The comic book story I co-wrote comes out first week of September. We're looking to do something to celebrate in NYC -- stay tuned for more info.
Mary and I with the happy couple, Rachel Z and Omar Hakim - Aug 1, 2010
A couple of reviews came in on the CBGB Comic book came in. I've acted as one of the executive producers on this project.
From NPR:
The first issue of this four-issue anthology series tracing the history (and legend) of the Bowery's most famous rock club hit many a fanboy and fangirl square in their Ramones/Talking Heads/Stillettos-loving hearts. The cover, by comics legend Jaime Hernandez, sealed the deal.
And from the AV Club -- an influential Comic Book Blogger:
Heaven only knows why Boom! Studios decided to launch a four-issue anthology miniseries based on the legendary punk club CBGB, but based on the first issue, the idea was a good one. CBGB #1 contains two stories: One, written by occasional rock critic Kieron Gillen and illustrated by Marc Ellerby, offers a brief history of the club; the other, written by Sam Humphries and drawn by Rob G., tells the story of one young punk’s connection to the club via a dead relative. Both pieces are focused in their storytelling and evocative of the CBGB heyday, but the Gillen-Ellerby story has the advantage of Gillen’s scholarship, and his attempts to separate the myths from the facts, while celebrating both. Rock historians and comics fans alike are well-served, and the gorgeous cover by Love & Rockets’ Jaime Hernandez doesn’t hurt… A-
I produced this video and co-wrote the song with Gerry McKeveny. Lillian Berlin of the Living Things sang it. I put this together as a promotional video for CBGB.
I was in Charlottesville Virginia this week and played some tunes on air with some good friends.
The previous revision slimmed 'Money' down from 120k words to 100k.
It was my Nana's birthday on Halloween -- she'd have been 99.
In celebration of my upcoming Rockwood Music Hall gig this Sunday, I dug out of the archives my one and only cheesy video, made back in 1981; full of irony now that I'm working with CBGB....
I produced and edited this video for CBGB -- also wrote the music and performed it; recorded it too. Had a blast cause I had no idea how to use the Video Editing Software. Now I know just enough to be dangerous.
Mom and my sister Lisa, 1968
I might not have a lot of cash now, but a good friend had a boat, and we visited a nearby island. It was only the second time out on the water in Westport in the 17 years I've lived here -- hopefully I won't wait another ten or so to get out there.
Last month I was at Acme Studios recording drums for this demo of 'All I Do.' Here's the latest mix -- next step -- harmonies for the chorus.
Gerry McKeveny and I wrote this song for a video that will be used in a CBGB presentation -- this is a rough mix with a scratch vocal -- we're on the hunt now seeking a hard rock singer -- if you know anyone -- give me a shout. Thanks!
I'm finally able to offer high quality MP3s for Free on this site. Here's a demo of a song that features an amazing keyboard part by Rachel Z -- it's called Cool Things Down. I recorded it a few months ago.
Irish singer/songwriter, Declan O'Roarke, paid a visit to my studio with his brother Edward, and his Uncle Eddy.
Fourteen year old wunderkid, Ellen Kempner, laid down a few tracks in the studio over the holiday break too....
From my gig in Philly Dec 5
My business partner and I acquired all the trademarks to CBGB earlier this year -- the company includes the physical contents of the bar, as well as a ton of recordings from some amazing bands -- we put part of the bar into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in NYC -- which opened this week.
After way too many months out of the studio, I made this demo with my buddy Gerry -- I did the drum loop, played acoustic guitar and sang lead vocal, Gerry put down the bass and electic guitars. I did a basic mix in my studio.
For tech heads: I switched from Pro Tools last year to Sonar 7 -- which features 64 bit internal processing. I run a dual Xenon Chip at 3.5 mghz. I use John Hardy preamps, an Oram Sonic compressor, and run it through Appogee Rosetta converters.
All I Do
How many secrets do I keep from myself
Cause I don't understand
What makes me want to love you
Touch you
Taste you
Take you in my arms
Never let go
All I do is push you away
All I do is wish I could say
If you leave him today
I'd be ready
Ready
To catch you as you fall
But I'm lurking here
Caught in a squall
Feeling so small
All I do is push you away
All I do is wish I could say
But instead I make you sad
So I'm ready
Ready
To walk away from you
And I'm thinking it’s the right thing to do
Cause I don't know what makes me want to love you
Touch you
Taste you
Take you in my arms
Never let go
All I do is push you away
All I do is wish I could say
I'll be whatever you want
And I'm sorry
For loving you the way that I do
Back in the studio -- my buddy Gerry McKeveny
I spent the weekend in the studio recording some demos. I had a great time, but had a few technical difficulties. It was frustrating, but it was still wonderful to be surrounded by guitars and gear.
Don't get a lot of time these days to write songs, but I whipped this off over the last month -- and made a quick demo for folks to hear.
Johnny Charmin
Johnny Charmin
He was farmin
Turned into a frog
A witch’s mishap
Is how he got zapped
Down in a bog
Five years he was green
Warts, scales, a slimy dream
One kiss, One touch, Unleashed, His love, it’s true
He turned back into a man, and here I am, you see…
I was Johnny
Tadpole scrawny
Living life as a frog
Eating insects, slugs, and woodchips
Sleeping in a log
Until a mermaid’s daughter
Rescued me from this water
One kiss, One touch, Unleashed, My love, it’s true – I turned back into a man – and here I am
I have dived the depths, lived life small
It’s not a fairy tale, when you fall
But now I stand tall
I turned back into a man and here I am
I’m Johnny Charmin
Back to farmin
Once was a frog
A witches’ mishap
Is how I got zapped
Down in a bog
Five years I was green
Warts, scales, a slimy dream
One kiss, One touch, Unleashed, My love, it’s true
I turned back into a man – and here I am
I’m Johnny Charmin
Back to farmin
I once was a frog
Phil Fletcher, co-owner of Blue Sky Resumes, took this photo and doctored it up in Photoshop...
Me and Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Okay, not the best photo, but we'd been up late playing music...
Help me climb the Clear Channel Charts.
Click on image below.
I have just completed my fourth year of posting an essay on this site every week. Thanks for reading.
All the best,
rsw
Here's a video from our gig at the Rockwood...
Here's a CD cover I designed for a project I recorded a few months back -- I shot this photograph in Japan -- according to the legend of the hundred buddahs, no one has ever counted the same number of stone statues that align this path.
Robert Steven Williams (‘03,‘04):
His short stories have been published in
Orange Coast Review, Carve Magazine,
and the Canadian anthology Tall Tales,
Volume II. His story “The Jersey Cowboy”
was a top-ten placement for the Raymond
Carver short story contest, and he was a
finalist for his stories “Inheritance” and “A
Winter’s Day.” His CD, I Am Not My Job,
was released in 2005. www.rswmusic.com
Twelve people live in this shack in the hill country of Haiti -- they have no electricity or plumbing.
From the archive -- me with the lovely Sarah McLachlan...
Those following my weekly postings know that it hasn't been easy to make money from my art. Over the past six months, I've been quietly doing a bit of work on the side. It turns out, I haven't forgotten how do that; in fact, I've already had some success with Against the Grain. Check out the new site. It'll tell you all about it.
I dug this pic out of the archive -- that's me with one of Jersey's favorite sons...
We had a great gig at the Towne Crier sunday night. It was good fun and it was great to reunite as a trio with Paul Winsor and Gerry McKeveny. We hadn't played live together for years.
Thanks to the Phil, Fred, and Buzz at the Towne Crier, for all their help.
NYC 2006
Cleo and Munce want to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season...
I started to promote my page on MYSPACE. Check it out...
Graceland -- surrounded by ratty apartments, pawnshops and liquor stores, but still worth a visit.
The birthplace of rock and roll -- Elvis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Howlin Wolf, Ike Turner -- they all recorded here in Memphis back in the fifties.
One of the King's beds -- with built in 8-Track player.
I took the tour of Graceland today. What a place, what a tour, what a group of people -- most were pushing 70 or higher. Here's the King's living room. More photos next week!
Jeep was in the studio this week with Claude Stein, vocal impresario, just back from San Antonio.
Part of the 615 deal involved setting up publishing companies with each of the performing rights organizations -- I named the SESAC company after my cats.
From Nashville, to Carolina, to Katonah, NY. Ended up at Sloan Wainwright's studio on Sunday with Susan Marie.
The Tropicana Orchestra is one a Haiti's greatest exports -- they've been playing Konpa music for decades. I caught them one night in village five hours out of Port-au-Prince
I hope to profile Cheri, the woman in the red hat. She's running for mayor of her village despite her father's protests.
Three kids in Concern's education program in Port-au-Prince
The remains of a tree -- a family of racoons used to live in this willow. Poor guys, there aren't many options for displaced animals in Westport anymore.
Bread Loaf held an Erotica reading one night -- The first three readers were women over sixty -- i thought that interesting and cool.
I considered not reading because every thing else presented that night was funny and/or cute, but when my name was called I read this excerpt from my new novel. It's Chuck's first sexual encounter since the break up of his marriage. Although I knew it had humorous bits, I wasn’t expecting people to laugh as much as they did. Afterwards several women spoke to me about the power of the piece, about how I got the woman right in this, how unexpected Chuck's feelings were, how real it all felt. A publisher of a small literary press heard the piece too, she wants to see the manuscript…
Claudia rarely wore a bra and when she did, it was a flimsy sort of affair, not like this push-up thing Rachel wears. Or at least that's what I think this contraption is because I've never felt anything like it. It has metal rings about the cups that do a fine job of holding up a breast to maintain an inviting and sexy shape, but it's also prevents fingers from slipping in. I try from the bottom. I try from the top, but those breasts are sealed in as if they are under the protection of Homeland Security. We're still kissing and there's no way to maneuver about for further reconnaissance, to spot a weakness for entry.
I opt for a change of tactics and reverse course to her back where I find familiar technology, the old-fashioned metal clasp. I pride myself on the ability to unhinge with one hand and thankfully I haven’t lost this talent and the clasp unfastens. The suction-cups release their hold from her chest and I’m free to roam at will. Rachel's breasts are soft and silky, like the inside lining of an expensive coat, but they lack firmness. This is surprising, and not in a good way. She pulls away from my mouth and nips at my ear, breathing harder. She pinches one of my nipples and it stings and startles and I’m hard. One of her legs is against my crotch. She must know of my excitement.
The opportunity to break twenty-one years of monogamy is at hand, but I didn’t expect to return to her apartment (honest). I don't have a condom, and besides, she doesn't know anything about my background. I’m disease free, but what's her status? And even if I had a rubber, I'm not prepared. I don't know if you can get AIDS from oral sex. If she gives me a blow job won't I have to reciprocate? What then?
Despite this panic, my outward appearance remains calm. I caress her breasts, we kiss, I mull options. Her hands massage my back, my stomach, my chest and now she’s rubbing my hard dick but if this doesn’t slow down, I won’t be able to stop. I try a few delay tactics. My hands revisit the breasts and my torso twists in such a way to pull her fingers from my crotch. This works for awhile, but at some point she pulls away and starts crying. I lean into the sofa, yanking my shirt down to cover my gut. She whimpers.
"What's the matter?" I ask.
"I'm not doing this right, am I?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You feel far away."
"No, that's not it, it's just, well, I haven't been with another woman in a long time. I wasn't expecting to come back here."
"You don't want me?"
"Of course I do. I'm just saying that this is all new."
"It is for me too," she says. "I haven't been with anyone in three years."
She's sobbing again and the only way to quiet her is to take her in my arms and I do. We sit like this for awhile. "Want to smoke a little more?" I ask.
"Sure."
With a fresh buzz we kiss. She whispers that my touch is driving her crazy. She laughs. "Tell me what you want and I'll do it."
To hear such words while in the embrace of a woman is to have found nirvana, and given what I’ve been through over the last two months, I’ve earned the right to receive such generosity. I need the practice. But I’m a small rodent frightened by my own shadow. I know that this is just a test run; it doesn't matter if I come too fast or I can't keep it up. I've never had problems in the past, but with all the stress I honestly don’t know how I’ll perform. I probably just require a few dress rehearsals. It's like riding a bicycle, but she isn't a test dummy, she's a human being with feelings, needs and wants.
I stop kissing and say, "We need to talk."
She’s crying again. "You don't want me."
"That's not it, please.” I explain that I've just gotten out of a marriage and that I'm not looking for a long-term commitment. I want her to understand that it's okay if she just wants to be friends.
"It's all right," she says wiping away tears. "We can be friends with a benefit plan." She cocks her head with a mischievous smile and we kiss again.
"Don't take this the wrong way," I say, "but I'm going home now. I've got to get up early anyway."
She turns petulant and pouts.
"Look," I add, "how about coming over to my place this weekend?"
Her face brightens and her lips are on mine again. She tastes salty from those tears and she hugs me tightly. I untangle from her embrace. We hug and kiss again at the doorway. I say good bye and leave.
Outside I breathe easier despite a subzero temperature. I hop into the car and the dashboard clock reads 3:30. I can't believe it's this late. I crank the car heat, shivering. I’m a chicken-shit. What sort of man is afraid to ask for a blowjob?
The kind who’s broken.
I got to play the new version of Will You Come Out Tonight with Penny Nichols and Mark Dann last week at SummerSongs.
Michael Stearns, my Sewanee roommate, trying to get his homework done before workshop
1-minute reading -- 50 people read for one minute -- those that went over got shot with a ray gun.
--------------------------------------
Not quite the set-up of a Pink Floyd show, but the Ammachi tour packs a powerful punch with a ten-piece Indian band including a killer tabla player.
I caught up with Rachel Z in New York this week.
I found one of my old business cards in a drawer last week -- It was 1991, Grunge was happening and I was living in England. I helped start the HMV chain of record stores in Japan, making several trips over there. They used to call me Bob-san....
I'm heading to Tennessee next month for a fiction conference. This week I sent off the synopsis and sixty pages of my new novel.
Southpaw bassist, Steve Clarke, was in ATG studios this week working on the Jeep sessions.
Food and drink reception at the Orange Coast Review launch party last week.
Breaking News
If you missed Cool Things Down as Track of the Day on Sunday, April 30, you'll get another shot on Monday, May 8, when it's featured in GB's Folk charts. This is the first new track since the CD was released last fall...
Still standing and fully operational
The show was great. I loved most of it. Johnny 99 was my highlight, but the Seeger inspired material was great too, especially during the quieter moments. The band is raucous, the music is fun, but a few of the songs were too loud and bordered on a "Mighty Wind" out take, but I had to keep reminding myself, this was a rehearsal -- I'm sure they'll get most of that sorted.
Bon Jovi got his start here -- U2 and the Police had stops during early tours too.
I did a photo shoot with Jason Byrd this week at his new Stamford studio -- it's a cool warehouse with lots of industrial space for great backdrops.
--------------------------------------
Just posted a brand new unreleased track on Garageband.com. Recorded at ATG Studios, it features Sam Zucchini on percussion and Paul Winsor on bass. I wrote the tune, do the vocal and play all the guitars. It won best drums in folk rock this week and came in 4.6 out 5. Check it out by clicking below:
The Orange Coast Review will publish one of my short stories in their Spring 2006 issue. OCR is an up-and-coming art and literary magazines published in Southern California.
I posted My Favorite Lullaby on Garageband and it won 14 awards in two weeks!
Awards! Best Male Vocals in Folk, week of 13Mar2006
Best Male Vocals in Folk, week of 20Mar2006
Best Guitars in Folk, week of 13Mar2006
Best Guitars in Folk, week of 20Mar2006
Best Bass in Folk, week of 20Mar2006
Best Production in Folk, week of 13Mar2006
Best Production in Folk, week of 20Mar2006
Best Lyrics in Folk, week of 20Mar2006
Best Melody in Folk, week of 13Mar2006
Best Melody in Folk, week of 20Mar2006
Best Mood in Folk, week of 13Mar2006
Best Mood in Folk, week of 20Mar2006
Most Original in Folk, week of 13Mar2006
Most Original in Folk, week of 20Mar2006
Breaking News: Garageband.com picks Will You Come Out Tonight for Track of the Week - March 6.
Click here to check it out...
How cool is this???????
and now number 20 on the charts...
Me performing at WinterSongs 06
Attn: Robert Steven Williams.. "Will You Come Out Tonight" R
From: band_updates
Received: 2/24/06 02:16 AM
Hello Robert
Thanks for uploading "Will You Come Out Tonight" to GarageBand.com. Congratulations are in order! Your song did a bang up job in Round 1 of the Active Contest,and held its own against some stiff competition. It's been reviewed by folks all over the world, been subjected to raw, unfiltered scrutiny from people you don't even know...and guess what?.... They liked it! The blood, sweat and tears have paid off.
Your song made it to the upper echelon of its genre, and will now move on to the next level to battle it out with its peers in Round 2. Songs in Round 2 will move through an entirely new review cycle, to be reviewed and ranked against the other top songs in their genre. We'll measure your new ranking based on a combination of this new data and the old data. When the dust settles, those left standing at the top of the charts will get a shot at moving on to Round 3 and be one step closer to getting played on Yahoo! Launch radio.
If you have any questions about the review process, please check out the updated Review Process FAQ.
"Will You Come Out Tonight" finished at # 43 in Folk Rock.
In addition to moving up on our active charts, "Will You Come Out Tonight" will still remain available in our All-time charts and you can continue to monitor its status on your Song Profile page.
Thanks for your support.
Rock on,
Ivy,
Band Services
GarageBand.com
Will You Come Out Tonight has scored the following awards to date on garageband.com:
Best Male Vocals in Folk Rock, week of 13Feb2006
Best Melody in Folk Rock, week of 13Feb2006
Best Mood in Folk Rock, week of 13Feb2006
Chill-Out Track in Folk Rock, week of 13Feb2006
Check it out by clicking on the icon below...
Oprah comes clean...
Last week I wrote this about Oprah in regards to the Frey endorsement on Larry King:
I believe Oprah’s statement is sincere, but there’s no way she would have endorsed this book if it had been fiction. Of course she can’t admit this. But it wasn’t her responsibility to check the facts; apparently publishers don’t believe they should either.
On Thursday she drilled Frey (without novacain) on what was fact and fiction. More important, she admitted that what she said on Larry King was wrong. It's not often a public figure makes such a statement, but when it happens, it needs to be applauded -- Oprah, I salute you, baby....
And it's inspriational -- Oprah I was wrong too -- I never thought you'd do it. Sorry...
Now if we could only get George W to...
A rough week of storms -- winds knocked wires down in the back of my house on Wednesday
Saturday night Westport was rocked by high winds and falling trees. My house narrowly missed being hit...
Myspace.com has over 32 million users and TagWorld is new competitor with three-hundred thousand users. It's mostly young folks hanging out in these on-line communities, but a lot of music gets played there. And so I'm testing out a site on TagWorld just to see what all the excitement is about. Here's the link, check it out and let me know what you think...
I played some Xmas songs with Paul and Evan Winsor at a party for fifty people on Christmas...
My mom and step dad Xmas morning...
Evelyne Serais was back in the studio this week to record a Yoga Nidra session, a deep relaxation form of yoga.
Mystic Bowie from the Tom Tom Club, was in the studio this week working on some solo material.
This ran in Billboard last week:
Look Who's Back
Hey, for those who remember Bob Williams, the one-time VP of marketing at HMV's now defunct U.S. chain. I just received a pretty interesting album from him. It seems Williams left the business world to pursue his muse as a singer/songwriter. After six years of developing his craft, he has released an album, "I Am Not My Job," although he now goes by the name Robert Steven Williams. For more information, his website is rswmusic.com.
Sam Zuchinni appeared this week to do a new song I've just written...he also did a track for Jeep...Great fun to record drums again at ATG
Although my entire downstairs is upside down, I managed to squeeze in a some recording time -- working on three new songs...must be all those saved brain cells...
Mr. Jeep Rosenberg hasn't been happy with any of the photos that have appeared on my site, so he requested that I post this to let everyone know how good looking he really is...
Caught an amazing writers round here in Nashville featuring Hugh Prestwood, James Dean Hicks, Tim Johnson, Chuck Jones, Angela Kaset and Rick Beresford.
Bill Gessner strumming my 355 -- he was teaching a workshop in the Hudson Valley this weekend and stopped by the studio to say hello...
Jeep Rosenberg back at ATG working up the last of songs on his upcoming CD
Gary Cirimelli was partners with a very good friend of mine in San Francisco during the 90's. He's now in Nashville and last week I visited him at his studio where he's producing several artists.
Another shot of me at the writers night in Nashville
NYC on the way home from Nashville...
Eleven-year old wonder, Ellen Kempner, was in the studio this week with her dad, Jim. She was recording a couple of her own compositions, plus U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday.
Engineering the session with child wiz -- Ellen Kempner
The CD arrived and was on display at ATG Studios
Last week I recorded a yoga CD for one of Fairfield County's best yoga instructors...
Not quite a vocal warm-up, but Evelyne Serais was in the studio to record a yoga nidra CD -- and this was part of her warm-up.
Just back from the summer festival season, Stacy Phillips returned to ATG to lay down some tracks for the upcoming Jeep Rosenberg CD.
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Nashville came to August 2005. It was great fun hearing Angela Kaset for the first time live -- she's not only an incredible songwriter, but she sings like an angel.
Rivers Rutherford gave a workshop at ASCAP and played the Bitter End. When Rivers isn't writing smash country hits, he's opening up for Keith Urban. Check out his website for more on his activities.
August 15, 2005
Cash is tight and this week I considered selling my 1966 Gibson 355; but it needed some cleaning and a tune-up. It created quite a stir in the guitar shop -- all the guys working there came out to take a look. They told me I'd regret selling it and that it was guaranteed to continue to rise in value. The 355 is stereo and has a lot of extra trimmings -- estimated value $4,000...
I'm reconsidering...
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Here are some photos from my summer 2005 trip to Nashville
The president of NSAI, Bob Regan, was kind enough to invite me over to see his home studio -- how cool was that?
The legendary Bluebird cafe in action -- a full house for open mic night!
Song Camp director Claudia Young looks on as Rivers Rutherford talks to the group...
One night Song Camp held an open mic.
To start the trip off right I visited Yoga Sanctuary before the workshop. Tom and Daphne have a great place and it's not far from the Bluebird either.
On board with the iPod
How did I go this long without one? It's a great companion on this trip and saved me hauling around all those CDs...
Back to the store with the Zen Nano
I'm off to Nashville on Thursday and I thought I'd buy an mp3 player. The Creative Zen Nano is cool because you can record directly into the built-in microphone, a nice touch to capture a quick thought, but it's not compatible with the thousand or so CD's I've already ripped. So it's back to the store for an iPod...
Now that the second novel is off to my editor, Cleo is keeping close tabs on what I'm up to...
Paul Winsor doing a midnight session at ATG last week, determined to smile when the camera is on
Gerry McKeveny was at ATG working on the Jeep sessions once again...
F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda spent the summer of 1920 in this house. At that time Westport was mostly bootleggers and farmers. There's a short scene in my upcoming novel that takes place on the steps of this house.
John Widgren's smiling now, but he had no idea what he was getting into when he agreed on short notice to come to ATG Studios to address the final track of my upcoming CD -- I Am Not My Job
Mark Dann hard at work mastering my CD last week in his Manhattan Studio B suite...
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My first CD is on the way!!!! I cut the check with the manufacturer on Friday and I'm finalizing the art work this week....
And making it's debut this week -- the CD cover.
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I've been out with a bad back for six weeks now. I just started easy yoga and the treadmill at the gym. It feels great to be active once again. I'd do more at home, but the Munce man took over my yoga mat.
With my back out and this damn cold, it was quiet in the studio this week. My CD is at the mastering house, I just need to sort out the art work and this baby is done!
The apple tree was in blossom this week in the back yard.
Sloan Wainwright and Stephen Murphy were in the studio this week recording a track for the upcoming Rachel Bissex benefit CD. We got so into the track that I forgot to take pictures. I think they're coming back to mix it, so look for some photos in the upcoming weeks.
Rachel died earlier this year from breast cancer and the proceeds of this CD will go to her kids. Besides Sloan, Dar Williams, Jennifer Kimball, Greg Greenway and others will do Rachel's songs. It's produced by Tom Prasada Rao, who several years back, sang an earlier demo of my song -- Will You Come Out Tonight.
Sloan and Stephen have done a really great job with this track. It's called -- Last Blast of Winter.
A SummerSongs recording reunion -- a break on my porch after another great afternoon of making music.
A trio of great voices providing back-up on the Jeep session...
Last week the Jeep Sesssions were back at ATG Studios
Jimmmie in Concert in Nashville, April 2005
Head of NSAI song camps Claudia Young with her pal Chet...
Had lunch with Nashville hit song writer Jason Blume last week. I've taken several classes with Jason. He's an incredible teacher. If you come to town don't miss his monthly class at BMI.
Sunday morning co-write session in a Nashville tree-house.
Jimmie on stage with local favorite Dale Watson.
Nashville's famous Bluebird Cafe is in this non-descript strip center on Hillsboro Drive.
Breaking News
My short story 'Jersey Cowboy' is a finalist in the Raymond Carver Short Story contest. It will be published by Carve Magazine in May -- The winners will be announced next month -- top prize $2500 bucks! Just to make it into the finals of such a great contest is an honor -- Raymond Carver is one of my favorite short story writers.
-----------------------------------------------
April 3, 2005....
Before heading off to Nashville, I spent the day in Manhattan working on my CD at Mark Dann's studio.
Mark's an extraordinary engineer and has done a great job helping me put the final touches on my CD. To learn more about Mark, visit him at his web site.
Mark Dann mastering my upcoming CD -- I Am Not My Job
Performing in NYC Sunday night...
NSAI Event in NYC -- Tim Buppert, the featured act -- playing some of his country hits...
Songwriters in the round in NYC
The Adopt a Shop Nashville Pro -- Tim Buppert -- a killer songwriter and an ace demo singer...
Will it ever stop snowing here in Connecticut? One of these days I'm going to have to get myself a garage!
Everyone piled on to the court to say good-bye to Brett and Melissa Martin. I rewrote the lyrics to the Beatles 'Get Back' and we all sang, giving them a rousing send off.
WinterSongs 2005
Two Angels....
The Gator Band
Sloan in action...
Sharon and Meg with David
The new Sloan Wainwright Band
Three Musketeers
All the way from New Zealand...Susan Jones
Yoga Class
Another Wainwright is about to set the world on fire...Sloan's son, Sam.
Mark Rothe makes his public debut..
Fran Stone slayed the audience with another show-stopper.
The Four Angels...
Dave and Penny at the final breakfast performing "It's a Beautiful World."
During vocal class, Colleen sneaks a snack when Sloan isn't looking.
On stage Sunday night
The food at Ashokan beats any conference or retreat chow in the country.
First timer -- had never written a song or performed in front of people before -- he can't say that anymore...
The front row at the Sunday Coffee House
From Broadway back to ATG Studios -- John Widgren laying down some tracks last week.
Liam was back this week to play on my song "Going for a Ride"
Liam Bailey at ATG Studios last week...
Liam Bailey with Jeep Rosenberg
This ran in the local press this week.
What a treat to have Kier Dullea, star of both stage and film, stop by to do a voice over for my CD here at ATG Studios. Kier played Captain Bowman in Stanley Kubrik's 2001 A Space Odyessy.
Rachel Z, just off of the Peter Gabriel tour, back at ATG Studios.
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Just before Thanksgiving John stopped by to add pedal steel and dobro to Heaven's Drum and Zen Cowboy. John is a New York session man based in Connecticut. He tours regularly with Commander Cody and also performs on Broadway.
John on pedal steel...
John on his dobro from the 1930's...
Getting the last bits together on the CD are taking longer than I might have expected. Of course, given my track record, this is not surprising. The good news though is that the songs are sounding great!
Gerry was back to put the final guitar parts on my CD.
What a great week at the studio -- I had Sloan Wainwright and Martha Colby in, both lending a hand on my upcoming CD. What a treat to hear these amazing women. I'm grateful to both of them for their contributions...
Sloan adding her soulful voice to a few tracks on my upcoming CD
That's a wrap -- Martha Colby playing cello on the song -- The Money...
Hung out with Steve Forbert last week. How cool was that?
Hanging out with Steve Forbert...
Penny Nichols about to bash Jeep if he doesn't get that melody right...
Boo from the Demolition String Band at ATG for the Jeep sessions...
Chris Davis was in the studio last week playing this beautiful lap steel from Hawaii
Dan Bonis was in playing the dobro.
Boo and Jeep conferring on what key the song is in.
Community of Writers at Squaw Valley '04
Me with the best belly dancer at the conference...
Vernon uses hand signals to make a point
Danette was the Queen Bee at Voll House this year.
Childress reading
Not sure what was so funny, probably my manuscript. Too bad it wasn't a comedy.
Marty of the LA Times Magazine ready to bolt, or is he about to sit down?
Housemate Lisa, hard at work
My room with Jayson toward the end of the week
On the one afternoon we had off, twenty or so of us, mostly women, hiked up the mountain with the poet and freelance naturalist, David Lucas
Workshop intensity...
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Here's a collection of photos from the week with Jimmie.
That's me with Jimmie and T Rock
The lovely Dia on keyboard...
T-Rock and Bill
The crew watches Jimmie do his thing...
Estelle doing her thang...
Brian, Lisa, Mike, and Denny...
Who's this?
Penny spent a day working with Jeep at ATG Studios this week, and from Jeep's grin, it certainly looks like Penny done good...
Stamford singer/songwriter Darian Cunning popped into ATG did sing lead on a couple of demos for Scot Lipshutz. Scot used to be Joan Osborne's road manager.
Congratulations to Rachel Z and Bobbie Rea -- they got married over the weekend in Vegas. I don't know how long the honeymoon was because Rachel had to get back to Europe to rejoin the Peter Gabriel tour, but she did drop me a note just to let me know they were really excited.
Djembe anyone?
This week I got this djembe -- it's hand made from Senegal -- you should hear this baby -- it's incredible -- and loud! I'm taking percussion lessons and having a blast. And this week I'm participating in a drum circle.
Dinner with Gus -- Father Aengus Finucane - co- founder of Concern. The man has so many incredible stories to tell from all over the world. He can also hold his whiskey. I wish I could say the same about myself.
From the Jeep Sessions this week...
Stacy Phillips stopped by ATG studios this week to play dobro and fiddle on a couple of songs for Jeep Rosenberg.
And more from Virginia...
Three Blind Mice
Each day we gathered in a circle and shared songs.
Tom Proutt is the Devil (actually his song is called -- the computer is the devil)
After dinner on the porch
Bill and Noah and Jan
Four Musketeers
The Phillips Brothers Band
When I return from Ireland, I'll write more about the songwriter gathering...
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Last week Scott Lifshultz hired Against the Grain Productions to produce a handful of his songs. Scott used to manage Joan Osborne.
Greg Trebant in the drum booth during the Lifshultz session.
Gerry McKeveney, pondering the meaning of life, or perhaps just the next chord change.
Here is the first draft of the actual CD cover. Next week I'll put up the current version.
The MP3 debut of the first song on the upcoming CD
This was a test lay out for the CD cover that didn't make the final cut.
The companion song to the short story:
The Harvard Wedding and Lunch with Fidel
Got notice after ten years of towing the company line
They claimed it was the economy and the stock price decline
I was gone at the end of the week, they took the company car
I came crashing down like a falling star
In the mirror I couldn’t see my face
Just a tragic unemployed disgrace
No more phone calls for me, friends kept away
I am not my job
I am not my job
I am not my job
Out went the Italian suits, gave up the courtside seats
Bought a guitar and my transformation was complete
I get up when I want to get up
I sing and strum all day
I was lost but now I've found my way
It’s a twister that tumbles the mind
I’ll tell you Mister, I feel fine
Don’t you sum me up by what it is I do
I am not my job
I am not my job
I am not my job
Bridge
Lotto Lucifer runs the money game
With prestige and power, he calls my name
He brings temptation to blind me from the truth
I was going through my photos for a shot of a bridge for last week's entry and came across this of my parents -- they look like movie stars...
Brian Glassman, John Carlini, and Jeep Rosenberg -- on break in the backyard at ATG studios. Jeep is recording tracks for his Silver Bluff Estates project.
Jeep Rosenberg deep in thought
Gerry Mckeveny doing that guitar thang...
Another image from the CD photo shoot.
Chuck "Jeep" Rosenberg recording his new CD at ATG Studios. Jeep played with Kris Kristofferson a few times and is a good pal of Jimmie Dale Gilmore --that's how we met. It's great to be part of his CD project.
It never hurts to have a photo of an attractive woman on your website -- this is Donna Sexton, the model I used on the CD art work shoot.
Declan O'Roarke, playing my vintage '66 Gibson 355.
In Memoriam
My Nana
1910-2008
The last time I saw my Nana we went out for fish and chips -- a classic English meal -- I loved going out for fish and chips with Nana as a kid. Back then they served it up in newspaper -- I thought that was the best -- I guess they banned this method for health reasons in the 70s...
Nana with my Mom in 1960...
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Internet Radio provides a viable alternative to Clear Channel's tight playlists. I'm featured this week on the 5th Anniversay Show of Radio Mike down in Austin, Texas -- check it out.
Scott Lifshultz and Marliese were in the studio this week recording vocals on one of Scott's songs. Scott used to be Joan Osborne's road manager.
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Breaking News
Lullaby is now in the third round of Garageband.com competition. It won several weekly awards again and hit the all-time charts too!
Family gathering at Auntie Annie's funeral
More Breaking News
Your Favorite Lullaby will now be Track of the Week on Garageband.com in folk!
My former boss with his Australian Cattle Dogs in the Winsor Great Forest
Breaking news
Your Favorite Lullaby was chosen track of the day in Folk for April 4, 2006. It's won sixteen awards and is moving up the folk charts.
Music Expoganza
I had a lot of fun doing the music expoganza this week in Ridgefield. I saw a few people I hadn't seen in awhile and met a lot of new folks too. It was great to see a lot of teenagers there. I wish I'd attended such events when I was that age. I had no idea back then that one could learn to write songs, or improve their singing. Too bad, but at least I figured it out...
My new CD is now available by song through iTunes .
Renard Boissiere was in the studio this week -- from New Orleans, he was singing with the Neville Brothers until Katrina hit...
Charlie Phillips was up from Philadelphia to record a song for his upcoming CD.
Photos from WinterSongs 2006
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My next door neighbor's house had a rough week with the storms...
It was almost sixty degrees at mid-day but a storm blew in dropping temperatures into the teens...
Evan Winsor on stand-up, in for the holidays from Berklee School of Music up in Boston...
Declan O'Rourke made his NYC debut Nov 30 '05 -- one of Ireland's hottest up and coming singer/songwriters. He's the nephew of my good friend Eddie, who has been telling me for years about this kid. To be honest, I wasn't that keen to hear Declan, I mean every Uncle is proud of their nephew, but when I heard the CD, it totally knocked me out -- this kid is a cross of Frank Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen -- keep your eyes and ears out -- he just signed a record deal with V2.
Jeep back in the studio this week playing my 1960 Tele -- word is, Jeep's going to be using this axe a lot more
Walt at UPS hauling in the boxes of my new CD -- I Am Not My Job
Not recommended for most musicians that come to ATG studios...
Jean-luc Picard looks on as I jot down a line for a new song.
Jeep Rosenberg rehearsing at home before session at ATG
Angela Kaset at the Bitter End in August 2005
Rivers workshop at ASCAP last week in NYC.
Song Camp 102 -- Nashville
As an executive in the music biz I stayed in five-star hotels including New York's Royalton and Tokyo's Okura, but now that I'm a songwriter, I can only afford the glorious Airport Motel Six.
At one AM I got a crank call. I hung up and ten minutes later the guy called again. When I rang the front desk asking if I should be worried they said: What's the big deal? Don't you get crank calls at home?
But for two nights I shared a room at the Holiday Inn where the workshop was held.
Bliss is a towel that doesn't feel like sand paper...
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Here are more photos from NSAI's Song Camp 102
The amazing Chuck Jones...
Steve Seskin and Mike Reid
Rory Lee Feek, an amazing song writer, and now label head. His first artist: the blockbuster -Blaine Larsen
Chuck Cannon playing one of his hits...
Jason Blume teaching how to write hit melodies
NYC's David Kraut doing the open mic with Sandra Lee of Nashville watches.
Ed Williams, from Fremont California, doing the open mic
Here's my favorite deer, back for lunch.
Cleo keeping tabs on studio activity.
Noah Shapiro was in the studio this week -- He never opened his eyes the whole time.
Penny Nichols and Sloan Wainwright rehearsing harmony parts for the Jeep sessions.
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Photos from the NSAI Symposium in Nashville, April 2005
The extraordinary Beth Nielsen Chapman
The king of songwriters, Craig Wiseman.
Bob and Tita from Greensboro, North Carolina
Me with Karen Hart, an amazing songwriter from LA.
Last year this guy was a Symposium attendee, this year he's a staff writer at EMI Publishing.
ASCAP Nashville on Music Row
If you visit ASCAP in Nashville, don't miss the lobby bathrooms -- they are five star!
Even the urinals at the Mercy Lounge were okay...
Listening while Rob Taube, another excellent songwriter, performed his song
At the NSAI event in NYC
Mastering -- one of the final steps in creation of my CD...
WinterSongs 2005 at Ashokan
The Wainwright Trio exits the house
Farmer by day, singer songwriter by night
Made her US debut at WinterSongs
Ready for yoga
Opening song by the MCs
Learned a ton in Scott's Ainsley 'licks for your songs' class...
Vocal Class
Ina May Wool's class
Vito conferring with newbie and up and coming sensation -- Dave
One of my dearest friends, Bill Gessner...
Barret might not have been able to sing, but it didn't keep him off the stage...
Alan at the Sunday Concert
Bar Scott doing her thang...
David Roth claims that my downstairs shower has the best water pressure of any house he has ever stayed in.
The rest of the photos in this column were taken in ATG Studios...
Paul Winsor with Jeep
Liam and the Resonator...
Cello virtuoso -- Martha Colby at ATG Studios
The lovely Sloan Wainwright at ATG
Boo laying down a lead on a Tele...
Below are photos from the 2004 Squaw Valley Community of Writers conference:
Performing Friday night
My roommate Jayson -- he was up so late most nights, his eyes sealed shut...
And yet another housemate!
Just happy to be with the Hammocks...
With last year's housemate Michelle
Afternoon smiles...
Three hours to the top and then a well-deserved break...
Another housemate taking a break
The Mark Childress Trio
More Photos from the Jimmie Dale Gilmore workshop
Jimmie and Janet
Tiny Tim and Noah...
Two guys and their mats.
The Omega Puppet Parade
Wendy in contemplation
Jimmie and his wife, Janet
Jimmie's song flattens T Rock...
Here's some photos from recent activity at ATG studios -- Penny Nichols
Me and Pen after a session at ATG.
Darian's got the lyric all figured out now.
After four days of interviewing, Abdi is still smiling.
The Virginia Retreat
Good thing I took these photos to remind myself that I was actually there. It already seems ages ago.
T Rock, one of the hosts in Virginia. Next year he might earn white wings...
Sir Charles and Beck-a-Rama
Mr Rodgers
Colleen doing her thang...
CD Update
Rachel's wrapping up her summer festival tour with Peter Gabriel soon. She'll be back at ATG studios in August to add more tracks to my upcoming CD.
Bill Lopez in the studio last month.
When guitar players don't know their parts, we put them in the cage.
