Savin’ All My Love

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thI6THU4E6  Download Instrumental    Whitney Houston – not my favorite singer. In fact, when I hear one of her songs on the radio, it’s a scramble to turn it OFF!  Beautiful voice, sure… but it’s the incessant screeching and screaming she insisted on inserting into every song that I can’t take.  And don’t even talk to me about “I Will Always Love You”.  The only thing worse than Houston is Dolly Parton warbling that irritating melody.  I know, there are those of you out there who absolutely adored Whitney and I humbly apologize.

However, “Savin’ All My Love for You” is one of my favorite songs ever and it was Whitney’s first hit – even won her a Grammy in 1985.  I remember the first time I heard it.  “Who is THAT?” was my first thought.  The vocals were so velvety and crystal clear – the music tight and professional – the arrangement just perfect.  I was an instant fan but, unfortunately, it went downhill from there…. at least for me.  She never did another song I liked… and some I hated.  But I still cling to this one and every singer I’ve worked with since ’85 has agreed to perform it – and it didn’t take much persuading.  So, all you new singers without a band, put this one in your repertoire.  The backing tracks are on the Pop/Rock list.

What was most fun about putting this one together was the tenor sax toward the end.  There’s not a sweeter sound in the whole world than a tenor saxophone played by someone who understands the complexity of the instrument.  My keyboard sax voice doesn’t even come close to the real thing.  Wait, I take that back – it does come close – especially when it reaches that high “A” at the end along with the lead. But I really miss playing along with a real sax player.  Maybe I need to put the band back together.

Fifties Fun

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thDWKN73OQ  Download    Hip-Hop and Rap are about numbing your mind and not having to think.  This music (and I use the term loosely) is bland and uninteresting and totally uninspired.  It grates on your nerves like scraping your fingernails across a chalkboard.  Rap lyrics are either stupid or violent or disgusting… and sometimes all three.  The beat and hard bass line are designed to lull your senses into a dull fog from which you can never escape.  Wait a minute… isn’t that disco?  I believe it is!  And that, folks, is when music began it’s downhill slide.  I blame “Saturday Night Fever” for all the woes of the world.

But before that there were the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s – the three decades when music was at it’s best.  There was love and hope and innocence and sometimes even politics – and it was fun!  So I was excited when I got a request to do a simple medley of  2 or 3 tunes from the late fifties.  I chose “You Send Me” and “Silhouettes” as the primary melodies and threw in two others just to keep the singer on her toes (see if you can pick them out).

As in all good medleys, you want to keep the songs similar in style and composition so the flow is smooth from one to another.  You can do that by just playing the same four chords over and over again (style of the 50’s).  Wait!  Isn’t that bland, uninspired and mind-numbing???  Oh, no!

Andy? Why Not?

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

th1QHAYKZM  Download    Since the Andy Griffith Show theme song is the second most recognized tune in the country (just behind “Happy Birthday”),  I thought why not make up an arrangement and use it as a fun thing on a gig.  And, in case you didn’t know, it has lyrics!  This song just makes me happy when I hear it.

It’s actually called “The Fishin’ Hole”.  Here are the words – sing along:

“Well now, take down your fishing pole – and meet me at the fishing hole

We may not get a bite all day – but don’t you rush away

What a great place to rest your bones – and mighty fine for skipping stones

You’ll feel fresh as a lemonade – a-setting in the shade

Whether it’s hot – whether it’s cool

Oh, what a spot – for whistlin’ like a fool

What a fine day to take a stroll – and wind up at the fishing hole

I can’t think of a better way – to pass the time of day

(Guitar solo)

Hangin’ around – taking our ease

Watching that hound – a-scratching at his fleas

I’m gonna take down my fishing pole – and meet you at the fishing hole

I can’t think of a better way – to pass the time of day”

[End]

Who knew there were actual words?  In my opinion, if all’s well with Andy, all should be well with the world.  Or maybe we all just need to get back to Mayberry.

[Country List]

 

For The Good Times

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

th533SER4Q  Download with Lead    If you need a good, solid country classic in your act, this is the one.  “For the Good Times” is not your typical “cling to each other on the dance floor at two in the morning in your local honky-tonk” kind of country tune.  The music itself is a cut above the usual chord progressions of country music, and the lyrics are downright eloquent.

“Don’t look so sad – I know it’s over… but life goes on – and this old world will keep on turning… Let’s just be glad – we had some time to spend together… there’s no need to watch the bridges – that we’re burning”.  And the words just get better and more intense from there.  Beautiful, sad, mournful and forgiving only begin to describe the story Kris Kristofferson penned so many years ago.  “Don’t say a word about tomorrow – or forever… there’ll be time enough for sadness – when you leave me”.  Oh, man… that’s just heartbreaking (and my tongue is NOT firmly planted in my cheek) – I love this song!  And I’m hoping the next generation of singers and performers will reach back in time and grab this one for their own.

This arrangement begins with primarily vocal (harmonica, in this case) and a guitar, then slowly builds from there into a full Monty of instruments at the end.   It’s my favorite way to arrange music – sorta brings out the “drama queen” in me (more drama than queen, mind you).  Sing this one with the feeling it deserves and you won’t have a dry eye in the honky- tonk, I promise.

Brown Eyes Blue

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thFW2LOAAR  Download    Leave it to me to take a decidedly sad song and make it into a happy tune that you’d whistle strolling down a country lane.  I know it’s supposed to be sorrowful, but the chord progression and tempo both scream happy and carefree.  Anyway, this is the way we do it… so there.

“Don’t It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue” was originally intended to be recorded by Shirley Bassey (of “Goldfinger” fame – her only hit), but it ultimately went to Brenda Gail Webb… aka Crystal Gayle… who just happened to be the younger sister of Loretta Lynn.  When Brenda (Crystal) graduated from high school, she signed with Decca Records,  her sister’s label.  The producers wanted Brenda to change her first name since there was already a female star out there named Brenda Lee (give me a break – a pox on producers).  Loretta Lynn suggested the name “Crystal” after seeing a sign for the Krystal hamburger chain.  Brenda thus became “Crystal Gayle”.  Fascinating stuff, I know.

Her debut single in 1970 was “I Cried the Blue Right Out of My Eyes” – are we seeing a pattern here?  That song peaked at a disappointing #23 on the charts.  She eventually had a #2 hit with “You Never Miss a Real Good Thing til’ He Says Goodbye”.  Apparently, the girl had a real penchant for looooong titles.  Finally, she scored big time with “Brown Eyes Blue” – the most successful song of her career.  By the way, her eyes are blue… not brown.

Our arrangement is just a hair jazzier than the original but, trust me, your audience won’t mind.  Sing it happy or sad… just sing it.

(Country List)

Surfin’ USA

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thIUXQS2X5  Download    It’s summer, at last, and that brings the Beach Boys into your set list.  I was never a huge fan – always thought there were just too many layers of vocals and sounded more like a barbershop quartet on steroids to me.  But they are rock’n’roll icons and represent a better side of the music industry.  Long live the Beach Boys!

They formed their band in 1961 in Hawthorne, California at the beginning of the “California Sound” – music that reflected a southern California youth culture of surf, romance, and cars.  Their sound was simple and pretty straightforward at first, but then Brian Wilson started experimenting with vocal overdubs in the studio and the song “Surfin’ USA” emerged as a result of that tinkering – heavy on the vocals and harmonies while the instrumentation became secondary.   Just a few more guitar and organ tracks would have made me a happy camper, Brian.

I had fun putting this song together – especially the organ solo in the middle.  They used a Hammond B3 (cumbersome) in the studio, but went with a Farfisa when on the road (much easier to haul around).  And I had to use every choir and “ooohh” voice sound I had – just to get that “Beach Boy” effect.  Sorry about the clarinet as the lead vocal, but you’ll cut that anyway.  So, if you’re doing any beach gigs this year you might use these backups for at least one Beach Boy tune…. in between the Jimmy Buffett.

Beach jobs are my personal favorite.  I remember one summer playing so close to the surf we could feel the spray.  Then there was the salty air and the bikinis and the breeze and bikinis and the sun and … did I mention bikinis?  ‘Course, at that time my lead singer was my wife, so I had to pretend the bikinis weren’t there……. but they were.

(Pop/Rock List)

Act Naturally

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thU2L4IFKH  Download MP3    I had never heard of this song until I saw The Beatles do it on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1965.  I, of course, thought they wrote the song.  If I’d have been a fan of country music I would have known Buck Owens recorded it first in ’63.  Hey, I was just a kid (still am, unfortunately).

“Act Naturally” was written by a songwriter named Johnny Russell in the early 60’s.  He had been invited to a recording session in Los Angeles and had to break a date with his girlfriend to do so.  She wanted to know why he was going to L.A. and he said, “They’re gonna put me in the movies and make a big star outta me”.  They had a good laugh at that, but what he had said stuck in his mind and he wrote this song that very afternoon.  Russell wanted to record it himself, but his producer turned it down because songs about movies were not hit material.  Fat lot he knew!

It was a full two years before Buck Owens took the song and made it his first number one hit.  The Beatles only covered the song two years later, mostly because Ringo was due to sing a tune and this one was easy.  I’ve always loved this piece – the clever lyrics did it for me, and it really is no problem to sing – which is a prerequisite for all of my vocal adventures.  Singers, country or not…. you’ll want this one in your set list.

Buck Owens and Ringo got together and did a video of “Act Naturally” in 1989… click the link below.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=act+naturally+buck+owens+and+ringo&view=detail&mid=37673C142564FBA202D237673C142564FBA202D2&FORM=VIRE

Come Monday

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

th97GEWL2I  Download Here    Ask a singer to do a Jimmy Buffett tune and nine times out of ten it will be “Margaritaville”.  Or “Volcano”.  Or, worse yet…. “Cheeseburger in Paradise”.  All great songs, to be sure…. but WAY overdone.  I’m just as guilty as anyone, having played these songs thousands of times over the years. But, for some reason, “Come Monday” always gets put on the back burner.

It’s Jimmy’s first Top 40 single, recorded in 1974 as a tribute to his wife who stayed home much of the time he was on tour.  When he sings the first line “Headed out to San Francisco – for the Labor Day weekend show” he’s talking about a specific concert in 1973 when it was especially hard to leave her.  The third line “I’ve got my Hush Puppies on” had to be changed to “I’ve got my hiking shoes on” on the single version.  Some radio stations at that time wouldn’t let a brand name be mentioned in any record.

The irony of this piece is that Monday is the day most people dread as the beginning of a work week.  But with a full time musician it’s just the opposite.  It makes me wonder why Monday is so far from Friday but Friday is so close to Monday.  That’s not fair.

(Pop/Rock List)

Last Date

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

thWVEZGR2E  Download    I’m probably one of the few lamebrains on the planet who didn’t know this Floyd Cramer classic had words – actual lyrics that are really quite beautiful and poignant.  “It’s over – our love affair – too late now – I find I care”.   See?  Makes ya want to find out what happened, doesn’t it?  It’s a sad story, for sure.

Mr. Cramer wrote and recorded this as an instrumental in 1960 and it immediately soared to the top of the country charts.  Last Date exemplifies the “slip note” style of piano playing that became his trademark.  Conway Twitty wrote lyrics for the tune in 1972 and recorded it as only Conway could do it – syrupy sweet with a crack in his voice and a tear in his eye.

So you, as a professional singer, can take this old, wonderful instrumental and make it your own.  I tried to emulate Cramer’s piano style on track one but it’s a woefully inept attempt.  You’ll mute that track anyway, so no problem.  Have fun with this one.  Your audience will certainly recognize the melody but the lyrics will put a fresh face on an old favorite.  Tell ’em you wrote the words – they’ll never know!  You’ll be a genius!

Click the link below to see Conway performing it – hope you like steel guitar.

The Letter

Posted by Dave Zobrist on

th8UJIHFOZ  Download    Sixteen-year-old Alex Chilton stepped into a Memphis recording studio for the first time on a Saturday morning in 1967.  He was handed the lyrics to a song called “The Letter” and told to “sing gruff” – hard for one so young, I’ll bet.  The only claim to fame he had so far was he and his young band winning a “Battle of the Bands” at a local YMCA.  They called themselves “The Devilles” at the time , but soon changed the name to “The Box Tops” – nobody seems to know why.

Anyway, they had a number one hit on their hands and proved to be too young and naive to handle the fame.  A series of managers and agents took advantage of their innocence and group members changed almost constantly.  They did manage to put out three albums, but none of their songs was anything like the hit they had with “The Letter””… well, maybe “Cry Like a Baby’ was a close second.  By 1972, this iconic “blue-eyed soul group” was finished.

If you do a 60’s set, “The Letter” is a great start to the set.  I noticed when I was putting this together that the last 12 bars (with no vocals) uses the same organ chords as “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees.  Well… a little plagiarism here?  Who knew?  This tune is also the shortest song (less than 2 minutes) to hit number one on the Billboard charts.  Absolutely perfect to start your 60’s set.

(Backup tracks on the Pop/Rock list)