When I did my first radio spot in '03 on "The Local Show" on WUSB, I did a live version of "It's My Turn to Cry." Although I only used one mic for guitar and vocal, I thought it sounded pretty good! Here in my home studio I have better mics than WUSB, so I thought I'd do some more "live in-studio" type recordings and post them here. This stuff was deliberately done in "quick and dirty" manner to approximate a "live" radio performance.

These are impromptu songs done in real time with just a guitar and voice - no overdubs, limited takes. Some are my songs, some are covers. Some songs might be new works in progress or just songs from my catalog that I want to document. Or whatever. Keep checking back and find out what's new on this page, I plan on adding updates for a while.

Juicy John Pink (Robin Trower) 2.25 MB Recorded Sat. 1/29/05

This is highly interpretive version of an obscure song by Robin Trower with Procol Harum. This somg appeared on the "A Salty Dog" LP, which was a popular album in its day but rather obscure now. In the liner notes of the CD reissue, Robin is quoted as saying that this was the first song he ever wrote. Not bad! The lines "Won't you have mercy on your wicked son/Take me up to Heaven, or Hell where I belong" pretty much sum up how I feel about my Christian walk. I pretty much play this song every time I perform on slide.

Suffer to Sing the Blues (David Bromberg) 1.86 MB Recorded Sat. 12/29/05

This is a song by an artist who was very popular during the Seventies but has since faded into obscurity. It's always been a favorite of mine plus it reminds me of an old girlfriend, who was always nuts about this guy.

God Help The Humble (George Gelish) 2.2 MB Recorded Sat. 1/29/05

This is one of my earliest songs and I think it's weathered the test of time pretty well. I was real young when I wrote this; certainly younger than my daughter is now. I'm thinking about doing a full-arrangement version for my next CD.

Ain't It A Shame (George Gelish) 1.26 MB Recorded Sat. 12/29/05

Where Do the Children Play? (Cat Stevens) 1.7 MB Recorded Sat. 12/6/03

I've always loved this Cat Stevens song. My friend Mike Smith gave me a tape with "Tea for the Tillerman" a couple of days after my daughter was born and it has been near and dear to my heart ever since.

But I Might Die Tonight (Cat Stevens) 1.1 MB Recorded Sat. 12/6/03

Also from "Tea for the Tillerman," and near and dear to my heart long before my daughter was born. Like many books and records that came out when it was in my teens, this song has a completely different meaning to me now that I'm older.

That Lucky Old Sun (Haven Gillespie & Beasley Smith) 0.9 MB Recorded Sat. 12/6/03

This is an old R&B standard but I gave it more of a straight Blues interpretation.

Last Updated 1.30.05