Welcome to this week’s edition of the Guest Sessions here on the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog! The Guest Sessions is a chance for our loyal viewers to try their hand at an acoustic cover song music video. If we like it, we post it here on the music blog for all to see!
Tonight’s entry comes from Mustomix on YouTube. He wrote to me a few months ago (sorry, I’ve been a bit slow on the uptake here) and sent me his channel of Beach Boys cover songs. I’m very impressed with his selection of Beach Boys cover videos, but I’m most impressed with his incredible guitar selection! He’s got some great stuff going on there! I chose “Airplane” because it’s a unique song off of the Beach Boys “love it or hate it” 1977 album “Love You” and because he uses a great 12-string acoustic guitar, which is perfect for this song. He does a great job playing it, as well.
I hope you enjoy tonight’s Guest Sessions entry and congrats to Mustomix for getting on the music blog! Enjoy “Airplane” by the Beach Boys- a really cool tune!
Just in the nick of time, here I am for my very first true Laptop Session of 2011… and with a whole seven hours to spare! This year, I’ve been busy and my attention has been directed elsewhere: to my long-overdue album, The 2010 Project, and to coursework toward my graduate degree, to name a couple of the largest commitments that have kept me away from the blog. I’ve even been behind in my duty as resident music reviewer, though I’ve begun to make good on that this past week, and I’m looking forward to the end of the year “best of” lists (already being compiled!) that I’ll release over the next couple weeks.
It dawned on me this morning, as I was working on writing reviews, that there is actually a brand new song this year called “New Year’s Eve” and that it would be a shame to pass on that opportunity, particularly in a year when I have only recorded Original Wednesday music video performances.
So, I give you “New Year’s Eve,” the closing track off Tom Wait’s excellent 2011 album Bad As Me. This is the first album — and I’ve listened to a range of his music — that has instantly captivated me, both lyrically and musically. There are some cool, if subtly handled, guest performances, including Keith Richards and Red Hot Chili Pepper bassist Flea on several tracks, as well as the lesser known Augie Meyers. Meyers, best known to this Dylan fan for his work on 2001’s Love & Theft, contributes vox organ, piano, and accordion across Bad As Me, adding to its beautifully textured feel, one not entirely dissimilar to the aural sensibilities of Dylan’s own masterpiece.
It’s a beautiful, haunting track, and (somehow) the first Tom Waits cover ever done here at the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover song blog. I figured, if we’re going to maintain our reputation as the best one of its kind in the universe, I’d better, with a respectful nod, add a Tom Waits notch to our belts. He is, to say the least, a brilliant songwriter, truly inimitable, yet isn’t that one of the goals of this site: to interpret our favorite artists, and to stretch our own abilities and perspectives with their best songs? I’ve always thought of this site in that way, and I must say that the hour and a half I spent with “New Year’s Eve” today was among the most relaxing hours spent alone of my week off.
The first Tom Waits Laptop Session. My first cover song music video of the old year. The eve of the new year.
Quite a moment.
I wish you and yours a safe and relaxing New Year’s Eve; I hope you enjoy this song and that you’ll stop back soon for all the new material headed your way in 2012.
See you next session (hopefully that’ll be in less than a year)!
Do I have a Guest Sessions cover song post for you today…
I don’t think anyone out there would’ve guessed that someone (yes a single person) could cover “Roundabout” by Yes. But, Víctor Santafé submitted his cover song version to me and I couldn’t help but be intrigued.
Now, I love this video, but I have to tell you upfront- this video is in no way “perfect”. This man is playing an extremely difficult song with a ton of very specific keyboard parts while singing (which is in a very difficult register). The magic, for me, in this video is that this man figured out all of those layered keyboard parts and managed to play the whole song and sing at the same time. The song is over 9 minutes long- how impressive is that?
Now, I know this video isn’t in the standard single-camera style I require all Laptop Sessions cover song videos to be in. But, I couldn’t help it on this one- I just was floored when I heard such a solid version of “Roundabout” played by one person that I couldn’t pass-up the opportunity to feature it on the music blog.
For fans of Yes, it’s about time we got one of their songs here on the blog, right? And for those that may not think they know this song, if you know any classic rock, you almost certainly do! Just fast-forward a couple minutes into the song and you’ll recognize it.
So, thanks to Víctor Santafé for his submission to the Guest Sessions here on The Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog. Stay tuned for more- who knows what incredible one-man-band videos we’ll present next!
Wow, what a difference typing in this brand spanking new editor. But enough about that…
Welcome to Sunday’s edition of the sessions. Today I bring you our third Billy Joel song for the site, and it’s a 30 year old song. Heck, it even was banned on the radio! I suggest you read up on that story – it’s quite interesting.
I did this song on a hot day after coming home from a meeting, so pardon the unusual button down shirt. I really am proud of this performance – I think I nailed the vocals and did very clean guitar to accompany the singing.
Also, you better listen to the mp3s from the two shows Jim posted. I can’t wait to listen to them myself! Also, come back tomorrow for Jim’s latest session.
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 original 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!
Cover Songs & Original Music Videos By Laptop Sessions Songwriters
The Laptop Sessions music video blog is a great combination of acoustic cover songs and original music. This website features cover songs from many of rock music's greatest bands, including the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and Bob Dylan. The blog is updated every day with another acoustic cover video, how-to video, or article about music. We only play the best cover songs from the best rock bands of all time.
Here at the Laptop Sessions, we don't just sit down and do a bunch of cover songs- we make them our own. Yes, each cover will sound like the original, but it will also have a new, fresh sound to it. One of our specialties is taking a song from say the eighties and stripping-away the production. Then, we're left with just the song- simple (and most times, much better). We then record an acoustic version of that song and put it on this music video blog for all music fans to watch.
But, Laptop Sessions Music Blog is much more than just videos. There are informative blog posts, including the chords and lyrics to your favorite songs, recording tips, and much more. Plus, you can buy Jim Fusco's original songs right here on the music blog!
Right from the start, the Laptop Sessions Acoustic Cover Songs & Music Video Blog set out to be different. We wanted to give the best music blog for the world to enjoy. We wanted to put an end to bad YouTube cover videos forever. We wanted to bring great rock music back to the forefront with our great cover songs and original music. And, we guarantee we'll keep it this way- free videos that are updated constantly for your musical enjoyment. If you're looking for the best cover songs, the most exciting new music, and the most informative music articles, look no further than right here: home of the world-famous Laptop Sessions.
