Information/Write-up
Philip Lewin was an American who grew up in Cortland, New York, USA and moved to the west end of Toronto, Ontario in the early seventies. It was in Toronto where he recorded and released his first of two all original LP’s in the mid seventies. The album “Am I Really Here All Alone” is a distinctive and personal recording of primitive and honest folk music, released on his own label, Gargoyle Records, and pressed at Quality Records, in a press run of 300 signed and numbered copies. Philip wrote the music, sang the songs, and played the rhythm guitar himself.
The song “The Magic Within You” was written Canadian magician Doug Henning. It was to be sung as part of a show he was planning to put on, but the show never happened. The Theme of the song is similar to a theme that Doug had talked about quite often in his public appearances.
Half the tracks were recorded in 1973, the other half were recorded in 1975. All tracks, except “Touch” were recorded and engineered at Robert Macintyre’s home studio on a two-track tape recorder. “Touch” was recorded in Philip’s own living room.
The fabulous original paste-on cover artwork was created by Robert Macintyre.
The vinyl labels contain drawings of gargoyles drawn by Lewin himself were inspired by a house down the street from his home on Gothic Avenue.
Philip is currently in a cover band with his wife and plays in local venues, mostly for charities in southern Ontario. Phil still performs solo, playing his old and original material. He expects to record a new album of original material this summer.
This album is being made available exlusively for digital download by Phil Lewin and the Museum of Canadian Music for the very first time in 35 years. If you are looking for some unique and honest folk music, you will certainly enjoy this album.
-Robert Williston
“It’s awfully rough in spots, but I’ve enjoyed making it. How many people have made their own record? Now, the question is, Is There Anyone Out There Listening…Or, Am I Really Here All Alone?
And the Rain Came and Washed Away the Watercolours of my dreams….And the same day I’d walked away from the emptiness of what I’d seen!”
-Philip Lewin
“When I hear it I feel like the depressed 15 year old lying in bed listening to Highway 61 Revisited until high school finally ended — and anything that can make me feel something that strong has merit and is worth your attention.” —Greg Von Teig
In 1967 I began my life in the student union of a university. In other words, I was in school. But, classes definitely took a back seat to people-watching and attempts at relationships. I would not say that I was particularly good at the latter, but I made a great observer. I even stayed near the school community for an extra year until an opportunity came up to move in with friends in Toronto, Canada, which turned out to be a pivotal opportunity for me.
I was once told that one should first write about one’s own experiences, then, expand to documenting the observed experiences of those around, and, finally write about what one imagines. Am I Really Here All Alone? encompasses all of the above. Something else I realized in writing lyrics is that sometimes it is good to be transparent about the meaning and others times, not so much. “Unusual Day” is an example of me being honest struggling to develop and maintain a relationship, but ultimately realizing it was not going to succeed.
“Watercolours” documents a crushing experience, but is couched in metaphor. I hope that listeners will relate through their own experiences, and because my reality is implied, not specified, will not be limited to mine. “Sweet Georgia” is an example of me, as a writer, leaving my personal space. I think of it as an attempt to clone William Faulkner to Bobbie Gentry. “The Magic Within You” is actually a commission where I was asked to write a song for a benefit to be performed by Doug Henning, the groundbreaking stage magician and friend. I once heard John Prine complain that there was no point in writing a ‘train song’ because Steve Goodman had already written the perfect one with “City of New Orleans”. Naturally, I had to write “Back Home, To You”, my idea of a train song where I tried to capture the movement of the train in the rhythm of the guitar. As for the other six songs, to me, they all reflect realities, experienced, observed and imagined. Descartes said, “I think, therefore I am.” However my question is, “Am I Really Here All Alone?”
—Philip Lewin, 2017
No Comments