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I Kissed a Pretty Face

by Dawn Eden with Valentine Smith

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about

In 1999, I was listening to a lot of Rubinoos, and it shows in this tune, based on a true story (alas), with a title taken from a line by Charles Schulz. The pretty face belonged to a young man named Matthew and I kissed him in an East Village apartment belonging to the then-producer of the Ben Folds Five. It doesn't get more Nineties than that. (Matthew was a songwriter too, and if you know his songs, you'll recognize a lick from one of them at the end.)

Bill McGarvey of the wonderful Valentine Smith offered to produce a demo of the song, and his fellow bandmember Steve Dima gave generously of his time to lay down some fantastic guitar work. The label of the demo CD that was printed up at the time says "Dawn Eden with Valentine Smith," but I don't recall other bandmembers being present besides those two, who were the nucleus of the group.

Even at the time, I found my lead vocal performance and most if not all of the lyrics embarrassing. The one part of the recording where I liked hearing myself (and still do) was the solo, where my echo-laden syllables popped in and out. Bill knew how much I loved Curt Boettcher and gave me free rein to add those Association-style touches.

I was moved by how gracious Bill was in offering to produce a recording of the song. To my mind, it was his way of giving me musical therapy. He knew I was hitting bottom emotionally. I was going through some of the dark valleys that I would later describe in my memoir Sunday Will Never Be the Same.

The photo with this track is from the day I kissed that pretty face. It was taken at what would become the scene of the crime.

credits

released May 12, 2023
Produced by Bill McGarvey.

Arranged by Bill McGarvey and Dawn Eden. Vocal arrangement by Dawn Eden.

Instrumentation by Valentine Smith: Bill McGarvey and Stephen Dima. Lead guitar by Stephen Dima.

Lead vocals by Dawn Eden. Backing vocals by Dawn Eden and Bill McGarvey.

Recorded circa spring 1999 in Bill McGarvey's rehearsal space/studio in Hoboken, NJ.

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Dawn Eden Goldstein Washington, D.C.

Today I go by my real name of Dawn Eden Goldstein, but as a rock and roll historian and occasional songwriter/recording artist in the 1990s-2000s, I went by Dawn Eden. Recently I returned to songwriting and have written or co-written releases by some terrific artists, including Steve Wynn and the Anderson Council. It's a pleasure to share my music with you by any name. ... more

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