FIREFLIES. capo @ 2
F walk down
We (C) spoke of them as (C/B) sweethearts
There (Am) in the Southern (F) sky
(C) Saturn, just a (G) twinkle, bold (F) Jupiter near (G) by
I (Am) guess we didn't (Am/G) notice
as they (Am/F)drifted a…
Pete Thompson on percussion and Angie Thompson on bass. Produced with Pete 123112
HAIRCUT
They sent me a letter. A ticket to ride
Portland to Frisco on that Big Overnight
Brand new clothes. New pants and new shirt
Brand new boots to kick…
Sweet, sweet, sweet, (except for the war and killing part). My fav lines: "...with those sulfurous clicks/
Little red rolls with black spots of bang" Never described better! That's exactly what they were. Gwyn Henry
capo @ 3
Am walk down...
When I was a child we'd drive 200 miles
to Grandma's in the Spring
I'd hop out of the car, run to the back yard.
Grandma had a swing
But the times have changed...
When I became a dad I took all the rope I had…
CATTAILS AND BUTTERFLIES capo @ 4 in C
C G repeat
There was a field around the corner
And a stream flowed cross the field
There were cat tails in the summer time
And monarch butterflies
And tadpoles sprouting wings
E…
DIRTY LAUNDRY Key C
I got a call from Russell. He had to move his junk
He’d filled his car. He’d filled his trunk
Big black bags of something. I said, “What’s with these?”
He said, “It’s dirty laundry.” I said, “That’s crazy.”
So, he…
HOME
(Am D) or (F C)
VERSE 1.
Where the (G) windmill sings to the mocking bird
And the (CM7) prairie wind, without a word
(Am) Whispers thru tall (D) grass, I’ll be (G) home
(F C G) or (Am D)
VERSE 2.
Where the butter cups and…
HOME
(Am D) or (F C)
VERSE 1.
Where the (G) windmill sings to the mocking bird
And the (CM7) prairie wind, without a word
(Am) Whispers thru tall (D) grass, I’ll be (G) home
(F C G) or (Am D)
VERSE 2.
Where the butter cups and…
DIRTY LAUNDRY Key C
I got a call from Russell. He had to move his junk
He’d filled his car. He’d filled his trunk
Big black bags of something. I said, “What’s with these?”
He said, “It’s dirty laundry.” I said, “That’s crazy.”
So, he…
HOME
(Am D) or (F C)
VERSE 1.
Where the (G) windmill sings to the mocking bird
And the (CM7) prairie wind, without a word
(Am) Whispers thru tall (D) grass, I’ll be (G) home
(F C G) or (Am D)
VERSE 2.
Where the butter cups and…
"Mending the web that the horsefly tore..." .what a line..what an image... I love that...really love that image...delicate and hopefull....and magical... Matthew
I wrote this at my dad's urging. He likes it. We sing it together. I have YouTube Video of it up.
EULOGY
He grew up in Clinton, Oklahoma
Red dirt back yard, Gramma's place
Honey suckle in a dust bowl
Life as hard as limestone lace…
HOME
(Am D) or (F C)
VERSE 1.
Where the (G) windmill sings to the mocking bird
And the (CM7) prairie wind, without a word
(Am) Whispers thru tall (D) grass, I’ll be (G) home
(F C G) or (Am D)
VERSE 2.
Where the butter cups and…
DIRTY LAUNDRY Key C
I got a call from Russell. He had to move his junk
He’d filled his car. He’d filled his trunk
Big black bags of something. I said, “What’s with these?”
He said, “It’s dirty laundry.” I said, “That’s crazy.”
So, he…
JOHNNY BROKE AN AXLE 110220
I got revved up on blueberry donut holes
and cranked this one out...
Johnny broke an axle
Broke it like a pencil
Oh, no.
We need an ambulance at turn three.
Johnny broke an axle
Broke it like a pencil…
There was an album by a Los Angeles singer/songwriter named Judee Sill that came into KINK-FM back in 1971.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/obituaries/judee-sill-overlooked.html
MISSING JUDY - Capo 2
Stepping down from C
C B…
A friend asked me,
"Don't you have any happy songs?"
So I wrote one!
IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY capo @ 3
C F C
If it makes you happy I will tie your shoe
C…
DIRTY LAUNDRY Key C
I got a call from Russell. He had to move his junk
He’d filled his car. He’d filled his trunk
Big black bags of something. I said, “What’s with these?”
He said, “It’s dirty laundry.” I said, “That’s crazy.”
So, he…
JOHNNY BROKE AN AXLE 110220
I got revved up on blueberry donut holes
and cranked this one out...
Johnny broke an axle
Broke it like a pencil
Oh, no.
We need an ambulance at turn three.
Johnny broke an axle
Broke it like a pencil…
Another one jip1965 sent to me for playing with!
Silent and magical
Calming and practical
Moonbeams, silver moonbeams
Filtering through the air
Twinkling in our hair
Moonbeams, silver moonbeams
Dancing on the leaves of trees
Shaking…
Really like your vocals. Reminds me of the girls that sang in a trio from Seattle back in the fifties called The Fleetwoods. They did Tragedy and Come Softly to Me.
Another lyrically-challenged collaboration with jip1965, who sent me a guitar, bongo, percussion track with a recorder playing named, simply, 'Love'.
I added the piccolo, crystals and windchimes from my virtual keyboard, renamed it 'What is…
Another early tune, this one remains forever unfinished... Still, it has some raw charm, and there's even some CMOR rapping happening!
From my 2006 album, 'Quip Hop'
This is a remix of this song.
It was recorded in 2010, and I was in a hurry to post it elsewhere because I'm so fond of the song itself. But I've always hated the old mix - I lost the essence of the guitars and choirs during mastering because…
Big time "like". Such an expanse of history/experience/pathos captured in so few words.
I dealt with this on a much smaller scale in a song I called THE INAPPROPRIATE QUESTION.
In my late teens I was in a hard rock band and this was one of our songs. This recording is not the band but myself doing all the instruments and vocals. Our singer Kevin wrote the lyrics but I forgot some of the lines and adlibbed a bit of it…
This is a lil tune I had written over fifteen years ago. It is one of my favorite progressions and I figure in the near future to record a full band arrangement with vocals. This is just a ruff take working out a melody over the changes.
Oh yet another nostalgic blast from the past. I found this unbelievable backing track surfing the web some years ago. I usually never use backing tracks because they usually suck bad . But this one is like having mitch and noel at your side. I…
So I was locked in the broom-cupboard, checking out some old songs that need recording.
I'd just picked one and then suddenly this thing came out of nowehere. It started with one of those guitarist doodles that other musicians love so much…
New one from me. It's ended up as a bit of a "crying into yer beer at Bob's Country Bunker" sort of song lol...
I've been sat on these lyrics in some form or another for absolutely years. I first wrote them one very dark night a few years after…
First new one from me in a long time.
Kind of a love song, I guess.
Recorded in my new "studio" (3rd bedroom in the new house). Almost up and running now... shine and don't stop wondering!
****
**Shine - A A J Russe**
On my way…
A new original from me. Another one-voice, one-guitar, "live" performance in my broom-cupboard. This time it's the good ole tin guitar.
I wrote this one in 2002 during the "dark years" lol. I've ummed and aahed over the years on whether to…
So I was locked in the broom-cupboard, checking out some old songs that need recording.
I'd just picked one and then suddenly this thing came out of nowehere. It started with one of those guitarist doodles that other musicians love so much…
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Beautiful - Laurie Calinan
Sweet, sweet, sweet, (except for the war and killing part). My fav lines: "...with those sulfurous clicks/ Little red rolls with black spots of bang" Never described better! That's exactly what they were. Gwyn Henry
beautiful, james
Yeah, cool track.
Beautiful - Laurie Callinan
Yep :)
I'll comment on this one :) ... mighty fine song.
Short and sweet!
Colleen Dillon (73.94.253.184) Love this entirely!
The harmonies on this are so awesome!
"Mending the web that the horsefly tore..." .what a line..what an image... I love that...really love that image...delicate and hopefull....and magical... Matthew
Beautiful beautiful song!! Kat Landrove
i like it, but i'd like to visualize a little more of this place. thanks, james for sharing these!!!
i thought i had commented on this one...i understand helping people move. i know a friend like this and his laundry...funny
it's in the blood...what can i say!
i didn't know you had it in you to rock like that! enjoyed!!
;)
nice sing-a-long, James!!
I think there are a lot of us who are one step away from Russell’s situation.
...made me laugh, if only for your voice intro where I thought you were channeling Axl Rose. A nice rockin' ditty. Nuno
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
I haven't heard the original...but this is very cool. Very poppie. A little bit of DEVO here.
Really like your vocals. Reminds me of the girls that sang in a trio from Seattle back in the fifties called The Fleetwoods. They did Tragedy and Come Softly to Me.
Really evocative. You are using that program very expertly. I have been working in Logic Pro since my computer with Nuendo died.
This sounds ancient. Unlike the others I have listened to. Interesting bass line.
This is really solid. From note one. Love the tone on that bass.
Groovy.
Are your tunes all done with Midi? It's all so clean.
Likewise...
Very cool. Love the sparceness of it.
Big time "like". Such an expanse of history/experience/pathos captured in so few words. I dealt with this on a much smaller scale in a song I called THE INAPPROPRIATE QUESTION.
Stadium rock!!! Yeah!
Reminds me of The Fleetwoods. (Not Fleetw3ood Mac) A very specific time and place.
So Cream/Hendrix. Jack Bruce. Love the unrelenting drive. Stevie Ray too. (Thank you for your comment.
Thank you for the comments. You made my day. jmt
Yeah.Takes me back to high school.
Like. So clean.
Clean! Like the simplicity. The intensity.
Love the delicacy of it.
Like it.
Very cool. ...and thank you for your comment. Looks like we are both in the same business when it comes to war...