Hello everyone- It’s been quite a while since I’ve gotten to sit down and record more Laptop Sessions cover song music videos for you. I have a bunch of great ideas saved-up, but my focus lately has been more on my original music. I have a newfound passion for guitar tone, so I’ve learned to rewire my collection of electric guitars and put new pickups in almost all of them. I want to get as many great sounds as possible for the recording of my next batch of songs.
I also realized that I have more than 250 videos on YouTube- mostly cover songs from bands like the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Moody Blues, the Monkees, and many, many more. Instead of increasing that number even more, I’ll be promoting all of my older videos to give them new life!
While I’m doing that, I’ll be driving around Connecticut playing at various Open Mic Nights. I have my great Seagull acoustic-electric Entourage Rustic guitar, and I’ll even bring my electric guitars (and future small tube-amps) around with me. My goal is to record videos of a different original song each time I go out. I’ve already done a few.
Sure, the quality is so-so (iPhone video), the crowds are small and/or non-existent, and some of the videos are only part of the song (for instance, when my phone ran out of storage space on “Halfway There” a couple weeks ago). But, I think these videos will be a valuable addition to the work I’ve done here for the Laptop Sessions music blog. After all, we recorded all of these cover song videos in an attempt to make people curious about our original music, too. So, now it’s finally time to implement phase two!
So, stay tuned in the coming weeks, as I’ll debut new videos as I record them. I’ll put them on the music blog on Wednesdays, like our old “Original Wednesday” posts from back in the cover-song-heyday. I hoe you enjoy the videos and will share them with your friends!
To see how it’s played in the cover song music video, CLICK HERE!
“Wilted Rose”
The Vanity Project
Intro: Am F G C – G – Am F G Em
Am F G C – G – Am F G Em
I almost cried on the day my country died; I almost tried to care.
They built a wall to protect them from us all; we should have left them there.
Am – G – C Dm G Am – G – C Dm E
Rev o lution is the first to go; the rest is forced to stay…
A D E F#m Bm D E
Shall I cast this out, this wilted rose? Yeah, yeah, yeah — no, no, no.
Like Pierre Trudeau’s walk out in the snow, can it be time to leave?
I spent my youth thinking people spoke the truth; now it’s hard to think.
Was I naive to say I do believe that none of us should sink?
They sold us out, and they sold us short. And we’re the ones who’ll have to pay…
Shall I cast this out, this wilted rose? Yeah, yeah, yeah — no, no, no.
Like Pierre Trudeau’s walk out in the snow, can it be time to leave?
E Am F G C G Am F G Em
Don’t go; you know, it’s all the same to me these days, I swear it’s hard to care.
SOLO: over intro chords
Revolution is the first to go; the rest is forced to stay…
Shall I cast this out, this wilted rose? Yeah, yeah, yeah — no, no, no.
Like Pierre Trudeau’s walk out in the snow, can it be time to leave?
Shall I cast this out, this wilted rose? Yeah, yeah, yeah — no, no, no.
Like Pierre Trudeau’s walk out in the snow, can it be time to leave?
Don’t go; you know, it’s all the same to me these days, I swear it’s hard to care.
** 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. **
Welcome to another episode of The Laptop Sessions with me, Jim Fusco! I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since my last video- the time is flying lately. Now that things are coming along nicely with the new house (driveway is in and the grass is looking better), I hope to start enjoying everything a bit more soon.
Today is a record-breaking day here on the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog. Today, the site got it’s highest view count EVER: over 5,600 hits and still counting! Yes, most of these hits were to the homepage, which is great. But, the part I’m very excited about is the fact that close to 200 of those hits have been to “deep” pages on the site (past posts, etc.)! That’s a pretty big deal, especially considering that just a couple months ago, the site was getting only about 200 views a day- total! So, the promotion I’ve been doing seems to be working nicely.
Now, you would think that, after last week’s article, I would be playing on my new Martin MMV guitar tonight. But, some sad circumstances lead me to this new video- the first in a long time on the piano.
“The Long and Winding Road” is a song by the Beatles that everyone knows. It’s one of those songs that you hear in a restaurant, a department store, and the radio from time to time. It’s a great Paul McCartney song that appeared on the “Let It Be” LP, but I personally like the one on “Let It Be…Naked” better. Even though I found the chords with the words “Capo on 1st fret” above them, I transposed the chords to piano on the fly and let this one rip. As with most Laptop Sessions cover songs I do, it’s SO much easier when I already know the words by heart. Chords are easy to remember because they’re logical- for instance, if the sound goes up (in pitch), then chances are the chord goes up (in pitch). So, I almost always instantly remember the chords. But, when you have to think about lyrics, things get difficult.
Tonight, I dedicate this cover song music video to my good friend and colleague, Diane. For the past year and a half, she’s been my SAVIOR at work. She works down at the warehouse our company uses and is always so helpful. She’ll get anything done instantly- she’s truly the best. She’s made my life so much easier over the time I’ve been with the company. Plus, we’ve come to have countless conversations over the phone and we’ve always had a great relationship. It’s even possible that we’re distantly related! We’ve been out for drinks after work on a few occasions, as well, and we always have a great time.
But, unfortunately, the higher-ups at my company decided to move to a different warehouse. I understand- business is business. But, I know I’m not the only one that’s going to miss Diane terribly- she’s that valuable to my working life. Hey, maybe she’ll want to move to Florida and work at the new place! 🙂
Anyway, months ago, she requested “The Long and Winding Road” by the Beatles as a Laptop Session after she began watching my videos. She waited patiently for a long time. But, Steve (of the Traveling Acai Berries) was very, very busy and we couldn’t find the time to get-together and play this song on camera. The goal was to bring Steve’s electric piano in, too.
So, when I heard the news about Diane no longer working with me, I knew I had to record “The Long and Winding Road” for her. Now that I have Becky’s piano in the house, it was easy to set everything up and record one of my more unique videos. I think it came out great (especially the way I got the audio to record) and I hope it will make Diane realize how much I’ll miss her. Plus, what a perfect song (subject matter) for the occasion.
Thanks for stopping-by for this edition of the Laptop Sessions in HD with Jim Fusco. Stay tuned for a special “26th Birthday” post by me next Thursday night and then two weeks from now, I’ll be back with my first cover song music video on my new Martin MMV acoustic guitar. Have a great week and enjoy “The Long and Winding Road”, one of our many Beatles cover songs!
C#m A E
I made a promise to not let go;
E C#m B A
Our tug of war has only made me want you more.
A B E A
Steeped in hard luck and doomed to roam;
A B C#m
My love is braver than you know.
My forefathers, they worked this land,
And I was schooled in the tyranny of nature’s plans.
Dressed in thunder, a cloud came round;
A B E C#m
In the shape of a lion, a hand came down.
A E A E
Damn this valley, damn this cold.
E B A C#m
Takes so long to let me know…
A E A E
It’s plant and reap and plow and sow,
E C#m
But tell me will it grow?
Dig my ditches in the golden sun;
I’d be robbing these trains if I could catch me one.
Sunday, Monday, now Tuesday’s gone…
Got me stone cold sober in a drought so long.
Boarded mansions and ghost filled yards;
There’s a boy in a water tower counting cars.
Steel traps open and empty stalls;
There’s a well-worn saddle, but the horse is gone.
Damn this valley, damn this cold.
Takes so long to let me know…
It’s plant and reap and plow and sow,
But tell me will it grow?
Jet black starlit midnight rolls;
I am down in the garden where I let you go.
Here on the surface, the earth looks round,
But it’s a Godless city of cold flat ground.
Damn this valley, damn this cold.
Takes so long to let me know…
It’s plant and reap and plow and sow,
But tell me will it grow?
C#m C#m – B – E – B – A
Will it grow?…
A C#m – B – E – B – A
Will it grow?…
A C#m – B – E – B – A
Will it grow?…
