Songs I Have Learned to Play

You may be wondering what have I learned to play on the piano since getting the Yamaha Piaggero this past winter. At first I started with trying to play all the Christmas classics in the key of C. And while that may sound like a really simple thing, keep in mind that most people would not be able to pick out the melodies and chords by ear. I cannot do that myself perfectly but I know when something sounds right and when it sounds wrong, and when I've got it figured out I can play it decently.

I don't have all those tunes mastered yet--and by mastered I mean being able to play without error--mainly due to me not playing as often as I should/could. But in terms of a full, non-holiday song that I have learned to play completely, you'd probably never guess what it is so I'll just tell you: "It's Too Late" by Andy Williams. Yes, Andy Williams. You might question as to why I would learn to play Andy's version as opposed to Carole's or any other version out there. For one, Andy's version is very Marvin-Gaye-What's-Goin-On-ish. It's not the kind of sound you would expect from Andy. Marvin's classic was released in January 1971 while Andy's cover was recorded in the spring following. Clearly it was influenced by that smooth soul jazz type of sound achieved on that Marvin single. As an aside, this new musical direction for Marvin Gaye was refreshing and a nice break from all the love and heartbreak songs he did up to that point. Socially conscious music was slow to penetrate Motown but it started with The Temptations and continued on with the music of Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Rare Earth and Edwin Starr to name a few.

Back to my reasons for choosing Andy's version---frankly, I like Andy. He was one of those--if not the only one--classic era crooners who was able to focus not exclusively on Tin Pan Alley and jazz standards and rather build up his repertoire of music to include pop/soft rock hits of the day (unlike Tony Bennett who would become literally ill at the thought of having to croon "Sugar, Sugar"). And Andy did a great job of mixing the classics and the fresh to create his own sound. I'm happy to say that I have probably all of his albums from about 1962-1975, a period in which 2 albums per year was rather common.

Okay, so he didn't write his own songs. When you've got a voice like his you don't have to. Look at Elvis. Tom Jones. Ella Fitzgerald. The great voices were never expected to write songs. Probably not encouraged to. But if you had a voice more like Bob Dylan's, Neil Young's, Tom Waits', etc., you'd better write darn good songs!

But I've come to appreciate Andy Williams over the last several years. I think it was the Christmas TV specials that did it to me. However, it wasn't even just Andy. It's also been Perry Como, Tony Bennett & Frank Sinatra, someone I vowed never to listen to in my younger years. And it's not even so much how they thing but also the arrangements of their recorded music. I don't see how you can't not like that music. It's just so pleasant, soothing and perfectly crafted particularly considering their 1960s releases.

Anyway. "It's Too Late." Andy's version. I can play along with it now. Not perfectly of course but enough to show a significant improvement in my keyboard skills. And it's not even in the same key as Carole's original. I do add some elements of her version to this one. But it feels good to be able to play along with the recording from start to finish even if I do make mistakes.

I've also learned to play "Time of the Season" by The Zombies. It's definitely more simple than the other song, but interesting nonetheless. Still can't play it perfectly either but that's okay.

With the organ sound on the keyboard I have learned to play that organ riff on "Gimme Some Lovin'" by The Spencer Davis Group. That is really cool! Even though the rest of the song does not have a lot going on in terms of organ parts, knowing that alone is great fun. I can walk into any music store now and just play that riff and I'll instantly appear to be a keyboard wizard.

I also took it upon myself to learn the organ intro and basic song part to "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum. Another really fun thing to play that would raise eyebrows if played loud enough in a store.

Of course, learning to play these things makes me want to record my own versions of these songs. That's great if I were in a cover band or if I could make my own covers in a short amount of time. But these things can take on lives of their own and end up eating a lot of the time I should be using to make my own music. I have to remind myself that it's June now and I haven't recorded anything new this year and the time for releasing an album is growing short. So we'll see. I know I'm going to look back on these last 9 years or so and regret not having used it more wisely. In the meantime I'll just keep practicing and writing more. And recording soon, too! I want to have new material to send to "The Basement Tapes with Nick & Bootsy"! Thanks for reading, Bootsy!!

To Create or Not Create...That is the Question!

My last post here was over 3 months ago. Sadly I don't have any news regarding music. First of all because where I do my musical work is very hot during summer and not really conducive to spending hours being creative. Not safe either. And second because of general discouragement, disillusionment and disappointment.

Yes, making music is fun and great and rewarding if that is what one is passionate about, as I am. But I think one of the necessary elements of art is sharing it with others. Letting it be seen or heard. What's the point in painting portraits but keeping them all in your room and never allowing anyone else to see them? Or learning how to dance all the different dances there are but never performing them but to yourself in front of a mirror? Or creating music that no one else ever gets to hear, either because you don't share it or your options for sharing it prove futile? (And it does not even have to apply just to art. How about science? If you found a cure for something what is the point if you don't share it?)

Which brings me to YouTube. I am tempted to upload more of my songs on this website but I look at the number of video views and I say, "What's the point?" The numbers are pathetic. It seems people are more interested in watching other people's reactions to viral videos and video games. What is this? We have gone from doing things ourselves to watching other people do things to watching other people react to other people doing things. I don't understand this. Why would anyone want to watch anyone else's reactions while playing a video game? Where is the entertainment value in that? Why not just play the game yourself? God forbid I recommend that though seeing as how I believe video games in general are a curse upon young people (not to mention those not-so-young who still indulge).

But there is no way to compete with all the mindlessness out there. I can upload a new song today and it will have a negligible amount of views for most of its life. Every time I upload a new video I tell myself that this will be the one that does well. It's all bogus. No one's interested. Everyone is looking for something that is controversial, has shock value or is celebrity-related. Reverbnation, Bandcamp, soundcloud and other websites are really no different. I seriously don't believe anyone fans you on those websites for any reason other than wanting you to fan them back and increase their audience, or worse yet, trying to sell you a product or service. The only websites that have brought my music any exposure is this very blog where I write (discovered by The Basement Tapes) and also Podshow Music Network. Some of my songs have been picked up as a result of these 2 websites and have been played in various areas, including as far away as Germany.

I wish I had better news or a more optimistic outlook. If anything I still intend to release my full length album this year--this fall actually. It's still a major goal and I'll consider it a milestone for me when it does happen. And it will allow me to have my songs on Spotify and other music streaming websites, even if they're not played ever. But just knowing that they are there gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Before I sign off I do want to say that I have been fiddling around with my Christmas song a little. Just trying to improve it in time for the holidays. I have been trying to add a second snare drum track from my Yamaha S90 synth over my original one to make it stronger and more modern sounding. I'm not a huge fan of using 'fake' drums on my recordings but until I can figure out how to get a great recorded snare sound in my studio space I must use whatever resources I have at hand to make the best recordings I can. Also I had an idea for a tubular bells track to replace the original horns track but that has not gone very well.

In closing, I want to share this quote from an episode of "Night Gallery" which struck me from the first time I heard it and has come to signify reality more and more each time I hear it. Just to put this quote in context, it was uttered inside a funeral home in regards to the outside world:

"Out there is the graveyard! Out there--the slaughterhouse where they kill and bury dreams. A whole world full of lonely pallbearers."

 Yes, I see this manifesting itself on a daily basis.

Finally on the Radio!

Here's something I should have written about sooner, but it just slipped my mind with so many other things going on.

A few weekends ago, my song "(Doesn't That) Blow Your Mind" was played on a local radio station show in Missouri. I was contacted on my Facebook page by Nick & Bootsy from the KKID Basement Tapes show that plays local and independent music. They came across this song of mine either through here or on my Exit World Facebook page and were interested in playing it on their show. So I sent it and they played it. I wasn't able to listen to their show live at the time they played because it does not stream online. So I had to wait 4 days later when Insane Realm radio re-broadcasts the complete show online to hear it. It was a thrill when it came on! I have since sent them more songs. Hopefully they will deem them worthy enough to be played.

This is a milestone for me. It's the first time a song of mine has been played on FM radio by someone other than a personal friend or acquaintance. I've had a few friends over they years play some of my songs on college radio stations. WLUW, WZRD and WNUR have all played my music. So I was really excited when someone other than someone I know contacted me to air my song. Now I can confidently join ASCAP or BMI! (I probably won't. Not yet anyway).

So this was really cool and I take it as another sign that I am on the right path to a music career. Another really cool sign was when my YouTube video for "Another Morning What a Drag" took off for about a month and garnered about 1200 views in that short period.

On the other hand, I was really confident about "Blow Your Mind" getting successfully forwarded for a TAXI listing. The listing was for a Hollywood blockbuster that was looking for original early to mid 70's sounding music. I've been with TAXI A&R music company on and off for the last 10 years or so and this was the most confident I was in submitting any songs to one of their listings. It was to the point where there was very little doubt in my mind that this was going to be my big breakthrough. But today I received notice that it was rejected due to the lyrics not being universally themed. Funny, I don't remember the listing requiring universally-themed lyrics. Regardless, what I should have done was send just the instrumental track without vocals alongside the original. They did say the music was right on target and it was an 'excellent track.' Disappointing but I'll take it as a moral victory and be sure to send both vocal versions and instrumental versions from here on out, if possible--sometimes they specifically ask for either vocal songs or instrumental songs.

And I'm sorry to announce that I have made no progress on remixing some of my other songs and finishing up "Call on Me" for their inclusion on my forthcoming full-length album. But I still have time and it will get done.

Lastly, my YouTube channel name has been officially changed to Exit World. It is no longer AF14eva.