Exquisite Tenderness

Album: Red Dragon Cartel (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This ballad was the first song that Red Dragon Cartel frontman Jake E. Lee ever wrote. He told Glide Magazine; "I started playing piano when I was six and I didn't start playing guitar until I was twelve. So right around when I was thirteen or fourteen, on the piano, I just came up with that. That was the first song I ever wrote and I never knew what to do with it. I mean, it wasn't an Ozzy song, it really didn't seem like any song that you would put on a rock record, and I just never really knew what to do with it, but I always had it."

    "The studio that Ron (Mancuso co-producer) and I recorded in is right next to a restaurant that has a Jazz lounge in it ," Lee continued, "and we were in there late at night and I saw a piano and I was like, I hadn't seen one of these in a long time (laughs) so I sat down and I started playing that and Ron said, 'What's that?' And I said, 'That's the first song I ever wrote, never knew what to do with it.' And Ron said, 'I know what to do with it' (laughs) and I said, 'What?' and he says, 'Let's put it on the record.' 'Really?' It just seemed really weird to me but he said, 'I think it would be a great way to end a rock record, with something like that.' And I think he was right. I'm just thankful that after forty-plus years I'd finally be able to put that song on something."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."