Here’s a familiar song by Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg from The Wizard of Oz. I love all three versions of this song, but this one has spoken to me more than the others so far. Plus, I do have quite the beezer. Thanks Harold and Yip!
Here’s a tune by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher. Thank you both for such a beautiful song. I remember shopping at Bleecker Street Records in the West Village of NYC when I came across a copy of the soundtrack to the Muppet Movie for $1. I’ve listened to that copy so many times, especially now since our kids were born.
Here’s a song with music by Fred Rogers and lyrics by Josie Carey. I first heard it while watching the episode about Josephine the Short-Necked Giraffe. The story begins with this song being sung by a sunflower, a frog, and a tree. Apparently, Mr. Rogers originally wrote this story in French during his college years. Then, in the late 1960s, he also released an entire album with this story set to music, long before the TV episode I saw was ever released. Anyway, I just think it’s a happy little song so here it is. Thanks Fred & Josey!
Here’s a song by Lucky Millinder, Al Neiburg, and Henri Woode. I first heard it a couple years ago on the album The Blues Is Now by Jimmy Witherspoon with Brother Jack McDuff. Really outstanding album. As a parent of two young children, this song continues to ring true in several different ways. Many thanks to Lucky, Al, and Henri for such a lovely creation.
Here’s a song by Odetta. This song means so much to me. I’m eternally grateful for its existence and to Odetta for introducing me to so many other wonderful songs as well. This song reminds me to enjoy life, marvel at the world around me, and remember that we’re all in this together. Thank you, Odetta. Thank you.
Here’s a song by Woody Guthrie. I remember helping to collect artifacts from his life while working in the Smithsonian Folkways archive about twenty years ago. They were putting together a new retrospective of his music and needed old photographs, letters, and so forth, which I was supposed to gather from the archive for the production team. I also worked on a project about Broadside Magazine that was really fascinating too. Folkways has many outstanding releases though. Check ‘em out! And thanks of course to Mr. Guthrie, as true a pioneer as there ever was.
All Hail Dewey Cox! I’m eternally grateful for the distinct pleasure of singing this song. What an outstanding achievement from Dan Bern and Mike Viola. One of the finest songs ever written.
Here’s a couple minutes of a two drummers warming up in the back what was Lisa’s Oak Street Lounge (now known as Kaiju) in February 2009. I’m not sure why I was there or who I came to see that evening, but I’m happy I managed to capture this.
Here’s a song by Nick Lowe off his album The Impossible Bird. I first heard this song many years ago during the end credits of a Sopranos episode. We made a habit of rewatching a season every summer, but haven’t this year for whatever reason. There’s still time! Seriously though, many thanks to Nick Lowe for this song. It’s wonderful.
Here’s a tune by Marvin Hamlisch that was popularized by Lesley Gore back in the 1960s. I first heard it during an episode of The Simpsons probably ten years ago. The key change in the middle was fun to learn and helped me think about the guitar in different ways than I had before. Thanks Marvin & Lesley!
Here’s a song by Fred Rogers from his album You Are Special. This song reminds me that I have to practice if I want to get better at anything I do, and that part of the fun of getting better is the process of doing so. Many thanks as always to Mr. Rogers!
Here’s a song by Neutral Milk Hotel from their album In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. The first time I heard this song, I was riding in the back of a van in the middle of the night after playing a gig, on the way to another town, another club. Many thanks to our fearless tour manager, Scott Shupe, for introducing me to this music. And of course, endless thanks to Neutral Milk Hotel.
Here’s a song by The Magnetic Fields from 69 Love Songs. Please check out their other albums as well (Holiday is excellent). I remember hearing this song in a cinema in Prague one time right before the previews started. It brought back memories of listening to this band with good friends. Many thanks to The Magnetic Fields for such a wonderful song.
Here’s a song by Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera, the first song from Eno’s album, Here Come The Warm Jets. My friend Scott Shupe introduced me to Talking Heads around 2004 or so, which led me to discovering Eno and Roxy Music by association. I’m so thankful to Mr. Eno for his musical contributions over the years. His creativity has helped broaden musical horizons for so many artists and aided our understanding of what music can be. Thanks, Brian!
Here’s a song by Malvina Reynolds that was popularized by Pete Seeger in the early 1960s. This song always reminds me that it’s okay to be different. You can learn more about it’s history here. Thanks Malvina!
OH WON’T YOU LISTEN
MY DEAR FRIEND
WHILE I SING THIS SONG?
I KNOW YOU PROBABLY
HAVE AN URGING
TO MOVE ALONG
BUT THERE’S AN ACHING
IN MY HEAD
THAT WILL NEVER CEASE
OH WON’T YOU SEE
THAT I’M IN NEED
OF YOUR EXPERTISE
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
HELP ME ROCK IT
OH DID I MENTION
THAT I HAVE ONLY ONE DESIRE?
OH YES I’LL DO WHATEVER ACTION IT WILL REQUIRE
WITHOUT YOUR HELP
IT WILL NOT ROCK AT ALL
CAN’T YOU SEE?
UNTIL IT HAPPENS
I’LL BE BEGGING YOU ENDLESSLY
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
HELP ME ROCK IT
PLEASE I BEG YOU
PUT YOUR PLANS ASIDE
AND HELP ME ROCK IT
HELP ME ROCK IT
I’M SORRY
THAT YOU HAD TO SIT THROUGH
THESE SIMPLE RHYMES
IF YOU COULD
PLEASE BARE WITH ME
A FEW MORE TIMES
I’M AT YOUR MERCY
PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME TO ROCK ALONE
OH I’LL BE RIGHT HERE
BEGGING YOU
THROUGH THIS MICROPHONE
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
TO HELP ME ROCK IT
HELP ME ROCK IT
ROCKIN’ IN THE HOURS OF THE EARLY MORN
ROCKIN’ EVERY DAY SINCE I WAS BORN
ROCKIN’ TO THE MUSIC IN MY HEAD
ROCKIN’ EVERY SINGLE DAY UNTIL I’M DEAD
ROCK THIS LITTLE NUMBER NIGHT AND DAY
ROCK IT WHEN I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY
ROCKIN’ IT DAMN NEAR EVERYWHERE
ROCKIN’ IT RIGHT INTO THIS NEXT PART HERE
ROCKIN’ MY WAY ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
ROCKIN’ IT NOW FOR BETTER OR WORSE
ROCKIN’ IT ALL WITHOUT A CARE
ROCKIN’ THIS SONG JUST FOR YOU MY DEAR
FOR YOU MY DEAR
GONNA WHIP IT INTO SHAPE
GONNA SEE WHAT I CAN MAKE
GONNA GO CREATE SOMETHING FROM NOTHING
GONNA CLIMB UP TO THE TOP
NO I NEVER WANNA STOP
IT’S OBVIOUS I JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH
OH YEAH
GOT ME SAYING OH YEAH
THAT’S RIGHT
OH YEAH
WHEN THE MUSIC’S IN MY HEAD
OH YEAH
THAT’S RIGHT
I‘M GONNA ROCK IT
GONNA FEEL THAT URGENCY
GONNA GET MY GUARANTEE
GONNA BREAK IT UP AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
GOT A RIDDLE HERE TO SOLVE
GONNA FORCE IT TO EVOLVE
INTO SOMETHING
JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER
GONNA YELL IT ON THE STAGE
AND CHANNEL ALL THE RAGE I’M FEELING
INTO THIS LITTLE NUMBER RIGHT HERE
THAT’S RIGHT
I‘M GONNA ROCK IT
IS THERE ANYBODY THERE?
IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE THINKING
THAT THEY MIGHT WANNA ROCK IT?
IS THERE ANYBODY THERE?
IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE FEELING
LIKE THEY JUST CAN’T STOP IT?
IS ANYBODY THERE?
IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE LISTENING
WHO WANTS TO COME
AND ROCK IT WITH ME?
THAT’S RIGHT
I‘M GONNA ROCK IT
YEAH YOU KNOW
WE CAN’T DENY IT
AFRAID IT’S SO
I‘M GONNA ROCK IT NOW
Here’s the last entry from the acoustic demo from late 2008. This one is an acoustic version of Luminosity from A Forest Through The Trees. Almost all these files were recorded and completed on the same day it seems. I’m not sure how many places I sent these in effort to book some shows. I also wonder how many actually offered me a gig based on the overall quality (or lack thereof).
Here’s an early version of Human or Machine from By The Numbers. I guess I was calling it The Sound at this point and decided to record it as part of the acoustic demo I was sending out. Was this the scratch track we used when we recorded this in the studio? Who knows. I can’t keep track of all these different versions over the years. Definitely the first and hopefully only time I’ll use the word ‘stentorian’ in a song.
Yet another track from that acoustic demo. Not a big fan of this one either. This era was unfortunately full of sad fictional character songs. Interesting chords/melody in the bridge I guess.
Here’s another song from that acoustic demo in late 2008. I remember playing this song at some open mics in NYC. Did I mention that already? Where did this story come from anyway?