The Laptop Sessions: “Do It Again” (Steely Dan Acoustic Rock Cover Song)

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

By Jim Fusco:

Yes, yes, it’s Jim Fusco bringing you yet another new band to the Laptop Sessions music video series!  Tonight, I bring you an acoustic cover song from Steely Dan.  This “band” is really more of a studio act, however, I heard that they’re touring again this year.  I’d LOVE to see if this song is still sung in the same key because it’s a stretch even for a 24-year old Jim Fusco.  I’ve been sick lately, so I couldn’t sing it until now.  I’ve had the lyrics on my kitchen table for about two months, it seems.

This song, which I know will be the case with Becky, is one of those ones you’ve heard a thousand times on the radio, but had no idea who did it.  That was the case with me, too, before I sat down and decided to do the Laptop Session of it.  Steely Dan is also famous for “Ricky Don’t Lose That Number”, another very recognizable one.

I love this song.  It’s got such a great tune, is sung in a high register, and has some cool chords on the chorus.  Don’t be fooled by those other “cover artists” out there that sing the song without a capo- this song is sung MUCH higher, as my version will attest to.  The lyrics are cool, too, as they tell of a real low-life guy that seems to have a combination of a bad attitude and bad luck.

Enjoy tonight’s Laptop Sessions music video and you know I’ll be bringing more and more new bands straight to your eyes and ears in the coming weeks as we look towards the end of the Session-A-Day project here on the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover (and original) songs music video blog!

The Laptop Sessions: “You’re Sixteen” (Ringo Starr Acoustic Rock Cover Song)

Monday, September 29th, 2008

By Jim Fusco:

Welcome to a slightly-belated Monday, Monday edition of the Laptop Sessions!  Due to Rosh Hashanna celebrations, Jeff asked if Mike could step in.  When that didn’t work out, it was left up to me to fill the space so the Laptop Session a day project can continue!  I’ll have tonight’s video and tomorrow’s, as well, so Jeff will replace my regularly-scheduled acoustic cover song on Friday.  Whippee- no video for me until Monday!

Tonight, you get Ringo Starr’s only Number One Billboard Hot 100 hit in “You’re Sixteen”.  This has to be one of the most fun videos I’ve ever done and if you watch it, you’ll know why.  My version even features the famous kazoo solo, originally played by one Sir Paul McCartney!

I love listening to random mode on my iPod (the “old” 80 gig model).  I heard this song again (I’ve known it for years- who hasn’t?) and then decided to listen to the entire “Ringo” album.  What a great one, including (no pun intended) the song “I’m The Greatest”, which I believe was written by John Lennon.  Ringo always did collaborations well.  Fans will hopefully remember “Never Without You” that he did for George Harrison with a guitar solo by the great Eric Clapton.

I suppose I should give Ringo songs a rest for a while, as I’ve done two recently.  Which one, you ask?  Well, the best way to find out these things is to visit the Laptop Sessions music video blog every single day, but if you missed it, you can just go to the Categories menu in the left bar and click on “Ringo Starr songs”.  Until tomorrow, have a great one!

Jim Fusco Reaches 110,000 YouTube music video views!

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

Definitely not meant to show up Chris Moore’s acoustic cover song tonight, but I just found out that I reached 110,000 YouTube video views.  I’m very excited about it and hope that this number continues to rise somewhat exponentially.  It’s only been about 20 days or so since my milestone of 100,000 acoustic cover song and original music video views on YouTube, so it’s exciting to get another 10,000 so quickly.

I’ve said it before that I won’t feel like the “big time” until I get to 1,000,000 views.  It’s going to take a while.  But, whereas it took me nine months to get 100,000, I don’t think it’s going to take 81 more months to get to a million.  I sincerely believe that I’ll be staring a half million in the face sometime next year.

Thanks to all who watch these videos and, to echo Jeff’s sentiment, come back on a daily basis to keep viewing more.  I’ll keep you posted on new milestones as they arrive!

The Laptop Sessions: “Ingrid Bergman” (Wilco & Billy Bragg Acoustic Rock Cover Song)

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

By Chris Moore:

In the spirit of the blog, I’ll be posting on several topics tonight.  First, let’s get down to business and talk about my choice for an acoustic cover song session.  “Ingrid Bergman” is my second selection from the Wilco and Billy Bragg album Mermaid Avenue.  This album has one of my favorite back-stories; essentially (as I described for my “Walt Whitman’s Niece” post), Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and British folksinger Billy Bragg were given access and rights to boxes full of Woody Guthrie lyrics.  They recorded this album by writing music to fifteen of Guthrie’s songs, and it is an excellent recording.  Unfortunately, the second volume is not nearly as fresh and exciting as the first…

That being said, I had such a good time and a good response for my first Mermaid Avenue track that I decided to record this one also.  “Ingrid Bergman” is a song that I have oftentimes gotten easily stuck in my head and I find it peaceful to sing along to in my head.  It was actually more difficult to figure out the strumming pattern than I thought it would be.  Other than that, it was a pretty straightforward performance that I hope you’ll enjoy listening to!

In other news, it was a bad day to be a Mets fan…  After yesterday’s AMAZING outing by Johan Santana, I thought that there might be enough energy and momentum built up to translate into an important win of this, the last game played at Shea Stadium.  I’d like to jump on the bandwagon and blame the bullpen, but the great point has been made that, really, it takes both defense AND offense to make a winning team.  Not to mention the reasonable argument that Santana is essentially the sole reason why the Mets were in the race for so long to begin with.  Well, I suppose I can’t really complain.  I haven’t been a Mets fan for all that long, and this is really the first year that I watched or paid close attention to each game (thank you iPhone!!).  Let’s hope that management and the team in general has learned some important lessons for next year…

And last, but certainly not least, I will second Jim’s reflections on friendship.  I think that, all too often, with family, friends, lovers — we get so busy with our day to day lives and we lose perspective.  I know that I have been guilty of that.  And I’ve also been guilty of not taking a firm stand for those that I care about.  Life is a crazy, crazy process, and every time I think that I’m getting ahead of the curve and finding happiness, I get set back a step.  Ever felt that way?  Ever felt trapped by a paradox, or a no-win situation?  For those that don’t know me, I’m generally a pretty positive person — sometimes positive in the face of all logical proof to the contrary.

Contradictions, controversy, and general confusion are some of the best reasons we write.  I know that they’re my motivations.  And let’s just say I have a lot to write!  (More about that on my upcoming Original Wednesday…)

Thanks for stopping by for your daily dose of Laptop Sessions acoustic cover song excitement; don’t forget to hurry back tomorrow for an all-new cover by Jeff.

See you next session!

The Laptop Sessions: “I Can’t Stand It” (Eric Clapton Acoustic Rock Cover Song)

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

By Jim Fusco:

Well, I had a day today.  That’s why I had to post so late- a combination of tiredness, emotions, victory, and forgetfulness…mostly forgetfulness.

Tonight, I bring you a song by Eric Clapton that I know little about, but just heard it in the car a couple times and decided that it was a good song to do for the Sessions.  It’s a new one I learned recently, so I hope that you’ll become a fan, too, if you haven’t heard it yet.

I do know that it’s from the early 1980s, but I’m willing to receive a full history lesson if anyone wishes to provide one for me.  I enjoy the tune of this song and the kind of laid-back way Clapton sings it.  I find that kind of funny considering how he’s proclaiming that he’s through putting-up with his significant other “runnin’ around” and “foolin’ around”.  You think he’d be a bit angrier…

On a separate note, as this is meant to be a blog and not just a place to post videos, I’d like to extend a heartfelt condolence to anyone who has recently lost someone in their lives.  The people who care about you won’t let you feel alone.  I personally have felt that I wasn’t able to be there for people during some important times, but I feel good knowing that I can be there for them now and won’t let them down.  I’m always available for hanging out, late-night Taco Bell, PS2 baseball, the movies, TV shows, baseball live on TV, or just general hanging-out at any time.  And I don’t mean that as a sympathy thing, either.  I mean it as that’s the way I’ve always wanted it to be, but haven’t had for a long time.  So, I hope that it’s the way it’ll become from now on and into the future, no matter who ends up coming into or leaving our lives.

Good night everyone and stay tuned for another great tune from Chris Moore kicking off this week on the video blog.  You know that a Sunday, Sunday, Sunday video means that person gets an Original Wednesday pick, so we’re all excited to see what he’ll come out with next!

The Laptop Sessions: “Space Between” (Dave Matthews Band Acoustic Cover)

Friday, September 26th, 2008

By Jeff Copperthite:

Ok, the day has finally come…it’s a day that Chris and Jim have dreaded ever since they found out that Jeff “Is not impartial to listening to the Dave Matthews Band”…

…it’s here.

Jeff has finally garnered the courage to do a Dave Matthews Band acoustic cover video.

I tried my best to spray the highest quality can of “troll-b-gone” on this video.  Dave Matthews fans are going to come out of the woodwork telling me how much I don’t sound like him, or how far away from his guitar skills I am.

But, as you all know, we are dedicated to bringing you acoustic cover videos from all kinds of bands.  And let’s face it - DMB is one of the premier jam band acts of all time, and their fanbase is huge.  We want to show you what we can do.

The song I have chosen (and there are plenty to choose from) is a song from their 2001 album “Everyday” called “The Space Between”.  This song is easily picked out by it’s electric guitar riff that plays through most of the song (use a standard D fingering on the 9th fret and you’ll have that riff).  However, a solo acoustic cover playing just that riff is extremely difficult to play, let alone sing over.  I find this version good because it allows you to hear the chords that play under that riff.

Dave has a highly unstructured singing style, so remembering how to time each line was difficult.  Repeat takes were often due to the vocals - the guitar part got easier after the 24th take, which was just before I had to recharge the battery on my camera.  2 takes later, I got this version.

I hope you enjoy this video - we are nearing the end of September, which means we will be 75% done with session-a-day in 2008.  You’ll see me next on Monday, but i’m sure you will be coming back every day just like hundreds of fans to check out what we are bringing you for the new day.  Jim will be back to his library of covers tomorrow, and Chris is gonna dish out another great cover on Sunday.  Have a great weekend, and thank you again for being a regular visitor!