Author Archives: Jim Fusco

About Jim Fusco

Jim Fusco is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and all-around musician. Learn all about him and his creative works at http://jimfusco.com!

“Sometimes A River” (String Cheese Incident acoustic rock cover version)

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By Jim Fusco:

Boy these weeks go fast.  So, here we are again with another Laptop Sessions acoustic cover song done in a solo acoustic format with me, Jim Fusco!  I’m back with a great song for you, but first, I just want to give a couple of updates.  First, I want to say that this blog will no longer feature any personal life details about me- I’ve realized this needs to be about the music…and that I don’t really want everyone out there knowing my life story and what I’m up to each week.  So, we’re going to stay more on topic from now on.  I’m not a big fan of re-writing history, but I’m seriously considering going through all the old posts and removing those sections of my posts.  Remember- we’re here for the MUSIC!

My other bit of business is this: I’m in full-scale ambition mode, so I’ve been working on promoting my original music again.  After all, I started doing these cover song music videos in hopes that people with similar tastes would like my videos and want to hear my original songs.  It’s worked on a handful of occasions, but not nearly as well as I envisioned.  So, I’m trying some new avenues to connect with potential fans…by giving my music away for FREE!!  Yes, that’s right- just follow my music account on Twitter (@jimfuscomusic) and I’ll send you a link to download a FREE 5-song EP of my original music!  That way, once you download (and love) the songs, I can keep in contact with you to tell you about…

MY NEW ALBUM!!  Yes, it’s been a while, but I’m back with an amazing set of songs that I’m so excited about, I simply cannot wait to record them any longer.  The album will be masterfully done- I assure you of that.  No shortcuts will be taken.  So, it may take me a while to finish it.  But, those that know me know that when I start something…it gets finished!  So, I’ve decided to do status updates on my Twitter account so you can keep track of the progress.  I’ll be posting videos, photos, and even sneak-peak audio clips along the way.  So, stay tuned- it starts NOW!

Onto tonight’s video:

I know what you’re thinking, “The String Cheese Incident?”  I’ll admit, it’s one of the stranger band titles I’ve covered a song from here on the music blog.  This is another artist (along with Brett Dennen) that my boss/friend Bill turned me on to.  “String Cheese Incident” is categorized as a “jam band”, but honestly, I don’t get that vibe from their recorded material.  They’re just really solid songs from a very talented group of people- incredible musicians, in fact.  They don’t necessarily have the greatest vocals, but they do have a trait I really love in bands: multiple songwriters!

“Sometimes A River” is off of their latest studio album, “One Step Closer”, from 2005.  It’s sung by the “leader” of the group, Michael Kang.  That man plays a MEAN mandolin, by the way.  Bill says that he likes the live version of this song better.  I’ve heard it and he has a good point.  But, those that have read the Laptop Sessions music blog posts for a while know I love a polished studio version- the sounds and the vocals are just right, you know?

Please give this song a chance- it’s an opportunity to hear a song you’ve never heard before and to open your mind to a new artist.  The String Cheese Incident has been around for close to 20 years- that kind of staying power in a band is rare, so they have to have that “something”.  I really, really like this song- especially that minor chord change in the last chorus- listen for it.

Thanks for watching and, remember- I’m in the Countdown to a Million YouTube views!  I’m trying to reach my goal as soon as possible and I hope you’ll help me out on that mission.  Visit http://youtube.com/jimfusco and watch as many cover songs and original music videos as you can!  See you in two weeks with another acoustic cover song music video!

Jim Fusco Reaches 900,000 YouTube Video Views!

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Another milestone for Jim Fusco, founder of the Laptop Sessions, as he reached 900,000 YouTube video videos recently.  He has recorded over 225 cover songs and original music videos so far, with more new videos arriving bi-weekly.  Jim is excited to reach his goal of a million views on his music videos.  For over four years, Jim has given his new take on songs by turning them into acoustic versions.  The artists he covers range from the Beach Boys to Jack Johnson and many, many others.

Jim hopes you’ll join him in making the countdown to a million go quickly, so please visit Jim’s YouTube site by clicking HERE!

“Say You’re Free” (Goo Goo Dolls Cover)

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By Jim Fusco:

Wow, it’s really been two weeks since the last video?  Well, if you haven’t seen it, search at the top of the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog for “Elderberry Wine” and you’ll see what I’ve been up to lately!  It’s my second video back from a very long four-month absence.

Tonight, I bring you a video that shows you what the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs blog is all about.  It’s a song sung by someone with a raspy voice and it’s totally an electric, rockin’ song.  So, I took my non-raspy voice, sat down with my Martin acoustic guitar, and put a new twist on this tune!

It’s a song off of the Goo Goo Dolls newest album, “Something for the Rest of Us” from 2010.  Let me tell you, it’s a GREAT album.  I can’t stop listening to it.  Every song is single-worthy.  These guys have gotten so good at writing a catchy pop/rock song and it shows on this album.  Honestly, I think it’s my favorite from last year.  And there were a TON of albums I heard for the first time last year.

I’ve become quite the Goo Goo Dolls fan ever since I first heard some of their songs on WCJM Internet Radio shows.  My friend (and former Laptop Sessions contributor) Jeff Copperthite would pick a song for each radio show we did.  After a while, I noticed that I liked those songs, so I bought a couple of their older albums from the early 90’s.  Now, I have all of their albums and I love them all!  Well, I should say that I love all of their “rock” albums.  They actually started in the late 80s as a punk band!  I have one of those albums (“Jed”) and let me tell you- it ain’t great.  It’s hard to believe that just a couple of years later, they came out with my personal favorite, “Superstar Car Wash”.  That album is almost 20 years old now, but if you don’t have it (and like the Goo Goo Dolls), it’s really a neccesity.

Tonight’s song is “Say You’re Free”- it’s one of two Robby Takac songs that are on the new album.  In fact, that’s about the standard now, as it has been for the last three albums.  Back in the earlier days, Robby and Johhny would split the songs.  I really liked that format- it seemed like they were trying to outdo each other.  Of course, Johnny is the guy who wrote their most famous songs like “Iris”, so I suppose he’s considered the “better” songwriter.  But, as we’ve learned from SO many bands here on the music blog, popularity doesn’t necessarily mean greatness.  Now, I won’t sit here and say that I’m not a John Rzeznik fan- I absolutely am.  But, for some reason, I absolutely love Robby’s songs, too!  My favorite from him, other than the new stuff, is “Already There” from Superstar Car Wash- it’s a great tune with some really introspective lyrics.  That’s a bit surprising, considering his punk roots and his incredibly raspy voice.  Normally, I wouldn’t like that, but I don’t think he’s doing it on purpose.  For instance, you can just tell that John Mayer sings like that on purpose, so I can’t stand it.  Same with Dylan.  But, people like Dennis Wilson and Robby Takac just have raspy voices for one reason or another and can’t sing any other way.  That I can deal with.

I chose this song instead of the better tune, “Now I Hear” from the same album because I wanted to hear how this song would come out acoustically.  I love the results and I hope it shows how great of a song it is on its own.  And, I hope Robby somehow watches this someday- I want him to know that there are fans out there that love his songs and that want even more per album!  I hope you enjoy tonight’s Laptop Session and I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with another great new acoustic cover song music video!

“Elderberry Wine’ by Elton John (Cover)

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By Jim Fusco:

Welcome once again to a brand-new edition of The Laptop Sessions with me, Jim Fusco!  It’s been quite a while- since this past Christmas, in fact, and I’m finally back with a set of new videos.  Since my last video about four months ago was an Elton John cover song, I figured it was appropriate to come back with another one!  This one is non holiday-themed, however, in “Elderberry Wine”.

“Elderberry Wine” is off of the “Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player” album.  I have been in such an Elton John phase lately and have listened to many of his early albums.  I have plenty of favorites and plan on bringing more to you, too.  I always had a different view of Elton John: I only knew the hits and they were taken out of context.  In a way, I wasn’t a big fan because some of Elton’s big hits are kind of dated at this point.  But, I also didn’t hear them overplayed when they came out, which is similar to how much I loved Wings when I first listened to their Best Of in 2002.  I hear these songs that most other people already know (like “Elderberry Wine”, for instance) and I fall in love with them.  They just don’t come with the same stigma as they did in the 70s when they first came out.  I used to love “Another Day” by Wings.  Of course, even I can admit that it’s not that great of a song, but again, I didn’t hear it on the radio in the early 70s with all of my friends telling me how much it sucked. 🙂  The same goes for many Elton John songs, including “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” and “Rocket Man”- those are GREAT songs!  Even “Benny & the Jets” is an amazing song, especially considering how innovative it was for the time.  That beat and the sounds he used may be dated now, but when I hear it, I hear innovation.

So, I’ve been really into early Elton John albums, my favorite being “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”.  That album is amazing and has everything.  But “Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player” is pretty good, too!  Fun fact: the title of the album was actually a quip from Elton John to none other than Groucho Marx!  That’s why there’s a movie poster on the cover of the album from the Marx Brothers’ “Go West”.

This song isn’t exactly the hardest song to play, but it certainly took me plenty of takes.  I must’ve been rusty.  I really wanted to make this comeback a memorable one, so I kept trying to get the perfect take.  Sometimes I wonder if anyone knows how much effort goes into each one of these videos- I really don’t just sit down and produce them for the heck of it.  I want to make something I’m consistently proud of.  Remember the old “Laptop Sessions” mantra: “We put an end to bad cover songs forever!”  Well, at least I’m trying to…

Finally, you’ll notice my new surroundings.  Part of the reason why I’ve been absent is because we had a 400 square foot addition put into our house by finishing our above-ground basement.  It came out GREAT and is a man cave for the ages, complete with all of my guitars, drums, a 58″ tv, and a computer room, which I’m sitting in during this video.  It’s been a lot of work over the past few months, but it’s so rewarding to see it all done now.

I hope you enjoy tonight’s video of “Elderberry Wine” by Elton John and come back in two weeks for another new edition of the Laptop Sessions with Jim Fusco!