“On For Miles” (Jim Fusco Original Song)

By Jim Fusco:

Why doesn’t anyone post Original Wednesdays anymore?  Well, I’ll just chalk it up to the fact that my album “Halfway There” came out in April 2009!  If you’ve been to the music video blog before, you’ve probably seen advertisements for it.  You may have even heard a bit.  I hope you’re liking it so far- it’s a loooooong time in the making!  If you’ve been here before, you’ve probably also noticed that we cover almost 200 bands- a new video three times a week.  You may not know that on a weekly basis, we post original songs, as well!

Here is track 3 from the “Halfway There” LP.  On the album, you’ll notice that this song is much punchier and has a more modern sound to it.  Okay, so maybe it doesn’t have a modern sound, but it’s as modern as you’re gonna get from me! 🙂  The song has some cool effects and features a very intricate five part harmony on the chorus- it’s so cool to listen to it in the car because the chorus seems to “widen” the speakers as soon as it kicks in.  It does that on the first chorus of the song “Halfway There”, as well- I’d love to hear your reactions to the album!  I got this effect because of the new mastering techniques I learned.  No longer does it sound like a wet burlap sack is draped over the speakers when listening to a recording of mine.  I’ve actually even remastered my last album, “What About Today?”, in the same way- you should HEAR how much better it sounds!  One of these days, I’ll get a digital copy up on the FMP Store.

Anyway, “On For Miles” is supposed to be “single-worthy” in the sense that it’s the third song on the album, but it does follow two superb ones (if I do say so myself) in “Go Back To Him” and “Our Love Doesn’t Translate”.  I knew I needed to follow-up those songs with something really catchy, as well, but that also got you into the feel of the whole album, rather than listening to a collection of singles.  It’s tough to describe.

So, this version, which is only me and an acoustic guitar, has a much different vibe- but that’s when a cover song on acoustic guitar is really interesting.  It’s never interesting to take a song that was done acoustically in the first place and just do it live in front of the camera.  It’s fun to take a fully-produced song and pare it down to the bare bones and play it just as a “song” and not a production.

I hope you enjoy this original song from “Halfway There”. 🙂

Have a great rest of the week!

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“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (Elton John Cover)

By Jim Fusco:

Two for the price of one sale today on Jim Fusco videos, as our internet was down on Tuesday, preventing me from posting my all-new acoustic cover song video!  Tonight, I bring you another new artist to the music blog in Elton John.  INCREDIBLE that we haven’t done a song by him yet- ten Pearl Jam songs and not one from EJ?  Yikes!

Anyway, tonight’s song is one that I knew only a certain section of before I truly learned it for my acoustic video.  I knew the “Ah…” part in the song because it’s so catchy.  I must’ve heard it on the radio a bunch of times and that’s what I took away from it.  Listening to the entire song and really paying attention, I noticed that this is truly a great recording.  I LOVE the guitar that come in on the chorus, playing these electric guitar arpeggiated notes.  Heaven!

There’s also some great backing vocals going on during the song- it creates such a lush sound and everyone knows how I love a good backing vocal choir!  My roommate Dana helped me out tonight, as this turned out to be one of his favorite songs- he knew every word and helped me out a TON when it came to the inflection on the singing, especially on the choruses.

This song wasn’t an easy one to play or sing.  But then again, isn’t that what the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog is all about?  We don’t take the easy way out, folks- we challenge ourselves on a daily basis.  Chris, Jeff, and I have held-off playing certain songs for months because we wanted to perfect them.   I still have to hear it from my father every week that I haven’t done “Here Comes the Sun” or “God Only Knows” yet.  But, for those songs, you need to perfect them before debuting them to the world.  And that’s what I plan on doing.

You should’ve seen Dana’s eyes when I told him I was covering this song on acoustic guitar.  I proceeded to tell him, however, that the videos I get the most views on are the ones where people go, “Wait, someone did that song on GUITAR?  I gotta see this.”  Everyone always goes in so skeptical (I get a lot of messages saying, “I thought this would suck, but I was pleasantly surprised!”) and I can understand why- I mean, look at the 99.999% of YouTube cover videos out there that truly do STINK.  But, as we said a long time ago here on the music blog, the goal of the Laptop Sessions is to put an end to bad YouTube covers forever!

I hope you enjoy my rendition- I practiced it about twenty times and made sure everything was correct.  I’m happy to debut Elton John’s music here on the music video blog and hope that Chris and Jeff will decide to tackle some of his songs in the future.  But if I hear Chris singing “Candle in the Wind”, I may have to break his acoustic guitar. 🙂  Until…well…next post…a couple minutes from now…have a great one!

More Laptop Sessions covers

“Wishlist” by Pearl Jam – Chords, Tabs, and How to Play

For the cover song music video, CLICK HERE!

“Wishlist”
Pearl Jam

C                                                   F                        C
I wish I was a neutron bomb – for once, I could go off.
I wish I was a sacrifice, but somehow still lived on.
I wish I was a sentimental ornament you hung on
The Christmas tree… I wish I was the star that went on top…

C  F                   C                F                     C
I wish I was the evidence, I wish I was the grounds
C    F                 C                            G                        F
For fifty million hands upraised and open toward the sky

I wish I was a silhouette – someone who waited for me.
I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me…

I wish I was a messenger and all the news was good.
I wish I was the full moon shining off a Camaro’s hood.

SOLO:   G – F – C  /  G – F – C  /  G – F – C

I wish I was an alien at home behind the sun.
I wish I was a souvenir you kept your house key on…

I wish I was the pedal brakes that you depended on.
I wish I was the verb “to trust” and never let you down.

I wish I was a radio song, the one that you turned up.
I wish I was…

** 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. **

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“King of Comedy” (REM Cover)

By Jeff Copperthite:

Welcome to thumpin’ Thursday, the first post in which my view count is in the 6 digits!  I have a great song from REM for tonight’s session.

I have lately wanted to really take the time to cover the songs that I have wanted to cover and that I enjoy covering.  However, if you have a request please feel free to request it!  I love doing requests, but if I get none I just fall back on the songs and bands that I like.

I have always loved the album this song is off of.  I pretty much have each song memorized.

I hope you enjoy this album cut, and see you next week for more fun!

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