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MP3’s are now available for selections marked with MP3
I really hate to contradict my heroes, but it’s not exactly getting better all the time.
A rough demo of a rock ballad that seems to touch a lot of people.
The 80’s rock version of a song that has since transmorphed into a funkier, island groove. Recorded by Michael McDonald in Hollywood at Private Island Trax with David Derge (drums), Bill Lanphier (bass), and Grant Geissman (guitar). MP3
Gospel from another planet, in 3/4 time. I love Bill’s acoustic bass and Jon’s harmonica, which takes it into a genre of its own. Recorded by Michael McDonald in Hollywood at Private Island Trax with David Derge (drums), Bill Lanphier (bass), Grant Geissman (guitar), and Jon Gindik (harmonica). MP3
Possibly my favorite of all the songs I’ve ever written, the music does not fit into any genre that I can think of (classical jazz?), and there are more double entendres, overlapping extended metaphors, internal rhymes, and strange little devices that are somewhat akin to Cockney slang, where I make allusions to a familiar phrase but instead say something that rhymes with it ~ packed into these tight little verses. For anyone who has ever felt more kinship with the work of strangers than the strangeness of people.
In one of my punk rock psychedelic moments, I started channeling Chrissie Hynde . . . or something. But thanks to Victor’s amazing creativity, I still like this recording. Recorded in Chicago in 1983 with David Derge (drums), and Victor Sanders (guitars).
A jazz confession from my 1980 release, Tattoos. This song made it to heavy rotation on the major jazz station in L.A. (back when there was such a thing as a major jazz station). Jean Fineberg plays a mean sax in counterpoint to an ambient vocal and piano track. Recorded at Shade Tree Studios in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. MP3
Changes a-go-go characterize this future jazz classic, inspired by a predawn cross-continental call and the other-worldly communication skills of my favorite trumpet player.
A New Orleans-influenced rocker about my perfect man ~ you know, the guy who fights to protect the environment, won’t sell out for a buck, stands behind the courage of his convictions ~ or at least has convictions ~ or at least can spell convictions. Any resemblance to any Son of God, living or resurrected, is purely serendipitous. Recorded by Michael McDonald in Hollywood at Private Island Trax with David Derge (drums), Bill Lanphier (bass), and Grant Geissman (guitar). MP3
An upbeat little rocker about keeping the faith and changing the world. Colorado residents may remember when they were actually playing this song every hour on KFML. Recorded at Shade Tree Studios with Shelley Jennings (guitar), Jean Fineberg (flute), Sarah Shulman (viola), Barbara Cobb (bass), Nydia Mata (percussion) and Julie Kiner (drums). MP3
This is a pre-production demo, but I love the arrangement of the percussive guitars by Keith Field. Recorded by Ken Gorz at what I liked to call The Ponderosa in La Cañada, California. MP3
A Donald Fagen-inspired groove behind a lyric concerning the cybernating habits of the 21st century. But this is just the demo. Imagine it slowed down with a wicked pocket. Recorded on the Jersey Shore with a little help from my cuz, Backstreet’s Steve Baranian. MP3
A good old-fashioned folk-rock protest in the spirit of Phil Ochs, Jackson Browne and Springstein. I've gotten so many requests for copies of this song ~ here are the lyrics and a quick & dirty live recording of the whole enchilada! MP3
An homage to the trail blazers who came before us, to the courage of youth and to the generations yet to come. Dedicated especially to Bob Marley, Frank Zappa, Abbie Hoffman, Laura Nyro, Phil Ochs, and all the activists, old and young, who have the courage to care and the compassion to fight. Recorded on the Jersey Shore with a little help from my cuz, Backstreet’s Steve Baranian. MP3
In the actions speak lounder than words department . . .
. . . So what can I say? An almost Beatlesque approach to the deep and meaningful.
An r&b ballad for the other woman. Grant’s classical guitar work is outstanding with Jon’s unexpected harmonica solo. Another one of my oddball production choices to keep it interesting. Recorded by Michael McDonald in Hollywood at Private Island Trax with David Derge (drums), Bill Lanphier (bass), Grant Geissman (guitar), and Jon Gindik (harmonica). MP3
A song about life, death and friendship. With love to Katie.
A patriotic country song with a surprise ending.
Two true stories in one.
A fusion tune that was once described as "Steely Dan after a spiritual awakening." Recorded by Michael McDonald in Hollywood at Private Island Trax with Rayford Griffin (drums), Munyungo Jackson (percussion), Angel Luis Figueroa (percussion), Matt McFadden (bass), Steph Lexner (guitar) and Tibor Olah (sax). MP3
After reading an article about Cubatao, Brazil, one of the most heavily polluted places on earth, I wrote these lyrics, which follow a technological toy backwards through the production process. Recorded by Ken Gorz at The Ponderosa in La Cañada, California. MP3
An r&b spiritual with the awesome vocal talents of Joseph Bell and Tony Novelle.
I wrote this in the hopes that it might serve as something we could sing together at marches and rallies. Written for the millions of Americans whose voices are not being heard, for women all over the world who have always known that war is not the answer, for the women and children who now comprise 90% of the casualties inflicted by heavily armed & misguided men, and dedicated to the courageous refuseniks of the Israeli army.
The story of the original inhabitants of the island of Cuba, the Siboney. I always imagine this song as if written by a young child, returning to her village and finding it devastated by invaders. With little instrumentation other than multiple layers of inspired percussion from some of the world’s greatest drummers, this song is hard to classify, but falls somewhere between Other World Beat and Afro-Cuban folkloric music. Recorded by Michael McDonald in Hollywood at Private Island Trax with Rayford Griffin (drums), Munyungo Jackson (percussion), Angel Luis Figueroa (percussion), Matt McFadden (bass), and Steph Lexner (guitar). MP3
From my Terrapin Records release, Tattoos. The RCP once described it in glowing terms as "a scathing indictment of modern capitalism." Wow, and here I thought I was just doin’ my usual bitchin.’ Recorded at Shade Tree Studios in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin with Shelley Jennings (guitar), Jean Fineberg (sax), Sarah Shulman (viola), Barbara Cobb (bass), Nydia Mata (percussion) and Julie Kiner (drums). MP3
Until the 1980’s the leading cause of death among farmers was due to equipment accidents. Since the banks and agribusiness have conspired to push small farmers off the land, this number has been eclipsed by suicide as the leading cause of death among farmers. Farming, until recently the livelihoood of choice for nearly half of all Americans, has been reduced to only 2% of the population. The entire American food supply is now controlled by six multinational corporations.
A girly-style ballad about the paving of paradise, and about taking responsibility for stewarding the planet and all its miraculous creatures. Recorded by Ken Gorz at The Ponderosa in La Cañada, California. MP3
I like this song more and more as the years go by. Just another live acoustic studio one-take. Recorded by Dusty Rose at Cue Studios in Arlington, Virginia.
This tepid demo bears little resemblance to the raucus rocker that the song was born to be. Imagine it with searing guitars and ballsy vocals in three part harmony. Recorded by Ken Gorz at The Ponderosa in La Cañada, California. MP3 . . . oh, and that's me on the keyboards and vocals and acoustic guitar |
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