In 1983, a man named Lewis recorded an album named L’Amour, which was released on the unknown label R.A.W. And that’s about all we know.
The record itself is a delicate, whispered album, reflecting the way the artist himself – spectral, movie star-like – almost disappears into the grey of the cover. It should come as no surprise that it failed to shout loudly enough to be noticed, another private press album that sank without trace.
The ingredients are simple: smooth synthesizers, feather-light piano, ethereal, occasionally inaudible vocals and the gentle plucking of acoustic guitars. But the effects are arresting: a spine-tingling, sombre album that echoes Springsteen’s Nebraska or Angelo Badalamenti’s atmospheric soundtracks. Later, Arthur Russell would grasp for something similar on the epochal World Of Echo LP.
L’Amour is a true discovery of the blog age, uncovered in an Edmonton flea-market by collector Jon Murphy, passed on to private press fanatic Aaron Levin, shared on the internet and speculated over by lovers of curious LPs. There’s almost no information about Lewis or the album on the internet. There’s precious little on the sleeve: a dedication to Sports Illustrated supermodel Christie Brinkley, a photo credit for Ed Colver, the noted L.A. punk rock photographer, and credits for engineer Bob Kinsey and synth player Philip Lees. All that was known of Lewis is conjecture: a rumor that he was a con artist who fled after not paying for L’Amour’s photo-shoot and a dubious theory that he was not actually of this earth.
When Light In The Attic looked to release the album, they set out to investigate the mystery. They found some answers, but more intrigue too. Colver was able to fill in some blanks. Firstly, Lewis is a pseudonym. The man the photographer met was named Randall Wulff. He stayed in the Beverley Hills Hilton, drove a white convertible Mercedes and dated a girl who looked like a model. He paid for his photo session with Colver with a $250 check, which bounced.
Eventually, the trail led to Alberta, Canada, where that first LP had been found. Liner notes writer Jack Fleischer along with master detective Markus Armstrong found Randall’s nephew, who remembered Randall as a stockbroker. His vague recollections include a visit to Randall’s apartment, with all-white furniture and that beautiful girlfriend in situ. Crucially, he offered another name – another of Randall’s pseudonyms – which led to a Vancouver studio and the revelation that Lewis had recorded three or four albums of “soft religious music” there. Alas, even the new nom de plume led only to dead ends.
Lewis remains a ghost, a total mystery, but the music will be heard. The album is being pressed for the first time in more than 30 years, and widely distributed for the first time ever. Lewis’s royalties will be placed in escrow until he makes himself known. Perhaps you know Lewis. Perhaps Lewis is you. The only certainty is this: Lewis is about to find a whole bunch of new fans.
It's a New Day
Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Puedo ver el sol que brilla
Ver el mar junto a la orilla
Darme tiempo para la vida, eh eh
Siento nuestro amor que late
Sin miedo a que se me escape
No dejes de sonreír
Que lo mejor ya va a venir
Just sing along with it
I know somebody love me
Someone reach out and hug me
The road is getting bumpy
But it's gonna be a lovely day
I know you're feeling lonely
Someone reach out and hold me
You can't be acting grumpy
It's gonna be a lovely day
La la la la, lovely
La la la la, lovely
La la la la, lovely
It's gonna be a lovely day
Si la luna cae, nosotros seguimos
Nadie vive como vivimos
Que te cuenten, que te digan
Y si quieren, que nos sigan
Baila con el dembow
No importa quien seas puede ser tu show
Un poco de actitud, amor y flow
Las cosas salen bien así que dale let's go
No dejes de sonreír
Que lo mejor ya va a venir
Just sing along with it
I know somebody love me
Someone reach out and hug me
The road is getting bumpy (ey)
But it's gonna be a lovely day
I know you're feeling lonely
Someone reach out and hold me
You can't be acting grumpy
It's gonna be a lovely day (ey)
La la la la, lovely (la la, la la)
La la la la, lovely (la la, la la)
La la la la, lovely (la la, la la)
It's gonna be a lovely day
La la la la, lovely (la la la la, lovely)
La la la la, lovely (la la la la, lovely)
La la la la, lovely (uh)
It's gonna be a lovely day
The song "It's A New Day" by Lewis is a joyful and optimistic song that speaks about the beauty of life and the importance of enjoying every moment of it. The first verse talks about taking the time to appreciate life and its simple pleasures such as the sun shining and the sea next to the shore. The second verse speaks about love being present and not being afraid of losing it. It's a reminder to be grateful for everything we have and not take anything for granted.
The chorus emphasizes the positivity and hopefulness prevalent throughout the song. It conveys the message that even though life may get difficult at times, we should still remain optimistic because it's going to be a lovely day. The repetition of "la la la la, lovely" adds to the upbeat and optimistic nature of the song.
The third verse is in Spanish, and it talks about how they will keep going even if the moon falls. They live in the moment, and no one lives like they do. They don't care about what others say or think, and they encourage others to follow them. The rap in this verse is more upbeat and adds a new layer of energy to the song.
Overall, "It's A New Day" is a song that encourages listeners to focus on the positive aspects of life and find joy in the simple things. It reminds us to be optimistic and enjoy life as it comes.
Line by Line Meaning
Puedo ver el sol que brilla
I can see the shining sun
Ver el mar junto a la orilla
See the sea by the shore
Darme tiempo para la vida, eh eh
Giving myself time for life
Siento nuestro amor que late
I feel our love beating
Sin miedo a que se me escape
Without fear of it slipping away
Tengo mucho todavía, eh eh
I still have much to give
No dejes de sonreír
Don't stop smiling
Que lo mejor ya va a venir
The best is yet to come
Just sing along with it
Join in and sing with me
I know somebody love me
I know someone loves me
Someone reach out and hug me
Someone reach out and embrace me
The road is getting bumpy
The path ahead is rough
But it's gonna be a lovely day
But today will still be beautiful
I know you're feeling lonely
I know you feel lonely
Someone reach out and hold me
Someone reach out and hold me
You can't be acting grumpy
You can't be grumpy
It's gonna be a lovely day
It's still going to be a great day
Si la luna cae, nosotros seguimos
Even if the moon falls, we keep going
Nadie vive como vivimos
No one lives like we do
Que te cuenten, que te digan
Let them talk and say what they want
Y si quieren, que nos sigan
And if they want, let them follow us
Baila con el dembow
Dance with the Dembow
No importa quien seas puede ser tu show
No matter who you are, it can be your show
Un poco de actitud, amor y flow
A little bit of attitude, love, and flow
Las cosas salen bien así que dale let's go
Things will turn out well, so let's go
La la la la, lovely
La la la la, lovely
It's gonna be a lovely day
It's going to be a beautiful day
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jan Carlos Ozuna Rosado, Skip Scarborough, William Harrison Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind