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.
Life is a quest for knowledge and a simple realization that not only is there so much we don't know but to declare it somehow is empowering. A great collaboration with Norm who is an amazing percussionist and a super cool guy! Thanks for the…
last eve there was a beautiful moon
dancing in a blue black sky
outside my piano room, it called to me
this tune is a one take playful moment, loosely based on the main theme from the 2nd mov of my piano sonata,,, i only toned down about…
Guitars/Mandolin: Doug Sparling
Composer: Traditional
Recorded: 2005
A couple of nice reels played on guitar, the first is The Cup of Tea, can't remember the name of the second one. Unfortunately my midi flute scratch track got added in the mix…
Guitars/Mandolin/Pennywhistle: Doug Sparling
Composer: Doug Sparling
Recorded: 2006
Nothing special, the last track I wrote and recorded for this unfinished CD.
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
Archival stuff from my distant past with former bandmates in Scartaglen. A set of traditional Irish tunes. Rescued from a cassette tape done at a concert back in the early 90's. Myself on Uilleann pipes and whistle. Mike dugger on guitar and fiddle…
More stuff from the ancient archives rescued from the same cassette tape as Last Nights Fun. This time a set of 3 Irish reels Live at a concert back around 1992
Just great stuff... I have that tendency from time to time to forget that music is a performance art, and that there's really nothing like live music. Thanks, Kirk, for putting this up!
"You gotta put your pencil to the paper. Don't bother with the intricate chords. Hell it doesn't matter if the damned thing doesn't rhyme. Write it down. Run it through. Make some noise." These were actually the first words I wrote when…
All right, so one of those silly songs needed to find its way onto the album. In an effort to teach the students on my middle school team about rhythm in poetry, I wrote this little bit of foolishness about a fictional character (so yes, you…
Just updating all the songs from "Keeping Constant Motion" with versions that have the vocals a bit more up front... Just had to favorite this one. Of all the songs I've ever written, this one and "Amy Pond" are the most requested... Just goes to show that silliness in songwriting often speaks to people more than seriousness.
A song about the five stages of grieving, as devised by the (late) Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Unfortunately knowing these stages does not help you get over them.
You've been managing expectations
Consultations end in tears
Even if you're optimistic…
Rell Sunn, the Queen of Makaha, was a beautiful spirit and graceful surfer who lives in the hearts of all who knew her before she was called back home.
Life is a quest for knowledge and a simple realization that not only is there so much we don't know but to declare it somehow is empowering. A great collaboration with Norm who is an amazing percussionist and a super cool guy! Thanks for the…
If you have the fever and the only cure is more tambourine, here it is.
MORE TAMBOURINE SOLOS!! (But you should probably wait until you have the house to yourself...)
When my daughter and I use to play computer games on the Sinclar Spectrum. ( One Kilobyte). Many years ago we combined our names Samantha And Dad, Hence Samadad.
Wow... Very nice on this one Brian. Incredibly clean, just beautiful progressions... Makes me realize just how much I still need to learn about the guitar.
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
GREAT song... What a feel to this one.
Very cool... I'm amazed by how you can play different tunings so smoothly. Just great stuff, Kavin. Damn, what a sound.
This is great! I'm a big fan of blatant anything... And even better when it's well played!
Great track, Colin! To think it was a part of the 24-hour challenge is mind-blowing!
Beautifully delicate piece, Richard!
Great track!
Very nice! How do you record your guitar to get such a clean sound?
Love that slide!!! I bow to the master.
Damn, this song is just plain beautiful... Everything I hope I can be someday as a guitarist (and know that I never will). Incredible stuff, Kirk!
Just more incredible stuff!
Just great stuff... I have that tendency from time to time to forget that music is a performance art, and that there's really nothing like live music. Thanks, Kirk, for putting this up!
All right... So I closed the album with the fun songs (note to self... next time START the album with the fun songs).
Just updating all the songs from "Keeping Constant Motion" with versions that have the vocals a bit more up front... Just had to favorite this one. Of all the songs I've ever written, this one and "Amy Pond" are the most requested... Just goes to show that silliness in songwriting often speaks to people more than seriousness.
Ahhhhh... One of the all-time-great songs!
Wow, Rick, this is great stuff!
Wow. Right from the opening, this song is just beautifully played. Great work, guys!
Verrrrrrry nice!
This is great! It takes a special kind of healthy crazy to let it all out in a tambourine solo!
Great track!
Wow... Very nice on this one Brian. Incredibly clean, just beautiful progressions... Makes me realize just how much I still need to learn about the guitar.