Influences: Brian Wilson, Woody Guthrie, David Scott (The Pearlfishers), Kirk Franklin, Nick Lowe, Van Dyke Parks, Steely Dan, The Staple Singers. No less important: G-F Händel; Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Principles of Orchestration”, my long-time writing partner Joe Blomberg, the bluegrass my wife & family play, and the hymns of my youth. — Loved listening this past year to: Lullaby Baxter, A Girl Called Eddy, Public Service Broadcasting, Ron Sexsmith, Deacon Blue, Rumer, XTC, Andy Pratt, Larry Norman, The Charlatans, Ray Davies, Robert Lester Folsom, Margo Guryan. — Best music film of last year under 7 hours: Summer of Soul. — Best album of all time: Marvin Gaye, What’s Goin’ On.
FAWM number 9, number 9, number 9….
I’m less Big Muff, more Wah-wah. I hope that gets sorted.
Collabs, yes!
14 songs (hopefully) and 28 Wordles (definitely).
I’m He/Him, but you can call me You, cause we’re friends.
"We need to have music that contributes to the well-being of the spirit. Music that cradles people's lives and makes things a little easier. That's what I try to do, and what I want to do. You don't want to close the door on hope." ~ Merle Haggard
I just bought a country house in the middle of vineyards. When I turn one of the outbuildings into a recording studio, you’re all invited.
UPDATE. Feb. 3
I'm flying transAtlantic now to spend time with my parents. They still live at home and need care. Will be there most of February. Don't know how much FAWMing I'll get done. They do have a grand piano though, hurray! If I can do a lot of COLLABS, I might even get the trophy (hint!).
Feb. 11. I have seven songs in progress; just need time to finish. Can anyone relate to that? My dad reminds me often: “Poco a poco va lejos” (‘Little by little brings progress’).
Feb. 23. Heading for London tonight and then Madrid and home tomorrow. I have two collabs (with Bill White and Beat) that I'm determined to finish over the weekend. I don't expect to make 14 this year. But family comes first.
4 March. I thought I'd feel down about finishing with 13. But it feels good. 12+1. A baker's dozen. A generous number. I feel a sense of accomplishment at being able to spend time with my family, be up in the middle of the night with my dad, play with my grand-daughter, have heart to heart talks with my kids in Colorado, and still write and record all those songs. Collabs with the usual suspects and a couple of new ones -- people I admire but hadn't had the chance to work with before. You all have given me so many encouraging comments. I feel blessed.
#1 | Edificios Muertos @petemurphy |
16 Feb 2022 |
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#2 | I Miss You |
19 Feb 2022 |
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#3 | Invisible Sun |
11 Feb 2022 |
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#4 | Waiting for Bonjour |
25 Feb 2022 |
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#5 | Colorado Sky |
21 Feb 2022 |
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#6 | Fish n Chips |
20 Feb 2022 |
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#7 | Diet of Worms |
14 Feb 2022 |
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#8 | Nobody @sherrycanary |
21 Feb 2022 |
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#9 | Fight to Live Another Day |
3 Feb 2022 |
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#10 | Poet Tree @beat |
8 Feb 2022 |
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#11 | Coffee and Friends |
9 Feb 2022 |
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#12 | Side Effects @billwhite51 |
11 Feb 2022 |
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#13 | The Innocence Project (Is Guilty) |
7 Feb 2022 |
Moltes mercés for the birthday greeting!
Thank you for your kind comments in regard to Retirement. We live in such a community on the outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio. It is a wonderful place to live as the residents are very good about looking out for each other without getting into your business. Your life sounds interesting.
Best wishes from an old codger ( 85 years old)
no podcasts. ive done my time as a film critic, the first 10
freelancng for magazines and weekly papers including 3 years
as a contributing editor, followed by 10 years with the daily
paper of a major metropolis. i havent heard of the tites you
mentioned. lately ive been finshing up on all the oscar nominees
as well as a bunch of movies dealing with the dangers
faced by pilots in the early days of aviation
Jon, Thank you for your comments on My American Hero. Yes, it could definitely be sung by a male or female vocalist. I'm glad you liked the song, and your comment brought me back to your page. (I loved "Nobody," too!)
Right now, I'm listening to Side Effects with you and @BillWhite51. It just f-l-o-w-s. Very nice. I have some more exploring to do
Hi Jon, thanks for listening and commenting on a bunch of my songs. I certainly enjoyed listening to some of your songs too.
Hooray for musifying Ain’t No Rest Stops in New Jersey. Thank you. And thanks also for your response to My American Hero. Hope you had a good trip back from Colorado.
i changed the name of our song to nothing works but kept side effects on the fawm post
jon, we are planning to move to northern spain when my health and the security of europe improves.
t hsnk you for your wonderful work on side effect , you brought an aspect to t he lyric i did not expect , t he element of grace, which elevate the lyric above earthly regions and concerns,ive listened a few times and love it more each time.. if you plan on including it on your cancer benefit album, would you prefer i not include it my fawm album?
Jon
You’re my tree hero
I so luv what you have done with this. The claritree, the room, the piano inlaid‘s, the word tree, this friendship growing. Thank you.
There’s, next to seeing El Grecko‘s paintings in Toledo, a new, very important goal for me bucket list, having the chance to hug you for a short moment in my life.
Next to all the hugs we already accomplished through our music.
Hi Jon. Yes change the title, no problem. 10 is a good number…
„].
So you’re back home again?
That sounds great, Jon. Enjoy Colorado. Hope you write some good songs in the air and in the airport.
Jon-I've enjoyed your music and your comments and your bio. If you find you'd like to have some lyrics to put to music, I would love to collaborate some time (next year or in the none FAWM months for instance, since your life sounds full this week.)
Hi
I know we are both going through real life and FAWM life these days.
Do you think you will have time to work up Nobody.
Perfectly understandable if you can't
“Poco a poco va lejos”
Thanks, Jon! I’ll share when I’m satisfied with my progress! Much appreciated.
Hi Jon! I'm going to catch up with your music in March, but I wanted to stop by and tell you that I have been practicing your lyrics in Spanish with my friend Javier. I have realized just how elementary my skills are so far! I love challenges, but don't know if I will complete it before FAWM ends or not. Would it be OK to email you a vocal track after FAWM ends? Do you participate in 50/90? Thanks again! Happy homestretch. -Kate
im so excited abour our collaboration, im taking down the post and leaving the lyrics here with yuu,
Side Effects
verse 1
liquid steel
through my vein
pushes air
into my brainy
it's not enough
i need a flood
to put more red cells
in my blood
chorus
nothing works
im not okay,
what us wrong
with me today?
verse 2
don't open me
i'm not a box
im like a pair
of dirty socks
lying on
a bathroom floor
somewhere south
of baltimore
chorus
nothing works
im not okay,
what us wrong
with me today?
verse 3
my arms are frozen
in a cramp
my head is hot
my chest is damp
i try to rise
up from my bed
but only god
can raise the dead
chorus
nothing works
im not okay,
what us wrong
with me today?
Swing blues. Yes.
Someone just commented is a sad song, and the music will get rid of that notion :)
Yes yes.
Give it a go.
You will have to switch genders, of course :)
Thank you for your comment on my song, 'pick up the rubbish'
Ha… ja, me to, i wonder sometimes what people want to see.
I listen.
Did you dig my plot?
For Piano - everything was built for just that moment at the end…
;].
Edit: ja, I am most thankful for this idea on how it happened with moving out of the pizzi with different strengths of accents.
Thank you my friend for listening and writing. Appreciate.
Wise words on debt-paying, Jon, and I completely agree.
Thanks for your kind comments on "Beyond the Gate"!
Thanks so much for the feedback on Whisper, Jon. I agree, the “doubting trust” thing is all over the Psalms… and coming to terms with it has been an important part of my faith journey!
I've been thinking to myself: I wonder why Jon hasn't posted any songs? Maybe something is wrong with my watchlist, I thought. Turns out something was wrong with me. Thanks for dipping the toe in. I see you have a nice little pool of music yourself
You're probably right about British kids getting taught more about the Sand Creek massacre than those in America - it's part of our GCSE so we spent a whole term on the American West. Ironically though we do next to nothing on the shameful parts of our own history such as aspects of the British empire, and our school is named after a well known racist who is seen as one of the original architects of apartheid in South Africa so I don't think we have any reason to feel smug either.
One of our (I write with my wife) songs 'Watering Can' is sort of indirectly about homesteading in an indirect way. I also have a song about the Donner party which, much like the party itself, never quite reached its end point..
> I just bought a country house in the middle of vineyards.
> When I turn one of the outbuildings into a recording studio,
> you’re all invited.
I'll hold you to that. In the meanwhile, my best to you as you care for your parents. I've done that some myself recently: in fact, I bought a guitar while I was in Houston, and used it for FAWM while I was there last year.
Hi Jon
I see we both have unexpected challenges this FAWM.
I am finally focused enough to be able to listen attentively.
Next step is to create positive music.
I am finally ready. If you can create a score for me, I would be honored to bring it alive! If not, I surely understand
;].
Am looking forward to it. Thx Jon
Thanks for the listen and comment on 'Two for the Road'!
"blustering vapidity" -- I love that! Perfectly encapsulates her persona.
Thank you, Jon!
hi jon, and thank you for your thoughful comments on hi bll. its curtis. my wife is a doctor and every day i am anxious about what state of mind she will be in when she comees home from work. i had a short term data entry job in the 80s, daly updating t cell counts on children with aids. it was heartbreaking work, even though i never saw the children, i felt very near to them..and when the t cell count went intp a sharp decline. i dreaded seeing the chart the next day.
As for breaking the musical rules…. remember? Mr. Welter, has a big part of teaching me about it. You should give the ChordWeaver a chance, Ja. I know you’re very! versatile, instrumental, still, now that your tool is the „common“ Pad… ;]
How about a Voice recording that I could put in loop and space + echos and overhaul, send back and make space look like it’s the beauty wherein we all life?
In honor of live/life/ be/am/are/us beings
?
I’ve got a 21 min. track just coming to filter Vox into…
As always only to your well feeling…
Edit: not to mention, that I think your quite in a experimental mode, when I listen to yours first track… *]
;].
Thanks, Jon! The song about a child's view at the border interests me! If you're up for it, I'd like to give it a try!
Hey Jon! Thank you so much for your kind comment on my collab with Donna. I've been wanting to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed your segment on John's podcast about walking and creativity. I also want to take this opportunity to ask you if you have any lyrics in Spanish you think I could try? Even after FAWM? If not, no worries! I'm taking two Spanish classes this semester, so I think it could be fun (and challenging!) I understand pretty well, but want to work up my speaking confidence. :) Thanks again for the song comment!!
Hi Jon
Good to hear from you again.
Thanks for your comments on Bivouac Holiday.
I just thought I'd let you know that my latest song, Get up and go for a walk, is inspired by your excellent talk on coolparadiso's podcast.
Thanks for that and I hope you have a productive and inspired FAWM.
Hey there, thanks for stopping by to listen to my song and for your lovely comments. Hope you have a great FAWM! :-)
Hi Jon,
I hope things go ok with your dad.
While it's not ideal, I'm not too stressed about my voice. I've adapted, and found ways to still make music / songs.
Wishing you all the very best!
Hi Jon, thanks for your welcoming words on my soundpage.
I’m not sure if I will be able to participate this year due to a busy schedule. I have to learn a bunch of new songs and a have quite a few gigs with my main band this month, and there’s an album of another band I’m in that needs finishing. And then there’s regular life and stuff. And oh, the winter Olympics will take up a lot of screentime this month..
I’ll sure be making lots of music these 28 days , I’m just not sure wether it will be FAWM related.
What I will do this month, is listen to your songs. It has always been a pleasure to hear what you have come up with. Have a great FAWM
Please Please please
Yes to a collab.
Sooner the better!
On your marks.....Get set.....Watch out, here it comes!
Have a fantastic FAWM my friend.
Hi Jon!! Great to hear from you! Looking forward to hearing your songs!!
Happy fawming!
Hiya Jon,
That would be ace! All languages are welcome.
I'm still touched by your kindness last year. I haven't yet paid it forward, I'm having to space out the spending, so I donated this week, and I'll do the paying forward next week (had some unexpected expenses come along, the garden wall was about to collapse so we've had to have it rebuilt before it it fell down).
Hope you're doing well.
im looking forward to your songs as well!
and maybe even living not far from you (san sebastiane) if all goes well in the latter part of the year.
Where will you take me, my magical friend, when you're creating your music again. I'll be back to listen.
Oh Jon..I only hope that one of my tunes inspires you..take whatever you want..heck take two or three..I have no problem if one or more peeps do a song so go for that too…love whatcha do!
Happy FAWM Jon! I'm really looking forward to hearing where your explorations take you this year. Enjoy the ride. :0)
Buenos dias! Que este FAWM te vaya bien!
Greetings to you and yours. I thoroughly enjoyed your music last year and look forward to whatever you might offer this time around. And will the country vineyard house make its presence known in the music, one wonders.... :)
Ja, in these times of home office for all but me I have to keep the house tidy and the basement is just to cold and dark. Now I got a garden view, see the sun, rain, snow and I love standing when I work a lot more then sitting with a bent back for hours… plus, I’m back to hands on. Lots of life fun again… am gonna quit the Forum for a while now and get some reeding done before Feb 1st. Am looking forward to sticking our heads together again. Say hi to your luv.
That is such a nice thing to say. You definitely improve the vibe around here, and not just because your songs are great.
Let's replace regrets with aspirations ... collab this year?
Hi Jon, happy FAWM to you!
Happy to read you round again.
o‘cos me friend, how would february feel like without some sharing feelings with you.
;]
Hi Jon! Looking forward to hearing what comes out of your head and heart this year!
Who, last year, would‘a thought that meta is going big this year…?
;]
Greets from up north me friend, hope to hear you.
Happy FAWMing, Jon!
Happy FAWMing, Jon!