Where To Begin (piano song w/arrangement)

Here's a song I wrote on piano. I love music from the 60's and 70's. That's why it sounds kind of retro. I just like writing melodies that I want to hum.

The melody is the synth (really just a vocal guide for if I ever sing it). Anyway enjoy an early 70's kind of melody if you're into that period.

Here's a box.com link to it in addition to the uploaded mp3:

Very nice...  I hear some 'Gilbert O' Sullivan' in there and Beatles of course.   Sophisticated chords, good. 

Thanks mark styles, you know how to cheer me up... I LOVE Gilbert O’Sullivan and of course The Beatles. I don’t run into many Gilbert fans these days. He was like an Irish Bob Dylan only with a piano, but not as heavy on the social commentaries and, of course, he had McCartney’s melodic sensibilities. I just love that guys music (O’Sullivan that is), and McCartney too but that goes without saying. So thanks for noticing my two biggest influences, I’m glad it shows! This song though, was actually sort of my attempt at writing a “Without You” kind of melody (the Harry Nilsson version). “Without You” was actually written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger but Nilsson’s version became a worldwide sensation. I just love that song... McCartney does too. I’m sure he wishes he had written it. And yeah, check out Ivor Slaney! He had that quintessential care free happy vibe for those musical scores of 50’s TV commercials in the US. You can’t listen to his music without it putting you in your happy place... and making you want to go by a new dishwasher.

17 hours ago, epii said:

. “Without You” was actually written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger but Nilsson’s version became a worldwide sensation. I just love that song... McCartney does too. I’m sure he wishes he had written it. And yeah, check out Ivor Slaney! He had that quintessential care free happy vibe for those musical scores of 50’s TV commercials in the US. You can’t listen to his music without it putting you in your happy place... and making you want to go by a new dishwasher.

Will check out Slaney.. I remember it has been used in commercials, also as musical references sometimes.

 I got to spend a day with Badfinger as a 20 something year old.  I worked at a Holiday Inn,  They came to Salem, MA to do a concert at Salem State College.. Since I was a musician, my boss gave me the day off to drive them around..  I took them to rehearsal, back to hotel, and then to concert.  It was probably their first tour..  Really nice guys, and great musicians.  They were really like a version of the 'early Beatles'.  great singers, songwriters, excellent players..  It was an honor to spend time with them. "Without You" was originally two songs. Pete Ham wrote the verses, but the song lacked a strong chorus. Evans had a song, so they just used his chorus part..  Their version was kind of mediocre.   Harry Wilson, really brought it to life.   

I love when some one does a cover, and gets into the 'soul or the intrinsic kernel' of the song. and builds on that.  Without You is of course a GREAT song.

 To me another example of someone really getting into a song, discovering, and amplifying the power of it is Naturally 7's version of 'In the Air Tonite' by Phil Collins..  In the Air Tonite is a pretty profound song,  it has a power I can't quite get my finger on.  Naturally 7, were bold enough to add considerable additional material to it.  Of course the 50 piece orchestra playing this version adds greatly to its impact. 

17 hours ago, epii said:

 

I'm also a real Beatle fan,  saw them perform live in 1966, in Boston MA.   What I've found over the years, is that there are no 'wasted notes' in their songs.  While their songs have been covered thousands of times, and some very good.  There is still a 'strong core' to what they released (nothing could be released unlesss all four agreed).  The last 15 years of so, McCartney has had a GREAT band..  His covers of Beatle songs, are for the most part 'note on' for everything. When there is something different. He (the band) took what was originally recorded and refined and improved it.  The Beatles often did different versions of their songs, to find out what was the best interpretation of what they had written. There is a cassette taped that surfaced of John Lennon working on a very rough version of one of his later hits.  He sings two lines, with guitar, over and over, methodically changing various pitches of words, until, he's satisfied. It's very interesting, he continues singing, then he sings the melody that is later used in the released song.  Very powerful song construction tool.  

If you use a DAW and MIDI you can easily do this.  I employ this technique a lot now.  I keep moving notes, (pitch, and position).. I eventually come up with what I think is the most interesting version.  

Keep up the good work, Epic.

mark styles, Very cool that you got to hang out with Badfinger and drive them around back in the day. Even more cool that you saw the Beatles live!!!

It's very tragic about Pete Ham's suicide and then later Tom Evans. Very sad that the world lost the beautiful talents of these two guys. It must be a cherished memory for you to have spent some time with them.

Thanks for posting that Naturally 7 video. I love that dense orchestral chord at the very end. Been trying to figure out what it is. My best guess is a "minor 6 add 9" or maybe a "minor 9 add 6", but I think that one would have more dissonance so I'm going with the former, but I'm still probably wrong. I love chords! Who doesn't, right?!

"Without You", in my book, is right up there with Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)", Eric Carmen's "All By Myself" (Yeah I know he ripped off the haunting chord progression of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, but man did it work!).. and add to that list "Bridge Over Troubled Water", and the grand daddy of them all, "The Long And Winding Road". What can I say?... I love melancholy melodies. Oddly, every song I just named are piano songs. I do miss the musicality of 60's and 70's ballads when interesting piano chords ruled the day.