“Never My Love” (The Association Cover)

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By Jim Fusco:

Welcome to another edition of The Laptop Sessions with Jim Fusco!  I said it last time and I’ll say it again tonight- I simply can’t believe how fast time is flying.  It’s been two weeks since I posted a video ALREADY!?!?!  Well, I’m still glad to be back and doing these Sessions again on a regular basis.  A couple of updates- I’m climbing towards the million mark on my YouTube views, so please keep watching!  Also, recording on my new album is in full swing now.  I’m not rushing it, so not a whole heck of a lot is done yet.  Though, I’d say we’ll have about five songs completely done in the next two weeks.

Onto tonight’s video!  Tonight, I bring you a classic (and great) song originally done by the Association in “Never My Love”.  I think this is finally one that everyone will know.  It’s a classic 60s song that I’ve heard many, many times on the radio growing up.  There’s something about the tune of this song that just catches you- it’s tough to describe.  The harmonies, the whisper-like singing, and those awesome major-7th chords contribute to the overall feel of this song.

A long time ago, I wanted to record this song, but was blocked by another member of the site.  Well, I can only wait so long (I think three years is a pretty good statute of limitations, don’t you?) and figured it was about time I did this video myself.  Hey, we’ve had multiple people do the same song here on the music blog before, so why not?

One of the things I truly love about the concept of the Laptop Sessions is doing all of these songs in the original key.  We went to see the band America at Mohegan Sun for their Wolf’s Den Hall of Fame induction over the weekend.  As usual, they played an amazing show.  We noted that they still do all of their songs in the original key(s).  There’s really something to be said about that- it doesn’t make them seem “old”, even though they’ve been touring for over 40 years now.

You might have noticed that almost all of my recent videos have featured a capo.  That allows me to play and sing with a bit more ease, because a lot of these songs I’ve been doing are in tough keys to play on acoustic guitar.  The capo allows me to make some of the chords easier to play (less painful on the hands) and still do the song in the original key.  I solemnly promise that every single Laptop Sessions acoustic cover song music video I do (and there have been over 225 already) will be in the original key.  To me, the songs just don’t sound quite right unless they’re played in the original intended key.  Plus, it gives me an opportunity to see if I can sing the song with the same aptitude that the original artist(s) had.

Well, that’s all for me tonight.  I’ll be back in two short weeks with another new acoustic cover song for you, plus updates on my new album.  Remember, you can follow me on Twitter @jimfuscomusic and I’ll send you a link to download five of my original songs for free!  That’s a pretty good deal, wouldn’t you say?  I’ll catch you next time here on the music blog- enjoy “Never My Love” by the Association…in the original key!

“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!

Big doin’s at the Laptop Sessions!

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The Weekend Review returns, the Guest Sessions are revived, and more!

By Chris Moore:

Back in January, I had planned to take the month of February off to work on my upcoming album, the not-so-timely-titled 2010 Project.  I had the foresight to vaguely suggest that my hiatus might extend into March, but apparently not enough foresight to see all the way into mid-May.

Regardless, I’m back and re-energized for my several Laptop Sessions-related endeavors in 2011.  Before I kick it all off with my first review of the year tomorrow, I figured I would give a real quick run-down of what you can expect.

THE WEEKEND REVIEW will be in a new monthly format starting tomorrow, one which condenses the best of both worlds between the full reviews I wrote in 2010 and the Yes, No, or Maybe So? format.  I’ll be supplementing my new monthly reports with full reviews — rest assured I can’t resist going on at length about a single album! — but that won’t be until after I catch up on my January through May 2011 reports.

THE GUEST SESSIONS have accrued quite a back log of submissions over the past six months or more since the last Guest Sesh was posted, so I’ve begun sorting through those, and you can look forward to a new Guest Session video every week that a Laptop Sessions regular has not posted.  This will mean we’ll need new Guest Session submissions very soon, so click over to that page (via the link above) and submit today!

THE 2010 PROJECT, last but not least, is reaching 90% completion.  To light a fire under myself to get it out soon (like six months ago soon), I’ll be regularly posting Original Wednesday sessions in the order of my final track listing.  I began this months and months ago, but I only got to like track three, so look for that to be picked up again very soon.

And, with that, I thank you all for reading, and I hope you’ll look forward to more quality content on the site in the coming months of 2011!