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Lately it seems I have been posting novelty songs. And, in a way, this is another one. It was written and recorded 25 years ago, just after John Lennon's death. The recent threads about Lennon reminded me about this piece, which was recorded by alternating between two monaural reel-to-reel tape decks. I apologize for the quality of the original recording, which sounds more like 1921 than 1981. I recently added the bass and some percussion, mainly to distract from the analog noise in the background.
This song has never been posted anywhere. In fact, not many people have ever heard it, even though it is 25 years old. There was no MacJams in 1981.
© 1981 Tom Atwood
Artwork: John Lennon
"Family Tree"
Lyrics:
I saw you there
I didn’t know what to say
I saw you there
I didn’t know what to say
You had that mean look on your face
It scared me away
People
They seem so far away
People seem
They seem so distant today
Oftentimes they speak to me
And I don’t hear a word that they say
I used to sing
Things have got to change
You know it’s funny when they do
All the time you try to look ahead
You never see what’s in front of you
Somebody tell me
Who’s singing this song?
It sounds familiar
I might sing along
The melody’s odd
But it’s true
I had a girl
Or should I say she had me
I had a girl
Or should I say she had me?
John Lennon said it once
(or was it Paul McCartney?)
Now John Lennon’s dead
I never understand why people do the things they do?
All the time you try to look ahead
You never see what’s in front of you
Somebody tell me
Who’s singing this song?
It sounds familiar
I might sing along
The melody’s odd
But it’s true
Hardware:
Ampex reel-to-reel tape decks (1981)
Alvarez Classical Guitar (1981)
Casio Privia PX-300 (2005)
G5 (2005)
Software:
GB2
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Ok. So this is cool... &mdash 12/10/05 - 11:39:59 PM
Or should I say "way cool."
I'm so glad you chose to dig this out of mothballs and post it here,
Tom!
(Great that you kept a copy of it around.)
It's a kick to compare this piece to the music you've created recently.
Not just the style or technical aspects, but the lyrics, themes, etc.
Interesting, too, how our perceptions and perspectives change over the
years...
Thanks, again, for posting this!
fav'd and downloaded
[ Reply to This ]
Ok. So this is cool... &mdash 12/11/05 - 06:45:34 AM
Thanks Cat. You said you're glad I saved this? I'm not sure how many
generations removed from the original this track is, but I know it has gone at
least from reel-to-reel>cassette>MiniDisc>CD>.aif>mp3. At least. As I
remember, I started writing this before Lennon was killed, and finished it
after he was shot. Thanks again for listening to this poor, old song.
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
love the feel! &mdash 12/11/05 - 07:32:37 AM
now this is something you can't do alone with GB. that old analog feel. so
soft and warm. there should be a filter in GB to do it. thanks for sharing.
great playing, great singing! [ Reply to This ]
love the feel! &mdash 12/11/05 - 11:17:15 AM
Thanks, Erik. I thought about adding that scratchy record sound effect to this,
but I don't know how to do it...
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
Sounds really &mdash 12/11/05 - 10:40:05 AM
good considering those generations of copying. In a way, this kind of blues sounds better in the smooth analog than the crispy digital. I enjoyed it; very nice singing and guitar. [ Reply to This ]
Sounds really &mdash 12/11/05 - 11:20:15 AM
Glad you enjoyed it, David, there is nothing crispy or digital about this piece,
that's for sure. Thanks for listening.
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
This is interesting &mdash 12/11/05 - 10:43:12 AM
From a historical perspective this is very interesting. I can hear all of
the things that make up an Atwood song they just aren't as well
developed. The sly wit is there along with the good guitar play. One
can hear your arranger wheels turning in the change of dynamics and
rhythm. The recording itself doesn't sound as impeccable of course
due to the equipment and possibly not enough experience. A few lines
are rushed, a couple of lines sound forced but overall it's all there.
Another great Atwood song. Just needs a little polish here, rewrite
there and it would be right up there with the others! [ Reply to This ]
This is interesting &mdash 12/11/05 - 11:23:51 AM
Thanks, Tom. As for rewriting this song, I'm afraid it is beyond that stage. It
is an adult, now, and may have children of its own for all I know. Strange to
think of it as historical. When did that happen to my old songs? When did
they cross into history? Help!
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
love the LoFi sound &mdash 12/11/05 - 04:52:46 PM
man, tom. i wasn't even alive when you wrote this song! (though, depending on
the month, i may have been conceived.) i think it's so cool you went back and
revisited somethign this old. and like others, have said, it still bears your
signature sound. i love the wordplay with the beatles reference (especially the
background vocals which almost mimic the vocal melody from the actual song)
and i love the overall sound of the recording. it reminds me of an artist named
M. Ward, who envokes a similar lofi sound in his recordings. you might like him.
if you cick this link, you can stream one of his songs... http://
www.mergerecords.com/m3u.php?media_id=119&
[ Reply to This ]
love the LoFi sound &mdash 12/11/05 - 07:21:42 PM
Thanks, Ryan. Just listened to Transfiguration of Vincent by M.Ward.
Excellent piece. Very interesting sound. Does have an analog feel to it, but I
think his recording technique is a bit more sophisticated than mine.
Glad you liked this. In 1981 I got married. You were not even born yet?
The Beatles section is kind of a "sample" I guess of "Norwegian Wood." Have
you heard of the Beatles? (Just kidding - I have always felt like a father to you
ScooterDman, watching you grow up here on MacJams.)
Thanks again for listening to this relic.
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
An instant 25 year old classic &mdash 12/11/05 - 06:18:01 PM
I can't say enough about this "live" authentic creation of yours. I love the
old analog sound in this. Your voice... unlike anyone else's. And your
guitar playing is the perfect acoustic blues groove in this tune.
You know.... you're good... I mean, really good : )
Jack [ Reply to This ]
An instant 25 year old classic &mdash 12/12/05 - 08:13:24 AM
Thanks Jack, for those kind words.
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
Anyone also has the history. &mdash 12/12/05 - 04:14:04 AM
Very comfortable loose.
Youthful guitar to be sulky.
Your young singing voice will sound in 25 years.
[ Reply to This ]
Anyone also has the history. &mdash 12/12/05 - 08:22:26 AM
Which reminds me, how old are you anyway?
Thanks, for stopping by, Mr. Togawa.
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
character &mdash 12/12/05 - 07:19:52 AM
this track has such character....if was all digital it would'nt have that
character......sounds like django on guitar......hehheh....very kool tom!@!!
nice homage to lennon too.....i also get this texas country swing feeling
about the tune...and i love those old country swingers......downloaded
and fanned.....! [ Reply to This ]
character &mdash 12/12/05 - 08:26:02 AM
Django? I'd settle for sounding like Mcboy...
I'll tell you a secret. Before posting this, I considered reworking it and asking
you to collaborate on lead guitar. Well, you and your team. The corporation of
writers and instrumentalists that makes up Mcboy, Inc. Whoever you really
are. Mcboy™.
Thanks for the listen, and for the comments.
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
Smooth, funky, bluesy &mdash 12/12/05 - 03:37:00 PM
I used to think that I could figure anything out. Lately, I've seen some
things that I truly don't understand.
It would be interesting to see how John Lennon would have developed,
though the years.
Great feel on the tune. It blends well with the style! [ Reply to This ]
Smooth, funky, bluesy &mdash 12/15/05 - 08:32:53 AM
Figuring. That is the hard part. Sometimes I think it is best not to figure.
Thanks for stopping by DU, and for the thoughtful comments.
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
Eternal Goodness &mdash 12/14/05 - 05:09:08 PM
I was in elementary school, playing "hot cross buns" on a recorder when
you made this. Tom, you really are a treasure. Great, inventive and witty
tune. You do it all so well. The bass and percussion additions are nicely
done and sound like part of the original production rather than tacked on. [ Reply to This ]
Eternal Goodness &mdash 12/15/05 - 08:34:55 AM
I forgot to mention, I was also in elementary school when I wrote this song.
And when I got married. You should see the wedding pictures!
Thanks for the kind words, Peter.
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
retro sound &mdash 12/15/05 - 03:54:42 AM
Man, this is cool. I love the guitar/blues riff performance. I can image
you in the next hotel room recording next to Robert Johnson. I like the
Beatles reference. My nice chops [ Reply to This ]
retro sound &mdash 12/15/05 - 08:38:48 AM
Yes, that hotel where Django, Robt Johnson, Woody Guthrie, John Lennon and
I all stay. That hotel in the sky...I see a bright light! They're coming for me!
---
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/atwood-artist.html">american plain cd</a>
<a href="http://thelostrecords.com/noel-project-artist.html">splendor bright cd</ [ Reply to This ]
whoah! &mdash 12/16/05 - 01:24:45 AM
This track was wild. Absolutely trippy stuff- I could hear some amazing blues/jazz textures in here, but everything was so cleverly woven together, it was impossible to really say if it was more jazz or more blues- I almost cannot believe that this track is from as far back as it was! Revolutionary, and viva la revolution for sure! [ Reply to This ]
Such a treassure &mdash 12/21/05 - 04:04:46 AM
Such a treassure you have digged up here! It is jus soooo interesing to
listen to these old recordings (Cat captured the feeling in the first
comment here). Very special and interesting to know that I am listening
past 25 years ... my mind start wandering ... all the things that has
happened to me during these years ... what could have happened to
Tom during the same span ... Puts me in a very intersting mood trying
to sense that ...
Thanks for sharing!
PS If this world survives, do you think people can listen to our MacJams
posts in 25 years from now? DS [ Reply to This ]
Such a treassure &mdash 12/21/05 - 04:04:46 AM
Such a treassure you have digged up here! It is jus soooo interesing to
listen to these old recordings (Cat captured the feeling in the first
comment here). Very special and interesting to know that I am listening
past 25 years ... my mind start wandering ... all the things that has
happened to me during these years ... what could have happened to
Tom during the same span ... Puts me in a very intersting mood trying
to sense that ...
Thanks for sharing!
PS If this world survives, do you think people can listen to our MacJams
posts in 25 years from now? DS [ Reply to This ]
Weren't the Beatles an early version of Wings? &mdash 12/25/05 - 04:37:07 AM
or was that the Plastic Ono band?
My goodness, you're old. Luckily, I'm a cartoon character and never age.
Unusual sort of retro blues with a touch of Rudy Vallee vibe for a Beatles
tribute, Tom, but I like it. [ Reply to This ]
not bad &mdash 01/29/06 - 08:34:44 AM
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I'm so glad you chose to dig this out of mothballs and post it here,
Tom!
(Great that you kept a copy of it around.)
It's a kick to compare this piece to the music you've created recently.
Not just the style or technical aspects, but the lyrics, themes, etc.
Interesting, too, how our perceptions and perspectives change over the
years...
Thanks, again, for posting this!
fav'd and downloaded
[ Reply to This ]