Some reflections after recording this song:
1. Mic positioning for a live take can drive you crazy
2. The lowest note I can comfortably sing is an A
3. A tortured soul can somehow write an amazing love song
4. I still have much to learn
The title track. At one point I had visions of everyone singing at the end of the album (and thank you to those of you that did), but I just couldn't get it to sound right (I don't really know what I'm doing after all). So instead of voices…
My wife woke up one morning and said "I had a dream about (someone we'd just lost) the other night." When I asked her if she was okay, she replied, "Yeah, it was good to see her again."
A simple as it is musically, this song pretty much sums it all up for me. What started as the simple appreciation of a hiking t-shirt evolved into this song about the duality of this domesticated artist who recognizes the importance of wandering…
OUSTANDING collaboration with the great Gary Fox.
ONE AND ONLY
How many times have you been
Captured by a camera
With no one really knowing who you are
Caught in the sight lines
In the background
In the corner of their eyes
Never…
A simple as it is musically, this song pretty much sums it all up for me. What started as the simple appreciation of a hiking t-shirt evolved into this song about the duality of this domesticated artist who recognizes the importance of wandering…
So I'm watching Ken Burns' documentary on the National Parks and realize that I'd never written that John Muir song I had been meaning to get to... So I got to it. Tim Alexander (Letter Seventeen) mentioned that he thought the song needed a…
A slightly destructive children's song... But I suspect that many of you have tried some of the things mentioned.
I have a great idea up in my head
Let's try it out this afternoon
We'll tie the dog up to the sled
Pretend we're launching…
Well, this may be the final tweaking of this nice little sing along song...
I sent this fun little sing along off to Jim of MTC fame, and once again he has outdone himself... And I can't thank him and his wife (who appears covertly) enough…
Vocal excellence from girl named Sam... Do you really need any other reason to listen?
A Little Playing
Blue sky
Only getting clearer
Blue eyes
Like looking in a mirror
I can tell just what you're thinking
By that tiny little flicker…
Inspired by Tess' little Morwenna and my (getting bigger) Jessica. Writing back and forth with Bethan, I came to realize that a song needed to be written about the significance of the statements that so often come from the mouths of babes…
Three years ago, I brought my two youngest up to the summit of a local mountain (actually, we went up Shelving Rock Mountain, but that song wouldn't be as good). Have a listen to see how that hike went.
OUSTANDING collaboration with the great Gary Fox.
ONE AND ONLY
How many times have you been
Captured by a camera
With no one really knowing who you are
Caught in the sight lines
In the background
In the corner of their eyes
Never…
ahhh to the bards of that most elusive magic in the universe.... true love..... here's to the one and only for us all, well done gents... ps Wendy said it right!!
My first completed 2013 RPM track. Thanks to Kavin for turning a simple acoustic song into what you hear today.
ONE LAST DANCE
I never got to tell you what's been on my mind
It might be just as well now that we're running out of time…
Just a little cover tune I did in preparation for last year's live RPM Challenge album "Letters."
Nylon string Yamaha travel guitar, vocals, and one mic... Missed notes and all.
Just a little cover tune I did in preparation for last year's live RPM Challenge album "Letters."
Nylon string Yamaha travel guitar, vocals, and one mic... Missed notes and all.
Just a little cover tune I did in preparation for last year's live RPM Challenge album "Letters."
Nylon string Yamaha travel guitar, vocals, and one mic... Missed notes and all.
Another oldie but goodie (again, apologies for the few seconds of silence it takes to get to the intro). This song is the first that I really tried to record properly, written around Christmastime four or five years ago with my seventh grade…
Ah, my critical teenage piano player. Well, the music wouldn't get better if not for the constructive (or at times just needling) criticism!... And her suggestions are usually pretty accurate which is why I tend to defer to her on musical arrangements.
Finally, the finishing touches seem to be put on this three-year-old song thanks to some very talented people.
The band is:
Liam (age 13 at the time of recording) on drums
A Girl Named Sam (she's no kid!) with the backing vocals
Genevieve…
If you would like to hear the voice of one of my vocally talented students, though, come on over and listen to "Take Me North" with Ashley... Now that kid is going to be some singer!
Finally, the finishing touches seem to be put on this three-year-old song thanks to some very talented people.
The band is:
Liam (age 13 at the time of recording) on drums
A Girl Named Sam (she's no kid!) with the backing vocals
Genevieve…
Just to clarify, the drummer is a thirteen year old kid, the person who helped with much of the arrangement is a fifteen year old kid, and the vocals are done by A Girl Named Sam (NOT a kid, but a wonderfully talented fellow RPM'er singer/songwriter here on alonetone.
I have issues at my house, sometimes they manifest themselves in my tracks. In this case, the bassoon and oboe represent the mouse. The guitar is the peanut-butter.
Cant sleep....
Thought I'd write a Tune....
Had to be fairly Quiet on this, so as not to wake the Baby...
Hope you Like it.
Lyrics
“It Allâ€
By Tharek Mokbul 2010
I can’t find the,
Place where I kept,
My Love…
Sitting around in my shop a couple of days ago with the Goodall and the Zoom H4N. First time I've really messed with using the internal mics on the H4N in multitrack mode
This song is just magnificent. Just another example of the expressiveness of a master and his instrument. I am one who typically hears words behind instrumentals, but words would only detract from this masterpiece. Just incredible... Just incredible...
Wow, sometimes an instrument can express so much more than words. This is incredible, and I am very envious of your immense talent with the instrument that I'm trying like hell to come to understand. Ah well... The conversations you have with your six strings are the kind that I can only hope to have in time.
Keyboards: Doug Sparling
Composer: Doug Sparling
Written/Recorded: 2006
Old music library track. I recorded this with a cheap Yamaha keyboard my step-father gave me. Wish I would have add little more to the repeat of the melody, but I think I…
Caveat emptor: I did absolutely none of the drumming in this piece.
WORLD PREMIER! FIRST RECORDING OF THIS PATTERN - EVER!
My friend Kokou "Alex" Yemey called me a few days ago with some urgency in his voice: "I must record this before…
Something completely different- Uilleann pipes(Irish bagpipes) and synth. I wrote this tune over 20 years ago in the style of traditional Irish slow airs. It was recorded way back in 1991 for an album that's been out of print for over 15 years…
As chance had it, I found myself in an acoustically great room, full of cajons! Well, they were unfinished cabinets actually, but they had lovely tones. Since this is the stuff dreams are made of, I had no choice but to seize the opportunity and…
Jeez, Norm, this is great stuff. This gives me the urge to start whacking stuff in the kitchen to see what sounds I can get. Now if I can just get everyone out of the house for a bit...
For our beautiful son Willem, in French Guillaume.
recorded in my livingroom, 16-7-2009.
I called the song Guillaume before because of the beautiful sound.
Since 2012 I changed the title of the song into : Willem.
Because that makes much…
Just coming on by again to listen to this incredible song. This truly is a masterpiece, leaving me envious of every aspect of this song from the writing to the playing to (and especially to) that beautiful soulful voice. Just stunned by the sweetness in the expression of that little heartbeat. So much to learn about writing from this simple powerful song.
This is the first cover song I've ever really recorded in my 15 years of playing and recording.
The guitar and voice are each full continuous takes, I didn't want to do comping (copy and pasting), though the vocal harmony parts were done in…
Very nice! Great guitarwork (and excellently delicate vocals)... The opening brings me back to old Simon and Garfunkel in just about every way. Well done, Sudara!
Guitars, mandolin, keyboards, penny whistle: Doug Sparling
Arranger: Doug Sparling - 2005
Composer: Shaker Hymn
Old demo from the basement. I love this tune and someday I'll do it justice...
IIRC, I recorded and mixed this thing with a…
Guitars, mandolin, penny whistle: Doug Sparling
Composer: Doug Sparling
Recorded: 2006
From an out of print, self-released CD I put out in 2006 (titled "The Old Stone Bridge" - not the same one as the Old Stone Bridge tracks I've released…
Guitars, mandolin, penny whistle: Doug Sparling
Composer: Doug Sparling
Recorded: 2006
From an out of print, self-released CD I put out in 2006 (titled "The Old Stone Bridge" - not the same one as the Old Stone Bridge tracks I've released…
It seems a lot of you record with open mics and can relate. I record 1 track at a time with usually 4 or 5 tracks. So, Im only asking for about 15 minutes of Silence...IS THIS TOO MUCH TO ASK??? Anyway, my house is so loud, I get a lot of bloopers…
Written: 2004
Composer: Doug Sparling
Midi demo written in vi on a Linux laptop.
Piano music created at the command line on a Linux laptop.
These are the first tunes I composed after switching from performing to writing. I don't own a piano…
Comments on Keith Landry's stuff
Beautiful song, covered beautifully by you. w;-)
How did I miss this? I love it! w;-)
So moving, so gorgeous. Thank you, Keith w;-)
Had me hooked in the first five seconds. Lovely acoustic.
Excellent sound and great track :)
I have this on CD thanks to you Keith. w;-)
This is lovely. w;-)
How did I miss this? Love it! w;-)
What? I missed favoriting this? Really great track! w;-)
Gave me a big smile! w;-)
Excellent track Keith. Just excellent. w;-)
I just fell in love! How did I miss this? w;-)
Wow! Your voices were made for each other! I love this! w;-)
How did I miss this? A wonderful track, Keith! w;-)
Keith, this is beautiful! w;-)
ahhh to the bards of that most elusive magic in the universe.... true love..... here's to the one and only for us all, well done gents... ps Wendy said it right!!
I wish I could favor this a million times.
beautiful Keith, just beautiful. I love Indigo Girls and this is so on the money.
lovely
Very nice! ER
Comments made by Keith Landry
Ah, my critical teenage piano player. Well, the music wouldn't get better if not for the constructive (or at times just needling) criticism!... And her suggestions are usually pretty accurate which is why I tend to defer to her on musical arrangements.
Another great song, Peter!
If you would like to hear the voice of one of my vocally talented students, though, come on over and listen to "Take Me North" with Ashley... Now that kid is going to be some singer!
Just to clarify, the drummer is a thirteen year old kid, the person who helped with much of the arrangement is a fifteen year old kid, and the vocals are done by A Girl Named Sam (NOT a kid, but a wonderfully talented fellow RPM'er singer/songwriter here on alonetone.
Wow. Just a great sound, as I've come to expect from such a talented artist!
Great track!
This one had me from the opening guitar... Very carefully and lovingly performed. Great stuff!
This song is just magnificent. Just another example of the expressiveness of a master and his instrument. I am one who typically hears words behind instrumentals, but words would only detract from this masterpiece. Just incredible... Just incredible...
Wow, sometimes an instrument can express so much more than words. This is incredible, and I am very envious of your immense talent with the instrument that I'm trying like hell to come to understand. Ah well... The conversations you have with your six strings are the kind that I can only hope to have in time.
...And by the way, this song is outstanding!!!
Wow. If I could add more I would, but this has me stuck at "wow"
Wow. Just terrific stuff, Kirk!
Jeez, Norm, this is great stuff. This gives me the urge to start whacking stuff in the kitchen to see what sounds I can get. Now if I can just get everyone out of the house for a bit...
Just coming on by again to listen to this incredible song. This truly is a masterpiece, leaving me envious of every aspect of this song from the writing to the playing to (and especially to) that beautiful soulful voice. Just stunned by the sweetness in the expression of that little heartbeat. So much to learn about writing from this simple powerful song.
Very nice! Great guitarwork (and excellently delicate vocals)... The opening brings me back to old Simon and Garfunkel in just about every way. Well done, Sudara!
Jeez... Every song is better than the one before... Keep playing great stuff, Doug!
Another reeeeeeally great track, Doug. So freakin' multi-talented.
Ah, very nice... This is right up my alley!
This is one of my favorite songs of all time. This is pure genius.
Wow, this is really great stuff, Doug!