Pollyanna B-Sides
(look what else we found in the attic)

We are now offering Pollyanna B-sides – tracks that aren’t available on any of Carolyn’s CDs but can be purchased exclusively by download (US/INT, CDN). See below for Carolyn’s song notes about the first 6 tracks posted.

A CHANCE TO DANCE (2003)

Words and music by Carolyn Arends
© Songs of Peer/Mr. Marley’s Music (ASCAP)

Performed by Carolyn Arends, Spencer Capier, Spencer Welch, Dave Olson, with loops from Brad Crisler. Recorded and mixed by Dave Hayes.

This track was written and recorded at Whitewater circa 2003. It was actually written for a West Wing episode and bumped at the 11th hour by Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah (hey, if you’re going to get bumped, get bumped by the best!) Even though it never got its intended life, I’ve always liked the song – it was intriguing to try to write and sing from inside the head of another character.

AT A LOSS (2006)

Words and music by Carolyn Arends
© New Spring Publishing/Running Arends Music (ASCAP)

Performed by Carolyn Arends. Recorded and mixed by Roy Salmond.

This song was written in 1997, about 2 days after Rich Mullins died. We recorded it for my This Much I Understand project but ended up with two many sad ballads on that disc and the song got cut. I’ve always wanted another run at it, so we finally re-recorded it (July, 2006) and I feel like we got the right vibe this time. It still makes me sad to sing it, but there was something good and right about getting it down properly.

HIDE OR SEEK (1995)

Words and music by Carolyn Arends. . © BBMPI (ASCAP)
Performed by Carolyn Arends, Roy Salmond and others. Recorded by Roy Salmond, mixed by Dave Hayes.

The golden-voiced Susan Ashton made my year when she recorded one of my tunes. This is the original demo, recorded around 1995.

LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS (2006)

Public Domain. This arrangement © Running Arends Music (ASCAP)/Spencer Capier Music (SOCAN)
Performed by Carolyn Arends and Spencer Capier. Recorded and mixed by Spencer Capier, with additional mixing by Roy Salmond.

A good, sturdy Baptist hymn that I have always loved. We recorded at Spencer’s place (August, 2006). It hints at something we’d like to do one-of-these-days – a blue-grassy hymns record.

LOVE YOU IN RETURN (1994)

Words and music by Carolyn Arends. © BBMPI (ASCAP)
Performed by Carolyn Arends, Roy Salmond and others. Recorded by Roy Salmond, mixed by Dave Hayes.

This is a really old demo (circa 1994) – hence the old school reverb, but I’ve just always liked it. Thought you might too.

THIS STARRY NIGHT (2004)

Words and music by Carolyn Arends . © Running Arends Music (ASCAP) Performed by Carolyn Arends, Roy Salmond and Phil Robertson. Recorded by Roy Salmond, mixed by Greg Reely.

Written and recorded around 2004. Just a love song, really. What’s wrong with that?