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The Longing Music:
This
album depicts the
life of one Sean
McMichael, a man
from Scotland in the
early
1800's. It explores
the life, the loves,
and some of the
adventures of this
young man.
1. When I think of
you/Lotus Flower:
Sean McMichael is at
sea on a boat
sailing to
the Orient. He is 22
years and is
thinking of his
sweetheart since
childhood, Missy
O'Casey. Missy is 20
years old and is
very much in love
with Sean.
When they were
children, they
promised themselves
to each other after
they
danced one night.
Sean misses and
thinks of her as his
ship approaches the
Orient.
Sean's ship docks
and he walks the
streets of the
Oriental city. He
observes
all of the local
beauty and mysticism
that is the Orient.
2. My Bonnie Lass:
Being away at sea
for over a year,
Sean is finally
returning to
Scotland and can't
wait to see his one
and only love,
Missy. He thinks
about
how happy he will
be, when he sees
Missy. Missy
approaches him on
the dock,
and they embrace as
true lovers do.
3. The Longing: Sean
has been back for
about 8 months when
war breaks out.
He and Missy have
married and now he
must leave to fight.
He's thinking
of Missy in the
first part of the
song and how much he
misses her and
wondering why he's
away fighting and
killing total
strangers. Sean's
regiment
comes under attack.
Sean is mortally
wounded. He lays on
the ground as the
battle rages around
him. He watches his
life pass before him
as he dies.
4. Missy, Tiny
Dancer: Sean begins
the journey of his
death. He reflects
upon his life
and of beloved Missy
when she was young
and first met her.
She's a very vibrant
young lady, full of
life. She knows,
even at this tender
age, she will marry
Sean. She
dances for him
knowing that he
feels the same
towards her. Her
image cascades
among the other
images of his life.
5.
Will You Dance With
Me?: Sean feels the
hands of death
beginning to
overwhelm
him, his life blood
slowly leaving his
body. He feels cold
and begins to
shiver. He
begins a dream like
state. He thinks of
the first time he
asked Missy to dance
with
him. He knows that
they are meant to be
after they dance and
embrace. A faint
smile can be seen on
Sean's face, as he
lies dying on the
battlefield. He
wonders;
Are the others that
are mortally wounded
feeling like
himself?
6. Your Spanish
Eyes: This is the
other woman in
Sean's life who
almost takes his
love for Missy away.
He meets her on one
of his travels to
Spain. She is very
attractive and has
the most beautiful
and seductive blue
eyes of any woman
alive.
She is beautiful and
she knows it. Alas,
Sean follows his
heart back to Missy.
Sean thinks his last
thought of his love
for Missy and begins
to lift above his
body
as he passes on to
the warm bright
light before him.
Sean tells himself
as he floats
to the light; Oh,
what a beautiful
sight, his pain is
gone, his feeling of
love for Missy
is like he has never
experienced.
7. Oh, How I Miss
You: This is Missy's
lament for Sean
after feeling a cold
chill run up
her spine. She knows
that Sean has been
killed. She walks
around the room
touching Sean's
items, feeling the
grief of knowing she
will never see,
hear, or touch
him again. She knows
this is true, and
needs not be told. A
sadness overwhelms
her. She sits down
and begins to cry
over the loss of her
true love.
8. The Ocean, The
Sky, My Love, And I:
The feelings of life
and love. All true
lovers
face the final
separation by death.
9.
Rocking Horse: Missy
becomes deeply
depressed and
withdrawn.
She stays in the
room they had set up
for their first
child. There is
a rocking horse that
Sean had built for
their baby. She is
still
mournful and sits
and watches and
rocks the rocking
horse for
hours at a time
while she cries for
Sean.
10. In The Garden:
The passage of the
spirit into the
unknown realms of
the afterlife.
Sean's spirit is
moving through space
and time and he is
on the final voyage
everyone must
eventually face, and
feel...
The Longing
Music written, performed, and produced by: Mike Gregory
Director: Sam Neely
Recording Engineer: Rick Garcia
Recorded at: Hacienda Records, Corpus Christi, Texas
Story: Mike Gregory and Ralph Wranker
Cover and tray photos: Ralph Wranker
About Mike Gregory:
Mike Gregory was born in Robstown, Texas on June 2, 1950. Mike’s mother an accomplished pianist had a strong influence on Mike. His father has some musical talent and today is an accomplished writer. He also has three sisters who are all musicians.
Mike began his piano studies at 6 years of age. By age 14, he was playing professionally in nightclubs. He received a college music scholarship and studied piano under Dr. Delgado-Cortes. He attended college for 2 years, studying music and art.
Mike moved to Corpus Christi, Texas at 19 and started recording at Studio B where he met Sam Neely. During this time, Mike was recorded on Sam’s early demos.
When Sam Neely went to Los Angeles to record his first album, Mike was asked to sit in on the recording sessions by Capital Records. He later returned to Los Angeles and played on Sam’s second album.
The success of Sam’s albums was followed up with tours. Mike toured with Sam, and he played at home in nightclubs with Sam.
In 1976, Mike and his wife moved to Houston, Texas, where he played for the group, Family Tree. While in Houston, he recorded for various people and eventually moved back to Corpus Christi in 1980.
Upon his arrival in Corpus Christi, Mike immediately began playing with The Gary Davis Band. He played with Gary Davis for 3 years, and later began playing with the Little Ducks from Mars. Both bands were successful on a local level. He played with another group Wavelength
Mike has been in demand for his music composition and arranging skills. One major Tejano label he composed and recorded for, was Hacienda Records. Mike has recorded with Lisa Lopez and with Freddie Fender numerous times.
Mike’s musical experience: Country, Tejano, Gospel, Rock, Blues, and orchestration. In 1994, Mike was one of the founders of Taliesyn Music with Sam Neely and Ralph Wranker.