Checker's Acoustic Jam (Hosts: Ryan Matthew Paul/Julie Gordon)
Songs
Gold Dust Woman (Julie Gordon: Lead Vocals)
Midnight Rider
Ring Of Fire
For What Its Worth
With:
Julie Gordon: Backing Vocals/percussion
Belinda James-Backing vocals
Skip Richards: Bass
Michael Clair-Guitar
Ryan Matthew Paul might have played keyboards on For What Its Worth
Somebody playing Trumpet on Ring Of Fire
Somebody else playing cello
And the whole Checker's Crowd Singing Along
And so the journey of life continues, through jams and through good friends and musicians. I have never expected to have this sort of luck and good vibes. Where did this all come from? It's a blur and I have no answer. My favorite female vocalist sings on Gold Dust Woman and I'm dating her? What can I say about her that hasn't already been said before. She makes me smile in ways that I have never smiled before. She did that time and time again tonight, even pointing her finger at me while singing What I Like About You.
And a good musician will do that. In my time of knowing Julie we have somehow interconnected with our souls on the songs that we do sing together. Since she was hosting the jam and had to sing most of the time, I really wanted to use her sparingly, but I know I want her to sing Gold Dust Woman. I'd love to play along with her on Wicked Game too. I know when I get together with Russ or Dewayne there's a sense of magic when we play on stage, the feeling of knowing one another in how the song will go, it all goes back to the days of Paraphernalia/Tyrus, I can read Russ just like a book when it comes to playing drums, guitar...still a work in progress. Certain jammers will do that, Kenny Webb, Dan Johnson, Brook Hoover have a way to get me to interact with them. Even Rick Clay on Dreams I'll Never See Again, even Ernest on The Twist, or Mike Serbousek on Johnny B Goode. A common bond that get drive the song into something fun, something memorable. Certain people make songs stand out on their own. Belinda cranks into Fever, she turns it into her own, just like tonight when we had a Trumpet and cello player helping out on that song. It has been a specialty of hers since I've known her.
But in the trials and tribulations of life and jamming, Julie has become someone who had driven me into playing some of the best music of my life with her presence and everlasting smile. In reality Gold Dust Woman really has taken on a whole new level of meaning, even while trying to sing and eventually abandoning that idea, I'd never thought that Julie would be my main lead singer on that song. But I'm glad that she does sing and is a big part of this life. She has stolen my heart.
It was what I call a long lunch break but in the two hours I was there, Tim Wiley stopped by to say he's hosting some sort of jam at Rumors from 5 to 7 on Wednesday before wondering off into the night. I think he may have hosted it tonight from what he said. Only problem is, there's something we call work, and I basically have to pull teeth to get part of the night off to do the acoustic jam.
I don't know if Julie and Matthew had retired the Dreams Of Arcadia name (he went by Ry-Dawg) but they held court for the majority of first hour, then Mark and Belinda took over and they did an original rap song written by Mark's son, who's a good guy. Belinda has known to have a bit of alternative rock to her vocals, as I finally figured out how to play It's Been A While and not messed that up, Blue Bayou another story. Carl Mainers popped up to do his song including Your Cheating Heart (complete with Oh Carl catcalls but not as potent as it was last week when Cathy Hart and Lorie Parker hosted).
I decided this time out just to do the songs I was most familiar with, I.E. most uptempo, although I did Midnight Rider in tribute to the late Gregg Allman. But I was not prepared for the request of Ring Of Fire to which the whole Checkers's crowd starting singing along with the chorus. I was floored, I've never had that sort of reaction to any of the songs, although people did sing to I Fought The Law, but the overall reaction was not as great to Ring Of Fire. Yeah I smiled at winked at Julie and even laughed to the point that I messed up the words but nobody cared. Everybody was having a good time,, and even to the closer of For What Its Worth, people still cheered and sang along. It's been said that if you get them to sing along you are doing your job and amazingly that came true. Even for a short four song set, it may have been the best showing that I have done overall and that is saying a lot.
But I didn't do it alone, I had help. Belinda, Mark, Andrew, Carl, Skip, Ryan, The Crowd. But upon watching Gold Dust Woman (this version), most of all it was Julie that made it work. And in the process she stolen my heart too.
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Monday, 29 May 2017
Rumors Jam 5/28/17 Rocking Hard
Rumor's Jam (Host: Terry McDowell)
With:
Rick Clay-Guitar and Vocal on Dreams I'll Never See Again
Mitch Smith-Saxophone and Vocals on Keep Your Hands To Yourself and Roadhouse Blues
Duane Connaughton-Bass On Roadhouse Blues and Dreams I'll Never See Again
Danny Byal-Bass on Keep Your Hands To Yourself
R.Smith-Drums
Songs:
Roadhouse Blues
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
Dreams I'll Never See
Terry McDowell continues to amaze me with his jams of the past couple months. This time out, the new recruit was Duane Connaughton, a hard driving bass player from Indiana who bought his son with him, his son plays drums and really knew how to pound the double bass petals. He might rival Trevor Worcel as the hardest hitting drummer out there.
I was dealing with headaches galore, and the past couple nights supporting Julie with her band and with Bart but I figure if I stayed home I'd just be miserable. This jam was more hard rocking than usual, Rick Clay returned with the singer from Four Day Creep and Duane, who had experience in playing the harder rock/grunge number really played the role of rock star. I'm guessing he was a bit younger than me but he has played in a number of Indiana rock bands. The guy really blew me away on how he can play bass too.
I guess having Mitch Smith sit in and sing the songs was the less rocking of the numbers but it really wasn't that way. Rick and Duane are solid rockers but Mitch can hold his own with his vocals. Danny Bryal popped up to play the Georgia Satellites number and then Duane came back onboard to which we decided to pay respect and due to the loss of Gregg Allman by doing a jazzy introduction to Dreams I'll Never See Again, to which I never played the Allman Brothers version but I followed Duane on every note he put out. This time out, Duane made me play the accent breaks on the chorus to Dreams and dammed if it didn't work. And Rick Clay played amazing guitar, but a Spinal Tap moment came when his amps suddenly stopped working, but Duane and I kept playing. It was such a magical moment before the amp malfunction.
The three songs did branched out to about 10 minutes on stage, Dreams going about for 8 minutes I believe. Like last week, I was in a good groove and had great musicians helping me keep that groove. Buddy came up to help out on some metal songs with Karie Skogman and Amanda from Four Day Creep. Earlier in the afternoon Dave Bonham paired up with Tim Wiley on a couple blues numbers with Mike Lint. That might have been the least rocking part of the jam, more blues than hard rock. Still we had plenty of jammers that helped out, it wasn't as packed as it was last week but we had plenty of people there. Which made the folks at Rumors quite happy. Later on while talking to Julie before bed, I mentioned about me and Buddy being there and she said had she known this she would have been there. Wished she would have been there, she'd rocked the joint too.
Tim Wiley did join the fun earlier on, but of course once he got done, he was long gone. He never seems to hang around when I get up on stage but I still love him anyway.
All photos taken from video stills is by Kevin Simnacher (but this photo and Tim Wiley is by Tami Soukup) Without him around, I would be the invisible man.
With:
Rick Clay-Guitar and Vocal on Dreams I'll Never See Again
Mitch Smith-Saxophone and Vocals on Keep Your Hands To Yourself and Roadhouse Blues
Duane Connaughton-Bass On Roadhouse Blues and Dreams I'll Never See Again
Danny Byal-Bass on Keep Your Hands To Yourself
R.Smith-Drums
Songs:
Roadhouse Blues
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
Dreams I'll Never See
Terry McDowell continues to amaze me with his jams of the past couple months. This time out, the new recruit was Duane Connaughton, a hard driving bass player from Indiana who bought his son with him, his son plays drums and really knew how to pound the double bass petals. He might rival Trevor Worcel as the hardest hitting drummer out there.
I was dealing with headaches galore, and the past couple nights supporting Julie with her band and with Bart but I figure if I stayed home I'd just be miserable. This jam was more hard rocking than usual, Rick Clay returned with the singer from Four Day Creep and Duane, who had experience in playing the harder rock/grunge number really played the role of rock star. I'm guessing he was a bit younger than me but he has played in a number of Indiana rock bands. The guy really blew me away on how he can play bass too.
I guess having Mitch Smith sit in and sing the songs was the less rocking of the numbers but it really wasn't that way. Rick and Duane are solid rockers but Mitch can hold his own with his vocals. Danny Bryal popped up to play the Georgia Satellites number and then Duane came back onboard to which we decided to pay respect and due to the loss of Gregg Allman by doing a jazzy introduction to Dreams I'll Never See Again, to which I never played the Allman Brothers version but I followed Duane on every note he put out. This time out, Duane made me play the accent breaks on the chorus to Dreams and dammed if it didn't work. And Rick Clay played amazing guitar, but a Spinal Tap moment came when his amps suddenly stopped working, but Duane and I kept playing. It was such a magical moment before the amp malfunction.
The three songs did branched out to about 10 minutes on stage, Dreams going about for 8 minutes I believe. Like last week, I was in a good groove and had great musicians helping me keep that groove. Buddy came up to help out on some metal songs with Karie Skogman and Amanda from Four Day Creep. Earlier in the afternoon Dave Bonham paired up with Tim Wiley on a couple blues numbers with Mike Lint. That might have been the least rocking part of the jam, more blues than hard rock. Still we had plenty of jammers that helped out, it wasn't as packed as it was last week but we had plenty of people there. Which made the folks at Rumors quite happy. Later on while talking to Julie before bed, I mentioned about me and Buddy being there and she said had she known this she would have been there. Wished she would have been there, she'd rocked the joint too.
Tim Wiley did join the fun earlier on, but of course once he got done, he was long gone. He never seems to hang around when I get up on stage but I still love him anyway.
All photos taken from video stills is by Kevin Simnacher (but this photo and Tim Wiley is by Tami Soukup) Without him around, I would be the invisible man.
Saturday, 27 May 2017
The Saturday Afternoon Acoustic Gig And Other Ones
Gilligan's Pub 5/27/17 (Karl Hudson: Host)
With
Tim Nemec-Bass
The Promise Flower
Listen To Love
I Fought The Law
For What It's Worth
If I Were A Carpenter
Ring Of Fire (Jeff Overly-sax)
Teri My Love (abridged)
Everybody's Talking (False Start)
Gold Dust Woman (Belinda James-Lead Vocals, Karl Hudson, Guitar, Jeff Overly-Sax)
Everybody's Talking
You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover
Come Together (Belinda James-Lead Vocals)
With Julie And The Mad Dogs-Rumors 5/26/17
Johnny B Goode
Highway To Hell
Mike Serbousek-Vocals on Johnny B Goode
Julie Gordon-Vocals on Highway To Hell
Kevin Micheal-Bass
Buddy Archbremner-Lead Guitar
Another stormy afternoon but I managed to do a half hour set of songs, another attempt to do The Promise Flower (and still fucked up on one of the verses) but it was a pretty good and spirited jam. Tim Nemec, who I jammed with at Whittier played bass on all of the songs mentioned. I'm still not entirely sold on The Promise Flower since I'm having issues with one line in that song, it sounded better in the studio than it does live.
For the most part I kept the songs to their original versions and not extended them much although I did play around with the lead on Listen To Love. For What It's Worth was done Buffalo Springfield intended it to be. Belinda cracked me up on the version of Everybody's Talking to the point that I forced her to do a version of Gold Dust Woman, (with Karl on extra guitar and Jeff Overly adding backing vocals). I do think Belinda was ready to call me on that song, she did quite well for a first time we ever done it together. Belinda was also tapped to do Come Together, we did that song at Checker's the other night and she's beginning to figure out the way that I play it, Tim on bass also picked it up, first time we ever jammed to that song. I would love to have more people take turns singing on these songs. Of course Julie is my first choice, but if she's not around then Belinda has shown she could sing too.
A singer will have their own style to fit the song and chemistry helps too. Belinda brings more of a cool type of vocals, whereas Julie goes by emotion and feel, basically she has a way that brings me to do a song a lot better than I could ever do singing it. And it seems like Gold Dust Woman became the focal song of the jams, taken from a clumsy ideal of trying to play it solo and then having Julie pick it up when I was trying to play it to her for the first time at her place a few weeks ago. I have heard her sing that song Friday Night at Rumors with Buddy playing guitar and she also has done another version of that with Bart Carfizzi on keyboards, both versions unique, but I'm biased to the point that when we play it together something comes from deep within. I think the 2nd version we tried at Checkers was the best of them all but the 3rd version got partly recorded and we managed to dub it off on cassette for something in the future. I'd rather have a complete version but that would bring me and Julie together at some recording studio for that to happen.
It's been a sad week for her, since the breakup of the Acoustic Kitties and then all of a sudden losing one of her doggies and despite all the sadness, she still manages to sing great. I would have crumbled under pressure. Since this is Memorial Day Weekend, the crowds were not there for The Mad Dogs Friday Night, nor the Bart and Jewelz show at The Frog Saturday. I was there to support the effort and not get in the way, it's her gigs and her show. Bart's wife Kathy was there as well and we managed to talk a bit and took down Bart's keyboards and PA monitor since his back surgery has not helped and he's still in chronic pain. I feel bad for him, he's doing his best trying to make it work but back pain is not fun. I've been dealing with that myself the past couple days. It's their second time out together and a few songs got redone later (guess which one). I could have made a suggestion about grabbing my guitar and help them along but that's their gig and not a jam. And not a good idea. Still, it's tough to play gigs and only have 5 to 10 people show up, and you wonder what's the point but a musician keeps going on, they consider it practice and they'll get better for the next gig. That is if they get invited back.
Which leads back to Friday Night after the gigs and everybody's packed up and ready to go home upon saying goodnight to Julie, she remarked about wanting to go do something, go out on a date. I said that I thought going to jams was kinda like a date, was it? She said not exactly. I then said well if I ask you very nice, would like you go out on a date and go somewhere (after all the last time I went out with somebody was over five years ago) and she said yes. She continues to surprise me in her own ways. I don't look at myself as just a friend to people. It's just that Julie is a musician and we share certain interests, I thought about it but never could find the right place and time to say it, but she did.
While I talk about it and think about it, it's hard to believe that I'm could ever be a part of her life even from a musician perspective. Even for 56 years, I still stumble about like a awkward teenager trying to impress her, but alas something gets in the way, I either knock over her fan she uses at her gigs, or stepping on somebody's guitar chord and things like that drives me insane. No, I never thought this would ever remotely happen again.
With Julie in this life, I'm playing better, the guys in the band are enjoying the music more and I am beginning to lose the negativeness that had been building up for many many years. And I do hope that this continues me on the right path to what's left of this life. I'll continue to stumble along the journey but I hope the longer we know each other, the more closer we can become. The music helps a lot, that's what brought us together, on stage. But I do know it will take time and I'm very much out of practice when it comes to taking somebody out on a date. I guess the best way to start at square one and go from there.
Hello, I'm Rodney Smith and I play in a band called The Townedgers...............
With
Tim Nemec-Bass
The Promise Flower
Listen To Love
I Fought The Law
For What It's Worth
If I Were A Carpenter
Ring Of Fire (Jeff Overly-sax)
Teri My Love (abridged)
Everybody's Talking (False Start)
Gold Dust Woman (Belinda James-Lead Vocals, Karl Hudson, Guitar, Jeff Overly-Sax)
Everybody's Talking
You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover
Come Together (Belinda James-Lead Vocals)
With Julie And The Mad Dogs-Rumors 5/26/17
Johnny B Goode
Highway To Hell
Mike Serbousek-Vocals on Johnny B Goode
Julie Gordon-Vocals on Highway To Hell
Kevin Micheal-Bass
Buddy Archbremner-Lead Guitar
Another stormy afternoon but I managed to do a half hour set of songs, another attempt to do The Promise Flower (and still fucked up on one of the verses) but it was a pretty good and spirited jam. Tim Nemec, who I jammed with at Whittier played bass on all of the songs mentioned. I'm still not entirely sold on The Promise Flower since I'm having issues with one line in that song, it sounded better in the studio than it does live.
For the most part I kept the songs to their original versions and not extended them much although I did play around with the lead on Listen To Love. For What It's Worth was done Buffalo Springfield intended it to be. Belinda cracked me up on the version of Everybody's Talking to the point that I forced her to do a version of Gold Dust Woman, (with Karl on extra guitar and Jeff Overly adding backing vocals). I do think Belinda was ready to call me on that song, she did quite well for a first time we ever done it together. Belinda was also tapped to do Come Together, we did that song at Checker's the other night and she's beginning to figure out the way that I play it, Tim on bass also picked it up, first time we ever jammed to that song. I would love to have more people take turns singing on these songs. Of course Julie is my first choice, but if she's not around then Belinda has shown she could sing too.
A singer will have their own style to fit the song and chemistry helps too. Belinda brings more of a cool type of vocals, whereas Julie goes by emotion and feel, basically she has a way that brings me to do a song a lot better than I could ever do singing it. And it seems like Gold Dust Woman became the focal song of the jams, taken from a clumsy ideal of trying to play it solo and then having Julie pick it up when I was trying to play it to her for the first time at her place a few weeks ago. I have heard her sing that song Friday Night at Rumors with Buddy playing guitar and she also has done another version of that with Bart Carfizzi on keyboards, both versions unique, but I'm biased to the point that when we play it together something comes from deep within. I think the 2nd version we tried at Checkers was the best of them all but the 3rd version got partly recorded and we managed to dub it off on cassette for something in the future. I'd rather have a complete version but that would bring me and Julie together at some recording studio for that to happen.
It's been a sad week for her, since the breakup of the Acoustic Kitties and then all of a sudden losing one of her doggies and despite all the sadness, she still manages to sing great. I would have crumbled under pressure. Since this is Memorial Day Weekend, the crowds were not there for The Mad Dogs Friday Night, nor the Bart and Jewelz show at The Frog Saturday. I was there to support the effort and not get in the way, it's her gigs and her show. Bart's wife Kathy was there as well and we managed to talk a bit and took down Bart's keyboards and PA monitor since his back surgery has not helped and he's still in chronic pain. I feel bad for him, he's doing his best trying to make it work but back pain is not fun. I've been dealing with that myself the past couple days. It's their second time out together and a few songs got redone later (guess which one). I could have made a suggestion about grabbing my guitar and help them along but that's their gig and not a jam. And not a good idea. Still, it's tough to play gigs and only have 5 to 10 people show up, and you wonder what's the point but a musician keeps going on, they consider it practice and they'll get better for the next gig. That is if they get invited back.
Which leads back to Friday Night after the gigs and everybody's packed up and ready to go home upon saying goodnight to Julie, she remarked about wanting to go do something, go out on a date. I said that I thought going to jams was kinda like a date, was it? She said not exactly. I then said well if I ask you very nice, would like you go out on a date and go somewhere (after all the last time I went out with somebody was over five years ago) and she said yes. She continues to surprise me in her own ways. I don't look at myself as just a friend to people. It's just that Julie is a musician and we share certain interests, I thought about it but never could find the right place and time to say it, but she did.
While I talk about it and think about it, it's hard to believe that I'm could ever be a part of her life even from a musician perspective. Even for 56 years, I still stumble about like a awkward teenager trying to impress her, but alas something gets in the way, I either knock over her fan she uses at her gigs, or stepping on somebody's guitar chord and things like that drives me insane. No, I never thought this would ever remotely happen again.
With Julie in this life, I'm playing better, the guys in the band are enjoying the music more and I am beginning to lose the negativeness that had been building up for many many years. And I do hope that this continues me on the right path to what's left of this life. I'll continue to stumble along the journey but I hope the longer we know each other, the more closer we can become. The music helps a lot, that's what brought us together, on stage. But I do know it will take time and I'm very much out of practice when it comes to taking somebody out on a date. I guess the best way to start at square one and go from there.
Hello, I'm Rodney Smith and I play in a band called The Townedgers...............
Thursday, 25 May 2017
GREATEST HITS: Listen To Love
Listen To Love (Smith/Redding)
You are the one that makes my dreams come true
I never thought it could ever be you
You are the reason why I stay around here
And when we're together it becomes clear
I know you're meant for me
And I know that I'm for you
I know, your eyes are showing
Your love, listen to love
I'm not in the practice of one night stands
When I take you by the hand please understand
I know it's all been said before
But if you knew my reasons, then you'll know
I know you're meant for me
And I know that I'm for you
I know, your eyes are showing
Your love, listen to love
(repeat chorus)
You are the one that makes my dreams come true
(C) 1996 Townedger Music Emporium
Originally from Light At The End Of The Tunnel, this song got resurrected on Jubilee (another attempt was done on a bootleg 2008 gig). (2017 update: I continue to mess around with the words, replacing your heart is showing with your eyes are showing before the Your Love, Listen To Love line at the end of the chorus, Geoff tells me this makes a bit more perfect sense, until I sing it and return to sing the original line of Your heart is showing, but then again has anybody seen what their heart is showing?)
Love songs are not exactly my forte and while trying to balance originals with covers at acoustic jams I been revisiting songs from the past and tweaking them and updating them. This song goes all the way back to 1996 while working on Light At The End Of The Tunnel. That album is famous for my appendicitis attack on Jan 31 and my appendix was removed. 11 days later while still nursing stitches and still half crocked on pain meds this song was recorded.
When you find somebody special, you want to shout it out to the world although most of the listeners would be indifferent or simply putting their fingers in their ears and going LA LA LA LA. I don't believe the inspiration to this song cared much of this song. My A and R person Diggy Kat, decided to make this a featured song earlier this year and I have performed this song (to mixed reactions) at local jams around town. I play and sing it since it's easy to do. It's either that or Yummy Yummy Yummy.
I like the original version better although the drum mix wasn't that great. I was using an Realistic Mic that was part of the recording process (all the way back to the days of reel to reel recording) but the usually reliable Richard Dennanbaugh under recorded the drums, a rare occasion since Richard likes the drums up front. On the 2016 Jubilee album Terry Bainbridge managed to get a better drum sound and this version is better for the radio.
Dedicated to that one true love of mine. Who ever she may be.
You are the one that makes my dreams come true
I never thought it could ever be you
You are the reason why I stay around here
And when we're together it becomes clear
I know you're meant for me
And I know that I'm for you
I know, your eyes are showing
Your love, listen to love
I'm not in the practice of one night stands
When I take you by the hand please understand
I know it's all been said before
But if you knew my reasons, then you'll know
I know you're meant for me
And I know that I'm for you
I know, your eyes are showing
Your love, listen to love
(repeat chorus)
You are the one that makes my dreams come true
(C) 1996 Townedger Music Emporium
Originally from Light At The End Of The Tunnel, this song got resurrected on Jubilee (another attempt was done on a bootleg 2008 gig). (2017 update: I continue to mess around with the words, replacing your heart is showing with your eyes are showing before the Your Love, Listen To Love line at the end of the chorus, Geoff tells me this makes a bit more perfect sense, until I sing it and return to sing the original line of Your heart is showing, but then again has anybody seen what their heart is showing?)
Love songs are not exactly my forte and while trying to balance originals with covers at acoustic jams I been revisiting songs from the past and tweaking them and updating them. This song goes all the way back to 1996 while working on Light At The End Of The Tunnel. That album is famous for my appendicitis attack on Jan 31 and my appendix was removed. 11 days later while still nursing stitches and still half crocked on pain meds this song was recorded.
When you find somebody special, you want to shout it out to the world although most of the listeners would be indifferent or simply putting their fingers in their ears and going LA LA LA LA. I don't believe the inspiration to this song cared much of this song. My A and R person Diggy Kat, decided to make this a featured song earlier this year and I have performed this song (to mixed reactions) at local jams around town. I play and sing it since it's easy to do. It's either that or Yummy Yummy Yummy.
I like the original version better although the drum mix wasn't that great. I was using an Realistic Mic that was part of the recording process (all the way back to the days of reel to reel recording) but the usually reliable Richard Dennanbaugh under recorded the drums, a rare occasion since Richard likes the drums up front. On the 2016 Jubilee album Terry Bainbridge managed to get a better drum sound and this version is better for the radio.
Dedicated to that one true love of mine. Who ever she may be.
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Recording Session 7-Checkers Jam
Recording Logic And Lies
The 7th Session;
Production: Rodney Smith And Terry Bainbridge
Recording: Richard Dennanbaugh/R.Smith
Lately (Smith/Strobie)
The First Cut Is The Deepest (C. Stevens)
With: Geoff Redding and Mel Strobie
Lately, is a song about the end times and having too many roundabouts in town and First Cut Is The Deepest was recorded as a reference song. I'm not sure if I'll use it for the album but we never know. Mel Strobie co wrote Lately and the version of First Cut Is The Deepest the Keith Hampshire version is used.
Checkers Acoustic Jam 5/24/17 (Hosts: Lorie Parker/Cathy Spina)
The Promise Flower
I Fought The Law
Mystery Girl
Diddle Wah Diddey
Come Together (Belinda James-Vocals)
Debut of two songs from Logic And Lies. They would have been done better had I had my reading glasses and I basically faked myself through Diddle Wah Diddey. Belinda James was tapped to sing Come Together and I always like using other vocalists to do songs that I can't sing with. Come Together is one, Gold Dust Woman is the other. Certainly Julie was missed tonight, but Mark Randolph inquired about how G.D.W goes so that he and Belinda could use it in their set.
While Cathy threatened me to do another set of songs, thankfully a few more jammers came on board and I managed to play and bang on the congas, which wasn't good for my carpel tunnel issues but hell I had fun. I hope it doesn't curtail me on helping out Julie And The Mad Dogs Friday Night.
Abigail, the ten year old wonder vocalist mentioned that she's off to New York to take part in a talent show and hopefully she'll do well. She can really sing Jesus Take The Wheel and not have to use a cheat sheet. I don't know how she does it but she does a fine job. On this jam, we had a cello player and David came to play with his saxophone. I did helped out on Steve Black Wolf's version of Knockin On Heaven's Door, his hair is growing back and his mustache is beginning to take hold after stopping his chemo therapy, but he's still smoking. I guess if your time isn't long better to continue to do the things that make you happy. Even if it is smoking.
And so it goes.
Thanks to Cathy and Steve for their kind comments on last night's batch of songs, especially on Come Together to which that song Steve's guitar playing buddy commented on how I was playing the hell out of that song. Anyway, credit must be given to Belinda James for singing that song. I have some great female singers helping out on past shows, Julie Gordon does a great job, Lorie Parker and Cathy Spina likewise too. Usually, Julie Gordon is the go to person, but I have known Belinda James for over a year and she can make a song into her very own as well. She loves to sing just about anything and with Mark Randolph they make a very good duo, they have a varied songlist that goes from blues to Staind and Fever too. Abigail Bunker is very good but I don't think she knows that songs that I play. Over time as I continue to do the acoustic route, there's always a chance to work with great musicians out there and the right combination will make even an overplayed song take on new meaning. In the long run, I can trust Julie or Belinda with their vocal expertise. They're that good.
The 7th Session;
Production: Rodney Smith And Terry Bainbridge
Recording: Richard Dennanbaugh/R.Smith
Lately (Smith/Strobie)
The First Cut Is The Deepest (C. Stevens)
With: Geoff Redding and Mel Strobie
Lately, is a song about the end times and having too many roundabouts in town and First Cut Is The Deepest was recorded as a reference song. I'm not sure if I'll use it for the album but we never know. Mel Strobie co wrote Lately and the version of First Cut Is The Deepest the Keith Hampshire version is used.
Checkers Acoustic Jam 5/24/17 (Hosts: Lorie Parker/Cathy Spina)
The Promise Flower
I Fought The Law
Mystery Girl
Diddle Wah Diddey
Come Together (Belinda James-Vocals)
Debut of two songs from Logic And Lies. They would have been done better had I had my reading glasses and I basically faked myself through Diddle Wah Diddey. Belinda James was tapped to sing Come Together and I always like using other vocalists to do songs that I can't sing with. Come Together is one, Gold Dust Woman is the other. Certainly Julie was missed tonight, but Mark Randolph inquired about how G.D.W goes so that he and Belinda could use it in their set.
While Cathy threatened me to do another set of songs, thankfully a few more jammers came on board and I managed to play and bang on the congas, which wasn't good for my carpel tunnel issues but hell I had fun. I hope it doesn't curtail me on helping out Julie And The Mad Dogs Friday Night.
Abigail, the ten year old wonder vocalist mentioned that she's off to New York to take part in a talent show and hopefully she'll do well. She can really sing Jesus Take The Wheel and not have to use a cheat sheet. I don't know how she does it but she does a fine job. On this jam, we had a cello player and David came to play with his saxophone. I did helped out on Steve Black Wolf's version of Knockin On Heaven's Door, his hair is growing back and his mustache is beginning to take hold after stopping his chemo therapy, but he's still smoking. I guess if your time isn't long better to continue to do the things that make you happy. Even if it is smoking.
And so it goes.
Thanks to Cathy and Steve for their kind comments on last night's batch of songs, especially on Come Together to which that song Steve's guitar playing buddy commented on how I was playing the hell out of that song. Anyway, credit must be given to Belinda James for singing that song. I have some great female singers helping out on past shows, Julie Gordon does a great job, Lorie Parker and Cathy Spina likewise too. Usually, Julie Gordon is the go to person, but I have known Belinda James for over a year and she can make a song into her very own as well. She loves to sing just about anything and with Mark Randolph they make a very good duo, they have a varied songlist that goes from blues to Staind and Fever too. Abigail Bunker is very good but I don't think she knows that songs that I play. Over time as I continue to do the acoustic route, there's always a chance to work with great musicians out there and the right combination will make even an overplayed song take on new meaning. In the long run, I can trust Julie or Belinda with their vocal expertise. They're that good.
Sunday, 21 May 2017
Recording Session 5-Rumors Jam 5/21/17
At Hoarder House Of Hits-Anamosa IA
I worked on Logic And Lies all night trying to find the right melody to go with it and half the time I'd forget how it went. Thankfully I had the chord progression written down. I think I'm finally getting out of my depressionary state of mind and Logic And Lies (the song) really came together and I only had to do a couple takes before the overdubbing process came to be. Let It Go, is basically a blues guitar riff and I was trying to fit some lyrics to make the song work. The Promise Flower might be the best of the bunch. It's hard to tell somebody of the way you feel about them without repercussions, I know I have gone through the emotional roller coaster, the highest of the highs and then way down below, I don't recommend this to anybody. Certainly, the jams of the past couple weekends were the best and most inspired and here's hoping I can continue to do that. But it was a good thing I managed to record Let It Go and The Promise Flower, I have forgotten the melody already.
Songs:
Logic And Lies (Smith/Redding/Strobie/Daniels)
Logic And Lies (Smith/Redding/Strobie/Daniels)
Let It Go (Smith/Redding)
The Promise Flower (Smith)
Producer: Terry Bainbridge and R. Smith
Recording: Martin Daniels/R. Smith
With Geoff Redding and Mel Strobie
I worked on Logic And Lies all night trying to find the right melody to go with it and half the time I'd forget how it went. Thankfully I had the chord progression written down. I think I'm finally getting out of my depressionary state of mind and Logic And Lies (the song) really came together and I only had to do a couple takes before the overdubbing process came to be. Let It Go, is basically a blues guitar riff and I was trying to fit some lyrics to make the song work. The Promise Flower might be the best of the bunch. It's hard to tell somebody of the way you feel about them without repercussions, I know I have gone through the emotional roller coaster, the highest of the highs and then way down below, I don't recommend this to anybody. Certainly, the jams of the past couple weekends were the best and most inspired and here's hoping I can continue to do that. But it was a good thing I managed to record Let It Go and The Promise Flower, I have forgotten the melody already.
Rumors Jam:
With:
Terry McDowell (Birthday Boy)
Terry McDowell (Birthday Boy)
Karl Hudson-Guitar
Rick Clay-Guitar and Vocal on Dreams I'll Never See Again
Layne Goldsberry-Bass and Vocal on Rock And Roll All Night
Songs:
Dreams I'll Never See
Rocky Mountain Way (rejected)
Living After Midnight (attempted)
Rock And Roll All Night
A capacity crowd of musicians jammed into Rumors to celebrate Terry McDowell's birthday (on Tuesday) and I certainly didn't think I was going to play at all. Buddy wasn't too pleased with the songs he had to do. The highlight was jamming with Rick Clay on Dreams although this time out the version was a bit more rougher (Layne never played it before) but we managed to pull it together. A couple of false starts with Rocky Mountain Way (Karl didn't feel like singing it) or Living After Midnight (Karie Skogman decided not to sing it) so we ended up bashing away on Rock And Roll All Night., the KISS song that everybody plays (my first time I do believe). Not as rough as Dreams but it did rock and roll hard though. But I had a tough act to follow. Troy Mitchell, one of the best hard rock drummer played before me and he laid down some nasty bad ass beats to Hair Of The Dog. I later chatted with him and he said that Bruce Stanley's Mom passed away last week, she was in pretty bad health even before Bruce's passing but thankfully she's meeting up with her son on the great beyond.
NOTES: Greg Mein and his wife Brenda usually does a set that includes Heard It In A Love Song and The Weight, the latter song I really would love to do on my own but their version is very close to how the Band plays it, and I've jammed with them a bit at Checkers sometimes on that song. Needless the say the drummer backing them up didn't know how to play those songs, After my little song list of bashing the hell out of Terry's Drums (somehow his Rock Crash had a couple of cracks in it judging from the reflection of light off the cymbal) I chatted briefly with Greg and Brenda after they complemented on my drumming and they said they would like me to drum with them next time they do the Rumors Jam. I told them I'd be very happy to help them out next time they played at Rumors.
I also got a kick out of Terry after my set, he made a comment that I played some wild drums and I never took off my jacket either. I had to laugh on that, but I do admit, that place was like a sauna and I was working up a sweat. But some of my classic performances on drums was when I was wearing a sweat shirt or jacket. I also think I did get carried away, I bruised a knuckle on one of the drum tuners, which still hurts as I type this out.
Nevertheless, this did get me out of my depressionary state and I'm sure everybody is happy about that too.
It was two years ago, that I finally did a jam of sorts. I managed to chat up with Rod Albaugh at work and played his guitar and did a couple of songs with him. It was my first jam with anybody since the demise of I/O in 2009.
And life hasn't been the same since then.
Recording Session 6 5/22/17
Producer: Terry Bainbridge/R.Smith
Recording: R.Smith
Mystery Girl (Smith/Redding)
Richard Thompson was the inspiration of this song to which Geoff and I traded lyrics and worked them up from scratch within the hour. The melody was thought up for about three months and the only song that I could sing this to was Lee Dorsey's Ya Ya. The funny thing about recording in this day and age is how quickly these songs come to be, it used to be we would toy around it and waste 10 or 15 takes and still couldn't get the feeling of the song right. This is why I practice guitar late in the night downstairs, to tinker with the arrangement and when the next day comes and my brother's at work I can record them. Most of the songs I haven't done more than two or three takes at best. Once you start laboring on them after 10 or 15 takes then it becomes work and not much fun. I can say since Forthcoming Trains, I have managed to continue to work on songs before committing them to tape. I really do want more originals than covers, otherwise I may have to do a Wapsipinicon Dreamers Volume 2 but I'm thinking more of a title called Scratchy Records and have some local musicians come in and help out. If that's the case, then I may have to book a studio in advance. Julie Gordon has expressed a desire to work on a song or two, but I would rather have her do something original, although we did save an in progress version of Gold Dust Woman. We could do a complete version at her place (since Buddy Aschbrenner says he can record anything we do, the dude keeps deleting his Facebook page so I can't get a hold of him) but I do have a couple original ideals that she might put to good use. She's quite busy with The Mad Dogs, Dreams Of Arcadia and now Bart And Jewelz but if the stars align just right we'll work on something.
It was two years ago, that I finally did a jam of sorts. I managed to chat up with Rod Albaugh at work and played his guitar and did a couple of songs with him. It was my first jam with anybody since the demise of I/O in 2009.
And life hasn't been the same since then.
Recording Session 6 5/22/17
Producer: Terry Bainbridge/R.Smith
Recording: R.Smith
Mystery Girl (Smith/Redding)
Richard Thompson was the inspiration of this song to which Geoff and I traded lyrics and worked them up from scratch within the hour. The melody was thought up for about three months and the only song that I could sing this to was Lee Dorsey's Ya Ya. The funny thing about recording in this day and age is how quickly these songs come to be, it used to be we would toy around it and waste 10 or 15 takes and still couldn't get the feeling of the song right. This is why I practice guitar late in the night downstairs, to tinker with the arrangement and when the next day comes and my brother's at work I can record them. Most of the songs I haven't done more than two or three takes at best. Once you start laboring on them after 10 or 15 takes then it becomes work and not much fun. I can say since Forthcoming Trains, I have managed to continue to work on songs before committing them to tape. I really do want more originals than covers, otherwise I may have to do a Wapsipinicon Dreamers Volume 2 but I'm thinking more of a title called Scratchy Records and have some local musicians come in and help out. If that's the case, then I may have to book a studio in advance. Julie Gordon has expressed a desire to work on a song or two, but I would rather have her do something original, although we did save an in progress version of Gold Dust Woman. We could do a complete version at her place (since Buddy Aschbrenner says he can record anything we do, the dude keeps deleting his Facebook page so I can't get a hold of him) but I do have a couple original ideals that she might put to good use. She's quite busy with The Mad Dogs, Dreams Of Arcadia and now Bart And Jewelz but if the stars align just right we'll work on something.
Saturday, 20 May 2017
Recording Session 4-Logic And Lies
Songs:
The Way Love Used To Be (Smith/Strobie)
Cuts Like A Knife
I Fought The Law
Recorded At Hoarder House
Production by Terry Bainbridge/Rodney Smith
Recording: Martin Daniels/Rodney Smith
I've been in a down mood and somehow I seem to get the most out of this when I write dark songs.
The Way Love Used To Be was cobbled together Friday Night at work. Upon today, we started on Jimmy Brown The Newsboy but somehow the lyrics to The Way Love Used To Be worked better. Plus it enabled me to use the E to C chord as well. But it does mirror Roger Miller's version of Jimmy Brown, or was it A P Carter?
I finally came up with a workable version of Cuts Like A Knife although it does not vary much from Bryan Adams' version. But I liked having a more baritone vocal to this version. I think it fits the song better.
And then a run through on I Fought The Law, to which the version done at Checkers Wednesday Night was the version I used tonight, more Bobby Fuller than the Hank Jr version that made it on the 1998 The Art Of Deception album. Plenty of backing vocals from Mel and Geoff too.
LOGIC AND LIES
(Smith/Redding/Strobie/Daniels)
Well take a look at what we got
It may not be much but it means a lot
Your brighten smile lighten up the night
Your ecstatic kisses are my earthly delight
But do I know that you're my girl
Or are we just strangers in this world?
As I'm drowning in my insecurities
Or never knowing what's it going to be?
Oh Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
The Way You Love Me
The more I try to get nearer to you
You get further away from my point of view
This love is not easy and that's a fact
When I get closer you read the riot act
Well I knew that the risks was going to be high
But still I thought that the timing would be right
Got too close to the flame and then I got burned
You'd think by now that I would have learned?
That Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
Is the way you love me
Still I know there's something special here
Let's give it time and things will be clear
Just you and me but it's easy to see
I keep holding on but you're killing me
With your Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
Is How You Love Me
(C) 2017 Townedgers Music Emporium
The Way Love Used To Be (Smith/Strobie)
Cuts Like A Knife
I Fought The Law
Recorded At Hoarder House
Production by Terry Bainbridge/Rodney Smith
Recording: Martin Daniels/Rodney Smith
I've been in a down mood and somehow I seem to get the most out of this when I write dark songs.
The Way Love Used To Be was cobbled together Friday Night at work. Upon today, we started on Jimmy Brown The Newsboy but somehow the lyrics to The Way Love Used To Be worked better. Plus it enabled me to use the E to C chord as well. But it does mirror Roger Miller's version of Jimmy Brown, or was it A P Carter?
I finally came up with a workable version of Cuts Like A Knife although it does not vary much from Bryan Adams' version. But I liked having a more baritone vocal to this version. I think it fits the song better.
And then a run through on I Fought The Law, to which the version done at Checkers Wednesday Night was the version I used tonight, more Bobby Fuller than the Hank Jr version that made it on the 1998 The Art Of Deception album. Plenty of backing vocals from Mel and Geoff too.
LOGIC AND LIES
(Smith/Redding/Strobie/Daniels)
Well take a look at what we got
It may not be much but it means a lot
Your brighten smile lighten up the night
Your ecstatic kisses are my earthly delight
But do I know that you're my girl
Or are we just strangers in this world?
As I'm drowning in my insecurities
Or never knowing what's it going to be?
Oh Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
The Way You Love Me
The more I try to get nearer to you
You get further away from my point of view
This love is not easy and that's a fact
When I get closer you read the riot act
Well I knew that the risks was going to be high
But still I thought that the timing would be right
Got too close to the flame and then I got burned
You'd think by now that I would have learned?
That Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
Is the way you love me
Still I know there's something special here
Let's give it time and things will be clear
Just you and me but it's easy to see
I keep holding on but you're killing me
With your Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
Logic And Lies
Is How You Love Me
(C) 2017 Townedgers Music Emporium
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