The song that really kicked off this second album of 2009.
"In time all the stars will fade away
Our kind won't get to see it anyway
No shine, just endless black between the gray
I won't be going out in that way"
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…
A crazy little song written while considering Ed Robertson's plane crash from a few years back, "Any Landing" is given much legitimacy by Ashley's incredible voice and Kavin Allenson's (Kavin S. Acoustic Church) guitar.
Any Landing
Learning…
The first recorded version of this song, this little folk song was originally written fifteen or so years ago with just the four chord rhythm guitar and single vocal. The song became what it is today when I needed to write additional verses for…
Another old song that got a little country twang when it became obvious that the horn section wouldn't be showing up on my doorstep any time soon.
"You fools don't know what's going on inside her head"
The lyrics and the riff really work well on this one. Overall the lenghth is good but I would pare it down and build a chorus out of part of it. She tells me every day, that kind of love dont fade away, could be earlier, between verses to build that memory that makes us sing along.
The song that really kicked off this second album of 2009.
"In time all the stars will fade away
Our kind won't get to see it anyway
No shine, just endless black between the gray
I won't be going out in that way"
I was right. Your songs sound great when they have structure. I don't undersatnd why we need the repetition but for some reason it makes the song friendlier, more accessable. Very nice guitar work.
To get ready for every baseball season, my father used to pitch tennis balls to me in the backyard. He had invented a pitch that defied the laws of physics. To this day, I have no idea how he threw it. The damn thing would spin like crazy like…
Nice song. That one was easy to listen to. It had pretty good structure. Plus it took me back. I used to go to the Bowery in Salisbury when I was in my 20's. I used to do the batting cages too when I was even younger. My first time drunk was at 16 in at Salisbury Beach. I saw some good bands at the Frolics!
A few years back (when I lived it Texas), I drove out to an open field to watch the Geminids meteor shower... I really need to remember to look up at the night sky more often.
The Showers of December
Lying flat on my back
Looking…
A few years back (when I lived it Texas), I drove out to an open field to watch the Geminids meteor shower... I really need to remember to look up at the night sky more often.
The Showers of December
Lying flat on my back
Looking…
The contrast of this aging "summer boy" and his outdoors-loving daughter who is more than happy to run out into the cold.
Late December
Late December
The nights get so long
Turning embers
In the dark before dawn
Late December
For…
Bookending the "Late December" CD, this song about my little girls on Christmas morning holds a special place in my heart. Thanks to Sam and Mick for making it perfect.
One Perfect Day
Go to sleep my blue-eyed girl
The sun is on its…
Every christmas is different now!
It just gets better and better now my kid is here. Was just the same old stuff before...
This song captures that feeling perfectly.
Cant wait for this christmas. this is gonna be on the days soundtrack.
Superb track!
Well, about six months ago, I uploaded a rough study called "Songwriting Day One." I wasn't sure where the song would go, but words came in January just in time for this year's RPM album... And before I forget... Curse you Bm!!!
GENEVIEVE…
The contrast of this aging "summer boy" and his outdoors-loving daughter who is more than happy to run out into the cold.
Late December
Late December
The nights get so long
Turning embers
In the dark before dawn
Late December
For…
Finally got this song balanced properly (after so many weeks of listening and editing, listening and editing). It somehow seems so long ago that we were all covered in snow now that winter has finally relented.
A few years back (when I lived it Texas), I drove out to an open field to watch the Geminids meteor shower... I really need to remember to look up at the night sky more often.
The Showers of December
Lying flat on my back
Looking…
Bookending the "Late December" CD, this song about my little girls on Christmas morning holds a special place in my heart. Thanks to Sam and Mick for making it perfect.
One Perfect Day
Go to sleep my blue-eyed girl
The sun is on its…
Bookending the "Late December" CD, this song about my little girls on Christmas morning holds a special place in my heart. Thanks to Sam and Mick for making it perfect.
One Perfect Day
Go to sleep my blue-eyed girl
The sun is on its…
In 1979, my father came home from the record store with an album that forever changed my life, Pete Seeger's Circles & Seasons. Before I knew Pete to be the blacklisted folk icon that had been on the humanitarian side of every fight since…
Bookending the "Late December" CD, this song about my little girls on Christmas morning holds a special place in my heart. Thanks to Sam and Mick for making it perfect.
One Perfect Day
Go to sleep my blue-eyed girl
The sun is on its…
"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…
Bedtime here, so I have to stop listening to all the great music at this site for now. But I'll be back. And I have all your music on my mp3 player anyway. :)
Great as usual!
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
What a beauty! Missed this one of yours
I like this one. Simple but well crafted. Nice riff adds interest. Good vocals too.
Keith this is my favorite from RPM this year. I really like this one. Outstanding song idea, great lyrics. Very well done
I really liked the guitar interlude. You and Ashley sound great together. You sound a little John Denver-ry in this one.
The lyrics and the riff really work well on this one. Overall the lenghth is good but I would pare it down and build a chorus out of part of it. She tells me every day, that kind of love dont fade away, could be earlier, between verses to build that memory that makes us sing along.
I was right. Your songs sound great when they have structure. I don't undersatnd why we need the repetition but for some reason it makes the song friendlier, more accessable. Very nice guitar work.
Real folksy. Good structure. This one even has a bridge! I like.
Nice song. That one was easy to listen to. It had pretty good structure. Plus it took me back. I used to go to the Bowery in Salisbury when I was in my 20's. I used to do the batting cages too when I was even younger. My first time drunk was at 16 in at Salisbury Beach. I saw some good bands at the Frolics!
I spent 6 months in Australia a few years ago -clear skies no light polution- I get where your coming from. Oh and really like the song :)
Absolutely wonderful! w;-)
Instant favorite! Love it! w;-)
Every christmas is different now! It just gets better and better now my kid is here. Was just the same old stuff before... This song captures that feeling perfectly. Cant wait for this christmas. this is gonna be on the days soundtrack. Superb track!
pretty piece,, i think the guitar and lyrics fit very well,, richard
Finally got this song balanced properly (after so many weeks of listening and editing, listening and editing). It somehow seems so long ago that we were all covered in snow now that winter has finally relented.
Nice guitar playing, keeps the beat going without being simplistic, and some really great moments vocally!
A perfect track.
What a lovely song , liked it from the off , great vocals
really like Your style...joyous
now, that is sounding just right
Bedtime here, so I have to stop listening to all the great music at this site for now. But I'll be back. And I have all your music on my mp3 player anyway. :) Great as usual!
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!