THE STORY OF LIGHT (2012)



The Story of Light‘, a new solo album of original material by virtuoso guitarist and visionary composer Steve Vai. The title comes out on Favored Nations Entertainment, the label Vai founded in 1999. Its sprawling and expressive 12-song set continues a conceptual and cosmic narrative arc begun on the artist’s acclaimed 2005 album ‘Real Illusions: Reflections’.

Throughout, three-time Grammy winner Vai’s lead guitar is as lyrically resonant as it is technically masterful, his licks and solos bending sounds and in listeners’ minds in equal measure. ‘The Story of Light’ follows the journey of a man driven mad by grief, intertwining tragedy, revelation, enlightenment, and redemption.

‘I’m always pursuing knowledge. I’m a seeker of spiritual equilibrium and music is a big part of that,’ says Vai. ‘I’ve been obsessed with these kinds of ideas for years.’

1. The Story of Light 6:15
2. Velorum 6:09
3. John the Revelator 3:40
4. Book of the Seven Seals 3:55
5. Creamsicle Sunset 3:30
6. Gravity Storm 5:33
7. Mullach A’tSi 3:56
8. The Moon and I 7:17
9. Weeping China Doll 6:11
10. Racing the World 3:45
11. No More Amsterdam 4:15
12. Sunshine Electric Raindrops 4:15
13. People of the World (Japanese Bonus Track) 4:13


All songs © 2012 SyVy Music (ASCAP) except where indicated.
Engineered and produced by Steve Vai and Assistant Engineers: Greg Wurth, Sean Kellett Second Assistants: Dan Hughley, Nils Montan, Lucas Carpenter
Mastered by Bernie Grundman himself
Recorded at the Mothership (Hollywood) and the Harmony Hut (Encino)
Musicians:
Philip Bynoe: Bass
Jeremy Colson: Drums
Beverly McClellan: Lead vocals on “John the Revelator” and backing vocals on “Book of the Seven Seals”
Dave Rosenthal: Piano on “The Story of Light”
Julia Rainy May Vai: Russian narration on “The Story of Light”
Bob Carpenter: Hammond B3 organ on “John the Revelator,” “Book of the Seven Seals” and “Sunshine Electric Raindrops”
Deborah Henson-Conant: Harp on “Mullach a’ tSí”
Mike Mangini: Drums on “The Moon and I”
Mike Keneally: Keyboards on “The Moon and I”
Dave Weiner: Rhythm guitar on “The Moon and I”
Aimee Mann: Vocals on “No More Amsterdam”
Steve: Everything else… I think
John the Revelator
(Traditional gospel)
Arrangement © SyVy Music ASCAP
“John the Revelator” features a sample of the original Blind Willie Johnson recording (under license from Sony Music Entertainment).
Beverly McClellan appears courtesy of Junk Drawer Records. Beverly’s vocals on “John the Revelator” and “Book of the Seven Seals” were engineered by Chris Monteleone of SoundBox Records at Paradiso Studio.
The Story of Light Choir on “John the Revelator” and “Book of the Seven Seals” :
Alvin Chea: Bass Nayanna Holley: Alto Liz Ladizinsky: Soprano Keri Larson: Soprano Gabriel Mann: Tenor Angela Michael: Alto Melanie Nyema: Tenor Antonio Sol: Bass
Book of the Seven Seals
Lyrics and vocal arrangement by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory. Additional arrangement and music by Steve Vai.
The Counterpoint Singers: Background chorus on “Book of the Seven Seals” (Sample courtesy of North Central High School in Indianapolis, Ind., and Counterpoints Director Patricia Wiehe)
Mullach a’ tSí
(traditional Irish Lullaby) Arrangement © SyVy ASCAP
Lyrics are transcribed with permission from Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin’s “A Stór is a Stóírín.” This track was inspired by her performance on “An Irish Lullaby.”
The Moon and I
Originally released as VaiTunes #2, and recorded at a soundcheck in Athens, Greece. The track was remixed by Greg Wurth for this release.
No More Amsterdam
Lyrics by Aimee Mann Music by Steve Vai Aimee Mann ASCAP SyVy Music ASCAP

The Story of Loght Lyrics
John the Revelator

Well who’s that writin’?
John the Revelator
Who’s that writin’?
John the Revelator
Who’s that writin’?
John the Revelator
The book of the sevenseals

Tell me what’s John writin’?
Ask the Revelator
What’s John writin’?
Ask the Revelator
What’s John writin’?
Ask the Revelator
The book of the seven seals

Well, ooh ooh, why me, thousands cried holy
Bound for some, Son of our God
Daughter of Zion, Judah the Lion
He redeemeth, and bought us with his blood
John the Revelator, great advocator
Gets ‘em on the battle of Zion
Lord, tellin’ the story,
risin’ in glory Cried, “Lord, don’t you love some I”

Well who’s that writin’?
John the Revelator
Who’s that writin’?
John the Revelator
Who’s that writin’?
John the Revelator
The book of the sevenseals

Tell me what’s John writin’?
Ask the Revelator
What’s John writin’?
Ask the Revelator
What’s John writin’?
Ask the Revelator
The book of the seven seals

Well, Moses to Moses,
watchin’ the flock
Saw the bush where he had to stop
God told Moses, “Pull off your shoes
Out of the flock, baby, it’s you I choose”
Tears of the angels,
burnin’ down the heavens
Rainin’ for the love of Christ
Bound for glory,
I’m telling the story
This here’s The Story of Light

Book of the Seven Seals

O tell me, who is that writin’?
John the Revelator
O tell me, who is that writin’?
John the Revelator
O tell me, who is that writin’?
John the Revelator
Writin’ in the book of seven seals
O tell me, what is he writin’?
‘Bout the Revelation
O tell me, what is he writin’?
‘Bout the Revelation
O tell me, what is he writin’?
‘Bout the Revelation Writin’
in the book of seven seals

When John looked over Calvary’s hill
Heard a rumblin’ like a chariot wheel
Well, tell us, John, what did you see?
I saw a beast rising from the sea!

Tell me, who is that writin’?
John the Revelator
O tell me, who is that writin’?
John the Revelator
O tell me, who is that writin’?
John the Revelator
Writin’ in the book of seven seals
O tell me, what is he writin’?
‘Bout the Revelation
O tell me, what is he writin’?
‘Bout the Revelation
O tell me, what is he writin’?
‘Bout the Revelation
Writin’ in the book of the seven seals

Talk to us, John!
What’s the good news?
The crippled can walk
The dumb are singin’ the blues (oh)
John, in the graveyard, whad’ya see?
The dead are dancin’ all around me
O tell us, who is writin’?
Tell us, who is writin’? (etc.)

Time for revelation and for jubilation
Tell us what you’re writin’
Read it to us, John!

Well, just tell it in your book, John (in that book, John)
Well, just tell it in your book, John (in that book, John)

J-John, write it down for us in that book
Well, just tell it in your precious book, John
J-John, write it down for us in that book
Well, just tell it in your precious book, John
J-John, write it down for us in that book
Well, just tell it in your precious book, John
J-John, write it down for us in that book
Well, just tell it in your precious book, John

Well, just tell it in that book of seven seals, John!

The Moon and I

There is a love affair between The Moon and I
We skate the Milky Way in a forever sky
And all the stars crash like waves beneath our feet
And time could never find us
As we slip beneath nova sheets

And down below, you command the ocean’s tides
But you spin alone in a prison of gravity
Magnetic soul casts a spell so enchanting
Behind my eyes, I search in my galaxy

Come to me
Show me how you glow
We’ll escape to the other side of space
Where forever and never and all that’s unknown is known

No More Amsterdam

The more that I see, the less I know
And this time, that’s not what I need
I waver between
Go on or just let go
But holding on
Is what I’m used to
When I’m in an undertow

Cote du Rhone
Or the airport courtesy phone
Tell the fortune you’re building
Why did you build out of cards
What I should have built of stone
But now my plane’s at the gate and boarding
And I can’t do this thing alone unless there’s

No More Amsterdam
You made me what I am
And I can’t pay in kind
When something precious always ends up left behind
Old ways lift and pull
Whole days left half full
Claimed I didn’t mind
Later

And when it’s all done
When you’ve had your fun
And the smoke lingers on
Burning off beside the paper crown
I put it back on and see how it goes
And wear the lie
As if it had the power to carry you home

And there you are in the hotel bar
Gone
Holding diamonds you traded
Watching the friend who
Once was a paragon
Coming undone

But now my plane’sat the gate and boarding
And once I hear those engines roaring, there’ll be

No More Amsterdam
You made me what I am
And I can’t pay in kind
When something precious always ends up left behind
Old ways lift and pull (and I can’t stay honest)
Whole days left half full
I claimed I didn’t mind

The more that I see, the less I know.

Coming soon