Category Archives: Midi Backing Tracks

In Other Words?

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thPJJ153C8  Download with Lead    In 1954, a chap named Bart Howard was working as a piano player in a New York cabaret.  He’d been in the music business twenty years and was still pounding away as an accompaniest for those pesky, ego-inflated cabaret singers who looked down their noses at mere musicians.  They were the real stars of the show, after all.  I feel his pain – I’ve worked with vocalists with just that attitude.  But our Mr. Howard penned a song this particular year that set him up for life.  He called it “In Other Words”.

Kaye Ballard was the first to record “In Other Words”, followed by the likes of Johnny Mathis and Nancy Wilson.  Peggy Lee made it even more popular in 1960 when she sang it on The Ed Sullivan Show and she eventually convinced Bart Howard to change the name of the song to …  you guessed it (if you’ve been listening to my version above)… “Fly Me to the Moon”.  Of course, Sinatra made it huge in ’64, accompanied by the Count Basie Orchestra and arranged by Quincy Jones.  This is one of those songs that improves with age and better musicians.

“Fly Me” was used in numerous television shows and movies.  In the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati, Jennifer’s doorbell played the song.  Tony Bennett performed a parody of it on Sesame Street when “Slimy the Worm” took a trip to the moon (okaaaay).  Sinatra’s version became closely associated with the NASA Apollo space program.  It was the first music heard on the moon when Astronaut Buzz Aldrin broke out his portable cassette player when he first stepped out on the lunar surface.

So if you’re looking for a standard jazz piece to perform onstage, you might want to try our version of “Fly Me to the Moon”.  Singers, you’ll get your key from the two single piano notes at the top  (E octaves).  Subtle, huh?  Pay attention to the playful flute on track 3… very cool, I think.

(Jazz-Swing list)

Easier Said Than Done

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

IMG_0398  Download    I’ve had several people ask lately what kind of equipment I use and how so many instruments can spring from one keyboard.  I thought the jazz tune “Easier Said Than Done” would be appropriate for this subject.  This one is on the Jazz Instrumentals list or download it from this post.

Synthesized instruments and the use of “sampling” have been around for quite a while, but the process just keeps getting better and more realistic.  Engineers actually record instruments (saxophones, violins, trumpets, etc.) and then adapt those “samples”  to work on higher end keyboards.  You can never recreate the sound of, say, a violin just exactly right –  but as technology progresses, so does the quality of those sounds.  Through a process called “sequencing”  you can write your own music or emulate a top ten hit – one instrument at a time.  This is how karaoke was born.  We used to call this “multi-tracking” but that was a whole lot more trouble.

In this particular jazz piece, I only had to use 8 of the 16 tracks available on my keyboard – a Yamaha PSR910 Arranger Workstation.  Could have used more tracks, but that tends to clutter up a song if you have too many instruments.  That doesn’t apply to big band music, which tends to use all 16 tracks and takes forever to put together one song.  Combine this piano with a good mixer (Allen & Heath), a laptop, and QSR monitors and you’ve got a professional quality studio at your fingertips.

On this song, I laid down the  bass and drum tracks first – a good place to start since they determine the whole flavor and foundation of the music.  “Easier Said Than Done” has heavy piano chords throughout, so I played those next on a separate track while listening to drum and bass..  I wanted a soft French horn to be kinda subtle here and there, so that went on track 6 (I always put my horns on that track – don’t ask me why).  The recurring 8 bar theme I did with synth brass on track 5.  I thought a nice muted guitar would help carry the rhythm a bit on track 8.  And, finally, the lead piano goes on top of everything else.  Voila!  You’ve got a song!  Easy, huh?  Well, easier said than done but really not all that difficult.

This is all “old hat” to established performers, but for the uninitiated, this gives you a peek into how music is recorded and performed today.  I’ve been in this business for a long time, but I sure wish we’d had this kind of technology 30 years ago – would have saved a lot of time, pain, and frustration.   Now go out and buy yourself a keyboard with a 16-track sequencer on board and have some fun!  You don’t have to be a musical genius to do it – look at me!

Hey, Paula… We Need You Now!

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thPQNIDHM5    Before there were songs about cop-killing and beating up women – before there were movies that glamorized violence and dissent and Hollywood began hating their own country – before there was so-called climate change and social media and political correctness and safe zones and the general wussifying of our latest generation – before all that… there were songs like this.  I’m thankful for at least the memories of what life and music and love used to be in America.  Just sayin’…

“Hey, Paula” was recorded by the singing duo Paul and Paula (not their real names, by the way) and soared to number one on the charts in February of 1963.  Ray Hildebrand (Paul) took his inspiration for this tune from Annette Funicello’s hit “Tall Paul”.  He and Jill Jackson (Paula) performed it on a local Texas radio station and were soon persuaded to record the song at a nearby Fort Worth studio.  Back then, a simple arrangement and innocent lyrics could get you a number one hit.  Today…. not so much.

This one is ideally suited for a male/female duo (obviously) and would add a great deal of “sweetness” into any set.  You can download the midi or MP3 tracks from the Pop/Rock list.  If some in your audience don’t like it or make fun, instruct them to move to Canada – it’s cold enough up there to match their hearts.

 

Bennie and the Jets

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thJVSJ83J4    Sometimes, Elton John didn’t like his own songs.  He couldn’t even get the name spelled right on this one.  The track is spelled Benny on the sleeve of the single and in the track listing of the album, but Bennie on the album vinyl disc label.  Makes no difference, I guess, but I prefer Bennie – just seems right.  Besides, it’s such a fun song to perform, who cares how it’s spelled?  Well, I kinda do…. but I’m way too anal.

Unlike most of Elton’s arrangements, this one is remarkable in its simplicity.  We have piano, bass, one rhythm guitar, drums, and a sprinkling of organ at the very end.  Those powerful G major piano chords at the beginning are just begging for more and seem lonely.  In fact, after recording it, the band sat back in the studio and said “That’s really very odd”.  Elton thought it was too empty and definitely didn’t want it released as a single.  But, of course it was, and became one of his most popular hits.

Today, in concert, it’s like he doesn’t quite know what to do with the song.  He might play it true to the original, simple and uncluttered.  Or, if he’s feeling frisky, he’ll go on for 20 minutes improvising between two chords – GM7 and FM7.  If you plan on performing it straight and true, my arrangement here will suit you just fine.  However, if you’d like to jazz it up a bit, there’s LOTS of room for your keyboard acrobatics.  But you’ll have to learn the song… imagine that.

Here’s Elton and his acrobatic piano:

http://www.vevo.com/watch/elton-john/bennie-and-the-jets-(red-piano-show-live-in-las-vegas)/GBUV70700130

Put Your Head On My Shoulder

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thK6I3QDDN  Download with Lead    The definition of “lush” is:  having a pleasingly rich quality.  To me, “lush” in music means lots of violins.  Which brings me to a request from “Cindy in Memphis”.  She writes:

“Can you do me a version of Paul Anka’s Put Your Head On My Shoulder?  I want it lush and pretty, with a trumpet lead, a french horn solo, and raise the key on the last verse, and make it Michael Buble style”.  Well, I like a woman who knows exactly what she wants – so here goes, Cindy.

The “lush” part was easy… remember?  Lots of violins.  And the song is a breeze to play…. everything Paul Anka wrote and sang was extremely simple.  For example, “Diana” was 4 chords… over and over and over again, but he somehow made it work.  But then there was that stupid tune “You’re Having My Baby” – just the dumbest thing ever, Mr. Anka.  But I’m off subject here.  Cindy wants it “pretty”.  Well, okay…. more violins – an extra track for pretty.  Oh, and sprinkle a little piano in there… also pretty.  And she wants to raise the key for the last 8 bars.  That’s a common trick singers use when the song has been too boring for words and you need to wake up your audience.  No problem on my keyboard – just push a button.  I love technology.  And the Michael Buble part?  No problem.  Just play the lead slightly behind the music – Buble loves that crap.

Don’t know why Cindy from Memphis wanted a trumpet lead, but I’m here to please (and criticize, you might have noticed).  If you really want to sing this song, mute the trumpet on track 4 – you’ll still have lush and pretty.

Georgia On My Mind

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

abc5c7b1fa267b187c01f17404144d74  Download    This is the day, in 1979,  when Ray Charles sang this song at the ceremony where it was named the official state song of Georgia.  So what was the state song before that?  Wait…. let me look.  Oh, yeah… “Sweet Georgia Brown”.  They made the right decision…

Hoagy Carmichael wrote this tune in 1930 – for his sister, not the state.  For his sister?  That’s a little weird.  Frankie Trumbauer had the first major hit with it in 1931.  You remember Frankie, don’t you?  But, of course, Ray had the biggest hit with “Georgia On My Mind” in 1960 and his version is just classic.  However, in 1962, Ray Charles was banned from the state of Georgia.  Can you do that?  Seems he canceled a concert in Augusta in ’61 after finding out the dance floor was restricted to “whites only”, while blacks had to sit in the balcony.  So he was prohibited from performing anywhere in the state of Georgia for 17 years.  Fascinating, since he was born there.  Apparently, the state song ceremony was a reconciliation of sorts.  Who knew?

This is the way we do it – short, sweet, and bluesy.  It’s on the Pop/Rock list for singers who need backups.  Wait for the final guitar chord –  cool, I think… but of course I would.

Y.M.C.A.

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thV24BWQYM  Download    Ever been to a wedding where the band didn’t play Y.M.C.A.?  Neither have I.  But I ran into a couple musicians the other day who weren’t familiar with the song or how much fun it can be for their audience.  Of course, I had to educate these “youngsters without a clue”.  The great “crazy” dance tunes are going by the wayside in favor of rap and hip-hop…  and I just hate that.  So I’m on a mission.

The Village People released this gem in 1978 and it quickly became a worldwide number one hit…. except in the United States.  Rod Stewart kept YMCA out of the top slot with “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy”.  There’s an irony there you might have to think about.  And then there’s the YMCA dance.  When Village People performed the song onstage, their original choreographed dance had the group clapping above their heads during the chorus.  Well, audiences thought they were making the letter “Y” and followed suit with the other three letters.  And so, a cultural craze is born…. out of a misunderstanding (more irony).  Personally, I could never get the “M” quite right…. still working on it.

This is the arrangement we’ve used for years.  I tried to get as close to the original as possible and it’s withstood the test of time.  Really should update this one…. but I know I won’t.  If it ain’t broke don’t fix it – right?  You know, I’ll bet the YMCA dance would be really hard in Chinese…

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ymca+video&&view=detail&mid=2B1EA7DF850F0D00880E2B1EA7DF850F0D00880E&rvsmid=E885664F1A17EDFDA170E885664F1A17EDFDA170&fsscr=0&FORM=VDFSRV

 

Tennessee Waltz

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thMEDJUVXQ  Download    There you are on stage, cranking out rock’n’roll or disco or rhythm and blues, when someone walks up and asks for (groan) a waltz.  And they never say which waltz – just “a waltz”.  I’ve never been fond of the 3/4 time signature – seems way too repetitive to me – and irritating. As a child, when you went to your first dance and didn’t know how to dance, your mother leaped in with glee and showed you how to (groan again) waltz:  1,2,3 and turn.  Remember that?  However, my mother taught me how to “jitterbug” first… explains a lot.  But, take my word for it, most bands hate a waltz.

Patti Page’s biggest hit was with this song in 1950.  But, Patti,  the premise is just wrong on a number of levels.  First line:  “I was dancing with my darling – to the Tennessee Waltz“.  I’ll bet you a dollar to a doughnut that this is the couple who requested this dance.  The band hates you both.  Next line: “When an old friend I happened to see“.  She’s not paying attention.  A waltz is supposed to be a very personal and intimate dance.  But Patti is looking around for someone to talk to – bad form.  Now we hear:  “I introduced her to my loved one – and while they were dancing” –  Hold it!  You just got introduced to a person you’ve never met and the first thing you do is ask her to dance?  Have you ever done that… even once?  Of course not.   Finally:  “My friend stole my sweetheart from me“.  Whoa!!!  Sweetheart?  Friend?  I don’t think so!  Now this little tramp is waltzing your sweetie out the door (no pun intended).

Flawed as it is, this song is a good one to do if you just have to play a waltz – and you can make fun of the lyrics as you go along.  It’s on the country list because it has that kind of flavor.  I think Mom was right – jitterbugging is a whole lot more fun!

Billie Jean

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thSVMV6OJH  Download with Lead    I recently read that this Michael Jackson hit is the most requested Karaoke song ever.  I believe it.  We owned a little beach bar for awhile in the late 90’s and I ran Karaoke three nights a week.  “Billie Jean” was performed by 5 or 6 people every night – usually not very well.  Upon reflection, I think that’s why we eventually sold the bar.  One can only take so much of an inebriated crowd slaughtering a perfectly good song over and over again… and again.

I first heard the song sitting in the St. Louis Airport disco lounge with some friends.  It started playing in the background and I said, “What is that – it’s great!”  Someone smarter than me at the table informed me it was Michael Jackson’s new single.  “Oh, man… that’s a hit” was my reply.  It’s one of those tunes you instantly like, primarily because of the beat.  That drum and bass 16 bar intro is infectious – makes you want to immediately hit the dance floor.  The lyrics I didn’t like so much, but the music production is amazing.  This one made Jackson an international pop star overnight and any self-respecting singer should be performing it, with or without a band.  If you’re working sans backup musicians, this sequence is exciting and tight enough to fill your dance floor.

Etta Who?

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

th4JEIA5TT  Download    Etta James – one hit wonder?  Actually, that’s pretty much true.  “At Last” was considered her “signature” song, but other singers have signature songs with a string of other hits to back it all up.  Not so with poor Etta.  She had a couple of other minor hits, but even this song never made it to number one.  Must be the quality of the composition itself that carried her for so many years and she certainly sang it with heart.  We have performed it in the past using this arrangement and it’s one of Karen’s best.  Everyone knows and loves the tune but very few can tell you who recorded that version you keep hearing in commercials and movies.

You see, Etta had an attitude.  It seems the pop singer Beyonce sang it at Barack Obama’s inauguration ball and Etta was not happy.  Her remarks to an audience a few days later made this abundantly clear:  “He might be your president but he ain’t my president.  But I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song – she’s going to get her ass whupped”.  Then, a week later, she again pontificated, “The great Beyonce.  Like I said, she ain’t mine.  I can’t stand Beyonce.  She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol’ president day,  gonna be singing my song that I’ve been singing forever”.

Your song, Etta?  Really?  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that “At Last” was a bigger hit 20 years before you did it – recorded by none other than the Glenn Miller Orchestra.  It’s not always about the singers, folks.