I BELIEVE
Music and Lyrics: Michael Foster
Written: Negril, Jamaica December, 1978
Music Rearranged in June, 2006
Arranged, Produced, and Mixed by: Michael Foster
Engineered by: Mark Easton and
Recorded in June, 2006 at ROUGH CUT STUDIO...Eastford, Conn.
Remixed October, 2009 by: Michael Foster at GOLDEN SUN STUDIO ...North Palm Beach, Florida.
Mastered by: David Pendragon at THE STUDIO...Canberra, Australia.
Michael Foster: Electric Guitars (Pan Left), Vocals, First Guitar Solo,
Mark Easton: Electric Guitars (Pan Right), Second Guitar Solo
Barry Easton: Drums
Michael Corsini: Bass
Guest Vocalist (Harmonies): Stephanie Krowka
Copyright 1979, 2006, by Crystal Magic Music Publishing (ASCAP)
This song..."I Believe" was one of many songs I wrote while on one of the many "retreats" to a villa I would rent every year in Negril, Jamaica...to rest and recharge...and almost always...to write new music. An amazingly beautiful and spiritual place...Negril was always very conducive to my songwriting...and this song reflects that energy very well, I think.
This is a song about the things in my life that I deem to be most important...and that also reflects my belief that we all must assume responsibility for the state of the world...as we find it. Saying what I believe is any easy thing to do. Living my life by those principles is a bit more difficult...and requires constant effort on my part. Each of us is responsible for creating our own little corner of the world...and just because the world "tells" me that it isn't my fault for the "state of things"...my own spiritual beliefs tell me...that is a lie. Just like a pebble thrown into a still pond sends ripples outwards from where it enters the water...and touches places on the opposite shore I may not even be able to see...the energy I "send" out by my actions and my beliefs...whether positive and healing... or negative and harmful... also extends outward....and touches places far from where I may actually be physically at.
A smile for a stranger...who is having a "bad" day...can cause that person's day to brighten...and in turn...he or she passes along a smile instead of a frown, to other people they may have contact with...and so it goes...on and on...long after I have moved on to another location. And so each of us plays a role...in either healing the planet...or wounding it. I guess...this is just what "I Believe"...because to me, the irrefutable logic of it...is the only "proof" I need.
Avalanche performed this song live for the three years the original band was together...and for the two years we performed in live concerts...but this is the first time we ( the surviving original members) have been able to get this song recorded. The idea to do that...came to me after I performed this song acoustically... "live" on SongPlanet.com DJ Mike K's Saturday Night Rocks" Radio show in Atlanta, in March, of 2005. This is the second song Avalanche has recorded as a direct result of that performance re-awakening inside of me a desire to hear these recorded in the form they were always supposed to be heard...which is electrically...and with the full band playing on them. The first song that we recorded as a result was "Are We Ever Going To Learn"...and that song as well...has a totally different impact on the listener as a hard rock tune...versus the acoustic rendition...so thanks Mike...for the invite...and the kick in the ****. This is also the first time ever that a female voice has been part of an Avalanche recording. Special thanks to Stephanie Krowka for her fine vocal contributions to this track.
I would also like to thank Brian Brooks for his valuable feedback during the mixing of this tune...and also to Mike Kohlgraf and Mark Easton for their feedback during the Mastering. Thanks...guys!
I very much enjoyed the rhythmic variations in this song. Nice guitar work. Thanks.
David Deal
man that is a great run on here. very nice musicianship all around. singer did a great job. unique voice. solos kick ****. very melodic and tasty indeed!