Family Favorites takes the listener on a semi-autobiographical sonic tour of Shmitt’s woeful observations as he and those closest to him stumble, kick, scream, falter and embrace life at its toughest and poignant best. The moods range from manic to somber, passionate to disenchanted… all with an under-pinning of humor and hope. It is this light amidst the darkness that makes Shmitt’s songs infinitely listenable. The sensitivity of Shmitt’s viewfinder on the world gives his words, music and rich vocals a tender, hard hitting and universal appeal. His songs resonate deeper with each listen.
On his third release, Other People’s Stuff (Realistic Records), Shmitt delivers an upbeat and thoroughly enjoyable musical journey of fourteen cover tunes, expertly spanning decades and genres. Shmitt’s interpretation of these songs is a departure from his previous two self-penned releases, Dog Steal The Moon and Nothing Is Real (Realistic Records). His understanding and respect for the songwriting process is clear, shining through in his production, musical arrangements, mixes and vocal performances.
Shmitt’s supporting cast of players on Other People’s Stuff is outstanding and includes special appearances by celebrities and legends such as David Johansen (NY Dolls, Buster Pointdexter, The Harry Smiths), Levon Helm (The Band), Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes), Jayotis Washington (The Persuasions), Willy DeVille (Mink DeVille), and Stockard Channing (The West Wing, Grease).
Through his production choices on Other People’s Stuff, Shmitt pays tribute to the original songwriters and performers of the tunes, while at the same time putting his personal thumbprint on the work, making it fresh and undeniably his own. His lush vocals and top-notch guitar playing make the CD timeless and infinitely listenable. The CD possess the warmth of the past, and manages to be thoroughly modern.
On Dog Steal The Moon, Shmitt followed up the critical success of his debut release, Nothing Is Real, by delivering a new collection of original songs; Shmitt’s trademark ballads are made even more poignant, on Dog Steal The Moon, by their juxtaposition to a set of uptempo rockers that prove Shmitt’s ability to crank it up. Written, performed, arranged and produced by Shmitt, he demonstrates his audio-fluency, and capacity to conceptualize a cohesive project. His confessional style of writing possesses a familiarity and a uniqueness. “A singular voice whose songs get as much power from the words as from the music... lyrically poetic,” wrote New York Post rock reviewer Dan Aquilante.
Shmitt’s talent hasn’t gone unnoticed. Radio personality Vin Scelsa (NYC) sang praises, “artist Stuffy Shmitt... his tunes knock me out” and called Nothing Is Real “a mesmerizing piece of work.” And radio host Peter Bochan (NYC) named the debut CD “one of the best indie releases this year.” Shmitt has two songs featured in the independent feature “Thirty Days” (An Araca Group/Arielle Tepper Production). He composed and produced the soundtrack for the documentary, “Abandoned,” (Crowing Rooster Arts, Inc.) which premiered at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City and won the Dupont/Columbia University Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. Other film music credits include “The Heavenly Kid” (Orion Pictures) and the award-winning educational children’s film “Whatever Happened To The Dinosaurs?” (Blackwatch Productions). Shmitt also co-wrote the theme song for the Ace Award winning MTV show “Turn It Up.” His music can be heard in the film "Happy Tears" starring Rip Torn and Demi Moore and in the Showtime series "Californication". He has performed his own material in venues coast to coast.
Stuffy Shmitt’s albums Family Favorites, Other People’s Stuff, Dog Steal The Moon and Nothing Is Real are available at CDBaby.com and iTunes. www.stuffyshmitt.com
Scotch And Soda
Stuffy Shmitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, do I feel high,
Oh me, oh my, do I feel high.
Dry martini, jigger of gin,
Oh, what a spell you've got me in,
Oh my, do I feel high.
People won't believe me,
They'll think that I'm just braggin'
That I could feel the way I feel,
And still be on the wagon.
All I need is one of your smiles,
Sunshine of your eyes, oh me, oh my,
Do I feel higher than a kite can fly!
Give me lovin', baby, I feel high.
People won't believe me,
They'll think that I'm just braggin'
That I could feel the way I feel,
And still be on the wagon.
All I need is one of your smiles,
Sunshine of your eyes, oh me, oh my,
Do I feel higher than a kite can fly!
Give me lovin', baby, I feel high.
"Scotch and Soda" is a love song about a man who is drunk on both alcohol and love. The first verse introduces the alcohol element with "Scotch and soda, mud in your eye," and the singer confesses feeling high both on the drink and his lover's charm. The second verse mentions a dry martini and jigger of gin, an indication of the singer's heavy drinking as a coping mechanism for his love. In the chorus, he expresses his love and desire for his lover's affection to keep him sober, despite his heavy drinking.
The lyrics reveal a sad reality of alcoholism and the struggle to maintain a life off-the-wagon, making it an insightful commentary on the destructive power of addiction. The singer acknowledges that people won't believe him for his ability to feel such a way sober while being so in love, making the song incredibly relatable for those who experience this struggle. The vulnerable and melancholic tone of the song reflects the consequences of addiction and the desire for love to be the solution.
Line by Line Meaning
Scotch and soda, mud in your eye,
Alcoholic beverages - Scotch and soda - are well-known party drinks. The phrase 'mud in your eye' is a fun way of saying 'cheers' or 'bottoms up' when enjoying a drink with someone.
Baby, do I feel high,
The singer is saying that he feels good, or 'high,' after drinking alcohol.
Oh me, oh my, do I feel high.
The singer reiterates his feelings about how good he feels after drinking alcohol.
Dry martini, jigger of gin,
A dry martini is made with gin and vermouth, while a jigger is a measuring tool used in bartending. The singer is describing his enjoyment of alcoholic drinks.
Oh, what a spell you've got me in,
The singer is saying that the alcohol has put him in a trance-like state.
Oh my, do I feel high.
The singer reiterates his feelings about how good he feels after drinking alcohol.
People won't believe me,
The singer is aware that others might not believe him when he talks about how good he feels after drinking alcohol.
They'll think that I'm just braggin'
Some people might assume that the singer is exaggerating or showing off when he talks about his enjoyment of alcohol.
That I could feel the way I feel,
The singer is aware that he is very happy or 'high' after having a drink, and others might find it hard to believe.
And still be on the wagon.
To be 'on the wagon' is to abstain from drinking alcohol. The singer is saying that he can still feel great without being drunk.
All I need is one of your smiles,
The singer is saying that the affection or attention of someone he loves is enough to make him feel happy and 'high.'
Sunshine of your eyes, oh me, oh my,
The eyes of the person he loves are like sunshine to him, and it makes him feel ecstatic.
Do I feel higher than a kite can fly!
The singer feels extremely happy, just like a kite flies high in the sky.
Give me lovin', baby, I feel high.
The singer is saying that the love or affection of a special someone is all he needs to feel happy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE GUARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind