A Rhyme:

“Paul Levinson writes songs that are catchy and colorful. With a storied career that includes working with songwriting legend Ellie Greenwich, Levinson released folk and pop gems in the sixties and seventies. Fans of Simon and Garfunkel, Del Shannon, Brian Hyland, Spanky and Our Gang, The Zombies, The Vogues, and Strawberry Alarm Clock will love listening to Paul Levinson.” -Modern Music Maker (March 23, 2018)

"I managed to track Paul Levinson down and his Twice Upon a Rhyme album became the first release on the label." - Anthony Nyland, Backseat Mafia (March 27, 2017)

"Best discovery in 2016" - Jeffrey Lewis, Manic Pop Thrills (Dec 20. 2016)

“Tim Hardin meets The Zombies ... a real forgotten gem from 1972 that serves as perfect listening on a Saturday morning in November ... warm and peaceful.” -Choreographer of the Hill (Nov 9, 2013)

“Twice Upon a Rhyme (Happysad ‘72): I’ve seen multitudes of folkpsych wannabes hyped to the skies for their garage charm in euro lists that don’t hold a candle to this baby. “Forever Friday” is so amazing and lo-fi real I still get chills when I hear it. And the long track “The Lama Will Be Late This Year” sweeps whatever floor is left in this department.” -Paul Major, Enjoy the Experience (May 1, 2013)

“... mixes the psychedelic pop of the ‘60s, a dash of Simon & Garfunkel and some expansive and imaginative arrangements which recall the Beach Boys or even Burt Bacharach in places. There’s a real warmth and love running through these cuts ...” -Phil, Norman Records (Sept 19, 2012)

"Twice Upon a Rhyme from 1972 was one of Shindig’s favourite rereleases of last year." -Shindig Happening! (Sept 17, 2012)

“The vocals are reminiscent of a live Beatles gig, I haven’t seen them live but my grandma said they are quite good.” -Daniel Thomas, Independent Music News (Feb 6, 2011)

"a musician full of summer sun" - Dave Greenwald, RAWKBLOG (Jan 19, 2011)

"Superb fuzz guitar irresistibly drizzled across several tracks ... a memorable personality indelibly locked inside the grooves ... the perfect sound track for a lethargic spring day." -Austin Matthews, Shindig Magazine (Jan 1, 2011)

“Had this record been released in 1968-1970 and with the support of a major label it would have been hailed as a psych pop masterpiece.” -George Cannon, Way Off the Grid Radio (Dec 12, 2010)

"romantic, sunshine happy Americana or bluesier ... a handful of good feeling summer breeze love songs ... a touch of Santana exotic elements and a lot more fuzz guitar ... melodic and harmony vocals" -Gerald Van Waes, Psyche Folk (Nov 11, 2010)

"In recent years the album has gone from an unknown collectors' gem to a much more widely known (and acclaimed) folk-rock recording." -Evan LeVine, WFMU Beware of the Blog (Dec 5, 2009)

“At their best, Levinson and his crew produce dark, druggy pop music remindful of neighbors The Patron Saints or bayou obscuros Feather Da Gamba.” - Vernon Joynson, Fuzz, Acid and Flowers: A Comprehensive Guide To American Garage, Psychedelic and Hippie Rock (Feb 16, 2004)

"human mystical pop music... wonderful songs" -Taro Miyasugi, Record Collectors Magazine (2002)

credits

released November 26, 2018

lead vocals and harmony Paul Levinson; harmonies and lead vocals Ed Fox; all guitars (except bass) Peter Rosenthal; bass Jay Sackett; trap drums Alan Fuhr, Mitch Greenberg, Jesse Stiller, Boris Midney, Mike Dorfman; percussion Paul Levinson; organ Don Frankel; keyboard (piano,organ, etc) Paul Levinson; piano and organ Mitch Greenberg; recorder Cyril Penn; violin Israel Esquenazi, Sasha Humek; saxophone and clarinet Boris Midney, trumpet Joe Szalacsi, Brian King, Anton Gary

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Paul Levinson New York, New York

Paul Levinson recorded w/ Stu Nitekman & Ira Margolis as The New Outlook (The Other Voices) for Atlantic Records, 1968. In 1972, he released an LP, Twice Upon a Rhyme on HappySad Records. Big Pink, Vivid & Whiplash all re-issued the LP, 2008- 2012. Old Bear Records released a new album of his sci-fi songs, Welcome Up: Songs of Space and Time, in early 2020, w/ vinyl on Light In the Attic Records. ... more

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