Song of the Month

 

Over the years I have composed produced and engineered a ton music for Film, TV , theater and dance. Some for some of my old bands, some for community projects and some just for fun. Every month I will post a new piece of music.  Attached will be a story about how and why the music was created and the lyrics if  it’s a song. I hope over the coming month you will find something you enjoy and will share it with the music lovers in your life.

August 2009

The Balcony

Way back in 1982 I was an 18 year old rocker and I was consuming music like crazy. One of the places I went to buy music was a record, head shop and clothing store named the Balcony. The Balcony was located at 69th and Market Street in Philadelphia. I met one of my first music gurus there in a fellow black rocker and guitarist named  Jay Medley. I owe Jay a huge debt of gratitude. I would come into the store to buy the latest Styx or Foreigner record and Jay would turn me on to Iggy Pop and the Stooges, MC5, The Clash, The Dead Boys and so may other cool underground bands. So let me say right here, thanks Jay. One day while I was searching through the flexies dics I overheard the owners of the Balcony talking about doing a spot for cable TV. That spot would run locally on a new network called MTV. I asked them if they wanted a jingle and they said yes. Well they must of thought I was crazy but crazy or not I raced home to write. Once home I ran up to my bed room where I had my Mattel Synsonic Drums, a Casio keyboard,  an Ibeneze Artist electric guitar, Gibson EB3 bass and my Farfisa organ that was on it last leg. I spent the evening writing four different 30 sec spots. I wrote each spot in  a different style Rap, Rock, Hard Rock and Alternative. I was so nervous that they would not like any of them. The next day I showed up at the store with a cassette in hand and gave it to the owners. The popped the cassette in the player and pumped it through the stores sound system. I paced the floor as my favorite recording artist looked down upon me from posters hanging from the ceiling. Well they loved all of my ideas but they hey picked the Rap version. We negotiated a fee and studio time and I was on my way to being a professional song writer. I have been told I sound like Frank Zappa rapping and while I love Frank I don’t think I sound like him. you be the judge. My first TV gig and the first time I was payed for writing, recording, producing and performing a song. Please enjoy The “Balcony” TV Spot

 Aroahhhh
If you want style and finesse
Then shop the place that is the best
Where fashion is in time with the beat
The Balcony 69th and Market Street
We got tops and jeans and shirts and slacks
And the grove on the record racks
Pictures and posters of your favorite stars
from Michael Jackson to the Cars
So if you wana join the Hip-Hop crew
This is what I want you to do
Break on down to the store with the beat
The Balcony 69th and Market Street.

 

July 2009

Friends

Back in the 90’s, I ran a non-profit that focused on anti-violence and anti-drug arts education called the Banner Project. One aspect of the project was getting elementary school-aged kids to write and record their own songs.  In the summer of 1996, Camden, NJ was plagued with violence. The community center where my staff and I were to start our program was closed because a young girl had been found dead in the woods behind the building. This event set the tone for the class discussion, murals and songs. “Friends”  was composed by a group of four friends who felt that true friendship was a key to being safe. The girls and I wrote the lyrics and melodic hook together. The vocals were recorded at the historic RPL studios in Camden,  NJ and the track was created by me and my good friend and record company exec, Joe Augustine. I have always loved the enthusiasm of the girls and the new-jack swing of the track. Check out Friends

Originally released on Kids Singing for Kids Camden 1996 ©Melodyvision publishing
you can down load and share the track . all rights reserved.

Hey Tara how you been doing?
Nothing, just chilling trying to get this song together.you know?
This song about friends?
Yeah
Lets hear it!
My friends you friends they both the same
‘cause when you check into it they got the same name friends.
Friends
How can you tell a friend? ‘
‘cause a real friend will be there from beginning to the end
A real friend like me will stick by your side
Never leave your straight cause that’s not right
Yeha that’s right stay chill don’t fight
Now I’ll pass the mic to my peoples on the right
Well I am a true friend as you can see
I’ll never tell you wrong
‘cause that’s not me
I’ll be there through thick and thin
When the stuff gets thick we’ll go through it.

Friends
Where you at?
We’re here
I thought you left
Na we’re we still here
(Repeat)

My friends your friends they both the same
‘Cause when you check into it they got the same name friends
Friends
How can you tell a friend?
Cause a real friend will be there from beginning to the end
If they’re really your friend you can tell
How
‘Cause the simple things they do like be there for you
When you need a shoulder they will give you theirs
That’s a sign of a person showing that they care.


Friends
We’er you at
We’er here
I thought you left
Na we’er we still here
(REPEAT)

Since we’re through here’s a message for you
True friends will be around to help you up when you’re down

When you’re down
When you’re down
When you’re down
We help you up