Monthly Archives: April 2010

“Palisades Park” (Freddy Cannon Cover)

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Welcome to another all-new Jim Fusco Thursday and another video in our series of Beach Boys cover songs here on the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog!  Well, that’s a technicality because the Beach Boys just covered this song on their 1976 album, “15 Big Ones”.  It’s actually from Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon!

I believe this will be my last “weekly” cover song music video, as I’m going to switch to a bi-weekly schedule like I mentioned before.  This will allow me to be more creative with my videos and will also give me a chance to promote the videos I already made.  I mean, this is video #212 already!  And I’ve noticed that my views per day are pretty stagnant, even though I have more and more each week.  That means my older videos aren’t getting views anymore, and that’s just a shame!  I will make a point to post every Thursday night, however, with some interesting pieces on music, guitars, and rock’n’roll, so you’ll still get your weekly “Jim Fusco Fix”!

Before tonight’s video, I have two things to mention:

First, for my brother Mike’s birthday, I made him a long overdue iPhone website!  That means it’s specifically formatted for the iPhone (but will work on any mobile phone, too).  It’s SOOOO cool- you’d never know it was a website- it looks like an iPhone App!  Plus, if you bookmark http://mikefusco.com on your iPhone to your Home screen, you’ll see a cool logo button of Mike and the website will open up in “full screen” mode, so it’ll look like an authentic iPhone app!  You can watch Mike’s YouTube videos, listen to his music, and stay updated with him on his live Twitter feed!  CLICK HERE TO VIEW MIKE’S SITE!

The second thing is that in two weeks, you’ll be hearing a much nicer sound in my acoustic cover song music videos.  I won’t give anything away just yet, but trust me, it’ll put my videos into the Major Leagues.

Okay, onto “Palisades Park” by Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon.  I love the personas they gave 50’s and early 60’s stars.  Everyone had to be bigger than life.  They had to be icons of their days.  And songs like “Palisades Park”, though not very complex or difficult, will always be remembered as the roots of rock’n’roll, and therefore classics.

“Palisades Park”, written after an amusement park in New Jersey, was actually not an “A” side.  For those of you born in the 80’s and later, an “A” side was the side of a vinyl record that was officially released as a single.  Yes, before iTunes, you could buy individual songs!  🙂  Well, actually, the flip-side of the record had another song on it, known as (big surprise) the “B” side.  Usually, these were throw-away songs, especially early-on.  There were a few double-sided hit singles, namely “Come Together” and “Something” from the Beatles, so it was possible to have two hits on one vinyl single.

Anyway, “Palisades Park” wasn’t meant to be the hit, but apparently a DJ played the “B” side of the record by accident and the song caught on in a big way- all the way up to Number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts!  And, in 1962, there was some pretty fierce competition.

I actually knew this song more intimately because of the Beach Boys cover version on their 1976 album, “15 Big Ones”, where they played covers of early rock’n’roll songs, mixed with originals that sounded similarly.  The Beach Boys version isn’t great, but I still like Carl Wilson’s lead vocals- you’ll probably hear some phrases sung like Carl here because that’s the way I’m used to singing the song.  I knew Freddy Cannon’s version first, but listened to the Beach Boys version many, many more times.

Well, that’s all for me tonight- so happy it’s Spring now and I’m looking forward to some great times in the next few months.  I’m a little sad about going to a 26 episodes a year schedule, but I’ve already got a dozen songs lined up and ready to record, so don’t think I’m losing my inspiration!  In fact, my new “sound” is meant to boost my inspiration and get me to write and record again.  So, until next week, I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy “Palisades Park” by Freddy Cannon (and covered by me, Jim Fusco!).

Announcing an all-new Saturday series at the Laptop Sessions!

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By Chris Moore:

As of today, the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover song music video blog is happy to introduce yet another weekly series to the blog, for your reading pleasure.  Let’s start with a quick recap of what regular visitors have come to expect:

Mon: Chris Moore Mondays, including a new cover song music video and accompanying post.

Wed: Original Wednesdays — intermittently featuring videos of original songs by FMP artists.

Thurs: Jim Fusco Thursdays, including a new cover song music video and accompanying post.

Fri: The Guest Sessions, including a new cover song music video and accompanying post.

Sun: The Weekend Review, including a full-length review of an album, stretching from classic to current.

Now, we’re pleased to add the following entry:

Sat: Playlists on Parade, including a featured playlist arranged by an FMP artist and liner notes to accompany the track listing.

So, be sure to check in every Saturday for the featured playlist of the week.  We’d love to see you post your comments, suggestions for additions to the track listings, or even your own related playlists.  The inaugural entry in the series will be unveiled within the hour, so hurry back!

“Lightnin’ Strikes” (Lou Christie cover)

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By Jim Fusco:

Boy, this doesn’t feel like a Thursday.  Having tomorrow off (plus Monday, as well) is AWESOME and it feels like a weekend night!  I’ve had a chance to relax and get some stuff done tonight, so I’m looking forward to a long weekend with some great weather here in Connecticut.

Let’s get right to tonight’s acoustic cover song music video!

I was reacquainted with “Lightnin’ Strikes” by Lou Christie last month when I heard it on my favorite Thursday radio show, “Rockin’ With Wayne” on WHUS UCONN Radio.  Of course, I knew it from years passed listening to the local oldies station, too.  Turns out this song was a Number One hit for Lou Christie in the mid-sixties and I can see why.  It’s catchy and features Lou’s great falsetto.  Of course, I wasn’t the only one who always thought it was Frankie Valli, but let me tell you- there’s a big difference.  Lou Christie was actually a songwriter!  He wrote “Lightnin’ Strikes” and that’s pretty cool, in my book.  Plus, I’m excited to add Lou Christie as yet another new artist to the vast array here on the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog!

One thing I never noticed was the lyrics in this song.  Go ahead- name some other lyrics besides, “Lightning is striking again.”  Well, when you listen to the words, this song is incredibly chauvinistic!  Basically, he’s saying: I found you and you’re the best.  I’m going to marry you someday.  But, until I do, I’m gonna be with a whole bunch of other people- basically anyone that asks.  And, that’s gotta be okay because you, “know the nature of a man”.  Wow, not sure I agree with that one!  Talk about subject matter that really wouldn’t fly 45 years later.  And, on top of it, I think he co-wrote the song with…get this…a woman!  Heh, I knew it- he’s Italian! 🙂

I love singing these songs with the high parts.  This one is fun because you can really belt it out.  So much so, in fact, that I woke Becky up while recording this video.  Oops.  I can’t really take a lot of the blame, though, as there are very few moments I have to record other than when she’s already asleep.  If I record while she’s just going to bed, she can’t fall asleep.  And then I can’t get the take right because I’m always so nervous that I’m keeping her awake.  This is one of the reasons why I can’t wait to get our basement finished.

Until next Thursday night, I hope you have a great Easter weekend and opening week of baseball!