Album Notes

A brief explanation of this project:

Growing up, I never saw the value of religion in my life, and yet I considered myself a spiritual person. Over the past several years, I have undergone a transformation and have come to see the importance of these religious teachings in our culture. However, I still felt that something was missing – a bridge between the structured world of organized religion and the undefined spiritual sense that there was something more to this world than meets the eye. This album is my attempt to bring those two worlds together.

For each song, I have taken a quote from the Bible, from a writer or from another source of wisdom and put it through the filter of my own life experience. My intention is that this will render these ideas more accessible to those of you who may feel that same sense of disconnection. For everyone out there who is searching for that ultimate truth and a sense of belonging, this album is dedicated to you.



Proverb: a brief familiar maxim of folk wisdom usually compressed in form, often involving a bold image and frequently a jingle that catches the memory.



Below each song, you will find the quote from which it was derived as well as my own take on the proverb.


MEMORY LANE
“What of the future? Are we compelled to relive the past? Or if we become familiar with what lies fluttering in our hearts, can we reinvent ourselves?”
Rabbi Rachel Sabath

TH: How can we know ourselves when all the familiar things we used to define ourselves by have gone?

ON THE WAY HOME
“Trips do not end when you return home--usually this is the time when in a sense they really begin.”
Agnes E. Benedict and Adele Franklin

TH: Sometimes it is only by going away and returning that we gain a new perspective on our lives and ourselves.

EYES TO HEAVEN
“I lift my eyes to the mountain. From where will my help come? My help will come from God.”
Psalm 121 Esa Einai

TH: There is nothing like getting out in nature to remind me of the wonder of the universe and to restore my faith in Spirit.


IF I AM NOT FOR MYSELF
“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself then what am I? If not now, when?” Hillel Pirke Avot 1:14

TH: How does one balance keeping a sense of self and also compromise in a relationship? It is a constant struggle and a continual learning lesson.

AFTER ALL
“Blessing is to be found only in a thing hidden from the eye.” Midrash

TH: It seems that the people we hurt the most and take for granted are often those we care most deeply about.



BEIN’ AROUND
“Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.”
Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

TH: Sometimes just feeling the presence of a loved one is enough to feel safe in the world.

LISTEN CLOSE
“Things can go from the very worst to the very best in just the blink of an eye.” Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

TH: Never give up, and never stop listening for that “still, small voice” which can help remind you of your divine nature.

LIFE SHAPES
“Free will is given to every human being. If we wish to incline ourselves toward goodness and righteousness, we are free to do so. If we wish to incline ourselves toward evil, we are free to do that as well.” Moses Maimonides

TH: As I go through life, I notice that each decision I make, no matter how small, is carving out a path for me and defining who I am.

EVERY STEP
“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” Martin Buber

TH: There is logic and reason to the universe, even when we cannot perceive it. The most difficult thing is to trust the process.

GIVE ME THE STRENGTH
“God brings the healing before the calamity.” Yiddish proverb

TH: When we are faced with a crisis, we can tap into a force beyond ourselves to get us through it. Until then, we may not even realize how truly powerful we are.



Credits:

Memory Lane was written by Todd Herzog (VoxArt Music, ASCAP) and Paul Alexander Gonzalez (PaulyRhythm Music, ASCAP)
On The Way Home was written by Todd Herzog and Steve Lu (Fourth
of Four Music (ASCAP), admin. by The Royalty Network)
All other material written by Todd Herzog

“Give Me The Strength”:
Piano, keys and strings arranged by Kavin Hoo. Produced by Kavin Hoo and Todd Herzog. Recorded and mixed by Kavin Hoo at Earthtones Studio, CA.

All other material:

Drums and Percussion on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8: Performed by Paul Alexander Gonzalez and recorded at The Grease Factory, CA.
Piano on “After All”: Performed by Corrinne Foo
All vocals, guitars, keys, violin, backing vocals, drum and midi programming: Performed by Todd Herzog and recorded at VoxArt Studios, AZ

Arranged and Produced by Todd Herzog

Mixed by Todd Herzog at VoxArt Studios
Final Mixing by Steve Harrison and Todd Herzog at The Audio Suite in Chandler, AZ Assisted by Josh Wendelken

Mastered by Nancy Matter at Moonlight Mastering, TX

Graphic Design and Layout: Juliana Swenson

Photography: David LaPorte

Contact: Karen Herzog, Voxart Music
Work (480) 626-0291
Cell (818) 961-4676
karen@toddherzog.com
www.toddherzog.com