Tag Archives: laptop sessions

“Walk Away Renee” (The Left Banke and/or Four Tops Cover)

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Welcome, everyone to yet another Laptop Session with me, Jim Fusco.

I”m back with a real video tonight (not a swerve like my genius move last week!) in a classic song: “Walk Away Renee”.  Plus, I bring you not one, but TWO new artists in one video, in one night!!!  Tell me, has that ever been done before?

You know this tune: “Just walk away, Renee, you won’t see me follow you back home.”

Now, think of who sings it.  I thought about it myself and remembered that the version I have is from the Four Tops.  And it sounds right- I know I’ve heard it on the radio before.

Except there’s something wrong.  Two things, in fact.

The version I remember had strings in the background (violins, etc.) and the chorus was sung differently.  In the Four Tops version, the background singers sing the “you won’t see me follow you back home” in a very “on the beat” manner.

The version I remember sang it the way I do in this video- with a little more relaxed style.  You’ll hear what I mean.

So, I began searching- what version did I know?  I found a couple of promising ones, but none that were exactly what I remembered.

Finally, a search in the iTunes store brought me to a group called The Left Banke.  They were a one (or possibly two) hit wonder back in the late 60s.  Their hit?  “Walk Away Renee”- the version I’ve always known!!

But, over the years, I seem to have merged the Left Banke version and the Four Tops version in my head.  The Left Banke version doesn’t have drums or that classic Motown backing band, but has the strings.  And I hear the Left Banke singer’s lead vocal on the verses in my head, but the Four Tops lead singer on the choruses…but he’s singing in the STYLE of the Left Banke guy!

AHH!

Anyway, tonight’s video turned out great- probably one of my most solid overall performances.  It’s a great song I’ve always known by just hearing it on the radio, but it only took me one take on video tonight.  When that happens, you know you “got it.”

It’s been some busy times lately, but Dana and I are getting more and more determined each night.  We’re trying to lose a little weight, eat better, exercise, and get a lot of work done.  It’s nice to have someone here that helps me achieve these goals, because Lord knows I couldn’t motivate myself all the time.

So, until next week, enjoy my video tonight and Jeff’s video on Thursday.  I hope Chris will take a more prominent role in the Laptop Sessions promotions work now that he’s out of school for the summer.  Also, he’s going to be away and then he’s moving out (and on) after that.  Hopefully he’ll channel some of his new found “not around Jim” time towards promoting the cover songs music video blog that we affectionately call The Laptop Sessions.  Until next Tuesday!!

The Laptop Sessions: A brief history of the blog

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By Chris Moore:

This is PART ONE of the series titled “A brief history of the blog.”

In this segment, I will discuss the origins of the title.  The term “Laptop Sessions” actually came from the term James Fusco gave to recording a song (or “session”) on a laptop computer.  A laptop computer is a portable computer that is compact enough to rest on your lap.

Of course, this is somewhat of a misnomer, as there has never been a Laptop Session to my knowledge in which the computer was actually resting on the performer’s lap during the recording….

The More You Know

The More You Know

This “expletive” moment is brought to you by…

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By Chris Moore:

On the way to work this morning, I was mentally running through all the things I have to do today, seeing as how it is my first day back to school after the weekend.  Mondays are always tough like that…

And that’s when I realized it’s not Monday.

No, indeed, it is not Monday.  Which is complicated further by the fact that I spent ten minutes this morning donating to the Woody Guthrie Foundation so that I could, with a clear conscience, download and learn a song that I want to play for this week’s Chris Moore Monday.

Instead, as I was listening to the song on my way to work, I realized that I completely missed the boat.  But, rest assured, there will be a Chris Moore cover song this week… 

It just won’t be posted on a Monday. 

Things to look forward to later today:

– My post, edited with my administrative priviledges to look as though it had been posted yesterday.

– A brand-new song, recently released as a download-only track.

– At least one bad pun on the fact that I DIDN’T use my “memory” on “Memorial” Day. 

Until then…

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

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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 this Friday.

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.  Until next Tuesday!