Daily Archives: December 18, 2015

“Halfway There” (Original song by Jim Fusco) – The Open Mic Sessions

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By Jim Fusco:

Welcome again to the Open Mic Sessions with me, Jim Fusco!

Today, I bring you the title track to my 2009 album, “Halfway There”.  This is a very special video for me, as this original song live video was selected as one of the top three Instagram videos in the Sam Ash music store open mic video contest!  From there, it went on to win the national Open Mic video contest title!  I was given a $100 gift card to Sam Ash and I’m so glad an original song of mine got that kind of recognition.  It was even featured on Sam Ash’s homepage once it won!

“Halfway There” was a concept I had for an album.  Basically, I was growing up and had to come to terms with getting a job, getting married, and potentially giving up some of the lofty goals I had for myself in previous years.  So, a lot of that album has to do with that sentiment.

But, you know something?  I realized along the way that I’m pretty happy where things ended up.  I realized that I didn’t really want to spend all of my days and nights trying to get gigs, living in perpetual poverty, and holding down some menial job until I hit it big.  Now that I have a normal “day job”, it’s given me the flexibility to  have a nice home and to get some of the guitars that I’ve always wanted.  And, from everything I’ve heard and read, fame isn’t really all it’s cracked-up to be.  I hope to make a name for myself with these Laptop Sessions acoustic cover song music videos online (and maybe get recognized for it someday), but that’s something I can do in my free time.  Problem is, like everyone else that’s married and has a house, I don’t have much free time!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy what I’ve been able to do on my little free time lately.  Going to these open mic nights has brought me out of my comfort zone, but its also ignited my love for playing music again.  I’ve met some interesting people, too.  Stay tuned for more, as I continue to dig into my catalog of original songs and play at open mics around the state.



“Burnin’ Up” (Goo Goo Dolls Cover)

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By Jeff:
Welcome to your Thumpin’ Thursday edition of The Laptop Sessions – not pre-empted by power failure!

I’ve got a great song tonight that is an album cut from The Goo Goo Dolls.  They are another band I pretty much grew up with, and among the few that I have seen in concert more than once.

Tonight’s song is called “Burnin’ Up” and it’s the 2nd track.  Robby Takac, their bassist, sings lead on this song.  It’s funny that most of the songs that become singles for radio play are sung by their guitarist Johnny Rzeznik.  They have even acknowledged that the songs he sings tend to have more commercial appeal.  Takac was actually the original lead singer and sang most of the songs all the way through their first 3 albums.

One of the songs I have lined up for the future is actually a song from an even earlier album and it’s a humorous song as well.  If you know their catalog, you will get the song right away (and it’d be appropriate for an acoustic cover – i.e. there is no mention of a baseball bat).

I got to go out golfing for the first time this year today, and shot a miserable +15 on a par 3 course.  I did par one hole and get a couple of bogeys, but for the most part I played above par golf.  I hope I don’t play this bad tomorrow when I play 9 holes at a regular course.  I also have to do training for the next two weeks, so I may be uploading some videos early, and writing posts ahead of time.  If you enjoy some early previews, be sure to check my youtube channel.

Well that’s it for this week.  Seeya next week!

Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, Jeff’s acoustic cover song music videos are no longer on YouTube, but we decided to keep his cover song blog posts up.  We figured these music blog entries would be good for posterity’s sake and because Jeff always gave such insightful posts each Session.  We hope to see Jeff’s impressive catalog of acoustic rock songs here on the Laptop Sessions cover songs and origianal music blog again in the future.  But, for now, please make sure to check-out hundreds of other acoustic cover songs from all of your favorite bands here on the Laptop Sessions music blog!

Spoon’s “Transference” (2010) – Yes, No, or Maybe So

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Transference (Spoon) – MAYBE SO

Spoon's "Transference" (2010)

Spoon's "Transference" (2010)

(January 19, 2010)

Review:

Calmer and more expansive than what has come before, Transference is Spoon at their best — comfortable, cohesive, and at times, still capable of tight, outstanding alternative rock.

Top Two Tracks:

“Written in Reverse” – “Trouble Comes Running”

“Bell Bottom Blues” (Eric Clapton / Derek & the Dominoes Cover)

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By Chris Moore:

Well, I can hardly pass up an opportunity to extend “New Bands Week” just one more day…

The song I bring you tonight is “Bell Bottom Blues” by Derek and the Dominoes, the 1970’s band fronted by Eric Clapton and better known for “Layla.” Supposedly, Clapton purposely named this band to avoid the media and fan attention that he was getting at the time, such as when a fan scrawled on a billboard “Clapton is God.” I also read in an interview that Clapton suggested the purpose of the band name was to give himself an excuse to write about Pattie Boyd (former wife of George Harrison) under the guise of Derek singing about “Layla.” I’m not sure how well the ruse worked at the time, but with songs like these, it must have been hard to keep things under wraps.

Without further ado, I give you my version of “Bell Bottom Blues,” a song that I’ve loved since I heard it years ago and that received the heaviest attention from me during high school when I was drawn to the emotion of the song. I hope you like it as well!

Don’t forget to check out Jeff’s new album Greenlight. I downloaded my copy yesterday and have already listened to it twice. (“And,” to quote Maxwell Smart, “lovin’ it!”)