“Say Goodbye to Hollywood” (Billy Joel Cover)

By Jeff Copperthite:

Welcome to your Tuesday edition of The Laptop Sessions.  I bring you a familiar band for me tonight, and this also goes out by request from one of my best Youtube commenters – he knows who he is :).

Billy Joel is an individual that I have covered in the past, and tonight I bring a song from his album “Turnstiles” in 1976.  The song is “Say Goodbye To Hollywood”, which is known for its cool violin solo and light percussion.  I also notice that Billy Joel sounds a lot different in his first albums than in his later ones.  His voice tends to lower in pitch as you progress through his discography.   No matter – I was on key tonight and glad I could nail this one.  I think you’ll like this video a lot.

Sorry to be a little terse tonight, but I have a lot of things to get to.  I’ll keep it short so you can get back to watching the election results roll in, and enjoy tonight’s video.

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!

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 origianal 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!

More Laptop Sessions covers

“End of the Line” (Travelling Wilburys Cover)

By Jeff Copperthite:

Good evening and welcome to Sunday’s edition of The Laptop Sessions.  Tonight is my first cover from this band, but 5th for the site.

The Travelling Wilburys were advertised to me as an “all star band” by Jim, and boy they sure are.  There aren’t many songs by them (two albums worth) but the ones that I have heard are just awesome.  This one included, and I had no idea this song was by them until I heard it again.

The song is “End of the Line” from their first album.  Every member except Bob Dylan is featured on lead vocals at some point in the song.

You’ll notice some voice inflection at the seperate parts where each singer is singing the original song.

I hope you stay tuned for even more from guitarbucketlist.com! 

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 origianal 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!

More Laptop Sessions covers

“Things Have Changed” (Bob Dylan Cover)

By Jeff Copperthite:

I love doing covers this day of the week.  Why?

Because it’s Thumpin’ Thursday™! (Jim needs to learn how to insert special characters in the editor by the way)

And I always keep the solid beat songs in reserve for this day.  Make you want to tap your feet if I can.

Well, I decided today to break out a really cool (and relatively recent) Bob Dylan song called “Things Have Changed”.  The song itself is from a Soundtrack from the movie Wonder Boys.  Originally, I thought it was released on a different album (Love & Theft, if you were wondering), but alas it was not to be.

I heard this song thanks to the Bob Dylan master Chris Moore.  He also helped figure out that the song I had stuck in my head a few days back was this song.  So if it weren’t for him, i’d have something else up here today.

I love the beat of this song, but as with all Dylan songs, he sometimes fits a lot of words into the same measure, or a few words.  It can be tough to stay on top of that, and in this video you’ll notice me forgetting to change the chord for a beat.  It happens to the best of us I guess.

And I managed to sing similarly to Dylan as well.  The video works very nicely.

As with all Thumpin’ Thursday™ entries, I know you’ll enjoy this one. 

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 origianal 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!

More Laptop Sessions covers

“That Was The Day” (Jim Fusco Original Acoustic Rock Song)

As they say- one hand washes the other.  I helped Chris on Monday with his Sugar Ray video and tonight, he helped me with my original song, “That Was the Day”.  It’s truly a shame that it’s been this long here on the Laptop Sessions before we’ve done this original song.  I’d say, as unknown Jim Fusco original songs go, this is my most “famous”, as it’s been a staple in our live act and a fan-favorite for four years now.  Actually, I can’t believe it’s only been four years- hard to imagine a time when this song didn’t exist.

“That Was The Day” is a song written about the day I met my fiancee Becky.  I had a talk with Chris Moore about the “fact” that a perfect girl didn’t exist.  I said to him, “Well, if she does exist, I’m definitely going to take advantage of the situation.”  I’m not saying Becky is perfect- no one is- but, it was only a day or two after that conversation that I met her, and instantly knew she was the one.  It’s been over six years since that day.

This song just poured out of me one day- rarely in songwriting do I get so inspired and just get the whole tune, chorus, and middle sections out so quickly.  I knew that this would be my “single” for my current album of the time, “That’s All…”.  Of course, the song didn’t go anywhere, but whenever we play it live, I notice the heads looking up and noticing the band.  That’s always a good feeling.

In a hilarious note, I couldn’t walk for a full five minutes after this take.  Something about the way I was standing with one leg on a stool made my left hip just give out.  It felt like someone hit me with a crow bar!

In a completely unrelated note, Chris and I just got through watching the debate tonight between Obama and McCain.  We don’t get political on this blog (although I would bet good money that Chris, Jeff, and I are all on the same page…along with my family), but the debate tonight proved one thing I’ve been saying for a while.  Whether you’re a supporter of McCain or not, from my point of view, he just reminds me of a father giving you a lecture.  He reminds me of the old VFW guys that used to lecture us “kids” in Boy Scouts back in the day about how we didn’t have respect and how they should be treated better because of their age and their service to this country.  That may be true, but again, no one wants to hear it.  It comes across as crotchety and annoying.  I HATE being lectured to (or preached to, for that matter) and McCain literally makes me say, “Please change the channel” every two minutes.

Always one for consistency, Chris refused each time.  I only remembered at the end of the debate: “Hey, it’s MY television!”

Enjoy tonight’s original song and I hope you’ll come on back for great acoustic rock cover songs from Jeff and Chris over the next two days.  We’re excited to see America at the Wolf’s Den in Mohegan Sun on Saturday, so I have to make sure I post early!  But, I have at least two new bands coming up during my next three videos.  I can’t believe it myself, because it almost seems like there can’t be any more to do!  Which new bands are they?  You’ll just have to wait and see.  Until then…

Related posts