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“Here Without You” (The Byrds acoustic and 12-string electric cover song) – The Laptop Sessions
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
By Jim Fusco:
Welcome, welcome to yet another Jim Fusco Tuesday here on the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog. Actually, tonight, you get two for the price of one: I have Chris Moore with me to record this session! And boy, did it come out great. If your connection can handle it, click the “HQ” button and listen to the better audio feed of this one. It’s in full stereo (I LOVE my microphone) and the levels are perfect!
And tonight debuts my brand new 12-string electric guitar! And what a way to bring it in. I knew I had to do a Byrds song. No, it’s not a Rickenbacher. Who can justify spending literally 8 times more for the same essential thing. My version is from Dean and I love it. It looks great and plays even better. The sound is there, too- just like all my favorite 12-string songs. Look for more in the future. I can’t wait to bust out my new lap steel guitar, as well. In a couple weeks, I’ll be getting an HD cam, so all my Laptop Sessions will be in high definition. How cool is that? At that point, I’ll be able to start my new mini-series entitled “Jim’s Guitars”- stay tuned.
Gene Clark wrote tonight’s song and it was off of the Byrds first album, “Mr. Tambourine Man.” Now, this isn’t the greatest album, but it really could have been. That is, if half the album weren’t Bob Dylan covers and other cover songs. Not to knock cover songs, but the songwriting of Gene Clark (and in the future, the rest of the band) was so far ahead of its time and his songs are simply timeless. This song takes me back to when I was at Wesleyan for 5 weeks in the summer of 2000. I was at a program called “CCY”, the Center for Creative Youth. Good fit, eh?
Anyway, those five weeks seemed like a whole lifetime at the time- everything that happened in one day seemed like a year. So, even not seeing someone for two days made it seem like you were living “here without you”. Needless to say, this song was all I listened to when I got back that summer.
I have to keep tonight’s post short because of my marathon video editing job last night. I need to catch up and this is my only opportunity. So, without further ado, I hope you enjoy the great effort put out by Chris and myself tonight on the Byrds’ classic song, “Here Without You”. You won’t be here without us for too long, as Jeff will be back on Thursday for another great cover song music video. Until next week!!
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“This Wheel’s on Fire” (Bob Dylan/Byrds Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
By Chris Moore:
I’ve been so excited recently to see what new bands Jim is going to introduce to the blog — I mean, you really have no idea from one day to the next which band he’ll tap in to. At this point, he’s done so many different bands that it would actually be just as much a surprise to see him break out a classic standby, such as the Beach Boys. And, to prove how excited I am about these new bands…
…I’m going to contribute a Bob Dylan song!
Big surprise, I realize. (For those of you who don’t watch regularly, I’m a big Dylan fan and have recorded more Dylan covers than any other band!) But I have my reasons, I promise. First and foremost, today is the official release date of The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Rare and Unreleased: 1989-2006. I’ve only had time to listen to the first two thirds of the first disc, but already I’m really enjoying it. I’ve been concentrating so much on the new Ben Folds album, Way to Normal, that I was loath to take it out of my CD player. But I’ve already fallen in love with Dylan’s work, even after hearing the first four tracks. The version of “Mississippi,” one of my favorite songs of all time, is entirely different. Then, the version of “Most of the Time” sounds less like the 1989 track I know and love and more like a track out of 1963; it’s entirely different, and yet in typical Dylan fashion, it’s entirely amazing. Following an interesting little piano demo of “Dignity,” Dylan’s first take of “Born in Time” is — as the liner notes suggest — really the definitive version.
To be honest, I think the set might be worth the purchase if only for the “Born in Time” take and the new single “Dreamin’ of You,” an unreleased song from the Time Out of Mind sessions. When I got home from a meeting late tonight, my first inclination was to record a song that was (a) comfortable for me to play, so I could get to bed on time, and (b) a Dylan song.
This fits both criteria!
That’s all for me for now, but you can fill your Laptop Sessions cavity with Jeff Copperthite’s offering tomorrow, Jim Fusco’s video on Thursday, and then I’ll be back.
See you next session!
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“Artificial Energy” (The Byrds Acoustic Cover Video) – The Laptop Sessions
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
By Jeff Copperthite:
Oh yeah – I get to bring in my favorite day to one of the cooler songs I know.
That’s right, it’s Thumpin’ Thursday® – naturally trademarked by yours truly. I’m dedicated to bringing you not only every TT that I have left in the year, but in 2009 I hope you can count on your Thursdays every week to always be a Thumpin’ one.
And to go right along to that theme, I have a great tune from The Byrds tonight. From their album “The Notorious Byrd Brothers” is a song introduced to me by (who else) Jim Fusco. It’s the first track of the album and it’s a great album starter called “Artificial Energy”. The song has an awesome horn part that overlays the entire song. This album and song were recorded in 1967 – over 40 years ago. A stereo version of the song is noted by having the horns loud enough to cause distortion that was still atypical to a record.
The album this comes from is one i’d like to hear. I’ve read that it is one of their best albums, if somewhat short.
I also wanted to bring this song to the sessions to remind Jim of his days at Wesleyan University. I hope your roommate was a Byrds’ fan man.
That does it for me tonight – but rest assured! Tomorrow you will get to hear another song by myself, and then i’ll be back for another fantastic session on Sunday as well. Chris will jump in Saturday to give me a break, but you can count on a session a day all the way through ’08.
I hope you enjoy today’s session!
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“Set You Free This Time” (Byrds Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008
By Chris Moore:
Well, after all the fun we had last time, the boys of Fusco-Moore Productions are back for another Triple Tuesday Special on LaptopSessions.com. Jeff, the innovator for this event, called me up this weekend and I couldn’t resist!
Here’s my version of a great Byrds tune, “Set You Free This Time.” It’s from their 1965 album Turn! Turn! Turn! and it’s another Gene Clark original. He’s such an underrated songwriter, and I like him more and more every time I listen to his material.
Jim and Jeff posted their versions below mine so you’ll be able to take your pick…or, hopefully, listen to all three!
As a side note, I would like to thank everyone who frequents my videos. Just yesterday, I accepted my 50th subscriber on YouTube (who, of course, received a coupon, as promised by Jim), and today I’m up to 55. I really appreciate your watching and especially commenting both here and on YouTube!
I hope you’ll continue to check out LaptopSessions.com as we update the site with new videos every day in 2008!
Download a FREE mp3 of this song at the Fusco-Moore Store by
Clicking HERE! It’s on “The Laptop Sessions, Vol. 6″:
Download a FREE mp3 of this song at the Fusco-Moore Store by
Clicking HERE! It’s on “The Laptop Sessions, Vol. 3″:
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Choose Cover Songs from over 100 Bands: Welcome to the Laptop Sessions music video blog! Here, you'll find cover songs, original music, & music reviews updated every weekday! We hope you enjoy the acoustic covers, free mp3s, chords, tabs, and music reviews here on the site! |
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