Category Archives: Jim Fusco Songs

Jim Fusco covers: Acoustic cover songs – music videos by the songwriters of the Laptop Sessions video blog. Daily music blog with new indie rock acoustic songs.

New Music from Jim Fusco: “Nothing But Time”

Posted on by
Reply

My next new song for 2020 is “Nothing But Time”, a classic “Jim Fusco style” tune that encompasses a fleeting feeling I have from time to time about happiness. You see, when you’re younger you don’t have anything (like money) and all you really have is time. So, you work hard to get that money you lack, but then time starts to slip away. Take a normal day, minus 8 hours for sleep, 9 hours for work, two hours of cooking and cleaning, an hour for exercise and showering, and a couple hours of time with the kids, add-in some school work…and you’re left with nothing. You’ve successfully made your money, made those around you happy and kept up your end of the bargain as a spouse and a parent…but there’s no time for YOU! So, with that idea in mind, I ask the rhetorical question: am I happier now that I have all of these things or was I happier when I had nothing…but time? And I think I know the answer, but it still leaves me a bit nostalgic for those days when I could simply waste time. Of course, as I point out in the song, it’s a bit too soon for nostalgia, as those days when I had nothing but time were only a few years ago!

I don’t usually give the full background to a song when I post them, as I like the sentiment to speak for itself and not be tied to a specific event or feeling. But for this one I thought it might give the song a bit more context.

I’ve also implemented a new mastering technique for this track and I think I’ve finally found the settings I’ll go with from now on. I remastered the previous two songs (“You Don’t Know Me” and “Angelina Rose”) but you’ll have to wait to hear those when I finally compile all of these tracks into an album someday. I hope you enjoy my new song and I’d appreciate any comments and shares!

Personnel:

Jim Fusco: all instruments and vocals

Instruments:

  • Pearl Export EXL drums
  • Martin MMV acoustic guitar
  • Fender Deluxe Players Stratocaster slide electric guitar
  • Gibson Les Paul Traditional electric guitar
  • Epiphone Wildkat electric guitar
  • Fender Jazz bass
  • Electric guitars recorded through Mesa Boogie Cab Clone and Fender Excelsior Amplifier with Eminence speaker

New Music From Jim Fusco: “Angelina Rose”

Posted on by
2

In these troubling times, I bring to you something to brighten the world just a little bit. This original song is my love song to Angelina Rose, my beautiful and wonderful 2-year old daughter. This song (obviously) came from the heart and can only begin to express my love for my little girl. She calls the song “Angie Rose” and I love that she’s mesmerized by it. There’s nothing better than seeing her dance around the house singing it. I hope you all enjoy and pass this little ray of sunshine along to anyone and everyone who could use a smile.

Personnel:

Jim Fusco: all instruments and vocals

Instruments:

  • Pearl Export EXL drums
  • Martin MMV acoustic guitar
  • Fender Deluxe Players Stratocaster electric guitar
  • Gibson Les Paul Traditional electric guitar
  • Eric Clapton signature guitar pedal (rotating Leslie speaker setting)
  • Fender Jazz bass
  • Electric guitars recorded through Mesa Boogie Cab Clone and Fender Excelsior Amplifier with Eminence speaker

“Christmas Morning” by Jim Fusco – FREE mp3 Download! – Day 14 of 14

Posted on by
Reply

By Jim Fusco:

And here it is- the end of the line.  I can’t believe we’re already through all 14 days of my Rock’n’Roll Christmas celebration!  Remind me to never do this again. 🙂

Today’s song is my original Christmas tune, “Christmas Morning”, that I wrote back in high school!  I personally think every artist has ONE good Christmas song in them.  And, to be honest, I’m not exactly sure that I’d ever be able to come up with another one as catchy as this one, so I don’t think I’m going to try!

I recorded this song for the first time back in 2004 for our Christmas album, “Our Christmas Gift To You”.  At the time, I was just getting used to playing the guitar and recording with my digital 24-track.  I had basic microphones, too.  Now, I have a Cab Clone to record my guitars, various tube amps, high quality mics, compressors, preamps, and…the same 24 track mixer.  But, if you’ve heard both versions, you can really tell a big difference.  I’ll probably end-up recording this again in the future after my equipment gets even better!

My wife Becky helps me sing on this tune, too.  I was going to have my brother Mike help out, but he was sick when he came home for Thanksgiving, so he couldn’t sing on it.  Next time, though!

I hope you’ve had as much fun reading and listening to these Christmas songs as I have making them.  It’s a pretty big accomplishment for me to do all of this while being so busy otherwise.  I hope I can maybe just do one song a year from now on, just to keep me into the recording process.  Enjoy “Christmas Morning” and have a Merry Christmas!

The Other Half: A Look Back at Ten (Officially Released) Jim Fusco Rarities – PART TWO

Posted on by
Reply

By Chris Moore:

Last week, I brought you the first five in a list of ten Jim Fusco rarities in preparation for the release of his new album Halfway There this “new music Tuesday,” April 7th, 2009.  After all, there’s no better way to anticipate an upcoming release than to go back and enjoy all previous releases in a series.

In the case of Fusco, there has been quite a variety of musical projects over the course of the past eight years.  There have been six solo studio albums, three band albums, four releases (of 20 tracks each) in the Laptop Sessions acoustic mp3 series, a single, a greatest hits disc (with accompanying music video DVD compilation), and assorted demos, covers, and other tracks.  Now that I’ve officially finished listening to all the Bob Dylan tracks in my collection (almost 700!), I’ve embarked on my “Jim Fusco Catalog” playlist.

Clocking in at “only” eleven hours or so, this should be much easier to tackle than my Bob Dylan playlist!

For those of you Jim Fusco faithfuls, I hope you’ll enjoy the final five tracks on this second installment of “A Look Back at Ten (Officially Released) Jim Fusco Rarities” worth remembering…

A Look Back at Five More (Officially Released) Jim Fusco Rarities…

6)  “The Red, White, and Blues” – This is yet another album starter that I love.  It is Fusco’s first foray into direct protest songwriting.  Indeed, his March 2008 Laptop Sessions version stirred up some controversy in the form of comments left on the site.  It was nice to see that at least some people listen to the lyrics, even if they misread and/or disagreed with their message.  As he wrote in the blog post, this was the first and last “protest” type song of its kind.

7)  “The Second Time” – All I have to say is: this better be at the wedding reception!  In 2003, Jim recorded and released Formula, an album whose material was clearly inspired by his now-fiance Becky Daly.  She joins him near the end of this track, offering up a preview of 2/3 of the Chris, Jim, and Becky trio that would go on to perform around the state and release a “live in the studio” album.  While this isn’t necessarily one of my favorite Jim Fusco songs, it’s always been one of my favorites from Formula and — if it’s not “best of” material, then — it’s “top ten rarities” material.

8)  “Sideshow” – There are so many different tracks that were up for inclusion on this list of rarities — there’s the simple, piano-based vulnerability of “My Angel” or the folky storytelling style of “Vision of Cobblestone Town,” to name just a couple.  “Sideshow” earns a spot in the top ten for its unique sound.  There’s something about this track that is controlled and yet sort of wild; it’s one of those songs whose sound truly meshes with and contributes to the meaning conveyed by the lyrics.  In addition, as the penultimate track on What About Today?, it’s truly the point at which the recurring instrumental section comes to a climax before the first chords of “Harmony” and the close of this concept album.

9)  “Never Taking Your Chances” – This is one of those songs that benefits from my memories surrounding its conception, recording, and release.  I vividly recall my conversations with Jim about the situation that resulted in the writing of this song, and I recall the then-groundbreaking recording methods that he was pioneering.  This is a clear example of early blending between vocals and distortion guitar.  With each album, Jim’s use of guitar effects has become more effective and more interesting, and I can’t wait to hear his latest leap forward on Halfway There.

10)  “Another Backwards Day” – Speaking of guitar effects, “Another Backwards Day” is a track that I always felt was left forgotten about, sandwiched between the live favorites “Can’t Count on Words” and “Sometimes.”  This song is every bit as upbeat and rocking as the other songs around it, and it boasts a Frampton-esque series of guitar solos and riffing.  If “She Waits” (another favorite and one that ALMOST made the list!) demonstrates Jim’s softer, piano-driven side, then “Another Backwards Day” pulls out the stops and allows him to flex his electric muscle.