Hey there! So I haven’t posted in awhile and I wanted to put on a great tune that I’d been meaning to learn how to play for awhile (and I did, and it’s easy!) This Tommy James and The Shondells song is a classic, and when you listen to the actual recording, you can see how ahead of its time the production is.
And to me, the message is simple and in which I can easily relate. You have two people in love, running around together, almost as if they’re trying to escape getting old and time itself. And that’s what love makes you feel…like you’ll always be young and always be happy. Ive had conversations even with family where people have said how rare it is for two people to have that… seem like they get each other so well, and the rest of the world is left out of whatever inside joke is going on between them. That’s what this song, to me, is about…When you’re with the one you’re meant to be with, you are the BEST version of yourself. You are stronger because of them, more creative, and in the busy world, you sometimes can’t remember who you truly are unless you get back there again.
And then you find yourself saying with a sigh of relief…”I think we’re alone now”.. =)
And for those guitar players out there, without going into the full layout of the song, the chords are A, C#m, f#m, E for the verse, c#m and A G E for the bridge, and the chorus is A, E, D, A. So go try it out!
Or just listen and enjoy my version instead! And as a birthday present to me, (this coming monday!), you should leave me some good ratings/comment
Tonight was, hands down, the absolute most fun I’ve had writing a song and/or recording a Laptop Session!
And I’ve got lots of songs and videos for this one to stand up against…
It all began when I left school late tonight, and headed home to gather my guitar and Macbook, as well as Jim’s Macbook. Then, I met Jim and our friend Dana Camp at Dana’s office for pizza and songwriting. They were gracious enough to help me write a song that I had started — a song that I needed to record and post for tonight’s video. Actually, interestingly enough, I had planned on finishing a piece I have called “There’s One Thing.” It’s an upbeat song, and as I explained to Mike when he came by tonight, I haven’t written all that many love songs. I felt I could definitely use the help to put it over the top!
Then, Jim brought up another fragment that I had recorded as a thirty-second demo for him. All he or I knew was the verse I had written (i.e. “You said goodbye so long ago; I should’ve said something before I just let you go…”). We decided to work on that instead, and after much fiddling on the keyboard, Jim worked out a progression for the bridge that we could both agree on. When we started to write words for the bridge, we realized that we were both singing the tune to yet another fragment I had included on a demo tape. As we continued to work, that third fragment, transcribed into a different key, became the chorus of the song (i.e. “I wouldn’t want you to think I forgot about you, girl…”).
Still, there was something missing in terms of the chords. Jim asked Mike to step in and the team of Fusc and Fusc worked some magic in polishing up the tune and progression — for instance, I have Mike to thank for the flourishes at the ends of the verses.
Finally, I needed to work out a complete set of lyrics. So, Dana pulled up a chair (and an overturned computer monitor as an ottoman) and began writing in his creative writing binder. Thus, I have him to thank for putting words to the bridge (i.e. “Remember those summer days that we wished would never end…”).
A true collaboration.
Truly, I have Jim to thank for arranging and bringing the concept for the song together. You shouldn’t be surprised to learn that the awesome outro of harmonies has his trademark on it. Among other aspects he contributed, I love the riffs he plays on the piano throughout.
So, after a while of writing and feeding spiders to the Dana’s fish (and, by spiders, I mean mutant arachnids — just so we’re clear here!), we recorded the session. It took a few takes for me to get the words down, but then we did a full take and I’m very happy with the way it came out. Remember that it’s a first recording, made only minutes after the final touches were applied. By the time it makes it to the album, there will most likely be some more substance to it and the rough edges will be smoothed out to perfection. On the heels of tonight’s collaboration, I’m even more excited about my first album — I plan to bill it as a debut album — with a bona fide producer!
Other notable moments tonight were Jim’s live performance of “Winning You Over” (such a great song; I don’t understand how it can be written off as a pro-Obama song) and Mike’s live take of “I Don’t Love You Anymore.” Now, Mike’s song I wish I had recorded. After all, as his lengthy list of songs-to-record proves, he writes so prolifically that there’s no telling when an incredible new song will be pushed aside for yet a newer one. I’m just glad we got to hear it tonight. Hopefully, he’ll record another session soon!…
And, with that, I’m off to bed. I hope you enjoy this third offering toward my upcoming new album. As always, I’ll keep you posted on all developments. And thanks so much to the boys for a truly fabulous night of pepperoni pizza and good ol’ American rock songwriting. Now, don’t forget to come around tomorrow and Friday for two more great sessions by Jeff and Jim.
Today, I’d like to discuss my Fender Deluxe Player’s Stratocaster! I wanted this guitar after playing my brother’s exact same model (just different colors). I couldn’t believe how nice it was to play his guitar. The string action was low and it just felt so “fast” to play. It was like it played itself! The only thing I didn’t like was the “tinny” sound coming from the single-coil pickups, but we both know how to get the correct sound nowadays- get a great tube amp! So, I decided I wanted my first Strat- a Deluxe Player’s Strat!
This model has a couple of unique features. Cosmetically, it features gold hardware that you don’t find on a normal Stratocaster. It also has Vintage Noiseless pickups, which appear on the much more expensive Eric Clapton model. The guitar also has a button on the front that activates two new pickup combinations, allowing you to use all three pickups at once. Unfortunately, though, these other pickup combinations don’t sound that good at all So, they’re not especially useful.
My blue version of the guitar came with a dark brown burled walnut-looking pickguard. That looks great on my brother’s honey blonde Strat, but not so great on a dark blue one. I don’t know what they were thinking with that thing… Anyway, my wife bought me an awesome cream/white pearl pickguard that made it look amazing! Problem was that stupid button I mentioned earlier. I had to drill a hole for it in the new pickguard and mount the housing for it on the back of the guard. It was such a project- no glue I had would hold it in the right spot! It took a few days, but I finally found a solution. Oh, and also notice the upgraded volume and tone knobs that match the gold hardware that my brother Mike got me. They also go to 11- just like in the movie “This Is Spinal Tap”!
These Deluxe Player’s Stratocasters are made in Mexico. I know some people think less of these guitars, but I can say first-hand that there is almost no difference at all. The metal pieces are fabricated in the Corona, CA plant (my brother and I took a tour) and the workers…well, even in the US plant, they’re still of Mexican descent! So, if you have a Mexican guy making it in Mexico or in California- what’s really the difference? These people all do great work- the quality and craftsmanship on both the Mexican-made and American-made Strats is impressive. I just can’t justify the cost of having a guitar made literally a 4-hour drive down the road out of the same materials and probably by people in the same families! 🙂
A couple years ago, my parents got me a great present- a tuner that’s built-in to the guitar! It’s called N-Tune and it requires tapping-in to the current electronics and putting a tuning ring under the volume knob. The volume knob then turns into a pull-knob that activates the tuner. It’s so convenient and always fascinates people.
I used the Strat almost exclusively on my 2012 album, “Those Around Us”. It’s so versatile and sounds great clean or distorted. Plus, it plays very nicely with my Fender Blues Jr. amp. It’s also the only single-coil guitar I have (other than the P-90s, but that has its own sound) so now it will fill a very important space of my overall sound. I think this Stratocaster is one I’ll have for a very, very long time!
Available for sale now on Fountain Blue Publishing is “Teaching For What?” by Michael Fusco. It’s the story of a long teaching career in public schools and the toll that career took on this man’s life. From such hopeful beginnings in the profession, it’s sad to see the progression of events that lead him into depression and early retirement. The politics, egos, and unknown workings of the teaching profession in public schools are revealed in this frank and sometimes scathing memoir. Teachers, students, and parents will all gain a greater understanding of the widely misunderstood teaching profession- let’s just say that big “vacation” they get over the summer isn’t just for time off- it’s to keep from going insane!
