evolution of joy album credits

Evolution of Joy is a complete overhaul and re-doing of Jackie Venson's original album Joy. Though the songs may be familiar to some long time fans, the presentation, growth, and 5-year development of Jackie and her band will leave you floating in the cosmos. These songs have never been captured this way, unless you've been lucky enough to catch a live show in the last couple years. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the hi-fi, ethereal and intensely groovy Evolution of Joy.

“Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God” - Maya Angelou

Produced by Chris “Frenchie” Smith, Eddy Hobizal, Nick Clark, and Jackie Venson
Recorded by Chris “Frenchie” Smith, Brendon Sanders, Brett “Mudslide” Marcom 

Music & Lyrics by Jackie Venson
Vocals & Guitar by Jackie Venson
Keys & Piano by Jackie Venson
Bass by Marcus Clark
Drums by Rodney Hyder
Additional Organ by Eddy Hobizal
Segues by jackie the robot
Mixed and Mastered by Eddy Hobizal
Premixed by Chris “Frenchie” Smith
Recorded in Austin, Texas at The Bubble Recording Studios 

Art by Dawn Okoro

Released on January 27, 2023

Lyrics

Track 1
Afterglow

Don’t know why I still think about him
Even though he don’t deserve my thoughts
Don’t know how I will let anyone in
I need to know I need to know
And sometimes I wanna kick down these walls
But then I know I won’t be protected
But protection at what cost
I need to know I need to know yeah

So exciting at the start
Then you live the day by day
Don’t let it go don’t let it fall apart
Once the shine starts to fade yeah
Afterglow come and go
Afterglow come and go

And I know I need to open my heart
So I can learn to love
How to conquer the fear of hurt?
I need I need I need to know, I need to know yeah

So exciting at the start
Then you live the day by day
Don’t let it go don’t let it fall apart
Once the shine starts to fade yeah
Afterglow come and go
Afterglow come and go

Come and go go go go go go go
Come and go, go
Come and go go go go go go go
Come and go, go
Come and go, come and go

I believe in love reality
If I want to love I have to work for it
Not everything is worth my energy
Follow vibrations and I’ll never get lost no
I believe in knowing when it’s right
I have faith in myself and I
Follow vibrations and I’ll never get lost
Never get lost, never get lost
Never get lost, never get lost
Never get lost, never get lost
Never get lost, never get lost
Never get lost

Just like the wind blows it comes and goes
Feel what I feel in my soul, it comes and goes comes and goes oh
Just like the wind blows it comes and goes
Take what it wants as a toll, it comes and goes comes and goes oh
Just like the afterglow I come and go
Oh I come and go

Track 2
Flying Remix

And from the ashes something new grows
Funny how this life 
On and on it goes on and on it goes
I've always been told reach for the sky
But I'm already high
Love knows no levels love knows no levels

And I see where I am going
And I see where I have been
Keep my faith forever flowing until the end
And I see where I am going
And I see where I have been
Keep my faith forever flowing until the end

I am flying, spreading my wings
Will you miss me when I'm gone?

Yes some are born blessed 
But there's beauty in the struggle
All of us are one
My fight is your fight, my fight is your fight
We grow together it's our responsibility
To love unconditionally
And carry on the life, carry on the life

And I see where I am going
And I see where I have been
Keep my faith forever flowing until the end
And I see where I am going
And I see where I have been
Keep my faith forever flowing until the end

I am flying, spreading my wings
Will you miss me when I'm gone?
I am flying, someday soaring
So will you catch me when I fall?

[instrumental]

I will let my love flow free from my head down to my feet
I will let my love flow free from my heart into my strings

Track 4
All Rise

I went to church today
To try to find my way
The preacher was a shade of grey
Turned on the radio
To make my heart grow
All the songs were DOA

Over again, over again
We never seem to learn

All rise for the wave of humanity trapped in insanity
All rise for the wave of humanity trapped
Wouldn't you wouldn’t you wouldn’t you rather be in love?
All rise for the wave of humanity trapped

I saw a film and cried
Cos it exposed the lies
The message it was lost in time
Don't know what to believe
Versus what I perceive
The truth is in front of my eyes

Over again over again
We never seem to learn

All rise for the wave of humanity trapped in insanity
All rise for the wave of humanity trapped
Wouldn't you wouldn’t you wouldn’t you rather be in love?
All rise for the wave of humanity trapped in insanity

[Solo]

I would rather be in love
Lose myself and rise above
I would rather be in love
Joy and peace will be enough
I would rather be in love
We never seem to learn

All rise for the wave of humanity trapped in insanity
All rise for the wave of humanity trapped
Wouldn't you wouldn’t you wouldn’t you rather be in love?
All rise for the wave of humanity trapped in insanity.

Track 5
Joy

When it was me and you
You ran away at something new
Realized I had been used
Now trust is hard to do

Not only tonight give me tomorrow
The work is never done it’s the pill I have swallowed
So I will forgive I won’t take it personal
There always is a choice, I have made the choice

I choose joy
Joy

Thought you were a good idea
Knew I could not make it real
Try to force it make it work
Immediate crash and burn

Gotta leave tonight I can’t give tomorrow
Short term happiness can be long term sorrow
Hope you can forgive hope you find a real love
Whenever I lose track, it always brings me back

I choose joy
Joy
I choose joy
Joy

Another tall tale, too short to try it
When you hide behind a mask, I don’t buy it
Give me actions, not only words
When it’s time to stand, you’re in the dirt
I decide I decide
My soul is not for rent
I decide I decide
My dreams cannot be bent
I decide I decide
Ignore the noise
I decide I decide

I choose joy
All around me
Joy
I choose joy
Like a symphony
Joy
I choose joy
All I ever need
Joy
I choose joy
All I never need
Joy

Track 6
When It’s Right

I was sitting here thinking about you
When I was distracted by the promise of something new
The way you treated me it's a damn shame
'Cos even a fool knows I'm a prize to claim

Freedom has a high price
True love won’t make me roll the dice
When it’s right it’s right
We all know what that means
When it’s right it’s right

And I know by now swimmin' in a sea of change
Some people run and hide but I ride the wave
I take comfort in knowing this is fact’
Cos even when my chips are down baby I know I'll bounce back

Freedom has a high price
True love won’t make me roll the dice
When it’s right it’s right
We all know what that means
When it’s right it’s right
We all know what that means
When it’s right it’s right

I know who I am
I know what I’m here to do
Joy and faith resound
I won’t give up
Through my darkest nights
Like a light love guides me
Strength and hope surround I
Keep looking up
I know who I am
And I know what I am worth
I won’t compromise

When it’s right it’s right
We all know what that means
When it’s right it’s right
We all know what that means
When it’s right it’s right yeah
We all know what that means
When it’s right, it’s right

Track 8
Back To Earth

Dance he said dance like you’ll never dance again
Laugh he said laugh like you’ll never laugh again
He died a young man but seemed an old man
He saw not the end but a way to begin again

So tell me once tell me twice, tell me that I’ll never die
When you lie, won’t you please tell me why?
When you can then I’ll search for the answers
But I’ll get lost and find more to wonder

Like why the dead man knows it all
And why I feel alone
And why I try to fly but always fall
Back to earth

[gtr solo]

And when I die I’ll know it all
And I accept that I am alone
And I will try to fly but I will fall
Back to earth

Track 9
Don’t Lie To Me

As the wind is blowing it carries away my trust
As the rain is pouring it washes away my lust
My eyes are wide open all I see is one man
He better act fast now and catch me while he still can

Don’t lie to me, don’t lie to me don’t lie to me
Don’t lie to me, don’t lie to me I cared for you

My heart it beats to the rhythm of mercy
Oh how I long to believe that he loves me
I need to be careful I need to protect myself
Surround me with wisdom of the divine truth yeah

Don’t lie to me, don’t lie to me don’t lie to me
Don’t lie to me, don’t lie to me I cared for you

So hard to trust, I have to let go
‘Cos I don’t want to wait so long for love
And so I must, I have to let go
So I don’t have to wait so long for love

I can feel his energy I won’t let him come for me hey hey
I can feel his energy I won’t let him come for me hey hey
I can feel his energy but I will overcome
I will overcome
I will overcome

As the wind is blowing it carries away my trust
As the rain is pouring it washes away my lust
My eyes are wide open all I see is one man
He better act fast now and catch me while he still can

Track 11
I Will Find A Way

Summertime spring has come and gone
Golden rays of light illumination
I see so clearly now I have a vision
They say follow your dreams
They say follow your dreams
I will follow my dreams

And I know that I don’t want to suffer
And so I will leave my bags behind
And be brave no matter how uncertain

Oh I will find I will find a way
There will be there will be a way
I will find I will find a way

As I’ve grown I have left behind
The part of me that can’t make up her mind
They took advantage of her
I feel I can’t go on
I know I must go on
Oh I will go on

And I know that I don’t want to suffer
And so I will listen to my heart
And be brave unfazed by the darkness

Oh I will find I will find a way
I’m telling you there will be there will be a way
I will find I will find
I will find oh I will find

[gtr solo]

I will find oh I will find a way
I’m telling you there will be there will be a way

I will find oh I will find a way
I’m telling you there will be there will be a way
I will find oh I will find a way