Episodes

  • A Beautiful Ode to Life: Silent Sunlight
    Aug 19 2024

    Cat Stevens ( Yusuf Islam) has never publicly said what this song is about, so we are left to offer our own interpretations.

    When I read the lyrics, I get a picture of a farmer of indiscriminate age waking up at the crack of dawn and looking out through a window at his fields. At the very instant when the sun rises, there is barely sound. Our farmer reflects back on his youth and how it felt every day to awaken with a song in his heart and the dreams he envisioned to pursue.

    The last refrain floated into my head from out of nowhere:

    "There'll be the evening,

    In the end,

    But 'till that time arrives,

    You can rest your eyes,

    And begin again."

    The lyrics are beautiful and express the child-like innocence found in many of Cat Stevens' songs. I interpret this last refrain to mean: Take advantage of and be grateful for every moment you are alive.

    Here's my cover.

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    3 mins
  • Acoustic Guitar & Vocal Cover of "Danny's Song" by Loggins & Messina
    Aug 13 2024

    Most of the lyrics in "Danny's Song" were inspired by a letter Kenny Loggins' brother, Dan, wrote to him in 1968 after Dan's son, Colin, was born. In the letter, Dan said he planned to marry the boy's mom, Sheila, and they planned to move to Berkley, California, even though they had no money.

    Kenny Loggins wrote the song in 1970 and released it as a single. It went nowhere. Later that year, Kenny teamed up with Jim Messina and released the song on their first album, "Sittin' In." Again the song went nowhere. If nothing else, "Danny's Song" showcased Loggins' talent for capturing a feeling for a moment in time.

    It was not until Anne Murray covered the song and released it as a single in 1973 that it became a hit, reaching #1 in Canada and #7 on the charts in America. The song's success put Loggins and Messina on the map.

    Here's my cover.

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    3 mins
  • The Beatles: We Can Work It Out
    Aug 1 2024

    Back in the days when recording artists released singles, "We Can Work It Out" made its debut in 1965. The Beatle's manager, Brian Epstein, felt that the other song on the record, "Day Tripper," was more commercial and so, should be the lead song. Typically, the lead song of a single is recorded on the top side (A side) and the other song (B side) goes beneath it. Since both songs became hits, the record turned out to be the first double "A" single ever recorded.

    John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the song with Paul writing the optimistic verses and John writing the more pessimistic chorus, in this case, the bridge.

    The song sprang from a disagreement Paul had with his then-girlfriend, actress Jane Asher. Jane and her mother, Margaret, had a powerful impact on Paul's life. The couple stayed together for five years from 1963 to 1968.

    Here's my cover.

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    2 mins
  • A Story In Song
    Jul 15 2024

    Cat Stevens’ song “The Boy With A Moon And Star On His Head” is a poetic and mystical tale that expresses themes of love, destiny, and the unknown and unexpected.

    The song’s lyrics are replete with metaphors and symbolism, for example, the “holy magnolia” and “naked earth,” which elicit a sense of purity and connection to the universe. Cat Stevens, known for his introspective and spiritual songwriting, uses this narrative to convey a deeper message about the power of love and the unpredictable ways in which destiny unfolds. It is a beautiful story in song, rendered in Stevens’ unique style.

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    6 mins
  • New Sci-Fi Thriller: AndroBiotica 2: Journey In Time
    Jul 10 2024

    Presenting an engaging science fiction adventure for teens and adults.

    After unceremoniously losing his job, Special Investigator Derrick Faulk is summoned by his close friend, Adrien Mattias, a developer of best-in-class nearly human Androids, for a mission that holds the future of their world in the balance. “Time is of the Essence,” as Adrien likes to say, and the clock is ticking.

    Romantic sparks fly, and guns blaze in “Androbiotica 2: Journey in Time,” the sequel to “The Androbiotica File: Nearly Human.”

    Go with Derrick and his brilliant associate, Kristina Flemming, AndroBiotica’s Director of Research, for a ride into the future that will keep you guessing until the very end.

    AndroBiotica 2 can be read as a stand-alone novella.

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    6 mins
  • Keep Your Dreams Alive
    Jun 26 2024

    “The time that’s left is yours to keep” is a phrase at the end of the chorus of Kate Wolf's song “See Here She Said.” The phrase impacts me powerfully because it is sweet advice to use our time wisely. This is especially true for children, but it is also important for people of all ages to keep in mind.

    In a truncated life of only forty-four years, Kate Wolf embodied the words of this song. She used her time to create over two hundred songs, performing mostly at venues in her native state of California. Kate’s work has warmed and gladdened the hearts of millions of people around the world. Here's my cover of the song.

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    3 mins
  • A Gathering of Spirits
    Jun 8 2024

    I had never heard of Carrie Newcomer before a friend played one of her songs in an online gazing/meditation class. "The Gathering of Spirits" bounced around in my head until I finally had to learn it.

    I bought Newcomer's album of the same name, and I have to say the other songs on it are, for me, an acquired taste. However, I'm glad I was introduced to Carrie's music and this song in particular. She's a unique individual and an unusually talented artist, as you'll see by clicking on the link above. Here's my version of "The Gathering of Spirits."

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    3 mins
  • Hard Headed Woman
    Jun 7 2024

    "Hard Headed Woman" celebrates an empowering and life-affirming love. The artist envisions an enriching and fulfilling relationship in which each partner contributes to the other's growth and happiness. The song reminds us of the importance of finding someone who complements and strengthens us rather than a companion who fits a pre-determined, superficial mold.

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    4 mins