Monthly Archives: April 2008

“Cowgirl in the Sand” (Neil Young & the Byrds Cover)

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By Jim Fusco:

Thanks for stopping by for your Tuesday edition of the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog!

Today, I bring you a song written by Neil Young, “Cowgirl in the Sand”. Not only is this song one of his most famous, but it’s also generally well-known among country-rock music fans.

The version I’m doing is derivative of the version the Byrds did on their reunion album from 1975. That album isn’t wonderful by any means, but Gene Clark’s contributions are, of course, superb. He sings a great lead on this song, too.  Gene Clark just had a great timbre to his voice.  He could sing rock’n’roll music and country/western music with the best of them.  Of course, Gene Clark was a great songwriter, too, both with the Byrds and on his own solo recordings.  While searching around here on the music blog, be sure to click on Gene Clark’s category to see the other cover songs I’ve done written by him.  If you’re not a fan now (or haven’t heard of him), I guarantee his original songs will get your attention.

This is one song that I never planned on doing, but came into my head one night, so I just sat down and did it! I think some people were a bit surprised that I busted this one out at our first live show as a trio the other day.  My favorite aspect of the Byrds’ version of “Cowgirl In The Sand” is the harmonies on the chorus.  I really hope that we can get those harmonies right in future performances, as I think that’s the flare the Byrds added to make the version their own.

Considering how the Byrds first started, it’s a bit surprising that they gravitated over to country rock like they did.  They were initially marketed as a folk group, electrifying Bob Dylan songs like “Chimes of Freedom” and “Mr. Tambourine Man”.  But, the band members of the Byrds, especially Chris Hillman, started out loving folk music in a different way- the classic, down-home country style.  Chris Hillman is actually an accomplished mandolin player, and there is no better country guitarist than Roger McGuinn.  Basically, they just threw an electric bass in Hillman’s hands and a 12-string electric Rickenbacker guitar in McGuinn’s hands, and they had a big hit band.  In later albums, the band members of the Byrds would write original songs that had a country flare to them, including Chris Hillman’s “The Girl With No Name”, which I’ve also done a cover song music video of here on the music blog.

You may also notice the “incredible fluctuating hairdo” of myself- I recorded this song before getting a haircut, as you saw in the “Aware” cover video (of an original song) from last week.

I hope to do more Neil Young songs in the future and I hope this cover song video attracts some new viewers and music lovers to the Laptop Sessions live acoustic music video series!

“Scare Easy” (Mudcrutch Cover)

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**CHORDS / TABS BELOW!!**

By Chris Moore:

I was on the Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Message Board yesterday, and I came across a newly released song from Mudcrutch. For those who haven’t heard, Tom Petty has reassembled his high school band, Mudcrutch, and they’re releasing a new album on April 29th. I knew this was coming, but I had no idea one of the songs was out yet! I listened to it, and I knew immediately it would be a lot of fun to record!

So, I proudly bring you “Scare Easy,” off the not-yet-released Mudcrutch album. I hope you enjoy my version of it. Since I was warmed up from last night’s four hour (8:30-12:30) “Laptop Sessions Live” show at Testa’s Bar, I threw in some harmonica to make up for the missing guitar solo. Speaking of the show last night, I want to thank everyone who came out for your support. I’m sure Jim and Jeff will be mentioning it in their posts over the next couple days, but I, for one, hope this isn’t the last show we do. I can’t wait to master new songs (and to brush up on old ones that I wish I had remembered easier…).

Finally, I am really excited to announce two milestones today — I just found out about my 150th subscriber and I am 6 video views away from 10,000 total views on YouTube! I realize these are just numbers, but it really gives me hope that the Laptop Sessions will become even more successful and that people will hear the good things that are happening at The Laptop Sessions Music Blog!

Thank you again to those on the Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Message Board who posted the chords and lyrics for this song. See you next session!


“Scare Easy”
Mudcrutch

CHORDS!

Am           G          Em         D
My love’s an ocean, you better not cross it
I’ve been the distance and I need some rest
Yeah, I had somebody once, and damn if I lost her
I’ve been running like a man possessed

        C      G          D
I don’t scare easy
Don’t fall apart when I’m under the gun
You can break my heart and I ain’t gonna run

        Am                D
I don’t scare easy for no one

Yeah, I’m a loser at the top of my game
I should have known to keep an eye on you
I got a sky that ain’t never the same
Yeah, I got a dream that don’t ever come true

CHORUS

SOLO to verse chords

Sun going down on a canyon wall
I’ve got a soul that ain’t never been blessed
Yeah, I’m a shadow at the back of the hall
Yeah, I got a sin I ain’t never confessed…

CHORUS 

CHORUS

** These chords and lyrics are interpretations and transcriptions, respectively, and are the sole property of the copyright holder(s). They are posted on this website free of charge for no profit for the purpose of study and commentary, as allowed for under the “fair use” provision of U.S. copyright law, and should only be used for such personal and/or academic work. **

“How Good It Can Get” (Wallflowers Cover)

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By Jim Fusco:

Welcome to your Saturday edition of The Laptop Sessions with me, Jim Fusco!

Today, I join the Wallflowers group with Chris and Jeff (who’ve done quite a few already) and do one of my favorite tunes, “How Good It Can Get”.

This song has one of the best hooks I’ve ever heard, plus it was my “anthem” song during my trip to Italy last year. I remember one night, after an amazing Tuscan dinner, walking through the streets back to the hotel. I was singing this song at the top of my lungs. Clearly less-than-level-headed, I kept also yelling out that I was still on key!

Well, this was recorded long after that night and I was STILL on key! I hope you enjoy today’s Session and make sure to keep checking the blog at guitarbucketlist.com for exclusive videos from our first ever LIVE concert tonight!

“Aware” (New Music – Independent Music Songwriter Jeff Copperthite)

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By Jim Fusco:

Welcome, welcome to Jim Fusco’s edition of “Original Wednesday” here at the Laptop Sessions! This only comes every three weeks for me, so when I get a shot, I make sure it’s a good one.

So, I bring you a great tune off of Jeff Copperthite’s new album, Greenlight, available here:

“Aware” is a song about a man wondering what’s going on when he’s not around his significant other. Don’t we all feel this way at one time or another? No matter how much you trust someone, the question still lingers sometimes.

Jeff goes on to say, “Perhaps I am scared of something that’s not there.” Very true. But that still doesn’t stop him from thinking about it!

This has got some great chords, a catchy tune, and is nice and fast-paced. It’s a great pick-me-up to the later part of Jeff’s album and sets up the last track, “Easy”, very well.

I hope you enjoy this edition of “Original Wednesday” and I’ll be back with one of my own originals from the new Masters of the Universe album, “Homestead’s Revenge” in three weeks. Stay tuned for my next video on Saturday and Chris’ video tomorrow at https://guitarbucketlist.com!