“Mother” (Pink Floyd Cover)

By Jeff Copperthite:

Good evening and welcome to your Sunday edition of the Laptop Sessions. Today, as promised, I bring you another installment, and one from Pink Floyd. This comes by request from Dave – thanks Dave, now my vocal cords hurt.

Not because the vocals are high, which is usually what could cause some strain to a voice. This song has quite a low register through most of the song. It is something i’m not used to dealing with. The song is “Mother” from their album “The Wall” – same album as last Monday, but different disc.

This song has some solid lyrics and at the time of songwriting for “Expressions”, the song “Independence” was influenced by this song somewhat. The guitar part is easy-going and not that difficult to play. The band also threw in some subtle time signature changes in the song – see how many you can spot.

As mentioned, ow, my voice. It took me approximately 15 takes to make it through the song. Near the end I came in late on an “ooo”, but since I was so close to the end, I decided I had expended my voice enough, and to keep chugging.

On Wednesday, I will be bringing Original Wednesday your way, and I will be tapping into Jim Fusco’s library again. I had a song in mind from my own library (a new one), but I want to clean it up before I do it for Original Wednesday. So in 3 weeks 3 days, you’ll hopefully see that one.

Come back tomorrow for a new Jim Fusco acoustic cover song!

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 original 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!

“Comfortably Numb” (Pink Floyd Cover)

By Jeff Copperthite:

What can I say – I just enjoy clicking the “add new category” button to the right of me when I write my posts every three days.

Jeff Copperthite introducing a new band to the sessions?  Again?

Yes! Yes! And yes!  Chris may kill me…

I am proud to introduce one of the greatest rock acts of all time to the Laptop Sessions.  I think they’re so great, that i’m going to be doing 2 more sessions from them for my next two.  In fact, if you request a song from them, I just might change the songs I have in mind!

Pink Floyd is the band today, and i am performing a song from their bestselling, multi-platinum 2-CD album “The Wall” called “Comfortably Numb”.  You may know that “The Wall” is considered a rock opera, and if you are a fan of any of Pink Floyd’s songs, or classic rock at all, you would do well to get your hands on this album.  This song is in the middle of the 2nd half of the album.  It is a slow song with two awesome guitar solos, and a spacy synthesizer.  None of those things are on this performance, however.  Just me and my acoustic, like usual.

I think I really did a good job on voice switching.  Roger Waters has many singing styles and uses two of them in this song – his evil, sneering voice, and his kind, smooth voice.  Not to mention the “scream” in the song.  I try to replicate that in this performance, but again – it’s one of me on the video, and its like 5 of him on the album.  That’s just how we roll here on the Laptop Sessions.

Remember, request a Pink Floyd song and I just might change my mind on my next two performances!

Come back tomorrow for (perhaps – I was wrong last Friday) a cover song by Jim Fusco.  By the way, congratulations to Mike on his first Laptop Session.  He really nailed that Elvis song – I suggest you look down the page a bit and watch for yourself if you haven’t done so already.

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!

“Is There Anybody Out There?” (Pink Floyd Cover)

By Jeremy Hammond:

My cover of “Is There Anybody Out There?” by Pink Floyd from The Wall album. I don’t have classical guitar, so I’m playing it on a steel-string.

** EDITOR’S NOTE: **

Is there a better way to close out a long week than to listen to Jeremy’s beautiful rendition of this simple tune from Pink Floyd’s classic album The Wall?

I can’t think of one.

As you listen, you may be thinking back to this legendary concept album, and the significance of this question being asked — is there anybody out there?  As many critics and fans have pointed out, the decision to make this an instrumental clearly suggests that no answer is being given.

We thank Jeremy for highlighting another excellent album track for us, and wish you all a wonderful weekend.  Hopefully, it won’t be spent alone.  (And, if it is, then maybe it’s time to dust off your copy of The Wall!)

“Mother” (Pink Floyd Cover)

Do YOU record acoustic cover songs?  Submit your YouTube link and a blog post about your performance, why you chose the song, etc. to the “Fridays: The Guest Sessions” link in the weekly calendar above!

By Jeremy Hammond:

This is my cover of “Mother” by Pink Floyd from the album The Wall. I first recorded the rhythm and vocals, then overlaid another track for the guitar solo.

I had two versions of this up previously. On the first, a commenter suggested I add the solo, so I did. But then watching that second one, and then going back and listening to the original for the first time in ages, I realized I had the timing wrong in two parts. So I redid it yet again. This, my third “Mother” effort for YouTube, is one I am finally happy with.


** EDITOR’S NOTE: **

Jeremy’s session technically breaks the golden rule of “one live take” established since the first Laptop Session over two years ago.  That being said, his version of “Mother” is an excellent performance, and as he explained above, the solo was overdubbed and handled nicely in the video with a fade in and out.  We simply couldn’t deny you the opportunity to hear and see this great version.

Now if only he could clone himself, that would make for quite the duo…

Laptop Sessions contributor Jeff Copperthite first recorded this song in August 2008, and it quickly became one of his most popular and highest rated performances.  Click HERE to watch his version.

Thanks again, Jeremy, for contributing to the Guest Sessions!