The Beatles "Oh! Darling" from the vinyl LP 'Abbey Road', Apple records, released in the US, Oct1969. Composed by John Lennon & Paul McCartney (really by McCartney, despite the long-standing joint songwriting credit). John Lennon wanted to sing "Oh! Darling" thinking he could do a better job than Paul -- but for over 40 years, I believe the record shows that McCartney did just fine. Get more Beatles at iTunes: bit.ly

The Beatles John Lennon Paul mccartney George Harrison Ringo Starr classic rock 1969 vinyl LP record album

The Beatles "Baby's in Black" 45 rpm vinyl -- live version from the Hollywood Bowl, recorded Aug 1965 - issued as the B-side to "Real Love", March 1996. This is my first "vinyl video" clip where I actually make a video, not just point the camera at the turntable and you get to watch a record spinning on a turntable -- I suspect that can be only so interesting even to most die-hard vinyl record fans. Plus, the audio is sourced directly from the vinyl single. So in this video, I included images that pertain to both this Beatles track and their Hollywood Bowl performance. "Baby's in Black" did not appear on the 1977 album release "The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl", nor did it appear on any of the Anthology albums. But just for fun, I decided to put some "Hollywood Bowl' pics (that album has yet to appear on CD, so many might have not heard it if they do not have the original LP, or know what the cover artwork looks like, or the essay George Martin wrote for the back cover, which I included here). "Baby's in Black" composed by John Lennon & Paul McCartney. Originally appeared on the 'Beatles for Sale' UK album, and the 'Beatles '65' US album, both issued Dec 1964.

The Beatles John Lennon Paul mccartney George Harrison Ringo Starr Hollywood Bowl live 1965

Yours truly performing a solo piano rendition of Billy Joel's "Everybody Has a Dream" recorded Sept 2009 NOTE: This is NOT an outtake or demo of Billy Joel himself at the piano -- this is just a video I made using images mostly circa 1977 when the album 'The Stranger' was released on Columbia Records. It's one of my favorite BJ album tracks - tends to be overlooked since it's not on the radio or among any of his "greatest hits". Composed by Billy Joel. Published by JoelSongs (BMI) While in these days of quiet desperation As I wander through the world in which I live I search everywhere for some new inspiration But it's more than cold reality can give If I need a cause for celebration Or a comfort I can use to ease my mind I rely on my imagination And I dream of an imaginary time Oh oh, and I know that everybody has a dream Everybody has a dream, everybody has a dream And this is my dream, my own Just to be at home and to be all alone with you If I believe in all the words I'm saying And if a word from you can bring a better day Then all I have are these games that I've been playing To keep my hope from crumbling away So let me lie and let me go on sleeping And I will lose myself in palaces of sand And all the fantasies that I will be keeping Will make the empty hours easier, easier to stand And I know that everybody has a dream Everybody has a dream, everybody has a dream And this is my dream, my own, just to be at home And to be all alone, all alone with you Oh, oh, with <b>...</b>

Billy Joel piano 1977 classic rock pop

Grand Funk "We're an American Band" 45 rpm gold colored 45 rpm single issued on Capitol records, 1973. Composed by Don Brewer, also sang lead vocals. From the album of the same title. Produced by Todd Rundgren. Hit #1 on the Hot 100 Billboard charts Sept. 1973 (GFR's first #1)

Grand Funk Railroad Mark Farner Don Brewer Mel Shacher 1973 Todd Rundgren Classic Rock

Buffalo Daughter "Cold Summer" 45 rpm single -- I found this in a thrift store amongst a box of singles donated by a radio station - lots of unknown bands. They are from Japan, and have an interesting electro-pop sound.

Buffalo Daughter Cold Summer

Billy Preston "Space Race" single A&M Records, 1973 - familar to viewers of American Bandstand

Billy Preston 1973 space race singles 45 rpm vinyl A&M

The Beatles "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey" from a French white vinyl White Album - issued in 1978

The Beatles John Lennon Paul mccartney George Harrison Ringo Starr 1968 White Album LP vinyl records

The Doors "Do It" 45 rpm single on Elektra records, issued as the 4th single from 'The Soft Parade' album in 1969 - was the b-side of "Running Blue"

The Doors Jim Morrison Robby Krieger Ray Manzarek John Densmore 1969 classic rock

Pink Floyd "Empty Spaces" backward message - here it is from 'The Wall" LP side 2 - the section of the song forwards, then the reverse button pressed, then you can hear "congratulations, you have just discovered the secret message...send your answer to Old Pink, care of the funny farm, Chalfont.."" (interruption: "Roger, Carolyn's on the phone") November 30th marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Pink Floyd "The Wall".

Pink Floyd Roger Waters David Gilmour Richard Wright Nick Mason 1979 The Wall vinyl LP record backwards messages

Electric Light Orchestra "Fire On High" the backwards message "the music is reversable / but time is not / turn back! turn back! turn back!" ... here it is displayed from the vinyl LP 'Face the Music' as it originally appeared on (yes, this Stanton turntable has a reverse function, perfect for such things as finding out all those "secret messages" in your records)

Electric Light Orchestra ELO 1975 backwards messages LP vinyl record Jeff Lynne

Vanilla Fudge performs "Take Me for a Little While" live at BB Kings - Oct 7, 2006 - Original 1967 - 1970 members: Tim Bogert (bass), Carmine Appice (drums), Vinny Martell (guitar) -- and in place of Mark Stein, Bill Pascali (organ) and all four sing - pretty amazing show

2006

Grand Funk Railroad "Big Buns" and "Out to Get You" first two tracks from Side 2 of the vinyl LP 'Good Singing Good Playing' issued in 1976. Produced by Frank Zappa (who also plays beginning and ending guitar solos on "Out to Get You")

Grand Funk Railroad Mark Farner Don Brewer Mel Schacher Craig Frost Frank Zappa 1976 vinyl LP record classic rock

John Lennon "Remember" from the vinyl LP 'John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" 1970 (this being an '80s Capitol issue of the LP)

John Lennon Plastic Ono Band the Beatles 1970 LP vinyl record

Joe Jackson "Beat Crazy" from the vinyl LP A&M Records album 'Beat Crazy' - credited to the Joe Jackson Band. Catalog no. A&M SP-4837, released Oct. 1980

Joe Jackson new wave rock 1980

Pink Floyd "The Hero's Return (Parts I & II)" - issued as the b-side of the "Not Now John" 45 rpm single, May 1983 - to date, this extended version of the track from 'The Final Cut' has yet to be issued on CD - this is for the Pink Floyd completist fan.

Pink Floyd Roger Waters David Gilmour Nick Mason The Final Cut 1983 45 rpm singles vinyl

Pink Floyd "Astronomy Domine" from the vinyl 4-LP of 'Echoes: the Best of Pink Floyd', released in 2001. Each LP of the box set's odd-numbered sides featured a unique design of classic Floyd images. "Astronomy Domine" kicks off side 1.

Pink Floyd Syd Barrett Roger Waters David Gilmour Richard Wright Nick Mason psychedelic rock vinyl LP classic

Pretenders "The Wait" from the vinyl LP 'The Concerts for Kampuchea" -- yet to be issued on CD

Pretenders Chrissy Hynde live concert LP vinyl

Eddie Jobson "Presto Vivace & Reprise", and "In the Dead of Night" performed at BB King's, Aug 18, 2009, NYC. Originally by UK (1978). Composed by Eddie Jobson and John Wetton. Eddie Jobson - violin, keyboards // Trey Gunn -- Warr guitar // Simon Phillips - drums // Chris Robinson - guitar -- Marco Minnemann - drums

Eddie Jobson progressive rock UK live concert NYC

The Who "Overture from Tommy" 45 rpm single on Decca records, issued in Sept. 1970. B-side of "See Me, Feel Me/Listening to You", both taken from the 'Tommy' album, 1969. Composed by Pete Townsend.

The Who Pete Townsend Roger Daltrey John Entwistle Keith Moon 1969 Tommy classic rock

Yours truly, by request, attempting a piano version of Eagles' "The Last Resort" which originally appeared as the final track on the 'Hotel California' album in 1976. My request was to attempt the 'Hell Freezes Over' version from 1994. I didn't hear that much of a difference between the original album version and the HFO one, but willing to oblige a request -- I cued up an HFO clip of "The Last Resort", put headphones on, played along with the clip, and this is what came of it. Hope you enjoy it!

Eagles Don Henley Glenn Frey Felder Joe Walsh Randy Meisner 1976 Hell Freezes Over piano cover classic rock

The Who "Behind Blue Eyes" from the vinyl LP 'the Concerts for Kampuchea' -- this album yet to be issued on CD

The Who Pete Townsend Roger Daltrey John Entwistle Kenny Jones 1979 live concert LP vinyl

The Residents "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (James Brown cover) 1984 "eyeball" 45 rpm single, Ralph Records

The Residents It's Man's World 1984 45 RPM single Ralph Records

Jay Reatard at Stuyvesant Oval, NYC 07-01-09 -- "It's So Easy", and "Not a Substitute" Just read about Jay Reatard's passing, age 29 - RIP

Jay Reatard

Climax Blues Band "I Love You' 45 rpm record, issued 1980 - from the album 'Flying the Flag'. Hit #12 on the US charts. Composed by Derek Holt.

Climax Blues Band 1980 single 45 rpm record

Yours truly takes a stab at the Genesis song "Misunderstanding" on piano. Took a few attempts to get the feel down. Hope you enjoy it, thanks for viewing!

Genesis Phil Collins Mike Rutherford Tony Banks 1980 classic rock

Presentation for MST 242 - Intro to Music and Literature II -- CUNY Lehman College

Felix Mendelssohn Jewish assimilation Richard Wagner anti-semitism oratorio Romantic

Paul McCartney & Wings "Maybe I'm Amazed" sourced from an original Capitol records 45 rpm single - issued in Fab. 1977 The song (composed by Paul McCartney) first appeared on the 'McCartney' album in 1970. The is the live version from the 'Wings Over America' album in 1976 that was a radio hit and IMO the more definitive version.

Paul mccartney Linda Denny Laine Wings Beatles 1976 classic rock

Xmas day at my family, sat at the piano, set the digital camera on movie mode, and played whatever came to mind ... at the end, thanks to having just watched someone's YouTube clip, I now figured out that classic piano part of the Beatles' "Lady Madonna" (thank you to whoever you are, I had it wrong for years!)

Pink Floyd Roger Waters David Gilmour Richard Wright Nick Mason Rush Geddy Lee Alex Lifeson Neal Peart Beatles

The Fab Faux performs "Savoy Truffle" at Webster Hall, NYC on Dec 27, 2006 during their 'White Album' show

Beatles concerts

District 97 performing in Brooklyn, Aug 2011, a medley of classic UK and Genesis songs

District 97 progressive rock

Yours truly paying homage to a true unsung hero to rock pianists and keyboardists -- Richard Wright from Pink Floyd passed away Sept 15, 2008 -- while Roger Waters is famous for being the lyrical genius and conceptual brains behind much of their classic albums, and David Gilmour has taken hold among the top rock guitarists of all time (one can mention him alongside JImmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Edward Van Halen, and Eric Clapton and knowingly he will be as revered a 'guitar god' as they), but Richard Wright was as vital an ingredient to Pink Floyd's music as Roger and David were -- and so with that being said ... here is my piano medley tribute to Richard Wright --- songs I play by Pink Floyd (unless otherwise noted) ... Us & Them (from "Dark Side of the Moon") Summer 68 (from "Atom Heart Mother") Against the Odds (from Wright's solo album "Wet Dream") Shine on You Crazy Diamond (part IX)) (from "Wish You Were Here") The Great Gig in the Sky (from "Dark Side of the Moon") Thanks for viewing!

Richard Wright Pink Floyd Roger Waters David Gilmour Nick Mason Syd Barrett classic rock

The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Inner Groove" from the mono UK Parlophone LP, 1967 -- first played normal forwards for a little over a minute ... then I hit the reverse button, then it plays backwards for another minute. If you listen closely you might be able to hear the dog whistle that precedes the inner groove weirdness. As many Beatles fans know, this 'inner groove' is found on the UK 'Sgt Pepper's' LP (after the last track on side two, "A Day in the LIfe"), and not the American one. It first appeared in the US as one of the tracks on the 'Rarities' album in 1980. Exactly what message lies within this inner groove? Forwards, it could be "Lucy Annie all the way" ... "never could be any other way" or any number of interpretations. Backwards however, many speculate it is one of the "Paul is Dead" clue: "Will Paul be back as Superman?" ... or could be a nasty message "We'll f--k you like Superman"?

Beatles John Lennon Paul mccartney George Harrison Ringo Starr 1967 Sgt Peppers secret message inner groove backwards rock music classic vinyl LP album

The Beatles "Baby, You're a Rich Man" sourced from an Apple records 45 rpm single (likely issued sometime after the formation of Apple label circa 1969/1970); original issued on Capitol, July 1967) .. and as was the case with the Beatles' singles in the USA up until "Hey Jude" in 1968, issued in mono. For fans who like their 'Beatles in Mono', and on vinyl, this is for you! "Baby, You're a Rich Man" was the b-side of the "All You Need is Love" single (however, someone at Apple flipped the sides when this single was pressed). Also was issued on the 'Magical Mystery Tour' album (Dec. 1967). The song was excerpted in the 'Yellow Submarine' film, but not on the album's soundtrack from 1968. To hear a most stunning remix and remaster of the song, get the 'Yellow Submarine Songtrack' album issued in 1999. Composed by John Lennon & Paul McCartney (c. Sony/ATV Music). Produced by George Martin. Get more Beatles music here on iTunes:bit.ly

The Beatles John Lennon Paul mccartney George Harrison Ringo Starr Magical Mystery Tour classic rock psychedelia

The Ventures "Hawaill Five-O" 45 rpm single, issued 1968, Liberty Records

Ventures 1968 45 rpm single

The Beatles "Across the Universe" on vinyl LP - Past Masters Vol's I & II. The first issuance of this track was on a 1969 charity LP, which had sped up the tape (from the first time I heard it on the 'Rarities' LP in 1980, I thought it sounded too high and fast). The 'Let it Be' Phil Spector version was slowed down from the orignal recording. What I did was pitch-corrected the "wildlife' 1969 version which matches the feel and speed of later issues of the song found on Anthology 2, and Let it Be ... Naked.

The Beatles John Lennon Paul mccartney George Harrison Ringo Starr 1969 LP vinyl records

This is Moon Hooch - a trio with two saxophones and a drummer - I happened upon them in Central Park on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30, 2011). Their sound impressed me so, that I took some video and want to share it. I hope the band will be OK with this - you guys do a lot with just the saxes and drums!

Indy Brooklyn music saxophone drums Central Park NYC

Duncan Sheik performing "She Runs Away" live at Castle Clinton, NYC : July 15, 2010

Duncan Sheik 1990s pop rock singer songwriter

The Beatles "Revolution 9" from the vinyl LP 'The Beatles' better known as "The White Album" issued in 1968, Apple records. Of all the infamous "Paul is dead" rumor clues, this arguably the most popular of the ones found on the records -- where "numer nine ... number nine ..." played backwards is heard to be "turn me on dead man ... turn me on dead man ..." so here's that clue for you all ... from side 4, track 5 of the White Album, the first 40 seconds being played in reverse -- you get to hear that bizarre piano passage as it normally sounded (which this morning, Nov 17, 2010, one day after iTunes starts to sell the Beatles, I found out that "bizarre piano passage" was from Robert Schumann '12 Etudes, Op. 13', for anyone who ever wondered) ... then 'turn me on dead man' ... Get more Beatles on iTunes: bit.ly

The Beatles John Lennon Paul mccartney George Harrison Ringo Starr Yoko Ono 1968 White Album vinyl LP record classic rock avant-garde backwards

This is a give-away record that must have been inside a Quaker Granola Dipps package back in the mid-1980s -- featuring Bon Jovi, the Alarm, the Bangles, Psychedelic Furs

Quaker Granola Dipps Great Moments in Rock Roll

"Days of Wine and Roses" (music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer) performed by the Lehman College Jazz Band, Sunday, Nov 20, 2011 (yours truly on piano)

jazz big band

2/3 of Our Daily Haze perform a most unusual rendition of "Happy Illusions to You" -- Vinny on guitar and vocals ... Robert on bass .. and guest performer, Steve on newspapers and indifference. also see 'ourdailyhaze' YouTube channel for more ODH ... and also check out 'the great unknown' at www.vinnydavismusic.com

Our Daily Haze indy rock folk music unusual weird inexplicable

Alice Donut "Nadine" 45 rpm single, on Alternative Tentacles records, 1994

Alice Donut Nadine 45 rpm

Just messing about on a Minimoog Voyager synthesizerr at Guitar Center -- this one has a touch screen that, as you move your finger about it, manipulates the sound while you play the keyboard

synthesizer;guitar;center

Here I am .. this time I wear three musical hats ... in this clip, I attempt guitar, piano, then bass guitar parts of Joe Jackson "Look Sharp!" A friend of mine asked if I could figure out the guitar part - since I wanted also to see if I knew the piano and bass parts, that became the basis for this "3 in 1" play-along-with video clip. Apologies for the less than quality sound of the guitar and piano, I had both of them hooked up to mini guitar 1 watt amps -- bass was hooked into a more 'real' amp - hope you enjoy my attempt on all three instruments, thanks!

Joe Jackson Look Sharp! new wave 1979 cover guitar piano bass