Tag Archives: acoustic

“Are You Lonesome Tonight?” (Elvis Presley Cover)

Posted on by
Reply

By Jim Fusco:

Well, are you? 😉

I hope not, but if you are, I hope this video brings you some comfort and company on this Spring evening.  Tonight, I bring to you one of my favorite Elvis Presley songs in “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”.  This tune is a slow one, but has so much feeling in both the lyrics and the way Elvis sings it.  I love the major D chord to the minor D chord progression and the way the song builds up at times.  This song is truly a sad one- it says everything that needs to be said and is so simple that you know Elvis was the first to bring this style of music to rock’n’roll.

I’ve been working on this one for many, many months now.  I just had to learn that poem in the middle.  You never would realize how difficult it is to play the guitar, keep in time, keep your place in the song, and say the correct lines at the correct times.  So, seeing how difficult this would be, I pushed it aside for so many other songs over the past few months.

I’ve since run low on my “need to do NOW” list, so this one came back up.  I decided tonight was the right time.  Actually, I’ll be broadening my horizons with many exciting new songs in the near future, as tomorrow night, I’ll be getting my brand new car!!  Well, it’s not exactly “new”, but it’s new to me.  I’m inheriting my mother’s Chrysler Concorde and I’m so excited about it.  I’ve always loved this car and even though it’s nine years old, you’d never know it.  It was always kept in the garage and only has about 60k miles on it.  The best part is that my brother Mike got me a brand-new stereo installed for my birthday!  So now, I can hook up my iPod and listen whereever I go.  Plus, since it’s a digital hookup, everything will finally sound right coming out of the speakers- everything always sounded so tinny in my last system.

It’s been a long couple of nights with working both night and day.  All in the name of progress, I suppose.  I’m looking forward to getting my newest baby- my Dean Boca 12-string electric guitar!!!  I got an incredible deal on Musicians Friend and saved 20% off the price.  I’ll finally get that 12-string electric sound I’ve loved for so many years.  Look for some Byrds songs in the near future!  I’ll post photos of me with my new guitar after I get it.

Okay, back to work for me, but at least I have two big things to look forward to this week!  It’s going to be non-stop for the next, oh I’d say two-plus months, but you know I’ll be keeping up with the Laptop Sessions through it all.  It’s the greatest way I can chronicle my life and keep the music dream alive.



More Laptop Sessions covers

“Keep On Going” (Original Wednesday Acoustic Song)

Posted on by
Reply

By Chris Moore:

And welcome one, welcome all to my Laptop Session for this very special Original Wednesday here at your source for the best acoustic cover and original song music videos available on the internet today!  (That’s a mouthful…)

You may be wondering, why is this day so special?

Well, for one, this is the birthday of Laptop Sessions series creator Jim Fusco.  On behalf of the other contributors and the loyal viewers of this blog, I’d like to wish him a very happy 25th birthday!  Only a quarter century in, and he’s accumulated quite a back catalog of music, writing, and side projects.  If you haven’t already, you should head on over to jimfusco.com.

Take it from me: the best gift you can get Jim this year is to spend a measely $10 on his brand new album Halfway There.  Go ahead, check out the album in streaming audio at his official website, or use the search function at the top of this page to listen to Laptop Sessions of many of the Halfway There tracks, read a full review, and see the beautiful, custom artwork he used for the cover.

Okay, that’s enough plugging for one post.

Tonight’s session is based on a song that I never recorded for an album.  “Keep On Going” is an early track, as you will most likely be able to tell!  Although the words are straightforward and the chord progression is simple, I’ve always liked this little tune.  I originally wrote this song as a direct statement to my best friend (Jim, if you haven’t made the connection yet), assuring him after a rough week that things really will turn out all right, even though people — particularly high school aged people — can be cruel.  I hope he’s seen that to be true, as he’s moved on to college, made many lifelong friends, and become engaged to Becky Daly.  For all you former Pine Loft faithfuls: yes, this is indeed the same Becky Daly of Chris, Jim, and Becky fame!

I still sing “Keep On Going” when I feel stressed out or begin to think something — a relationship, a professional endeavor, etc. — won’t work out.  I hope you like it.

As a final note, stepping back into the present, I just started listening to the new Bob Dylan album, Together Through Life.  In case you’re questioning my devotion, there’s only one reason why I didn’t start listening yesterday: I pre-ordered the album on Amazon.com and didn’t spring for any more than Free Super Saver Shipping.  So, I’m cheap.  What do you want???  🙂

Did I mention I’m loving the album?  As I type, it’s blaring through my room and probably throughout the condo complex.  I may even get a letter in the mail from the condo association condemning me for noise pollution or disturbing the peace or some other such nonsense, but it will be worth it!  I spent the day at school today wearing the Best Buy exclusive Together Through Life t-shirt that Mike so graciously passed along to me from his purchase of the album (thanks again, Fusc!!).  I made certain to wear a white button down shirt today and a narrow tie, so as to have the Dylan t-shirt show through.  Thanks to at least one inquisitive student in each class I taught, I got to talk about the new album at least once every 82 minutes today!

I’ll save my commentary on Together Through Life for the review that will most certainly come, but allow me to share a couple comments.  First, this is not what I was expecting after Love & Theft and Modern Times.  Then again, that’s pretty much what Dylan himself suggested, so I’m not really surprised.  My favorite line thus far is the chorus to track three: “Hell is my wife’s home town.”  As if there’s any question as to whether Dylan’s dry sense of humor is still intact, just listen for his chuckling — yes, his chuckling — in the outro of that song.  Finally, although it’s a slow album to start, just wait for “Jolene” and “Shake Shake Mama” to really get your foot tapping.

And, with that taste of this new Dylan album, I’ll emphatically suggest you need to buy both Halfway There and Together Through Life and be on my merry way.

See you next session!

Related posts

“Listen to the Music” (Doobie Brothers Cover)

Posted on by
2

By Jim Fusco:

They said it couldn’t be done!  But, here I am, covering yet another “new” band to the Laptop Sessions and one that has two Number One hit singles to its credit: The Doobie Brothers!

No, I didn’t do one of their Number Ones, but this song was a huge hit itself.  “Listen to the Music” is a classic rock masterpiece.  I love how catchy this song is.  There was a time a few years ago when I couldn’t get enough of the Doobies.  If we started doing the Laptop Sessions music blog back then, the Doobie Brothers would’ve been the first band I c0vered.  Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

I always felt bad for the writer of this song, Tom Johnston.  You see, his fellow bandmates Pat Simmons and (later) Michael McDonald both scored Number One hit singles with their songs “Black Water” and “What A Fool Believes”, respectively.  But, even though Johnston had a bunch of hits himself (this one, “China Grove”, “Rockin’ Down the Highway”), he never got a Number One.  But, I keep the popularity of this song alive here tonight on Jim Fusco Tuesdays!

On a personal note, tomorrow night, I turn 25 years old.  A quarter century.  I’ve always loved birthdays, though.  I’m still a kid, really- I collect baseball cards and still force all my friends to go out and play baseball with me.  I’ve grown up in so many ways that it seems my childish side tries to find ways out.  Lately, it’s been indulging in things I love, like going on day trips and video games.  I just think I’ll always be a kid at heart- I can’t imagine these urges to always buy and try something new will go away anytime soon.  So, I’m not sad about hitting the quarter-century mark.  I like things the way they are now and can only hope they last for a good long time.

Of course, I’m very tired, so I think I’ll leave it at that tonight.  In the future, I’ll be doing more Doobie Brothers songs and, of course, bringing you many more bands in which you’ll say, “Wow, I can’t believe they haven’t done a song from that band yet!” have a great one and enjoy tonight’s acoustic cover song music video!

More Laptop Sessions covers

“Odds and Ends” by Bob Dylan – Chords, Tabs, & How to Play

Posted on by
Reply

For the cover song music video, CLICK HERE!

“Odds and Ends”
Bob Dylan

A  A7
I plan it all and I take my place;
You break your promise all over the place.
A7   D7
You promised to love me, but what do I see?
A7
Just you comin’ and spillin’ juice over me.

E7
Odds and ends, odds and ends…
A (no chord)
Lost time is not found again.

E7 – A

Now, you take your file and you bend my head;
I never can remember anything that you have said.
You promised to love me, but what do I know?
You’re always spillin’ juice on me like you got some place to go.

Odds and ends, odds and ends…
Lost time is not found again.

Now, I’ve had enough; my box is clean.
You know what I’m sayin’ and you know what I mean.
From now on, you best get on someone else,
And while you’re doin’ it, keep that juice to yourself.

Odds and ends, odds and ends…
Lost time is not found again.

** These chords and lyrics are interpretations and transcriptions, respectively, and are the sole property of the copyright holder(s). They are posted on this website free of charge for no profit for the purpose of study and commentary, as allowed for under the “fair use” provision of U.S. copyright law, and should only be used for such personal and/or academic work. **

Related posts