Scattershot Symphony #12

New World Interview With Jenny Burton

Welcome to:

Scattershot Symphony

The Music of Peter Link

(That’s me.)

People ask me, “Why “Symphony? You’re not a classical composer.” Well, Wikipedia defines “Symphony” as: an extended musical composition most often written by composers for orchestra – often presented in several movements. 

And so, I bring you the music of a lifetime of composition – often presented in several movements.  That’s the nature of these podcasts – a scattershot look at a lifetime of music …

So, strap on them headphones.  

We’re 90% music with just a smattering of commentary. 

So for god sakes, 

(Crowd)

Turn it up!

This week being the twelfth episode of this podcast, I prefer to let the music do the talkin’.  However, if you need to know more about me, please visit Wikipedia.com – Peter Link.    

This episode is entitled 

“New World Interview”

With Guest Artist, Jenny Burton

Recently Jenny released a new album EP through Watchfire Music entitled New World.  The concept behind this album was to lift thought through music away from the downward pull of the world’s pandemic and all of its further negative ramifications. It’s simply a four song journey into positive thinking, and its four songs are taken from a lifetime of inspirational singing that has sustained and advanced Jenny’s career as first an 80s top of the charts Dance Music artist with Atlantic Records, and then as a most successful R&B artist and Inspirational presence or another 3 decades. 

For 10 years with the Jenny Burton Experience, she lit up the stages of both New York City and the East Coast with an act that featured not only her, but also the cream of the crop of New York studio session singers at the time.  Selling out for 10 years every Thursday night at one of NY’s top clubs, the Jenny Burton Experience also went on to being the first Gospel vocal group to headline in Atlantic City … at Resorts International.

Jenny Burton – welcome to Scattershot Symphony. You’ve been a powerful presence for us episode after episode. Working with you all these years has been one of the great joys of my life, so I’m excited to introduce you, live, to our Scattershot listeners around the world.

Jenny

(Fairly short opening remarks)

HELLO EVERYBODY

IT’S SO NICE TO BE INVITED TO TALK ABOUT MY NEW CD.

PETER, I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT YOUR PODCASTS, AND ALSO THAT THEY’RE REACHING SUCH FAR OFF PLACES AROUND THE GLOBE. 

I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO EACH ONE. THOUGH I’VE KNOWN YOU FOR MANY YEARS, THERE ARE STILL SONGS THAT I’VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

Peter

So let’s jump right to it. Your new album starts with a song that seems to fit well into our world today. Let’s pretend, for a moment, that I didn’t write it. And let me ask you, “what’s a Turnaround Time?”

And what does that have to do with what’s going on in our world today?

Jenny

I THINK THE PANDEMIC OFFER US A VERY LONG RE-SET BUTTON. 

WE CAN ALL SPECULATE, ON ALL THE REASONS WHY IT’S HAPPENED, ON A HUMAN LEVEL OR EVEN A METAPHYSICAL LEVEL, BUT AS AN ARTIST, IT’S NOT MY JOB TO PREACH.

WHATEVER WE THINK ARE THE REASONS WHY, WE’VE BEEN GIVEN A GREAT DEAL OF TIME, TO SIT WITH OURSELVES, TO FIGURE A BUNCH OF THINGS OUT.  I REMIND MYSELF OF THIS EVERYDAY.

MY BIGGEST QUESTION AND GOAL IS, WILL I BE A BETTER PERSON WHEN IT’S OVER, AND HOW CAN I GO ABOUT ASSURING THAT HAPPENS?  THAT BRINGS US TO THIS TURN AROUND TIME SONG.

WHEN YOU TURN THINGS AROUND, IT USUALLY DOESN’T WORK TO GO BACKWARDS.  WE’LL NEVER GET THINGS BACK TOTALLY TO WHAT THEY USE TO BE.  WHY WOULD WE WANT TO GO BACK, TO WHAT DIDN’T WORK ANYWAY!

AS A SINGER FOR INSTANCE, I LEARNED NOT TO FORCE THE PERFECT DUPLICATION OF A PERFORMANCE. I ALWAYS KNEW THE STRUCTURE THAT I NEEDED TO HONOR, BUT I ALSO KNEW THAT SOMETHING NEW AND WONDERFUL COULD HAPPEN IF IDIDN’T FORCE SOMETHING FROM A PAST PERFORMANCE TO HAPPEN.

TURING ANYTHING AROUND IS HARD. IT TAKES A LOT OF CLARITY, COMMITMENT AND COURAGE TO RE-SET. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT, FOR THAT RE-SET TO ENCOMPASS THE BIG PICTURE, BECAUSE HUMANITY IS BEING CHALLENGED TO DO IT ALL TOGETHER THIS TIME. 

WE’RE ALL FEELING A SENSE OF RELAXATION WITH SPRING AND SUMMER HAVING ARRIVED. THE GOVERNMENT IS RELAXING SOME OF THE HAVE TO SAFETY STANDARDS AROUND COVID, BUT THE REASON FOR THE RE-SET IS STILL LURKING THERE. 

WHAT IS STILL LURKING? IT’S YOU, AND ME. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE EACH NEED TO TURN AROUND?  

ALL THE POTENTIAL THAT EVER WAS, IS STILL THERE. 

CAN WE BEGIN THAT CLIMB AGAIN? CAN WE REALLY TURN IT AROUND?  IT’S TIME.

Turnaround Time

Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

Oh

Oh time to turn it around

It’s a turn around time

Oh time to turn it around

It’s a turn around time

Feel it comin’

Yes it’s comin’

Feel it comin’

Yes it’s comin’ now

Now that the time is turning

Oh now that the passion’s burning

Oh now’s when the new beginning begins again

Feel it comin’ comin’ on

Now that we’re all through clappin’

It’s time to make things happen

Now is the time when we can win again

Back to the mountain top

Gonna get back

Back to that special feeling

Back to the place where we call home

Look out world we’re comin’ back

Time to turn it around

It’s a turn around time

Oh time to turn it around

It’s a turn around time

Gonna turn it around

Gonna step right up

An’ we’re comin’ on strong

Gonna cut it clear cut

On the cutting edge

Yeah the feeling is great

When we get back home

Gonna celebrate

Yes it all comes down

To a single stroke

Gonna rock it on out

Cause we’re goin’ for broke

Give it all you got

Gonna climb up higher

Yeah we’re gonna get hot

Cause the sky’s on fire

It’s a time to turn it around

Time again to turn it around

Turn around it’s time we turn

It’s a turn around time

It’s a time to turn it around

Time again to turn it around

Turn around it’s time we turn

It’s a turn around turn around time

Oh baby it’s a turn around time

It’s a turn around time

Now’s your turn

Let your passions burn

It’s a turn around turn around time

Peter

Your new album of four songs contains a song that has had many different iterations during our various travels.  Not only is it on the JBX album, but it was performed time and time again for the corporate meetings of many Fortune 500 companies as well as a raft of other functions. Tell us a little about that.

Jenny

STEP INTO THE DAWN HAS HAD MANY LIVES!  IT’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS.  MANY TIMES WHEN I SANG IT FOR VARIOUS INDUSTRIALS, SOME OF THE LYRICS WOULD HAVE CHANGED. AGAIN I SAY, SOME OF THE LYRICS!  OFTEN THE NEW LYRIC WOULD BE  SO VERY CLOSE TO A VERSION I’D SUNG BEFORE, I’D GET MIXED UP. 

BOY, DID I HAVE TO DRILL THOSE NEW LYRICS INTO MY HEAD BECAUSE THE OLD ONES HAD SET UP HOUSEKEEPING IN MY BRAIN. THAT WAS ALWAYS A FUN CHALLENGE!  NOT!!!

STEP INTO THE DAWN IS ABOUT MAKING THAT DECISION TO START ANEW.  THE WORK TO BE DONE STILL LIES AHEAD. STEP INTO THE DAWN IS ABOUT THE PROMISE OF A NEW DAY, A NEW YOU. THERE’S POWER IN MAKING A DECISION TO CHANGE.

IT’S LIKE FILLING UP OUR LUNGS WITH A NEW DEEP BREATH.

Step Into the Dawn

Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

All through the night

We’ve been fighting the battle

What lies ahead

Is still dangerous yet sublime

Cause here at first light

Though the night lingers on

There is hope in the air

There are great expectations inside of us

We ain’t gonna let no kinda nothin’

Stop us now

Here comes the dawnin’

Here comes the future

Here comes tomorrow

Here comes the sun

Once we cross that line before us

Once we risk the great unknown

Once we step into the future

Then we’ll face it

The moment of truth

A time in the light

All at once there’s a whole new challenge

All at once the world gets tougher

All at once we’ll lift our eyes up

Stand up rise up

Take a deep breath

Step into the dawn

Step into the dawn

Roll on world a new day’s comin’

So get ready

Get ready

Reach into the mornin’ sun

Take that power and carry it on

Step into the dawn

Jump into the new day

Once we are free

From the shadows behind us

Once we step in

To the light in our life

Then comes the hour

We’ll be free from the dream

We will see the unseen

We will lift up our eyes to the sun

We ain’t gonna let no kinda nothin’ stop us now

Take on the challenge

Pick up the gauntlet

Face the music

Ready to roll

Once we cross that line before us

Once we risk the great unknown

Once we step into the future

Then we’ll face it

The moment of truth

A time in the light

All at once there’s a whole new challenge

All at once the world gets tougher

All at once we’ll lift our eyes up

Stand up rise up

Take a deep breath

Step into the dawn

Step into the dawn

Roll on world a new day’s comin’

So get ready

Get ready

Reach into the mornin’ sun

Take that power and carry it on

Step into the dawn

No limits

No limits

We’re up with the risin’ sun

Roll on world

A new day’s dawnin’

No limits

No limits

Just reach into the mornin’ sun

Take that power and carry it on

Step into the dawn

Step into the dawn

Here comes a new day

Here comes the future

Here comes tomorrow

Here comes the sun

Take on the challenge

Pick up the gauntlet

Get it together

Ready to roll

Ready to roll

Here comes the sun

So stand up

Rise up

Step into the dawn!

Peter

I have to leave our listeners with one last Step Into The Dawn anecdote. Back before the turn of the century, Jenny and I did countless Corporate Event shows called “Industrials.” Companies would gather their sales forces together at some exotic place around the world once a year for a three day meeting, and we would provide inspirational entertainment to get the gang rev’d up about new products and new company directions. I would always write a theme song for the meetings and Jenny would perform it. The song would often be the climax of the three day meeting and send the sales force out into the world inspired and itchin’ to sell. 

These meetings were often multi-million dollar events — lavishly produced, very high tech and always very private. One thing I would never do was to put the company name or the product name into the song. The names would cheapen the impact. 

Step Into The Dawn was the climactic song at the biggest, most expensive, and most lavishly produced roll out of a new product in the history of Industrials.  It was the top of the mountain, but not a moment that was easy to brag upon. The company: Pfizer.  The product: Viagra.

Jenny

Yeah, that was a big one!

Peter

OoooK, moving right along now …

Jenny, the third song on your album was always one of the many high moments in the many JBX performances over the years. I will always remember one man in the audience, standing, tears in his eyes, at the end of this song shouting “Hallelujah” over and over again as the crowd carried on and on in their applause.

Jenny, talk about the power of this song both relating to your own performance and also what you must have witnessed again and again over the years.

Jenny

FAITH. FAITH, IS THE STARTING POINT TO BELIEF AND THEN KNOWING.

I’M REMINDED OF A QUOTE I’VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE – if we have faith, the size of a mustard seed, we can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for us.”

IN THE NEXT SONG YOU HAD A WONDERFUL WAY THAT YOU WROTE ABOUT HOW SIMPLE IT CAN BE TO PRACTICE HAVING FAITH. THE LYRIC IS A REMINDER THAT HAVING FAITH DOESN’T REQUIRE MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK IT DOES.

FOR INSTANCE  YOU WROTE: 

Faith requires

No magic no money

No mirror no maybes

No matches no makeup

No manual no medicine

Just faith

DOING THIS CD CAME OUT OF A DEEP STIRRING TO LIFT AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE COULD AS WE MOVED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND TO OFFER SOME NEW HOPE AS WE HOPEFULLY EMERGE

WHILE DOING THE JENNY BURTON EXPERIENCE, WE GOT TO IMPART SOME BEAUTIFUL TRUTHS.  TO STAND IN THE ROOM WITH THE AUDIENCE AFTER FAITH, SENSING HOW DEEPLY IT HAD TOUCH MANY OF THEM, WAS HUMBLING.  IT WAS ALSO ALWAYS A REMINDER TO ME TO CHECK MY OWN FAITH BAROMETER.  

THOUGH SOMETIMES I HAVE TO ADMIT

THAT MY FAITH HAS BEEN AS SMALL AS A MUSTARD SEED. 

EVEN SO, EVEN A LITTLE FAITH HAS ALWAYS PULLED ME THROUGH.

Faith

Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

Vocal Arrangement by Margaret Dorn

As I sit with my head in my hand

And fight for the way to break free

Knowing nothing around me has gone as planned

And now it is all up to me

When nothing is left to hold on to

And nowhere is there to turn

The fire consuming the spirit within me

Till nothing is left to burn

When out of the darkening shadows

A voice a whisper a sign

The simplest of answers

At the hardest of times

A light calling out to the blind

When all is lost

Have faith

Have faith

Faith can move the mountain

Faith can walk the sea

Faith can heal the heartache

Faith alone can comfort me

And in your trials of fire

Faith can see you through

Faith requires

No magic no money

No mirror no maybes

No matches no makeup

No manual no medicine

Just faith

So when nothing is left to hold on to

And nowhere is there to turn

When the fire’s consuming the spirit

Within you

Till nothing is left to burn

When all seems lost

Have faith

Have faith

Faith can move the mountain

Faith can walk the sea

Faith can heal the heartache

Faith alone can comfort me

And in your trials of fire

Faith can see you through

Faith requires

No magic no money

No mirror no maybes

No matches no makeup

No manual no medicine

Just faith

Faith

Faith can heal you

And faith can comfort you

Faith will walk with you

There’s no medicine just faith

Faith can heal you

And Faith can comfortable you

Faith will walk with you

There’s no medicine just faith

Faith can heal you

And Faith can comfort you

Faith will walk with you

There’s no medicine just faith

Faith can heal you

And faith can comfort you

Faith will walk with you

There’s no medicine just

Faith can move the mountain

Oh yeah!

Peter

Why is this next song your closing song?  What does it say to the believer, the agnostic, the atheist?  Why is it a classic?

Jenny

HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS WAS WRITTEN IN 1927. IT’S A TRADITIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUAL. 

PETER, YOU WROTE A NEW SECTION AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SONG THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT NOT ONLY OF MY NEW WORLD ALBUM, BUT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS PODCAST.

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

Additional Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

And now at last

We come to the beginning

Standing on the threshold

Of a new revelation

Ready at the waiting

As the world it goes on spinning

Now comes the moment

Of such high expectation

Knowing what we have to do

And stepping forth to do it

It all comes down to me and you

And the will to get to it

And let’s remember this people

As the time draws near

There is one clear beam of truth

That will help us persevere

And the truth’s comin’ out at last

Yes the truth’s comin’ out in the world

Oh yeah the truth’s comin’ out

Through the people

Lemme tell ya’ ’bout it

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the very life within us

In His hands

He’s got the essence of each moment

In His hands

He holds the light of tomorrow

In His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got you and me brother in His hands,

He’s got you and me sister in His hands

He’s got the the little bitty baby in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the wind and the rain in His hands

He’s got the earth and the sky in His hands

He’s got the sun and the moon in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the young and the old in His hands

He’s got the rich and the poor in His hands

He’s got the soul of this nation in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the rivers and the mountains

In His hands

He’s got control of the future

It’s in His hands

He’s got the power to make it happen

In His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the very life within us

In His hands

He’s got the essence of each moment

In His hands

He holds the light of tomorrow

In His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

Stand on the mountain

Climb up to the sky

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole wide world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

Yeah we’re gonna fly now

Climb up through the sky now

Yeah we’re gonna fly now

Climb up through the sky now

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole wide world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands!

Peter

Amen. Now there’s a note to end upon.  Jenny, your final comments?

Jenny

WELL, TO SUM IT UP:

1. TURN AROUND TIME IS ABOUT TAKING THE TIME TO RE-SET.

1. STEP INTO THE DAWN IS ABOUT FACING THE AWESOMENESS OF THAT DECISION.

1. FAITH IS ABOUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THAT DOING SO CAN BRING WONDERFUL NEW RESULTS.

1. HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS IS ABOUT COMING TO BELIEVE THAT THE UNIVERSE WILL HAVE YOUR BACK.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, HOWEVER WE SLICE IT, WHETHER WE WANT TO KNOW THIS OR NOT, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE AND A GREAT GIFT TO SING YOUR MUSIC ALL THESE YEARS!

Peter

Thank you, Jenny. Come back again. 

So there ya’ have it. Scattershot Symphony. Episode 12. Next? Episode 13, Songs Of Love.  Love comes in all flavors.  Everything from romance to love of Family to Love of Life. Love makes the world go round. Get on board for the ride.

Also, please rate and subscribe …

Many thanks

to all the members of The Jenny Burton Experience and all the wondrous Studio Background singers who’ve appeared all these years in our music. Also Billy Cliff and John James for their solo support of Jenny on He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.

A very special thanks also to Stuart Barefoot, our Associate Producer for all your invaluable knowledge and good vibes.

And a posthumous thanks to Ludwig Van Beethoven for your opening 4 bars.

Julia

(over playout music)

This podcast is presented with loving care by the staff at Watchfire Music. If you liked what you heard, we got lots more where that came from. In the meantime, you can find the songs you just heard on watchfiremusic.com. There you can purchase the singles or albums and have access to all the lyrics. Also, there you will find all previous podcasts and future scheduling.

If you just became a Scattershot fan, 

tell your friends and Stay tuned!

Peter Link is an American composer, lyricist, music producer, stage director, and presently CEO/Creative Director of Watchfire Music,[1] an on-line Inspirational record company and music store. During his career, Peter has been nominated twice for the Tony Award,[2] including Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor and Joseph Papp’s production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing,[3] won the NY Critics’ Drama Desk Award for Salvation[4] out of which came his first million-selling record, “(If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can’t I Touch You?”,[5] and worked, mainly as a composer in a number of entertainment mediums ranging from pop music to Broadway, television, ballet, films and Inspirational music.

From Wikipedia/Peter Link