On the Way Down From the Moon Palace

Home Discography Albums

There’s a fairy tale about living up in the moon palace, where you are no one. You live through other people’s light. This is my step down

By the time Lisa Germano’s debut album, On the Way Down From the Moon Palace, was released, she had already been touring with John Mellencamp for several years. While she had always been writing her own music by this point, they now became integral forms of therapy while she was grappling with being on the road. Mellencamp’s encouragement to have Lisa officially release her own music helped to make Moon Palace happen.

Moon Palace laid the foundation for Lisa’s future body of work. Piano, mandolin, and violin are prominent throughout with Lisa playing most of the instruments. Musicians Kenny Aronoff and Jeff Hedback support on on drums and bass respectively on “Guessing Game,” with Aronoff also providing drums on “Hangin’ With a Deadman.”

Quietly self-released in 1991 on her own Major Bill Records (a nod to Lisa’s sense of humor), it was later reissued by Egg Records (UK) and then again by Koch Records in 1999 with a slightly modified cover.

Lisa has since referred to Moon Palace as being essentially a set of demos or sketches, but this isn’t a lo-fi effort; the album sits nicely at the forefront of what would become a very prolific catalog in her music career. And though under appreciated at the time of its original release, it did catch the attention of Capitol Records, which would release Lia’s follow-up album, Happiness, in 1993.

On the Way Down From the Moon Palace (1991)

Released: 1991
Label: Major Bill Records – MB0191
Formats: CD, Cassette
Country: US
Availability: Moderate

No.	Title	Length
1	On the Way Down From the Moon Palace	4:00
2	Guessing Game (or The Music Business)	3:04
3	Blue Monday	3:30
4	Calling	1:02
5	Hangin’ With a Deadman	3:49
6	Screaming Angels Dancing in Your Garden	2:55
7	Riding My Bike	1:58
8	Simply Tony	2:04
9	Dig My Own Grave	3:18
10	Cry Baby	3:27
11	Bye Bye Little Doggie	4:27
12	The Other One	3:44
13	Dark Irie	2:50

Additional Versions

Originally released in 1991 on Major Bill Records, it was reissued two years later by Egg Records with no changes in the tracklisting or artwork other than a logo mark within the liner notes of the album.

The album was reissued again by Koch Records in 1999 (KOC-CD-7999). This version scales down the photo of Lisa on the cover and places it within a substantial frame. The pink script of the album title is replaced with the same font used for Lisa’s name, but in titlecase.

Koch Records 1999 reissue of *On the Way Down From the Moon Palace*.

Personnel

Musicians:
Kenny Aronoff: Drums on “Guessing Game (or the Music Business,” “Blue Monday,” and “Hangin’ With a Deadman”

Jeff Hedback: Bass on “Guessing Game (or the Music Business)”

All other instruments by Lisa Germano

All songs written by Lisa Germano except “Hangin’ With a Deadman” which was written by Lisa Germano and Greg Edward

Art Direction by P.J. Yinger
Cover photography by Andrew Scalini
Photography by David Engelking

Produced by Lisa Germano
Engineered by Mark Hood and Paul Mahern

Mixed by Mark Hood and Paul Mahern
Recorded and mixed at September Recording in Indianapolis, IN

Critical Reception

On the Way Down From the Moon Palace received largely favorable reviews upon its release. As it was an independent release from a newer artist, larger outlets didn’t cover or promote it with the same attention as bigger releases from more recognized artists.

"Lisa Germano's debut album On the Way Down From the Moon Palace is considerably rootsier and poppier than her later efforts, but the album showcases her skills as an arranger and her wonderfully expressive, versatile violin playing, particularly on the title track, "Dark Irie," and "Screaming Angels Dancing in Your Garden." — Heather Phares, AllMusic