CALIFORNIA
Capo @ 4 in C/Am
I’m (Am) going back to California
A little place in the San (E) Joaquin
(Am, stepping down A G F# F E)
Where the back pasture builds
To Sierra foothills
And Kaweah tumbles down cool and clean
I’m going back…
Key - G
Texas Water might be the only trio besides The Browns to do this song in the later part of the twentieth century. By Jacque Brel via the Browns.
Here it is by There Browns:
https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube+the+browns+three…
You are one of the most beautiful people I know. I love your soul. She was an amazing person too, and, yes, had a beautiful voice. Like Reply3m Active James Michael Taylor Lauryl Blossom Thank you for listening. When we sang together all the troubles of our life were forgotten. I love when people who weren't around back then listen to us sing. Our harmonies were as beautiful to us as they were to our listeners.
Key - G
Texas Water might be the only trio besides The Browns to do this song in the later part of the twentieth century. By Jacque Brel via the Browns.
Here it is by There Browns:
https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube+the+browns+three…
I wrote this one lonely afternoon in San Anselmo, California at my friend, Eric's house. Missing Peggy.
NIGHT TIME DREAMS
It's a long way to Texas. Further to Tennessee
I'm out here in California with nobody but me
So, I'm thinkin' about…
My daughter, Wyn, sings
a song I wrote in 1977
while I was doing a gig
at the Ramada Inn in
Laredo.
Harmonies are by her mother,
Barbara Anne Taylor and step
mother, Peggy Ann Mitchell.
The guitar solo and keys are
by my son, Rabyn…
After seeing a quick pick up at the Leather Ball Saloon in Dallas one 1974 evening. This is a song from the album, FEATHERS IN THE WING by Snow Geese/Barbara, Michael Jeffrey and me. 1976
(50 years later, I am stunned at the starkness of this…
The story our song that night (Songwriter night, Tuesday, at The Post, where we would divide up into groups and have a new song ready to perform in one hour) was about railroads and a girl from San Antone. When I got home I had the Tejas/Chaos…
The story our song that night (Songwriter night, Tuesday, at The Post)
was about railroads and a girl from San Antone. I had the Tejas/Chaos rhyme and when I rhymed "confetti" with Texas City, I had the local. Once I saw her on that shrimp boat it wrote itself.
The story our song that night (Songwriter night, Tuesday, at The Post, where we would divide up into groups and have a new song ready to perform in one hour) was about railroads and a girl from San Antone. When I got home I had the Tejas/Chaos…
SOMETHING ABOUT THE NIGHT TIME - no Capo or Capo @ 4
(Am)Something about the (Bm)night time makes me feel alive
Makes me want to sing a song. Think about my life
(C)Maybe light a (D)candle. I like lemon grass
(Am)Something about the (Bm…
LANCASTER STREET
Midnight in Cowtown. 90 degrees
Too hot for a blanket. Too hot for a sheet
The trash on the sidewalk is trying to sleep
Breathing the bus fumes on Lancaster Street
Sunshine brings tacos. Sunshine brings beans.
Sunshine…
Connie Pittman Ramsey
Jesus, James! Brilliant. Powerful. Heart-wrenching. Thank you. I had not heard this album!!! I will have to listen later, but thank you, thank you for sharing this one! We should be ashamed. I know I am.
I never sing this song the same two times in a row.
The lyric below is pretty close to how I sing it now.
Listening again, this is an awful version of this song...
I have my recording machine working again...I must redo this.
I PLAY C…
One day as I was turning into my driveway I saw Rita on her porch. She's a lot like me.
AL & RITA Capo @2 in C
C stepping down to F
Al was a smoker. He's dead now, of course
Al has Alzheimer's. Alcohol made it worse
D stepping down…
Randy Brown and I did a little co-write this evening and this is what we came up with...
I MISTOOK IT FOR THE MOON Capo @ 2 Key D (Play in C positions)
I was coasting across West Texas/Had my top down, it was late at night
I caught a coyote…
As for the song, you did a nice job of imagery and I wasn't sure what was really happening. I'm used to the stories being biographical and the "and then he died" threw me a little. I don't think it flows off the tongue like some of your others, but I like it. - Lee Snaples
Randy Brown and I did a little co-write this evening and this is what we came up with...
I MISTOOK IT FOR THE MOON Capo @ 2 Key D (Play in C positions)
I was coasting across West Texas/Had my top down, it was late at night
I caught a coyote…
I just listened to your ' I mistook it for the moon' I wanted to comment and lost the post so I'm commenting g here. You are such an amazing writer. Karen Lee
Randy Brown and I did a little co-write this evening and this is what we came up with...
I MISTOOK IT FOR THE MOON Capo @ 2 Key D (Play in C positions)
I was coasting across West Texas/Had my top down, it was late at night
I caught a coyote…
Randy Brown and I did a little co-write this evening and this is what we came up with...
I MISTOOK IT FOR THE MOON Capo @ 2 Key D (Play in C positions)
I was coasting across West Texas/Had my top down, it was late at night
I caught a coyote…
Randy Brown and I did a little co-write this evening and this is what we came up with...
I MISTOOK IT FOR THE MOON Capo @ 2 Key D (Play in C positions)
I was coasting across West Texas/Had my top down, it was late at night
I caught a coyote…
Thanks for the great comments. It would be fun to spend an evening playing music with you in one of those "Cow Town" bars.
You asked about my musical friends, we all live in the Minneapolis area, maybe within a 20 mile circle. Covid disrupted our activities a lot, and then we all seemed to have major disruptions in our life.
My mother, for example, was on hospice most of last year and passed away at 93 years last fall. We are all coming out of the fog now and trying to get back to music. Tomorrow, Mark Lofgren, and I are meeting at Colleen Dillon's house for an afternoon of writing songs. With any luck we'll be posting something on Alonetone this week.
I volunteer at Presbyterian Homes where my mother was and yesterday we had a little impromptu concert. I played guitar along with the Activity director and one of the memory care residents. Take a listen:
https://mnsongwriters.org/members/greg-connor/mediapress/special-events/rosiebrucegreg/
Let's hope we all get much more active writing and recording this winter.
This is my first upload. I mostly have a vocal here. It's a song that I'd love to get some collaboration on from the guitarists in the community. Let me know what you think?
This is my first upload. I mostly have a vocal here. It's a song that I'd love to get some collaboration on from the guitarists in the community. Let me know what you think?
HEAR MY FINAL SONG
Most were drinkin', four were playin' cards
Two were dancin', one he played guitar
He was singin' how she broke his heart
Some were smokin', smoke rings filled the air
One was flirtin', playin' with her hair
He was…
To me, as a songwriter, I have come to the "conclusion" that what I might say to explain a song is functionally THE BRIDGE. Your explanation adds so much to the song maybe it's bridge time.
MONOLOGUE
I found a hole, it's in the wall
And reaching up, I crawled inside
And to the stars I gave a call
To grant a better place to hide
I cannot leave the hole I found
The chapel for my dark despair
I do not seek to hang around…
Very interesting commentary...
And, thank you for listening to my song.
I was at the stockade at Fort Ord in California and then sent to Leavenworth where I ended up at the prison farm running the egg factory.
****
Jan 17 2015 - Remixed. I was always kinda disappointed with what the original mix sounded like. Listening to it the other day I realised what it is - I'd mixed the vocals too loud. This reduced the "stereo" and killed off a lot of the life…
I have been wanting to do some Cream covers for awhile now and with the passing of Jack Bruce it seemed an appropriate time to record some sort of tribute to him and the band.
This is an instrumental song I composed roundabout 7 years ago. Finally we got around to recording it with real instruments, and the band is:
Frank Zax: Guitars
Andy Gupta: Bass
Mark R. Cole: Drums:
Steffen Offermann: Synthesizers, Music…
****
Jan 17 2015 - Remixed. I was always kinda disappointed with what the original mix sounded like. Listening to it the other day I realised what it is - I'd mixed the vocals too loud. This reduced the "stereo" and killed off a lot of the life…
****
Jan 17 2015 - Remixed. I was always kinda disappointed with what the original mix sounded like. Listening to it the other day I realised what it is - I'd mixed the vocals too loud. This reduced the "stereo" and killed off a lot of the life…
LIFE
The art of life, it lies between
Hanging on and letting go
I didn't ask to be alive
It's the best life that I know
So we are here, so let us be
Adding to the gripping tale
The universe can know itself
As we journey on our…
THE BEST I'VE FOUND
A ray of sun, an act of grace
A bit of song, a smiling face
Can lift me from dispair
And when I'm lost in yesterday
I find a kiss along the way
Will bring me here from there
A super moon, a darker blue
A purring…
Sweet song.
My song CODY'S SURPRISE is not a made up story.
I waited for a couple of years for Cody to write the song. He's a horse trainer singer/songwriter friend of mine living and working in California. Finally decided to write it for him. It was quite a trauma for him. His cowboy name is Cody Pendant.
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Robert White Thanks James! I just sang that song with you! Easy Tune to Learn "California 3"
OH MY GOSH!!! That's really special!!! Isabelle Massimo
You are one of the most beautiful people I know. I love your soul. She was an amazing person too, and, yes, had a beautiful voice. Like Reply3m Active James Michael Taylor Lauryl Blossom Thank you for listening. When we sang together all the troubles of our life were forgotten. I love when people who weren't around back then listen to us sing. Our harmonies were as beautiful to us as they were to our listeners.
Lane Beauvais That's great! I was pleasantly surprised by the stealth modulation at the end!
Leslie Young James Michael Taylor Beautiful. I love the ladies that sound like bells.
Leslie Young James Michael Taylor Beautiful
Deanie Hamilton Berry James Michael Taylor, that was great and you may be right.
Fabulous James - Keith Hass
The story our song that night (Songwriter night, Tuesday, at The Post) was about railroads and a girl from San Antone. I had the Tejas/Chaos rhyme and when I rhymed "confetti" with Texas City, I had the local. Once I saw her on that shrimp boat it wrote itself.
Classic! — Wade Jackson
Lovely piece James. Nicely done. — Wade Jackson
Connie Pittman Ramsey Jesus, James! Brilliant. Powerful. Heart-wrenching. Thank you. I had not heard this album!!! I will have to listen later, but thank you, thank you for sharing this one! We should be ashamed. I know I am.
Stefan Prigmore James Michael Taylor thank YOU for writing such a powerful song and for letting me sing it
https://www.facebook.com/richard.vannoy.77/videos/1278352819609892/ Violet's Al & Rita live...
As for the song, you did a nice job of imagery and I wasn't sure what was really happening. I'm used to the stories being biographical and the "and then he died" threw me a little. I don't think it flows off the tongue like some of your others, but I like it. - Lee Snaples
I just listened to your ' I mistook it for the moon' I wanted to comment and lost the post so I'm commenting g here. You are such an amazing writer. Karen Lee
Steve Satterwhite this. is. great.
hownice…really
Lazarus Knight I don't quite understand what happened, but that doesn't diminish my appreciation of this song.
Thanks for the great comments. It would be fun to spend an evening playing music with you in one of those "Cow Town" bars. You asked about my musical friends, we all live in the Minneapolis area, maybe within a 20 mile circle. Covid disrupted our activities a lot, and then we all seemed to have major disruptions in our life. My mother, for example, was on hospice most of last year and passed away at 93 years last fall. We are all coming out of the fog now and trying to get back to music. Tomorrow, Mark Lofgren, and I are meeting at Colleen Dillon's house for an afternoon of writing songs. With any luck we'll be posting something on Alonetone this week. I volunteer at Presbyterian Homes where my mother was and yesterday we had a little impromptu concert. I played guitar along with the Activity director and one of the memory care residents. Take a listen: https://mnsongwriters.org/members/greg-connor/mediapress/special-events/rosiebrucegreg/ Let's hope we all get much more active writing and recording this winter.
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
Soooo pretty.
Like a sound trac to a slow roller coaster...
You are singing in the key of B. This is very cool.
Very cool.
To me, as a songwriter, I have come to the "conclusion" that what I might say to explain a song is functionally THE BRIDGE. Your explanation adds so much to the song maybe it's bridge time.
Love your voice.
Such sweet harmony...
Very interesting commentary... And, thank you for listening to my song. I was at the stockade at Fort Ord in California and then sent to Leavenworth where I ended up at the prison farm running the egg factory.
The more I listen to this the more I like it.
great beat
That's music to meditate by...
An instant favorite...
Coulda fooled me.
I worked Phantom many times (maybe 39 times)as a stagehand. This really takes me back...
Nice.
Love this. So much drama. Great contrasts.
Very interesting story. Your music catches the mystery of it.
Great quote. Who is that?
Thank you, Merry. I did as you requested. j mt
Sweet song. My song CODY'S SURPRISE is not a made up story. I waited for a couple of years for Cody to write the song. He's a horse trainer singer/songwriter friend of mine living and working in California. Finally decided to write it for him. It was quite a trauma for him. His cowboy name is Cody Pendant.