“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!

WCJM Free Internet Radio Station: “The All-American Show” – 2001

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By WCJM Free Internet Radio:

After the conflict in the country in September, 2001, WCJM decided to heighten its American Pride.  The entire free Internet radio cast, minus Jeff, gathered in the studio and picked out their favorite songs that deal with America.  From Simon and Garfunkel to Justin Hayward, this show will definitely get you in an American mood!

This show is where Jim Fusco finally tried to show up everyone else.  He wrote ten pages of material for both the Food Critic and his new segment, The World Report.  The cast was a little tense after arguments about paying attention to the skits, but got out of that mood very quickly when they heard the various comedy segments.

Without a doubt, the funniest Stuffy D. Bear segment ever was heard on this show.  Stuffy showed his American pride by singing his own rendition of “God Bless America”.  He also expressed his utter longing for his brother Stuffo by singing his own song, “Stuffo Come Home.”

The cast even sang the National Anthem at the beginning of the show, making the absolute worst rendition of the song since Roseanne!  And it might be worse than that!  So, if you’re not a fan of Dave’s singing, skip past the first two minutes, but stay tuned for the rest of the All-American Show!  This is classic comedy radio at its best!

A note from Chris on what’s to come in 2011

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By Chris Moore:

This has been quite a year, one of new beginnings and of new avenues pursued.  I’ve spent much of the year working on my weekly music reviews, so as the new music year begins for me today with the release of the Decemberists’ The King is Dead, I thought this would be the best time to put things in perspective and set goals for 2011.

First of all, I’ll be taking the month of February off and plan to return to the blog some time during March or so.  At that point, I’ll have had time to think over what specific commitments I’ll be making in terms of videos and the Weekend Review, and I’ll return to posting the decent number of Guest Sessions that have been submitted over the last couple months.  Until then, here’s a quick sketch of what I’ll be spending my time on.

The 2010 Project

I was a little less than halfway through the recording of my first solo album in four years when I stalled for school (both teaching and being taught).  Since my graduate class ended a month ago, I have yet to delve back into recording, and it hasn’t been for a lack of desire.  So, over the next month, I’m making the time for these songs before they gather so much dust that I lose the passion and momentum I feel for them now.  (If you’re interested, I’m keeping a detailed record of my recording process at the all-new www.chrismooremusic.com.)

52 Pickup

I’ve kept a notebook with me much of the past year, and the result (which is more than three-quarters complete) is what will be my third collection of poetry, to be titled 52 Pickup.  It’s a fifty-two poem sequence that tracks the dissolution of relationships (both romantic and otherwise) and how one copes with loss and subsequent reassessment.  I’ve been writing often the past couple weeks and many of the poems I’ve written should make the cut.  (You can also read updates on that as they come at my website.)

Other Pursuits

Other January/February obligations and activities will include midterm exams, the closing out of the first semester of the school year, helping to organize two charity benefit events at school, and a slew of one-off commitments.  Thanks to my friend Mike, I’m hooked on Arrested Development and Dexter and nearing the end of both, and I’m gearing up to be as supportive of my girlfriend Nicole’s student teaching as she has been during my past several years of teaching.  And last, but certainly not least, there’s a tremendous music opportunity that has presented itself to me.  It’s called the Dry-Knuckle BedHeads, and while it pains me to say this, I’m going to keep that under wraps until I return.

So, until we meet again, take care and “see you next session”!