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Songs Of Summer by J.A.Stewart [Email]

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 566
Comments: 46
Votes:
Plays: 76
Last Played: Oct 12, 2008 - 05:42:57 PM
Downloads: 0
Fans: 23
Uploaded: May 24, 2008 - 03:59:19 PM
Last Updated: May 26, 2008 - 10:56:30 AM
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Keywords:
Summer (66), Beach Boys (4), Beatles (9), Motown (4), sun (60), sunshine (23), fun (161)
Description:
Monday is Memorial Day in the U.S. and it marks the unofficial start of Summer here.

In celebration of that fact, I’m posting this sketchpad snapshot of a song I put together just to see if I could pull it off. The harmonies are all off-the-cuff, so they’re not as tight as they will be. What you hear in this version is the beginning and the end of the tune. There is an additional middle section that I’m working on, as well as a Motown-style vocal for the end part.

And then there is the... extended version. ;)

Songs of Summer is a tribute to all that great music that helped time-stamp my memories all those years ago and helped make summers fun. I hope you enjoy it. :)
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WOW! &mdash 05/24/08 - 04:07:13 PM
Wonderful song, gorgeous work by all means. Amazing vocals and tasty music.... WOW!! Please more!

Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi

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Re: WOW! &mdash 05/25/08 - 10:33:36 PM
Thanks, Yeman. I'm glad you liked it. "Songs of Summer" is the cornerstone for a CD concept I had, so you may here a lot more. ;)


--- Joe

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omg - i'm packing a picnic... &mdash 05/24/08 - 06:14:57 PM
blimey - i wish i could 'pull off' something like this - not only p & f but brill too - looking forward to hearing the 'polished' version - off down memory lane now - oooo-baba-baoooo - thank you xoxo

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Re: omg... &mdash 05/25/08 - 10:38:51 PM
Thank you, Dame Caroline.

Pack your surfboard, put on your Wild Bikini and head out on the highway in your pink fluffmobile, Deary. It's SUMMERTIME!!! ;)


--- Joe

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Beach boy with pizazz! &mdash 05/24/08 - 07:16:12 PM
Yeah!! I'm ready for summer, and the beach! This is cool! :-)

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Re: Beach boy... &mdash 05/25/08 - 10:41:07 PM
I''m glad you enjoyed it Roxylee. I think we're ALL ready for a Long, Hot Summer after not having much of a Spring. ;)


--- Joe

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You did! &mdash 05/24/08 - 10:49:11 PM
You pulled it off. Loved those off the cuff harmonies. Yes, I did enjoy it. Terry

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Re: You did!... &mdash 05/25/08 - 10:43:38 PM
Thanks, Terry. I'm happy you liked it. Your avatar picture works well with the vibe, too. :)


--- Joe

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Wow &mdash 05/24/08 - 11:21:00 PM
Is this is the snapshot, I can't wait to see the movie! This sounds great, and the harmonies sound pretty tight to me! Looking forward to hearing the next step in this one's development. Great stuff. Nicely done. Peace.

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Re: Wow... &mdash 05/25/08 - 10:49:17 PM
Thanks, David. The old falsetto's not what it used to be, so I took it easy on those parts, just to see how close I could come... I didn't want to hurt myself in the process. LOL


--- Joe

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The Beachboys ride again &mdash 05/25/08 - 09:26:57 AM
Nice track Joe. Has all the sounds I remember including the vocal bass line they used on some of there songs.

Very cool way to start the summer off my friend. Thanks for sharing this blast from the past. Been there, done that, got the baggies and flipflops to prove it.

Ed

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The Beachboys... &mdash 05/25/08 - 11:01:22 PM
Thanks, Ed... Yeah, those vocal bass parts used to play a HUGE role in a lot of great music. I think you're going to really like what I have planned in the extended version. ;)


--- Joe

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Songs of Summer &mdash 05/25/08 - 10:56:40 AM
you NAILED this! I'm back in the 60's doing the "Swim" (a dance, for you youngin's)

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Re: Songs... &mdash 05/25/08 - 10:58:53 PM
I'm pleased you enjoyed this, Karen. Thank goodness you didn't get stopped in the 70s on your way back. hehe


--- Joe

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This &mdash 05/25/08 - 04:44:36 PM
sounds so great, so full... you really captured that sound from way back... can't wait for the other parts, cheers M

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Re: This... &mdash 05/25/08 - 11:05:43 PM
Thank you, Maurice. I hope it captures some of the energy and excitement of those great Summer songs. I don't know that there's anything quite like it nowadays. ;)


--- Joe

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alright! &mdash 05/25/08 - 04:53:34 PM
now this is summer from a better time indeed ... love this .. alot! so... waiting on the extended version!

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Re: alright!... &mdash 05/25/08 - 11:11:27 PM
Right you are, Jack... a better time, indeed. Certainly more carefree. Thanks for listening and liking. :)


--- Joe

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excellent &mdash 05/25/08 - 07:42:54 PM
Beach Boy Joe! I love it. You did a great job here. Enjoyed the singing and harmonies. Lots of memories and lots of fun! Looking forward to more!

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Re: excellent... &mdash 05/25/08 - 11:14:41 PM
Thanks, Gail. I'm happy it gave you a bit of a boost. Beach Boy Joe? I'm probably one of the few working musicians of the era that didn't play with the Beach Boys during the past 40 years. LOL


--- Joe

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dang &mdash 05/25/08 - 10:22:01 PM
fantastic song John, man this is Beach Boys on steroids.

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Re: dang... &mdash 05/25/08 - 11:17:13 PM
Beach Boys on steroids... hehe, why not?... I believe they tried just about everything else. ;) Thanks, Vic.


--- Joe

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You know.... &mdash 05/26/08 - 09:48:35 PM
Brian Wilson's music teacher didn't like the way he built harmonies, but then again, his teacher probably never shot through a wave's curl either. Quintessential summer sound Joe, great start. Could be a nostalgic pop-tune (crocodile rock) or a show tune. Amazing vocals.
Joe

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Re: You know... &mdash 05/27/08 - 01:57:20 PM
I'm glad you liked this tease, Joe.

Interesting point about Brian's music teacher. The "Paint-by-numbers" approach may have some validity in musical composition, but it doesn't account for the music that plays inside the heads of unique people like Brian. ;)


--- Joe

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great job &mdash 05/27/08 - 05:42:34 PM
capturing the energy and excitement of summer. This piece is incredibly well constructed with enough little bits to keet you interested through several plays. Oh yeah, and it's catchy as hell, too!

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Re: great job... &mdash 05/27/08 - 09:13:50 PM
Thanks, Eric. Weaving the various genre elements together was an interesting challenge. Thanks for your comments. ;)


--- Joe

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That open is &mdash 05/27/08 - 06:55:00 PM
so big and wonderful. You make me feel like a kid on my 5 speed bike riding along the beach listening to those great summer records. You definitely cover all the Brian Wilson range Mr. Stewart. And I just got to the jump section, cool way to fit Earth, Wind and Fire into the mix!

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Re: That opening is... &mdash 05/27/08 - 09:19:30 PM
Thank you, John... I wanted to open with a big splash and some idea of the energy and enthusiasm those old tunes had. I'm glad you noticed. The final version, with all the various elements added should be even more fun. :)


--- Joe

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Baaa Oooooo &mdash 05/27/08 - 09:30:10 PM
wah wah ooow

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Re: Baaa Oooooo... &mdash 05/27/08 - 11:33:01 PM
EXACTLY my point, b_n. LOL


Thanks... Joe

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yeeeehaaa! &mdash 05/28/08 - 04:20:44 AM
happy tune! love it! and its grey and raining here!

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Re: yeeeehaaa!... &mdash 05/28/08 - 12:08:20 PM
Don't Worry, Richard... everything will turn out alright. We got teased with an 80 degree sun/clouds mix on Monday and then dropped down to mid-50s days yesterday and today. But Summer WILL soon lift ALL our spirits with sunshine and warmth. ;)


Thanks... Joe

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Dangit &mdash 05/28/08 - 11:22:48 AM
For some odd reason, I can't llisten unless I'm able to dl, this morning!

I'll comment tonight, Sir!

I know it's warm!

I know it's fun!

I know that it'll make me smile - You always do! Macca


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Re: Dangit... &mdash 05/28/08 - 12:10:47 PM
Holy Cow! Dion... on top of everything else, you're psychic!!!

It IS warm... It IS fun... It WILL make you smile. :)


--- Joe

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Huh... what's this?? &mdash 05/30/08 - 06:26:18 PM
Mike Love?? Brain?... Carl?! Maybe Al or Dennis?

I'm back in time... an audio time warp, waiting for the next track (Wendy or All Summer Long?) ;)

I can't wait for the final. Maybe the White House will let you play at the Washington Monument Mall for Independence Day festivities (James Watt anyone?)

two thumbs up Joe!



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Re: Huh... what's this?... &mdash 05/30/08 - 10:06:49 PM
James Watt? LOL, Jack... what's been going on here for the past few years makes Watt seem like a visionary by comparison.

Thanks for the thumbs-up on this little musical time warp... It's just a jump to the left. And then a step to the right. ;)


--- Joe

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Wahoo - wah wahoo! &mdash 05/31/08 - 09:39:03 PM
Love this. Can't wait for the final. Your strolling low piano is fantastic - and the harmonies are delicious.

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Re: Wahoo - wah wahoo!... &mdash 05/31/08 - 11:01:07 PM
I'm glad you enjoyed this, Kevin... it is just a taste of the final.

It was a real challenge to come up with that Motown-style piano part at the end... emulating, rather than just ripping off a bass line. Motown music provided so many memorable ones, it was hard to avoid. ;)

Thanks again,


Joe

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Wow... &mdash 06/06/08 - 03:08:01 PM
...so sorry I missed this, Joe...but so happy I caught it now...our roots intertwine...great tune, man...just a great tune! Love the horns...it's real fine without 'em, but they put it over the top.

Nostalgic. I love nostalgic...

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Re: Wow... &mdash 06/06/08 - 11:04:30 PM
Thanks, Bob. I glad you liked this tease. What kind of Motown part would it be without the horns? ;)


--- Joe

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Is that you? &mdash 06/14/08 - 09:42:38 AM
The surf picture that is. You surfing on Lake Erie? :)

Good tune. Good song for a dreary day like the one it was when I visited this page.



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Re: Is that you? &mdash 06/14/08 - 01:04:34 PM
No, Bill. I believe the Euclid Beach Band answered that musical question a couple of decades back with their tune, "There's No Surf in Cleveland."

But I do surf the Internet. :p

Glad it brightened up your dreary day.

Thanks,


--- Joe

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Where 's my surfboard ??? &mdash 06/26/08 - 01:21:51 PM
Way to capture the sounds of the 60s,,wonderful harmonies Joe.
Was that a muscle CAR?? how cool!!!!

Thanks for sharing ,,Terry

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Where's my surfboard??? &mdash 06/26/08 - 03:44:50 PM
Have you checked your Woodie, Terry?

Yeah, I wanted to get the tune off to a roaring start, so I put the pedal to the metal. ;)


Thanks for your comments.


--- Joe

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Funky and Summery &mdash 06/29/08 - 09:22:34 AM
alright,lightly refreshing and having just pushed a motorbike and sidecar two miles in the p*****g rain to back home,I am in a foul mood and this is helping enormously in helping me chill out........


Jarvoid

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Funky and Summery... &mdash 06/29/08 - 09:54:00 AM
Bummer, Chris. Sorry about your ride breaking down, one of those "Why me, Lord?" moments, for sure.

I'm glad this was up to provide some help in The Big Chill afterwards. Thanks for your comments. ;)


--- Joe

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