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I am picking up the blog today to talk about one of those life changing songs or rather performances. There is an Elvis film that many know called "Elvis On Tour". It is a fantastic look behind the scenes of Elvis and his performances. It features some behind the scenes footage of recording in the studio. So for years, I have wished that i could always be gifted with hearing a full version of a gospel performance where Donnie Sumner leads The Stamps alongside Elvis in singing a gospel song called "The Lighthouse". But to my dismay, It has been thought by many that all there is was of the snippets put together in the movie. In the movie, It is a spliced scene of several gospel songs and while it is great seeing the footage (also below), somehow it just leaves you wanting more. The Stamps quartet had performed the song on their own of course, but there was just something wonderful about These guys sitting around the piano in the sacred space of a studio just being themselves, letting go and just connecting to the music and the spirit of the song. This is something I feel is very rare because it is the moment which cannot be duplicated. I have no doubt that they knew the camera was there, but in this case, it just seemed to fade away into the background as Elvis just stops to listen. Well, So Very Luckily, after all this time and thanks to the glory of the internet, There is a Full Version!!! (It is said that there is a full video version somewhere, but all i have found is the audio version. So, take a moment to appreciate this Very Rare occasion and listendown to the Full Version recorded alongside the "Elvis On Tour" Movie session of "The Lighthouse" by Donnie Sumner and The Stamps quartet with Elvis relaxing and listening along with you.
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What is it about music that just makes you break the chains of fear; you just let go and become yourself? You jump, dance, sing and open your heart to the world. This is probably one of the most important posts about music because it is at those moments where we reconnect to that something inside of us that keeps us young and vibrant. For in those moments we breathe in life and exhale everything else. In those critical minutes of a song, we are free to imagine our future. It becomes so much easier to find clarity and truth. Hopefully you have had plenty of these life affirming moments to this point in your life and I know there are plenty more to come. For this feature, I can't think of a finer musician/songwriter/legend than Billy Joel to lead in the examples of life in music. Along with Mr. Joel, Other great examples include Jackson Browne, Smokey Robinson, Leon Russell and Carole King. I am also adding a few bonus songs with extra content at the bottom. As always, Keep exploring with each passing day if you wanna stay young at heart.
Songs written by Smokey Robinson
Bonus Material Harry Chapin_Cats in the Cradle
Bonus Material 2 Bruce Springsteen_Born To Run
Bonus Material 3 Bob Dylan_Pete Seeger_Forever Young
I believe that when you find yourself connecting to something outside of yourself, you will never have trouble finding yourself and your place in the world. That is why it is so important to explore. There have been many documentaries about music which provide information. However, the new series American Epic from PBS really takes you places. "Out of the Many, the One" is yet another of the great episodes in which they explore the roots of music. If you are looking to broaden the depth of your personal experience, I cannot tell you enough to go watch these types of documentaries. This particular episode is loaded with historical origin and cultural stories and connection with modern music. If you love music and want to better understand music, You will enjoy this!!! I will also leave you with a link to Discography of American Historical Recordings. With this site you can explore specific dates and recordings that were captured on that day. So Fascinating Right!!! The link is connected to May 10, 1919 which includes recordings of Joseph Kekuku, the inventor of the slide guitar and the Hawaiian guitar sound. Enjoy your travels through the musical timeline!!! I highly encourage you to share this information with others if you like.
http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/date/browse/1919-05-10
What is more assuring than a piece of music that grabs hold of your soul? I love it when I hear a piece of music and something inside me really says, "Yes". We all want to be moved and music connects us to how we are feeling. There are many ways to feel the connection. It is that groove that cuts your neck sideways or that heart-soaked vocal. That force that wakes us up inside is unforgettable. You can hum along, tap your toes, close your eyes or twist the night away. I hope you know the feeling. I know it has been a minute since my last post, but this is one in which i can only really step out of the way and let you connect to the music yourself. Short and sweet. Here are some of the tunes for you. From early decades to today, enjoy the vast array. I know there are many, but hopefully this may inspire your explorations through musiverse. Lets start off "in the right tempo" as old blue eyes used to say.
Valentines day is just around the corner. It's a time to dig a bit deeper and explore emotion. There is nothing like a great vocal and a sweet groove to move the heart. There are millions of songs for the occasion. It is an opportunity to really explore all songs that special someone's favorite group has to offer. Music is there to set the mood. With that said, I have chosen the music of the band "Free". Many may know their big hit "All Right Now" but they are no one hit wonder. For this project, I had a bit of trouble finding a good version of one of their best songs. However, I found the right version containing all of their rocking emotion. So sit back and listen as they tug your heart strings.
The song is called: Come Together In The Morning I have also embedded more music by Free below on Spotify. Wishing you all the best in love
Almost 20 years into the 21st century and it is clear that people often wonder if we are growing as a human species. What might it look like to be in a growth period? But who really cares right? As long as we have what it takes to survive. What if there are ways to improve the process of growing? What if music plays a role? We are not the only living organisms that see the value of music.
We are finally reaching a point in our history when music is being used to aid in the growth of plants. Thats right!! Plants dig music too. Certainly by now, you may have heard that plants communicate with each other on a vast scale. While this research has been happening for 40 years or more, Some scientists and agriculturalists are beginning to find ways to incorporate music in the critical growth stages of plants. This is very prominent in a few wineries, where it has been shown that the vines and grapes are ripe in color and size after being exposed to classical music. Other studies have experimented with all types of music and found that jazz and meditative tunes also are well-liked by plants. Music types such as rock seem to have the opposite effect on plants. While there are many years of experimentation to be done, maybe the future of life on earth will find peace in such growth tunes. Here are a few articles, videos and samples about plants and their love of music. The Dove Song Foundation http://www.dovesong.com/positive_music/plant_experiments.asp The Effect of Music on Plant Growth https://dengarden.com/gardening/the-effect-of-music-on-plant-growth Al Paradiso di Frassina_The Story http://www.alparadisodifrassina.it/en/musica Tune In to Turner Classic Movies today (12/05/2016) to catch vintage movie reels of many early Jazz band film and movies. TCM does not always have these music days very often, So be sure to keep your eye out for it and you will catch some great early music. Go Enjoy!
Some of the many ways we connect with music are dimension, time and space. These days it is easy for audio engineers to place instruments and vocals in any location within the recording space. It allows musicians, producers and engineers control over creative aspects of the final recording. One thing that is often forgotten in music these days is the magic of the recording space. While it is not completely overlooked, It is often cheaper and easier to simply create the sound and effect of a particular space digitally. I believe it is very important to remember that some of our favorite recordings of all time were recorded in creative spaces. Some memorable examples include Elvis Presley at Sun, The Beatles at Abbey Road and Elton John at Château d'Hérouville. As with any example, the creativity of the artist used the space or was inspired by the space in some way which made for a unique and memorable recording. More important to think of than just the space is the fact that every single piece of musical equipment or furnishings within the space created the final sound. One example of this would be the difference in the type of sofa in a room. The sofa might be upholstered with Leather or some dense cotton. This will change the reflection of ambient audio waves that reverberate within the space. The main point is that in order to create magical sound recordings sometimes, the smallest details make all the difference. There are many great documentaries out there that show some of these spaces. This is one of the advantages with which tube amplifiers give us clearer sound while listening. It is certainly something to think about as you listen to your favorite songs.
One of the most famous songs in history influenced so many musical artists and changed history with it's release in January of 1956. The power of the song continues to influence young kids to this day. Rolling Stone magazine recently released the fantastic story and history behind this song. It is a story of a heartbroken artist who lost his love. While this is a tragic and common theme for a story, this was one that changed history in music. It is a classic tale set at the end of lonely street at the "Heartbreak Hotel". Elvis Presley transformed this story into one for the ages, as only he does. Years later, Elvis would find his own moments of heartbreak, but he always found a way to get a message through his music. He is a shining example of a true artist and musician who personified the power of music. He will forever remain a legend and a fascinating story in his own right. Here is the link to the Rolling Stone article about the mystery of the origins of "Heartbreak Hotel"
After reading the article, also enjoy Elvis as you rarely see him in the studio in 1972 singing "Heartbreak Hotel" http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/solving-the-mystery-of-heartbreak-hotel
The future is a place that no one can predict. That does not mean there is no reason to imagine what it could be. Music lights up the world. One type of music that seems to always garner appreciation is the Quartet vocal groups. A song sung by a quartet often captures the light-hearted nature of the human spirit. If you have ever had the pleasure to sing in a quartet or choir setting, the feeling of being in the moment as a critical piece of the group and landing your notes is quite satisfying. It is not just because you played your part. The feeling of harmonizing with the group and connecting to something larger than self is a moment of accomplishment for everyone, including the audience. The imagination and creativity of the quartet can be magical. Quartets portray many emotions, as will any well written song. I am gonna show you two groups individually and then those same two groups coming together to make an incredible pairing. First up is the group
"Instant Classic"
Now, Hear "GQ" take on a contemporary tune. But I want you to imagine a time in the future where vocal groups become mainstream and are common in the charts. The purity and minimalistic approach to complex harmonies is subtle, but enchanting.
There is something about the balance of tone and texture that makes singing such an acquired taste. Maybe it is a testament to the evolving nature of ourselves and the state of being which make it possible to keep us moving towards being a Type III Civilization on the Kardashev scale. Like computers scaling faster with every bit rate improvement, we step towards a higher truth with every compounded harmonization with the universe. Connecting with nature is not just for our better self, but for the betterment of nature. A form of communication that has been around since the beginning of music, literally. Now, here is the combination of these wonderful voices.
In honor of opening week, I want to focus on the music of sports, in particular "baseball" (in my best James Earl Jones voice). After all, if you play it, they will come. Spring is here and so are the days of sitting in the stands enjoying the weather and watching your team compete for a win. The very nature of the game is a huge affair. Thousands pour into the park consuming baseball. It is a memorable feeling which gives the fans a sense of pride and a chance to witness greatness. The majestic homerun that seems to never land or the gladitorial no-hitter pitching performance. But in the early days of baseball, team owners would resort to every possible tool to create drama and maintain a level of suspense and excitement. Fans play a huge role, i mean, a baseball fan wrote the song "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" in 1908(see videos below). and then music just became a part of it all. In the 1940's, the first organ was setup at Wrigley Stadium in Chicago. Since then, music has evolved and its uses in the game have evolved. So I hope you're ready for the new season. Here are a few classic tunes and video clips from baseball. To see music as part of the game, I will start with the walkup music of today's modern players. Walkup music is used to pump up the players and the fans when they hear that familiar tune of their favorite player coming to the plate. There is music in every moment of competition. In the clapping of cheers and jeers of fans and the popping of the catcher's mitt as the pitcher throws a 98mph fastball to the inside corner for a strikeout. In the upper left corner of some of the videos, you will find they are actually playlists with lots of songs to explore. But here are a few videos to get you going from pop songs to organ music, enjoy. At the end, I leave you a song that is used in many competitions and sports. No matter what sport you love, you'll find that the sounds of the game keep it moving. Play Ball
With the passing of David Bowie, the time is a great opportunity to explore elements of storytelling and the theatrical connection to the character's role through which the artist connects to the listener. When asked about his fans dressing up to come to his shows, David Bowie said, "nothing to do with me, but the idea of finding another character within themselves. I mean, if I'd been at all responsible for people finding more characters in themselves than they originally thought they had, then I'm pleased because that's something I feel strongly about, That one isn't totally what one has been conditioned to think; that there are many facets to the personality which a lot of us have trouble finding and some of us do find too quickly." Many artists are successful because they understand that there must be a personality or soul to their work which is not stagnant, a factor which evolves. That theatrical component of carrying out a story. This is a difficulty for any artist because until the artist can understand that there is a much larger picture developed over time, they remain in the past which creates a disconnect with the present moment. Time brings a dimension to music that can often be overlooked for the sake of telling the story because the story is that thing with which the listener can make a connection. While people do find connection to a moment of a song, you never really hear a crowd of fans say how much they love a certain second of a song. They connect with the beat, the melody, and the lyric. Those things which have a component of movement over time. I do not want to let time go without mentioning that the Visual contribution to a performance is also an incredibly important aspect which aids in the telling of the story. This is another one of those important truths that Bowie understood. So I encourage you to find and explore all of the characters within you without being consumed by that character. The bigger picture is the truth of your being yourself. Let the exploration begin, you may find deeper exploration rewarding. Don't let your "circuits die". "Space Oddity" Ground Control to Major Tom Ground Control to Major Tom Take your protein pills and put your helmet on Ground Control to Major Tom (Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six,) Commencing countdown, engines on (Five, Four, Three,) Check ignition and may God's love be with you ([spoken] Two, One, Liftoff) This is Ground Control to Major Tom You've really made the grade And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare This is Major Tom to Ground Control I'm stepping through the door And I'm floating in a most peculiar way And the stars look very different today For here Am I sitting in a tin can Far above the world Planet Earth is blue And there's nothing I can do Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles I'm feeling very still And I think my spaceship knows which way to go Tell my wife I love her very much she knows Ground Control to Major Tom Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong Can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you.... Here am I floating round my tin can Far above the Moon Planet Earth is blue And there's nothing I can do. The days of early music production leave a mysterious trail and hidden stories of American culture that are rarely discovered by contemporary music lovers unless they dig very deep to find the stories behind the early music. With this post, I want to make you aware of an upcoming broadcast of combination of theses two moments in time. I have a feeling it will provide music lovers with an incredible look into early American music history. The show is called "American Epic". The airing times are not set, so I am encouraging you to keep your eye out for it. While on this topic, I will just mention that sometimes documentaries exist without getting much recognition. Thus, those documentaries go unseen. Sometimes, movie theaters will air premieres of documentaries for a day or a week only and they don't always advertise. So stay attentive if you want to catch these great showings. There are so many ways to enjoy music. Blogs are another great opportunity. For instance, Coming Soon to this blog, We will be talking to Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell of Royal Studios here in Memphis, Tennessee. The discussion will focus the use of analog music production tools and how these tools provide a creative palette which is used to build the structure of the sound that becomes the final audio recording. Check back here on ListenDown.com for that blog entry. For now I will leave you with the preview of American Epic. Enjoy! http://www.pbs.org/americanepic/
Exploring the depths of audio recordings can be a lifelong process.This post and the videos below will take about 2 hrs to really dig into, but I seriously hope you take the time. You don't have to do it all in one session. I might say start with the videos just in case they get removed at some point. Life keeps us busy. Unlike anytime in our history, we have an incredible access to experience the past through audio recordings. Yes, there is music, but what if you could hear past Presidents talk about the issues, or listen to a comedian or storyteller. Audio recordings can transport us to incredible experiences. Some might argue, who really cares about some outdated ideas or some point of view which maybe someone doesn't agree. It can still spark your imagination to live in the present and build your own future. There are many free online resources if you know where to look. Check out the Library of Congress Jukebox at
http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/browse You will find many interesting performances and they are constantly working everyday to restore many more. Other sources of great free listening material can be found by learning terminology and searching. Another great source is this great list provided by Stanford University's Streaming media page which can be found below or at their website http://library.stanford.edu/ars/streaming-media Below This list We will look at a few videos. Free online audio resources Stanford connections Christopher Costanza performs the cello suites of Johann Sebastian Bach Robert Huw Morgan performs the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach Riverwalk Jazz - streaming jazz and blues radio programs Sounds from Europe: All of Bach (Bach from the Netherlands. a new performance each week, forever!) Europeana Sounds (Sounds from museums, archives and libraries throughout Europe) Opera Platform (free streaming operas, launched in 2015) Historical music recordings The National Jukebox (Library of Congress--see all online sound recording collections at the Library of Congress) The Cylinder Digitization and Preservation Project (University of California, Santa Barbara) Belfer Cylinders (Syracuse University) The Virtual Gramophone (National Library of Canada) La Phonobase (in French) Stradivari Quartet/Iowa String Quartet (University of Iowa) Downloads for sampling, mashing, podcasting Free Music Archive CC mixter Opsound Jamendo Free Sound Effects Spoken words American Leaders Speak (recordings from World War 1 and the 1920 election at the Library of Congress) U.S. History Out Loud Supreme Court of the United States Audio Archives The Poetry Archive Internet Poetry Archive (University of North Carolina) Miscellany Historic Naval Sound & Video Bug Bytes (digitized insect sounds) Macaulay Library audio archive of biodiversity Internet Archive - Audio Archive Western Soundscape Archive (field recording archive)
Now that we know some places to look, let us take a look back to the beginning of audio recordings to when recordings were being invented focusing on the history of the cylinder in the 1st video (playing time: 15:47) and if you find yourself needing to dig deeper into cylinders, check out the blog where i found the 1st video, there are two more videos on the page http://blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2015/10/preserving-audio-cylinders-from-edison-to-the-archeophone/.
The second video here is a look inside the Library of Congress Jukebox (playing time: 54:58) It talks about the project in depth.
Music moves us because the acceptance and projecting of sound requires energy and vibration. Not every vibration is a good one, but without a vibration for every cycle of life, the beauty of nature would not be the same. This is often a complicated subject for most of us because it often takes more time than we care to spend to really grasp the complexity of it all. I am sharing these videos below with you because together we can begin to understand how the human body forms or receives valuable signals. The power of frequency in music and art is exponential. These are the tools of our lives. To be masters of our crafts, we must understand that which moves us. Enjoy the two videos!!
I am continuously looking for ways to express to people how listening to music or performing it can create an immense human connection. In many ways, people know this exists, but I think to really understand that unseen powerful connection, listening to music carefully becomes a kind of meditation or practice. What if you had no way of understanding the sounds that make music? Or no sense of timing? There is a flow that connects music to our universe. There is an energy that connects us to our world. At the root of it, I can only offer you a beginning point. Some piece of information that triggers your response and either makes you want to dig deeper or unfortunately may pass you by. Either ending is a positive result because the unseen power of music will find you someway, somehow. However, if your wish is to find that deeper connection and value each encounter with music. Then all you have to do is listen. These videos of tenor Rolando Villazon will help you dig a little deeper. You will hear his passion for music and his struggle with his own connection.
Craftsmanship is a perception. It is a tool that can be manipulated. Skill is the piece that we long to experience in a work of art or a piece of music. Craftsmanship is merely the practice of applying the skill. Like an incredible musician on an instrument can use effects to distort or muddy the sound. A great artist can apply layers of information to simplify or complicate an inherent skill. If you look at a painting by a master artist you can see the layers of application. You can begin to detect the pieces that make the bigger picture possible. This is where craftsmanship can be found. Each brush stroke, texture and color has a purpose. The application technique also adds information. However, craftsmanship is often held to a certain perceived standard. People have preconceptions of what they feel something should be, however, that perception is also an artist's tool. If one does not see craftsmanship, it does not mean that it does not exist. The creative process is ever flowing and artists create within that flow. Sometimes intention plays a role, but often there are little moments of unintended beauty that an artist does not intend to happen. These moments can either be erased or accepted. So I ask how do we allow ourselves to judge the practice of applying a skill instead of accepting that things can be beautiful as they are? I believe that the craftsmanship of compassion is at the heart of how we peel back the layers to find the real perception. Below is a link to check out some isolated tracks from popular songs. These tracks show the frailty of simple and complex moments that build the music they inhabit. Click Here and ENJOY!  There are many experiences in our lives. Many of them happen and we have a memory of the experience. However, some of our most incredible experiences come from the ability to create. Once you have a skill, such as painting, acting or singing, you then have the ability to build on an experience and create some beautiful moments. Like any good exercise these moments find life in the intensity of passion and the repetitive practice. The performance of the skill requires devotion and confident focus. So, today I offer you this great video that brings you into the passion of singing as a tenor. You are not required to sing tenor, but I hope you can find moments that fuel your passion because your passionate voice gives life to moments for the world to enjoy.
We want music when we want it! Now, You probably understand that it takes work to make music. However, to reproduce music with quality, it takes science. What we really desire is to experience sound. While many of the genres and styles of music evolve, the standard of quality recreation will always exist. Put your mp3s back in their digital sleeve for a moment and check out a few videos on music reproduction. It has been quite some time since the site was updated. I moved the site to a more friendly and easier to update environment. You can now keep up with my social sites like YouTube and Soundcloud. The site still focuses on music. It has not changed in the general focus. Feel free to comment and email me about topics you would like to hear about. Introduction and Rediscovery of great music is what it is all about. I hope you enjoy the changes. Thanks for the continued support, Joseph |
Joseph CampI am an artist from Memphis, TN. I grew up surrounded by great music and it remains one of my passions. Archives
February 2018
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