Joyce

There’s an anomaly in this photo. No one has commented on it yet.

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This is the demo version of British folk singer/songwriter Sandy Denny’s “Stranger to himself,” copyright 1974. I like this version far better than the one done by her and Fairport Convention.

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When I recorded “The Great Valerio,” by Richard and Linda Thompson (‘I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight,’ 1974), I didn’t have the guitar part ready so I only recorded the vocals. It will have a soft, slow, haunting guitar part added to it someday. Is there anything else I can say about this…Oh, yeah…NAILED IT!

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This is “First Feeling” by Ad Vanderveen from his album ‘Wonders of the World.’ It’s everyone’s favorite. I play by ear and on this one I heard the upbeat. It’s like playing my guitar backwards. I only did one take. Studio time is expensive. Songsense Music, copyright 1998. Track 5.

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It seems only fitting to put this one next. This is “Wailing Good-bye,” by Iain Matthews from “Some Days the Bear….” There’s a line in it that gives away that it’s about Gram Parsons. I should have practiced this one a bit more before recording it. I can tell there are a couple places where I’m thinking to myself “Where am I going with this?” Anyway, only one take.

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This is “The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood,” a poem by Richard Farina. He was married to Mimi Baez. The beautiful melody is by British folk singer Sandy Denny. It was meant to be sung a cappella. The Brits would not approve of my rendition because they want to hear no trace of vibrato in your voice. There’s a bit too much reverb and I should have sang down a key. Again, only one take.

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This is one of my favorites. “Old Friends” by Ad Vanderveen from ‘Brandnew Everytime.’ Track 5. Songsense Music, copyright 1995. One take only.

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And here’s one just for the hell of it because it seems so relevant for me right now. Sam Cooke, 1963.