Me in 1975

  Music
"Researchers have scanned musicians' brains and found that the 'chills' that they feel when they hear stirring passages of music result from activity in the same parts of the brain stimulated by food and sex."  — Drake Bennett, Survival of the harmonious
My history Favorite artists Links Ringtones 60s music Search MP3 Songs Videos
  Music has always been one of my greatest passions. I grew up playing music, and in the early 70s I studied upright bass at Berklee College of Music in Boston, a leading jazz school. You could say that before I was a programmer I was more in touch with my right-brain. Although I'm not actively playing any more, music is still one of my first loves and I can often be seen with my iPod's distinctive white earbuds in my ears. I have broadened my tastes beyond the jazz I loved so much at one time, but improvisational music will always be my favorite style, and jazz is the ultimate form of that because there are no boundaries to the influences on jazz musicians. For my current musical choices, see my iPod songs.
 

HELP identify a song!

  I taped this off an album I borrowed from a friend in the 70s and did not write down its name. On my tape it was with some Earth, Wind & Fire songs, so I always assumed it was from the same album, but it is not their typical sound so I am guessing it was an album filler. I love the song and later converted it to digital and put it on my iPod. I have listened to EWF songs on the web and Limewire but have been unable to find it. Please contact me if you recognize this song. I would really like to know its name and confirm that it is by EWF. So far several people have emailed me and said that they thought they recognized it, but none of their suggested album cuts have matched this song, so on my iPod it is still entitled Earth, Wind & Fire - Instrumental filler.

    Earth, Wind & Fire song?


My history
  Music has always been a part of my life. I began taking piano lessons at age 7 in Payette, Idaho, and in 6th grade I took up trumpet, playing in the concert and marching bands. Since I had a lot of drive and practiced diligently I was able to achieve the first chair position, which I held through 8th grade. When I started high school band, there were many older and more experienced trumpet players already there, so with my desire to always be the best in the section I switched to French horn, which I played for a year. At the end of my freshman year the lead trombone player graduated from high school, so with an eye on that position I decided to switch to trombone. My older brother had played trombone before, so we had one at home, and by practicing a lot during the summer and playing in several outdoor concerts at the bandshell in the park, I got my chops in order and successfully achieved first chair trombone in the high school band. After 10th grade I dropped out of band, for reasons I don't remember anymore, possibly boredom, or maybe I thought being in band was un-cool, a very important consideration to an adolescent. The last two years of high school I was not actively playing music, but when I went off to college in 1966, I did what many of my generation were doing—I took up guitar, grew my hair long, and joined a rock band.
I get serious
  After several years of playing a variety of improvisational types of music on guitar, I started playing more and more jazz, and I decided that to better understand this complex music I wanted to study it in college. I was living in Seattle at the time but the school I chose was Berklee College of Music in Boston. When I started at Berklee (1973) the school had an abundance of guitar players and a shortage of bass players, so I was asked, would I consider switching to upright bass? Knowing I would be just one of many struggling guitarists I made the switch, which turned out to be a good choice because, since there were so few acoustic bass players at school, we were always in demand. I studied at Berklee for two years under John Neves and John Repucci. The recording and touring bass players that I was most inspired by at that time were Dave Holland, Stanley Clarke, Miroslav Vitous, and Charlie Haden, four bassists with very distinctive styles.
Loft jazz
  My perspective on things has frequently leaned towards the cutting-edge so my taste in music ultimately evolved into the avant−garde style that was being performed in the 70s in the jazz lofts. This very non-commercial style of music had a serious following among musicians and some fine recordings of it can be found on the Wildflowers series. When these musicians came to Boston, they usually didn't play in the big name clubs of the day like the Jazz Workshop and Paul's Mall, or even the smaller ones like the 1369 Club and Debby's, but they did find that, like New York, Boston had a loft scene. Some of the best music I heard when I was in college was performed in the jazz lofts. In an Atlantic Monthly article, "Jazz − Religious and Circus", Francis Davis writes about how many of us viewed the 1970s as the "Golden Age" of jazz. Alan Douglas, who recorded the Wildflowers sessions, says, "I think the loft jazz period was the last time that significant changes took place in jazz."
Wildflowers - The New York Loft Jazz Sessions
Loft-y Sounds
Riversteppingstones - The New York Loft Jazz Sessions
Wildflowers 5: New York Jazz Loft Sessions – with song samples
Jazz fusion
  Much of the jazz I listened to over the years was produced before I was into it so being a contemporary person my tastes evolved quite naturally into jazz fusion, a mixture of Jazz & Rock or Jazz & Latin music. Some of my favorites in this genre are Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever (Chick Corea's group), and Tony Williams Lifetime (Williams was Miles Davis' drummer in the 60s). My all-time favorite album is Bitches Brew by Miles Davis, recorded in 1969 and featuring some of the best musicians of the time including Chick Corea (keyboards), Jack DeJohnette (drums), Dave Holland (bass), John McLaughlin (guitar), Airto Moreira (drums and percussion), Wayne Shorter (sax), Lenny White (drums), and Joe Zawinul (keyboards). Many of these artists went on to have their own fusion bands.
Bitches Brew Mahavishnu Orchestra Return to Forever Tony Williams Lifetime
Favorites
  I acquired an extensive collection of recordings by John Coltrane, who was always my favorite improvising musician, and I spent many hours listening to Trane and other tenor players who were greatly influenced by him, like Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, and Wayne Shorter. Although decades have passed, some of my greatest musical euphorias were experienced in the mid-70s. One of my favorite albums at that time was Shorter's Native Dancer, which introduced me to Milton Nascimento, the great Brazilian vocalist. Some other Brazilian musicians I enjoyed were drummer & percussionist Airto Moreira and his wife, vocalist Flora Purim, who had many records of their own and also appeared on the first two albums by Chick Corea's group Return to Forever (Return to  Forever and Light as a  Feather). Another member of that group I really liked was reed & flute player, Joe Farrell, whose album Moon Germs was one of the best albums of that era. Bassist Miroslav Vitous got an outstanding group of musicians together for his album Mountain in the Clouds. Guitarist John McLaughlin and sax player John Surman recorded an album in 1969, Extrapolation, which remains one of my favorites after all these decades. I still remember once of the best concerts I ever saw was the duo of Miroslav Vitous (bass) and John Surman (sax) at Jonathan Swift's in Harvard Square about 1975.

All these albums have such musical virtuosity that I still enjoy listening to them immensely (now ripped to my iPod). Hover with mouse for artist name.
Native Dancer Moon Germs Light as a Feather Return to Forever Mountain in the Clouds

Extrapolation

500 Miles High

Milton (Raça)
See videos by many of these artists at Music videos.
  By the end of the 70s, although my interest in jazz remained very intense, my desire to play music for a living had lessened, so I basically reached the end of that pursuit. Since that time my creative energy has been consumed by computer programming and though some might find it hard to believe, I get some of the same fulfillment as a programmer I received from being a musician. I have heard that these two interests involve the same parts of the brain.
Today
  When my kids became teenagers I was exposed to musical styles that I wouldn't ordinarily discover on my own, some of which were not even around when I was younger. My son Alex turned me on to Ska *, and in summer 2000 we went to a concert by Reel Big Fish, one of the top American Ska groups, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love how a lot of Ska bands take previously recorded songs and do them in a Ska style. Come On Eileen, a top-40 song by Dexy's Midnight Runners, was redone by the group Save Ferris (that great name comes from the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off), and Take On Me, a top-40 hit by the Norwegian group a-ha, was redone by Reel Big Fish.

* "Ska is an uptempo, rhythmic variation based on the New Orleans R&B Jamaican musicians heard broadcast from the US on their transistor radios. Relying on skittering guitar and syncopated rhythms, ska was their interpretation of R&B and it was quite popular in the early '60s. However, during one very hot summer, it was too hot to either play or dance to ska, so the beat was slowed down and reggae was born."  — Wikipedia  

Both of my sons have been actively involved in music. Alex took piano lessons for several years, and in high school and college has sung in a rock band. Ben is also quite accomplished on piano (I love to hear him play songs like Scott Joplin's The Entertainer) and is a great singer. He has taken voice lessons, and he sang in the high school chorus and performed in school plays. When he was in high school he participated in a yearly performance by the Southeast Region District Chorus, which has the top singers from all the school choruses in the area. We love to go to live Broadway musicals when they are in Boston. We often buy the CDs of these shows and the boys have grown up listening to this music, like Rent and Phantom of the Opera.

It may appear that I have abandoned jazz, but I prefer to think that I am just not actively involved at the moment. Is jazz dead? On Sunday, August 4, 2002, there was an article in The Boston Globe, "Off the record", describing how the recording industry may think so. I hope not.

Top of page
Favorite artists
  These are some of the people who have really moved me through the years. The musicians listed by instrument are jazz musicians; non-jazz musicians and groups are listed at the end. Some of the groups may no longer exist and sadly, some of the musicians have passed away (see above), but I still want to list them here because they will always rank as some of my favorites. There are also some musicians listed below under 60s music. Photos of many of these artists can be seen at DowntownMusic.net.

I have included a link to each artist's page at All Music Guide for the discographies, cross-reference links, and song previews. Periodically AMG reorganizes their website and some of these links stop working. I try to correct them when I notice this. Please email me if you encounter a bad link.  

I have links to some of the artist's videos on YouTube

Below is an In Memoriam section with more info on some of the artists who have passed on.

   Reeds, flute
John Coltrane – tenor, soprano *
Pharoah Sanders – tenor, soprano
Archie Shepp – tenor, soprano
Wayne Shorter – tenor, soprano
Dewey Redman – tenor
Sam Rivers – tenor, soprano, flute
Joe Henderson – tenor
David Murray – tenor
Hamiet Bluiett – bari
Oliver Lake – alto, soprano, flute
Henry Threadgill – alto, flute
Anthony Braxton – alto, soprano, flute
Joe Farrell – tenor, soprano, flute
Julius Hemphill – alto, flute
Hubert Laws – flute
John Surman – bari, soprano
Arthur Blythe – alto
   Bass
Stanley Clarke *
Miroslav Vitous *
Dave Holland *
Fred Hopkins *
Alex Blake
Eberhard Weber
Charlie Haden *
Sirone – some great photos
Victor Wooten *
   Keyboards
McCoy Tyner *
Chick Corea *
Cecil Taylor – check out this Sessionography
Don Pullen
Muhal Richard Abrams
Keith Jarrett *
Bill Evans *
Joe Zawinul
Herbie Hancock
Thelonius Monk
   Brass
Charles Tolliver – trumpet
Charles Sullivan – trumpet, flugelhorn
Lester Bowie – trumpet, flugelhorn
Miles Davis – trumpet *
Freddie Hubbard – trumpet, flugelhorn
Enrico Rava – trumpet
Bill Watrous – trombone
   Drums, percussion
Billy Cobham
Tony Williams
Jack DeJohnette
Airto Moreira
Elvin Jones
Sunny Murray
   Guitar
Pat Metheny *
     Pat Metheny video with Kenny G remarks (uses RealPlayer)
     Pat's initial message board comments – Go Pat!
     Message board thread on Pat's comments – This gets hot!

John Abercrombie
John McLaughlin
Allan Holdsworth
George Benson *
Biréli Lagrène * (the French accent codes may make his name difficult to search)
   Singers, groups, and others
Milton Nascimento *
Flora Purim
Air
Art Ensemble of Chicago
World Saxophone Quartet
Return to Forever
Mahavishnu Orchestra *
Richard Galliano * – a virtuoso accordian player
Weather Report *
Maynard Ferguson Orchestra
Earth, Wind & Fire
Pink Floyd *
     Roger Waters 1988 Interview – describes the rise and fall of the band
Chicago
Leon Russell
Electric Light Orchestra
The Byrds – here is a Byrds Family Tree someone put together
The Eagles
Tin Hat Trio
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Neil Young
Bob Dylan
Bill Monroe – the father of bluegrass music
David Lindley – he formed the band Kaleidoscope in the 60s
Clarence White – he played guitar for the Kentucky Colonels, then The Byrds
Bruce Langhorne – Bruce recorded with many artists in the mid-60s including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Richard & Mimi Farina
Ian & Sylvia – great Canadian folk singers *
Cleo Laine – a British singer with a huge range
Midori – she recorded Paganini's 24 Caprices as a teenager
Sín é – great Irish music
The Racky Thomas Band – I know Racky and I've seen him perform
Christopher Tin – composer
     Tin Works – good music all the time
Yma Sumac – a Peruvian singer with a vocal range of five octaves
Gabriela Montero * – and incredible concert pianist who also improvises

 * See video below
   In Memoriam
  Sadly not every artist whose music I love is still with us. Here are some of those who have passed on in my lifetime, many that I had the privilege of seeing perform.
Long live their legacies.

Top of page
Links
     Reference & reviews
All Music Guide – a highly cross-referenced database of music and musicians with sample cuts
Yahoo Music
ARTIST direct Network – a searchable music database with sample cuts
Sing365.com – a huge database of pop music and musicians
Wilson & Alroy's Record Reviews – "We listen to the lousy records so you don't have to."
Restructures: Creative Music Forum – Artist info & discographies
Zookeeper Online – Stanford radio station KZSU music database
Songfacts – a searchable database of song information compiled by radio professionals and music enthusiasts
     Jazz
AACM – Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians
The Jazz Composers Collective
Jazz Corner
All About Jazz
Smithsonian Jazz – very extensive
Jazz Online
Europe Jazz Network
JazzVisionsPhotos.com – Michael Wilderman's Jazz Photo/Graphics
Jazzhouse.org – The Jazz Journalists Association
Welcome to 52nd Street Jazz – reviews, discussions and news about the world of Jazz!
freejazz.org - Freedom in Music – an avant garde music discussion group
     Festivals
Montreux Jazz Festival
Festival Finder: Music Festivals of North America
echos.com: Remember A Day – An Analysis Of Over Twenty Years Of American Rock Music Festivals
     Education
Berklee College of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
Music Notes – an interactive online musical experience
The Music Room – a very complete musical resource
     Purchasing sites
OmniTone – my favorite online CD store
CD Universe – this online CD store has song samples
Classic 45's – rare vinyl records on the web
Barnes & Noble.com Music – listen to samples of selections on CDs they sell
     Assorted links
BEATLES.COM
The Internet Beatles Album
List of Beatles' songs by singer
The Complete Works of the Rolling Stones 1962 - 2005
Innerviews® - Music Without Borders
Contemporary Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco Musicians
One Hit Wonder Central
Am I Right – Making fun of music. One song at a time...
Lyrics Box
DOWNTOWNMUSIC.NET || photo gallery – artist photos
Second Hand Songs – find out who performed the original version of a song, or who covered it
Traffic jams – an article in the Boston Globe stating that [music] "releases chemicals that create a sense of happiness and well-being in the brain"
Playing for Change – a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music
Wolfgang's Vault – where live music lives
The Genealogy of Pop/Rock Music – a really cool graphic

Digital audio links

      RealAudio 
Songs of War in Vietnam – by Ike Pappas of CBS News
Download RealPlayer
     Windows Media 
Windows Media Player download
WindowsMedia.com
Windows Media Player Solution Center
     Streaming audio (see Stream an audio file for more on streaming)
SHOUTcast.com – Nullsoft's distributed streaming audio links (see Internet Radio in Winamp)
SuperKeyword Jukebox
JazzFM.com
Jazz After Hours
Live Radio en Direct Tuner Virtuel - COMFM – Live FM around the world
KZSU 90.1FM Stanford University – see program schedule
KMHD - 89.1FM, Gresham, OR – Jazz 24 hours/day
Jazz24.org – KPLU - 88.5FM, Seattle, WA
KBEM - Minneapolis, St. Paul – Jazz88fm.com
National Public Radio (NPR) Music
VirtualTuner.com
    
Top of page
Ringtones
  I love the freedom ringtones give you to personalize your cellphone, so when someone calls you know it is your phone ringing. You can even have different ringtones for different callers. There are many websites that allow you to purchase and download ringtones directly to your phone, but if you want a really unlimited selection you can make your own from any song on your PC and transfer them to your phone (see below).

Here are some ringtones I made from songs I like. They are small segments of the original songs (hopefully this prevents copyright infringement)—some are the intros to the songs and some are instrumental sections I cut and edited—I didn't include any singing because I don't like voices on phone rings. I also find ringtones startling when they start abruptly, so I usually like the ones on my phone to start softly and build. The ones listed here are usually 15-20 seconds long (saved as 96kbps and mono to decrease size) and they will loop on a cellphone so the end should segue into the beginning. There is a limit to the size of a song you can use as a ringtone. I don't know what it is but I have had to make some smaller to get them to work on my phone.

Click on a song to play it—to copy a song to your computer right click on the title and choose Save Link/Target As.

 
     Pop/Rock
Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest (my wife's ringtone)
She's a Rainbow – Rolling Stones (I heard this on my son's phone and loved it—it is now his ringtone if he calls me)
Gimme Shelter – Rolling Stones (my default ringtone)
A Song For You – Leon Russell (my mother's ringtone—she often calls when I am playing tennis and I hear this coming from my tennis bag on the side of the court)
Shine On You Crazy Diamond – Pink Floyd
In My Life – The Beatles (producer George Martin's piano solo)
Classical Gas – Mason Williams
These Days – Nico (Jackson Browne plays guitar on his song)
House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
MacArthur Park – Richard Harris (Jimmy Webb plays piano on his song)
Darkness, Darkness – The Youngbloods (violin by David Lindley)
Us and Them – Pink Floyd
Embryonic Journey – Jefferson Airplane (Jorma Kaukonen on guitar)
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder
Another Star – Stevie Wonder
Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? – Chicago
Wake Up Everybody – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac
Beautiful Day – U2
Hotel California – The Eagles
Desperado – The Eagles
That's the Way of the World – Earth, Wind & Fire
Tiny Dancer – Elton John
Betty Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
Handbags and Gladrags – Rod Stewart
Maggie May – Rod Stewart
Secret Agent Man – Johnny Rivers
Venus – Shocking Blue
It's Friday I'm In Love – The Cure
Stay With Me Tonight – Jeffrey Osborne
Stayin' Alive – Bee Gees
Can't Get You Out Of My Head – Kylie Minogue
Cause We've Ended As Lovers – Jeff Beck
Wildfire – Michael Martin Murphey
Secret Garden – Bruce Springsteen
Thank U – Alanis Morissette
A Fifth of Beethoven – Walter Murphy
You Can't Always Get What You Want – Rolling Stones
     Jazz/Fusion
In a Silent Way – Miles Davis
Lilia – Milton Nascimento
Stolen Moments – Oliver Nelson
Waltz For Nicky – Richard Galliano
An Evening With Vincent Van Ritz – Eberhard Weber (one of my favorite bass players)
Tangaria – Richard Galliano (extracted from the video)
Icarus – Paul Winter Consort
Premonition – Andrew Hill
Theme de Celine – Art Ensemble of Chicago
Earth, Wind & Fire – this was an album filler that I don't know the name of (see above for entire song)
On The Nile – Music Inc.
You're Everything – Chick Corea
Captain Marvel – Chick Corea
Return To Forever – Chick Corea
The Gathering – Joe Bonner (his intro to the Pharoah Sanders song)
Love Is Everywhere – Joe Bonner (from his piano solo in the Pharoah Sanders song)
Samba da Rua – Archie Shepp
Bass Folk Song – Joe Farrell (Stanley Clarke on bass)
Phase Dance – Pat Metheny
Funky Tonk – Keith Jarrett (from his solo on the Miles Davis album, Live-Evil)
Giant Steps – McCoy Tyner
Meeting of the Spirits – Mahavishnu Orchestra
Celestial Terrestrial Commuters – Mahavishnu Orchestra
     Other
Caprice No 1: Andante – Midori (from her album, Paganini, 24 Caprices)
The Sacrifice – Michael Nyman (from The Piano soundtrack)
Eight Miles High – Leo Kottke
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
The Impression That I Get – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Sailor's Hornpipe – Bill Monroe (Bill Keith on banjo)
Star Trek Communicator – "Beam me up, Scotty."
Twilight Zone – the theme song from the TV show

  There are several ways to put a ringtone from your PC on your cellphone:
  • You can connect your cell to your PC with a USB cable and use software like P2k Commander
  • There are websites like Myxer.com that allow you to upload it then send it to your cell
  • I find the easiest way is to email it to your phone where it will be received as a text message.
 

Top of page
60s music   (find more 60s links on the Favorites page)
  Because I was a teenager in the 1960s, the music of that time played a big part in my life. Like many young people of that era I was in a rock band that existed primarily for our own entertainment, although we did play a few gigs at fraternities and sororities on campus. In Seattle I went regularly to concerts by the top West Coast groups of the day at the Eagles Auditorium, and in 1968 (the year before Woodstock) I joined 20,000 other "social revolutionaries, hippie communalists, psychedelic evangelists, musicians, and music fans" to attend one of the world’s first outdoor rock festivals, the 3-day Sky River Rock Festival and Lighter than Air Fair (see photos, a band list, a 30-year  review and a 40-year review), and in 1969 I went to Sky River II (see festival pictures)

Here are some more links to that music.
 

Monterey International Pop Music Festival – June 16, 17, and 18, 1967
Woodstock
Jimi Hendrix
     UniVibes – International Jimi Hendrix Magazine
Janis Joplin
Country Joe & the Fish – Gimme an F!
     Country Joe's Place
Grateful Dead
Moby Grape
Jefferson Airplane
     Jorma Kaukonen's Web Site!
The Doors
Buffalo Springield – members included Stephen Stills, Neil Young, and Jim Messina
Neil Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
Cream
The Yardbirds – Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy page all played for the Yardbirds
Steve Miller Band
The Byrds
Bob Dylan
Donovan
John Mayall – band members at various times included Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie
The Youngbloods
     Jesse Colin Young
Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
Jim Kweskin Jug Band
     Maria Muldaur
     Geoff Muldaur
Kaleidoscope
     David Lindley – still touring!
     Chris Darrow
Crome Syrcus – a band I remember from my Seattle days
Ike and Tina Turner Revue
SixtiesRock.com

Top of page
Search for music

     Multimedia search engines
        These search engines allow you to search for songs on sites like mine (or like mine used to be). The results typically provide the ability to listen to songs from the sites where they are found. If the link to play the song goes diredtly to the song file, to save a copy of the song put the mouse pointer on the link and press the right mouse button, and from the context menu choose Save Target/Link As. If the link goes to a webpage or player and not directly to the song, you can look in your browser cache after the song has played and you may be able to copy it from there. Sometimes you have to rename it and put an extension (usually .mp3) on it.

Dogpile
Project Playlist
Soundflavor Music Search
SeeqPod
Rhapsody.com
Yahoo! Search - Audio
Grooveshark – listen to music for free
MP3Search.Ru Club – listen to songs for free, buy for small fee
MP3sHits.com
Mp3Realm - Mp3 Search
Mp3Raid.com
beeMP3
Real Seach
The MIDI Farm
     Peer-to-peer (p2p)
        These MP3 search applications, pioneered by Napster, allow you to find shared files offered by others using software that you install on your PC. They are the best way get your own copies of audio files, although the RIAA is forcing the government to crack down on this process (I had to stop sharing). Also, some are rumored to install spyware (hidden software tracking your web-surfing habits) on your PC, and you can also download viruses, so be cautious. If you do frequent downloads, it is always a good idea to run anti-virus and anti-spyware programs regularly to keep your system clean. Many of these are clients of Gnutella, a large open protocol distributed file-sharing network.

LimeWire
FrostWire
Gnucleus
BearShare
Warez
Morpheus
Napster – no longer does free file-sharing

Top of page
MP3

          songs below 		"The real threat of MP3 music piracy—to listeners and, conceivably, democracy itself—is the music industry's reaction to it."
— Charles C. Mann, The Atlantic Monthly
MP3 tips MP3 tools MP3 songs
  The above quotation is from an article, "The Heavenly Jukebox", that includes a history of the MP3, which is one of the digital formats for music that has become very popular on the Internet. Because they are ubiquitous and you can download them for free, MP3s have the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) all freaked out. In 2001 the RIAA took peer-to-peer file-sharing company Napster to court and put them out of business, and in 2003 they started going after individual "major offenders", those who offered more than 1,000 songs to others for downloading. The RIAA has the rather short-sighted view that being able to download MP3 songs for free will keep people from purchasing the CDs. MP3s actually provide a great way to sample songs before buying a CD, and people will continue to make purchases if the music is good. As far as MP3s being a threat to the royalty income the musicians receive from CD sales, according to the previously mentioned Atlantic Monthly article, if it exists at all this income is miniscule.
One of the biggest bombshells from the cross-examination was Pariser's admission that the RIAA's legal campaign isn't making the labels any money, and that, furthermore, the industry has no idea of the actual damages it suffers due to file-sharing.  

This is from the testimony in the trial of a Minnesota woman which resulted in her being fined $222.000 for sharing music. It looks like the RIAA are even bigger idiots than imagined.

One can also be introduced to a new artist via MP3s, especially someone esoteric like Tin Hat Trio, who lacks the heavy marketing of the more commercial artists. I discovered them almost by accident (on a music system in Starbucks no less), yet I still purchased Tin Hat Trio's CDs, even though I knew I could download some of their MP3 music for free. Or suppose you have a song on a CD that you want to share with someone who lives far away from you. You can convert the song from the CD (rip it) to an MP3 file and send it as an email attachment, which may even encourage that person to go out and buy the CD, thereby increasing sales.

 
MP3 tips
Extract Convert analog Shrink Create WAV Suppress prompt Stream ID3 tags
  I don't know where the MP3 litigation will ultimately end up, but in the meantime MP3s provide some interesting technical solutions. For instance, when I wanted to put a song I liked on a cassette tape to listen to in my Walkman (the old days), I could only locate it in the MP3 format (it was also made on 7" vinyl but I couldn't find that). To get my MP3 on tape I had to burn it to a CD, which I then played on a regular stereo system and recorded it to tape. For mobile music I use an iPod now so I still convert many individual songs to MP3s from CDs or vinyl recordings (see Convert a record or tape) to load them.

As MP3 usage and the software to do things with them gets more common, some of the tips I put here are no longer needed, and I will try to keep this section up−todate. Many of these tips make reference to various software I use (names in green italics). See see MP3 tools for more on these.

   

Extract a portion of a song and make a new MP3
  I have a CD by Return to Forever that has a great bass solo by Stanley Clarke on the the song Sometime Ago. I wanted to put this on my website as an MP3 (back when that was allowed), but the entire song is 23 minutes long, which would produce a rather large MP3, so I made an MP3 of just the bass solo.

First I created an MP3 of the entire song with the CD ripper AudioGrabber. Then the following steps were taken to create the extraction.
  1. Open up the MP3 in an audio editor (I used GoldWave).
  2. Locate and mark the beginning and ending positions of the portion to extract.
  3. Copy this portion to the clipboard.
  4. Paste it as a new song in the editor.
  5. Clean up the beginning and ending (trim, fade in/out, etc.).
  6. Save it as a new MP3 of just this extraction.
 
Top of section


Convert a record or tape to MP3
  Many of my generation have extensive collections of records and tapes, which can be ripped directly with AudioGrabber or LineRipper, converting analog to digital.
  1. Connect the headphone jack or line-out of the stereo system to the line-in of the PC's sound card.
  2. Play the song on the stereo and record in AudioGrabber on the PC, outputting as an MP3.
  3. Do any cleanup (trim, noise reduction, etc.) with an audio editor like GoldWave.
  4. If you want the MP3 to contain song info, update the ID3 tags.
After I have created one of these MP3s I sometimes find it necessary to reduce noise, primarily hiss. I listen to a lot of jazz, where the drummers use a lot of cymbols, and normal noise-reduction methods would remove some of this, so what I do is "Dolbyize" it in GoldWave, i.e., I increase the high frequencies with the equalizer, then slightly filter off the high hiss.
Top of section


Shrink an MP3 file
  MP3 is a lossy data compression format but the files can still get rather large. The size of an MP3 is directly proportional to its bitrate, the most common rate being 128 kbps. If I obtain an MP3 with a higher rate, even as high as 320, I convert it to 128, sometimes getting a huge reduction in size without any noticable deterioration in sound quality.

The easiest way to convert MP3 bitrates is using an audio editor like GoldWave.

    -- or --

You can do the following steps using Windows Sound Recorder.
  1. Create a WAV file from the MP3.
  2. Open up the WAV file in Windows Sound Recorder (look in Programs » Accessories » Entertainment).
  3. On the File menu select Save As...
  4. In the Save As window, locate the folder where you want to save the MP3.
    - at File Name: type in the name with an ".mp3" extension
    - at Save as type: select "All Files (*.*)"
  5. Click on the Change... button to open up the Sound Selection window.
    - under Format: select "MPEG Layer-3"
    - under Attributes: select the bitrate you want
    - you might want to save these settings under a name like "MP3" for future use (click on Save As...)
    - click on Save to close the Sound Selection window
  6. Click on Save in the Save As window to create the MP3 file with the above settings.
Top of section


Create a WAV file from an MP3
  The easiest way to do this is to open an MP3 in an editor like GoldWave where you can simply save it as a type WAV file.

But if you don't have GoldWave here is a more elaborate way you can do it using Winamp.
  1. Open the MP3 in Winamp.
  2. Click on Options » Preferences...
  3. Under Output, select "Nullsoft Disk Writer plug-in...".
  4. Click on the Configure button to direct the output to a specific folder.
  5. Close Preferences.
  6. Play the song (no music is heard).
    - it is best if you do not have Repeat set on
Remember to switch the Output in Winamp back to "Nullsoft waveOut plug-in...".
Top of section


Suppress MP3 download prompt
  If you are always prompted to Open or Save when you click on MP3s on websites and you find the checkbox for "Always ask before opening this type of file" grayed out, it is controlled by a registry setting.

    Key:
DWORD: 
Data:		 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions
AlwaysPromptWhenDownload
1

If you play around with this (make it 1 or 0) you can enable the checkbox again and get rid of this prompt. Use caution when editing the Registry. Another factor in this is the default Action setting for MP3 files in Folder Options » File Types. There is more information on this at Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 238723.
Top of section


Stream an audio file
  Streaming allows an audio file to start playing as soon as it arrives, rather than waiting until it is completely downloaded, which makes the size of the file irrelevant. It is fairly easy to set up. All you need to do is create a simple metafile, which is nothing more than a text file containing a link to an audio file on a server. Put the following line in the metafile and save it with an extension of .m3u (for MP3 files), .ram (for realAudio files), .wmx (for .wma files), .wvx (for .wmv files), or .asx (for .asf files).

    http://...URL-on-server.../audiofile.mp3 (or ./folder-name/audiofile.mp3 if on same server and even just audiofile.mp3 if in same folder)

You should replace any spaces contained in your MP3 filename with %20 (% plus the hex value for space) in your metafile link because URLs cannot contain spaces and some music players will not handle them. (Current browsers perform this substitution so it is unnecessary to do it on your webpage links.)

    http://...URL-on-server.../The Song Title.mp3   becomes   http://...URL-on-server.../The%20Song%20Title.mp3

Multiple audio files can be streamed in a single metafile with additional lines (this is generally referred to as a 'playlist').

    http://...URL-on-server.../audiofile1.mp3
    http://...URL-on-server.../audiofile2.mp3

On your webpage, link to the metafile file to produce the streaming. A metafile does not have to be on a server to produce streaming; you can play a metafile on your PC and it can stream from a remote server. The various protocols that can be used in metafiles are "http", "rtsp", and "mms". I haven't figured out which is used for which type of audio file so I tend to use "http" most of the time.

Here is a more elaborate way to code a Windows Media metafile script:

     <asx version = "3.0">
         <entry>
             <title>Song Name</title>
             <ref href = "http://YourWebServer/Path/YourFile.wmv"/>
         </entry>
     </asx>
Top of section


Save song info in ID3 tags
  ID3 tags can be used to store information about a song (artist, song title, album, etc.) and display it when the MP3 is played. Winamp is a good way to update these tags (right-click on the playing song in the Winamp playlist and select View file info...). Some players don't display this information when an MP3 is streamed. If you put the file info in the ID3v2 tag (I always update both the ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags) it will display in Windows Media Player during streaming.
Top of section


 MP3 tools
  These are some of the tools I have used to manipulate MP3s. Some shareware/freeware may contain spyware, so use caution when installing them.
Audiograbber - (get at www.audiograbber.com-us.net/)
This great CD-ripper can also read analog input through the sound card.

GoldWave - (get at www.goldwave.com)
This is a digital audio editor with a lot of features.

JHymn - (get at hymn-project.org/jhymndoc/)
Set your iTunes music free—remove DRM restrictions without loss of sound quality—convert M4A and AAC to MP3.

Audacity - (get at audacity.sourceforge.net)
This is a free audio editor that can rip CDs and record from line-in or microphone.

Streambox Ripper - (get at PCtipp, or search Google for "Streambox Vcr Suite 2")
This older (freeware) release will convert Real Audio to MP3.

mp3Trim - (get at www.mptrim.com)
You can crop an MP3 with this little program.

mp3Gain - (get at mp3gain.sourceforge.net)
Perform lossless volume adjustments with this free and open source program.

LineRipper - (get at home.worldonline.es/mpicarth/)
Record from stereo system (turntable, tape, radio, etc.) via the sound card, converting analog to digital.

Winamp - (get at Nullsoft Winamp)
The classic MP3 player can output a WAV file, and also lets you update both ID3 tags.
See audio software reviews at The Sonic Spot. 		 

Top of page
MP3 songs info & tips above MIDI files below I also have Videos

  For years I had playable MP3s listed here, until I received the following in an email from my web-hosting provider. I have complied to prevent my website from being shut down.
   
 

September 19, 2007

[We] recently received notice under Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) alleging that the above website infringes upon copyrighted materials. We are asking that you remove all copyrighted materials and downloads from your website. Should you fail to act upon this notice within 24 hours we will be forced to temporarily suspend your account.

 
(read the entire email)
 
 
I have moved my website to another hosting company since receiving that threat, but to play it safe I am still not sharing music here, and it appears I removed these songs and my iPod songs just in time, because a week later I read this story about a woman who was found guilty of sharing music "illegally" and fined $220,000! My music has always been one of the big draws to my website, so I am taking away something that people loved, and after awhile the music search engines will no longer show me having these songs, so I know the number of my visitors will decrease. I am still sharing ringtones, which I believe is still safe because they are only snippets of songs. Thank you RIAA, for improving the quality of our lives.

Some (or all) of these songs are cached on SeeqPod and Project Playlist (which make them appear to still be on my website). Search those sites to listen to them.

  These are NOT PLAYABLE songs. I am keeping them here for the reference links and information I have provided.
Jazz Pop/Rock/etc. One-hit wonders Reggae/Ska Other Spoofs (Spoofs are still playable)
  Jazz
- Jazz is the most all-encompassing style of music, and will always remain my favorite. At the end of this section is a small group of excerpts from larger pieces including some outstanding solos.

  Return To Forever (12:06) – Chick Corea's Return To Forever (from Return To Forever, 1972)
  Bass Folk Song (9:43) – Joe Farrell (from Moon Germs, 1972, Stanley Clarke on bass)
  From The Lonely Afternoons (3:14) – Wayne Shorter (from Native Dancer, 1975, Milton Nascimento on vocal)
  Francisco (4:26) – Milton Nascimento (from the album Milton)
  O Que Será (4:06) – Milton Nascimento (with Chico Buarque, from the album Geraes)
  O Que Será (2:48) – Milton Nascimento (with Chico Buarque, from the movie Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands)
  Uri (The Wind)2 (6:14) – Flora Purim (from 500 Miles High, 1974)
  Do You Hear The Voices You Left Behind? (7:38) – John McLaughlin (from Electric Guitarist, 1978)
  It's Funny (4:22) – John McLaughlin (from Extrapolation, 1969, John Surman on soprano)
  Glancing Backwards (8:58) – John Surman, John McLaughlin (from Where Fortune Smiles, 1970)
  Guardian Angel (3:57) – McLaughlin / DiMeola / de Lucia (from Friday Night In San Francisco, 1981)
  I Wonder (3:03) – Mahavishnu Orchestra (from The Lost Trident Sessions, 1973)
  A Lotus on Irish Streams (5:38) – Mahavishnu Orchestra (from The Inner Mounting Flame, 1971)
  Awakening (3:32) – Mahavishnu Orchestra (from The Inner Mounting Flame, 1971)
  Song to John (6:02) – Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola, Jean-Luc Ponty (from Rite of Strings, 1996)
  A guitar duet (5:14) – Sylvain Luc and Biréli Lagrène (from Jazz in Marciac, 2000)
  Individual Choice (4:43) – Jean Luc Ponty (from Individual Choice, 1983)
  Naima (15:06) – John Coltrane (from Live At The Village Vanguard Again!, 1966)
  Naima (4:26) – McCoy Tyner (from Plays John Coltrane - Live At The Village Vanguard, 1997)
  USO Dance (8:28) – Henry Threadgill (from the Wildflowers sessions, 1976)
  Portrait of Frank Edward Weston (9:16) – Randy Weston (from the Wildflowers sessions, 1976)
  Modern Times (7:31) – Gateway (John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette) (from Homecoming, 1994)
  Nefertitti (9:35) – Chick Corea (from A.R.C, 1971)
  Vedana (7:32) – Chick Corea (from A.R.C, 1971)
  On The Nile2 (9:35) – Music Inc. (from Music Inc. & Big Band, 1970)
  Moody Modes (10:57) – Billy Cobham (Cobham with a big band, from A Funky Thide of Sings, 1975)
  The Creator Has A Master Plan2 (18:46) – Pharoah Sanders (Leon Thomas on vocals, from Karma, 1969)
  Fort Yawuh3 (9:55) – Keith Jarrett (live, about 1973, with a couple of very brief glitches)
  Phase Dance (8:22) – Pat Metheny (from Pat Metheny Group, 1978)
  Lone Jack (6:42) – Pat Metheny (from Pat Metheny Group, 1978)
  Helium (4:32) – Tin Hat Trio (from Helium, 2000)
  Fred2 (6:46) – Tony Williams Lifetime (from Believe It, 1975, Allan Holdsworth on guitar)
  Love Theme from Spartacus (3:52) – Yusef Lateef (we danced to this at our wedding)
  Freedom Jazz Dance (10:49) – Miroslav Vitous (from Infinite Search, 1969)
  Just A Little Lovin'3 (3:01) – Sarah Vaughan
  I Put A Spell On You2 (2:35) – Nina Simone
  What A Wonderful World (2:17) – Louis Armstrong
  Instrumental filler3 (1:01) – Earth, Wind, & Fire (I think I recorded this from an EWF album about 1978)
  Bluesette (4:23) – Toots Thielemans (live, Toots whistling and playing guitar)
  Milano Strut (7:30) – Don Pullen (from Milano Strut, 1978)
  Happy 'Cause I'm Goin' Home (11:21) – Charles Earland (from Intensity, 1972)
  Little B's Poem (3:49) – Doug & Jean Carn (from Infant Eyes, 1971)
     ...excerpts  (see extract for tips on how I created these)
  Sometime Ago (2:18) – Stanley Clarke (bass solo from the song on the Return to Forever album, 1972)
  Funky Tonk2 (3:53) – Keith Jarrett (his outstanding solo from the song on the Miles Davis album Live-Evil, 1970)
  Love Is Everywhere2 (2:55) – Joe Bonner (his beautiful solo from the song on the Pharoah Sanders album Love in Us All, 1973)
  Bass Folk Song (0:57) – Stanley Clarke (bass intro from his song on the Joe Farrell album, Moon Germs, 1972)
  Moody Modes (2:16) – Alex Blake (bass solo with extensive use of double-stops & chords; entire song above)
  Samba da Rua2 (1:29) – Archie Shepp (from There's A Trumpet In My Soul, 1975)
  MacArthur Park2 (5:13) – Maynard Ferguson (Bruce Johnstone on bari, from Live at Jimmy's, 1973)
  Bluesette (2:07) – Rhoda Scott (one of the great Hammond organ players, from Live at the Olympia, 2002)
Top of section
  Pop/Rock/etc.
- This is sort of a catch-all section for various types of commercial music that also includes R&B and Country. I tried to separate out the Oldies but this section got too small so they are included here.
  Pink Floyd - Us and Them (live) (7:05) – Pink Floyd (from the 1987/1988 tour, released as The Delicate Sound of Thunder)
  Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing (3:27) – Buffalo Springfield
  I Can't Make You Love Me (4:15) – Bonnie Raitt (live)
  Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again (7:05) – Bob Dylan (from Blonde on Blonde, 1966)
  It's All Right (3:25) – The Traveling Wilburys
  Walk On The Wild Side (4:07) – Lou Reed
  Come Softly To Me (2:21) – The Fleetwoods (1959)
  Mr. Blue (2:27) – The Fleetwoods (an a cappella version of this beautiful song)
  My Favorite Mistake (3:48) – Sheryl Crow (voice and electric piano)
  Phantom Lover1 (3:34) – GrooveLily (listen to more of their music at GrooveLily.com)
  Wild Horses (4:44) – The Sundays
  I Can't Tell You Why (5:09) – The Eagles (live)
  Killing Me Softly (4:46) – Roberta Flack
  Song For Our Ancestors (5:58) – Steve Miller Band
  Showdown (3:55) – Electric Light Orchestra
  A Song For You (4:08) – Leon Russell
  The Living Years (5:32) – Mike + the Mechanics
  Southern Man (5:25) – Neil Young
  Can't Find My Way Home (3:15) – Blind Faith
  Hey Joe (3:21) – Jimi Hendrix
  All Along The Watchtower (4:00) – Jimi Hendrix
  Cause We've Ended As Lovers (5:41) – Jeff Beck
  Bang, Bang (2:42) – Nancy Sinatra (from the movie Kill Bill)
  Embryonic Journey (1:55) – Jorma Kaukonen (from Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow, 1967)
  So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) (2:36) – Everly Brothers
  Wake Up Everybody (3:34) – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
  Get Together (4:37) – The Youngbloods (a real anthem of the peace & love era)
  The End Of The World (2:40) – Skeeter Davis
  The Crystal Ship (2:30) – The Doors
  Heroin (7:09) – The Velvet Underground (from 1967, Lou Reed on vocal and guitar)
  Omaha (2:45) – Moby Grape (a great San Francisco band of the 60s)
  Hey Grandma (2:31) – Moby Grape
  Lookin' for Love in All the Wrong Places (3:41) – Johnny Lee (from the movie Urban Cowboy)
  Secret Agent Man (3:05) – Johnny Rivers
  Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (2:24) – The Animals
  A Whiter Shade of Pale (4:00) – Procol Harum (the original mono recording, looking for stereo re-mix)
  She's Not There (2:24) – The Zombies
  River Deep, Mountain High (3:36) – Ike & Tina Turner
  You Are So Beautiful (2:42) – Joe Cocker
  Cool Water (2:53) – Sons of the Pioneers
  I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow (4:15) – Soggy Bottom Boys (from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?)
  Mr. Bojangles (3:33) – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
  Someday Soon (2:21) – Ian & Sylvia (from Northern Journey, 1964)
  Lovin' Sound (2:37) – Ian & Sylvia (in their folk-rock phase, 1968)
  Dueling Banjos (3:16) – Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell (from the movie Deliverance)
  Black Mountain Rag (1:35) – Clarence White (from his bluegrass days)
  Sailor's Hornpipe (1:56) – Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys (Bill Keith on banjo)
Top of section
  One-hit wonders
- "hit" being the operative word here, as some of these artists had other fine recordings, but these are the songs they are known for
  Mule Skinner Blues (2:24) – The Fendermen (1960, artist info)
  Dancing in the Moonlight (2:52) – King Harvest (1973, artist info – this song is often mistakenly attributed to Van Morrison)
  Duke of Earl (2:25) – Gene Chandler (1962, artist info)
  Hey Paula (2:36) – Paul & Paula (1962, artist info)
  Louie, Louie (2:46) – The Kingsmen (1963, artist info)
  Surfin' Bird (2:22) – The Trashmen (1964, artist info, "Pa Pa Ooh Mow Mow")
  Dirty Water (2:43) – The Standells (1966, artist info)
  They're Coming to Take Me Away (2:12) – Napoleon XIV (1966, artist info)
  Classical Gas (3:05) – Mason Williams (1967, artist info)
  Fire (2:53) – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (1967, artist info)
  (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet (2:18) – Blues Magoos (1967, artist info)
  You Keep Me Hangin' On (3:01) – Vanilla Fudge (1968, artist info, a remake of The Supremes 1966 original)
  Journey to the Center of the Mind (3:36) – The Amboy Dukes (1968, artist info)
  In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (17:02) – Iron Butterfly (1968, artist info)
  MacArthur Park (7:28) – Richard Harris (1968, artist info)
  There's Something In The Air (3:54) – Thunderclap Newman (1969, artist info)
  Venus (3:07) – Shocking Blue (1970, artist info)
  Hot Rod Lincoln (2:43) – Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (1972, artist info)
  Wildflower (4:11) – Skylark (1973, artist info)
  Midnight At The Oasis (3:46) – Maria Muldaur (1974, artist info, I loved her with Jim Kweskin)
  Lovin' You (3:20) – Minnie Riperton (1975, artist info)
  Don't Leave Me This Way (3:35) – Thelma Houston (1977, artist info)
  I Love The Nightlife (3:19) – Alicia Bridges (1978, artist info)
  Betty Davis Eyes (3:49) – Kim Carnes (1981, artist info)
  Come On Eileen (4:09) – Dexy's Midnight Runners (1982, artist info, has a great Ska remake)
  I Want Candy (2:46) – Bow Wow Wow (1982, artist info)
  Walking On Sunshine (3:53) – Katrina & The Waves (1983, artist info)
  Maniac (4:12) – Michael Sembello (1983, artist info)
  One Night In Bangkok (3:30) – Murray Head (1984, artist info, some interesting trivia)
  Take On Me (3:50) – a-ha (1985, artist info, has a great Ska remake)
  Don't Worry, Be Happy (3:54) – Bobby McFerrin (1988, artist info)
  What I Am (4:57) – Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians (1989, artist info)
Top of section
  Reggae/Ska

  No Woman, No Cry (3:39) – Bob Marley & The Wailers (the original recording from Natty Dread, 1974)
  No Woman, No Cry (4:20) – Bob Marley & The Wailers (great Marley guitar on this up-tempo version)
  The Harder They Come (3:38) – Jimmy Cliff
  The Impression That I Get (3:15) – Mighty Mighty Bosstones
  Take On Me (3:01) – Reel Big Fish (a cover of the A-Ha song)
  Come On Eileen (4:08) – Save Ferris (a cover of the Dexy's Midnight Runners song)
Top of section
  Other

  Adiemus (3:54) – Karl Jenkins (a great new age piece by composer Jenkins - watch video)
  Somewhere Over The Rainbow (5:06) – Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole (the great Hawaiian singer)
  Caprice No. 1: Andante (1:46) – Midori (one of Paganini's 24 Caprices)
  Caprice No. 24: Tema-Quasi Presto (4:43) – Midori (one of Paganini's 24 Caprices)
  Paganini Stomp2 (1:49) – Dave Apollon (a mandolin variation of Paganini's Caprice No. 24)
  O Fortuna (2:32) – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana)
  The Sacrifice (2:45) – Michael Nyman (from the movie The Piano)
  Flight of the Bumble Bee (1:04) – Winton Marsalis
  Cajun Bayou (4:16) – Buckwheat Zydeco
  Woo Hoo (1:58) – The 5.6.7.8's (from the movie Kill Bill)
  These Days (3:32) – Nico (from Chelsea Girl, 1967, used in the movie The Royal Tenenbaums)
  Memory (4:16) – Elaine Paige (from the Broadway musical Cats, see the video)
  Eight Miles High (3:37) – Leo Kottke
  Charlie on the MTA (3:18) – Kingston Trio (we have the CharlieCard in Boston now)
  Canon in D major (6:11) – Johann Pachelbel
  Moonlight Sonata (5:57) – Ludwig van Beethoven
     ...excerpts  (see extract for tips on this)
  Kuyawa (0:54) – Yma Sumac (from an Inca love song)
Top of section
  Spoofs have been moved to the Humor page under Audio humor


Top of page
MIDI files
1 This audio file is located on a remote server.
2 I ripped this from an analog audio tape or LP.
3 I originally tape-recorded this from radio (WBUR, WERS) in 1973-1975.
  These MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files are digitized, instrumental versions of the original songs.

  Jazz

La Fiesta (85kb) - Chick Corea
Spain (24kb) - Chick Corea
All Blues (39kb) - Miles Davis
So What (85kb) - Miles Davis
James (51kb) - Pat Metheny
Love Theme from Spartacus (23kb) - Bill Evans (more here)
Naima (6kb) - John Coltrane (the chord changes)
  Pop/Rock

Stayin' Alive (35kb) - Bee Gees
Anji (3kb) - Paul Simon
Samba Pa Ti (51kb) - Santana
Ironic (43kb) - Alanis Morissette
When You're Gone (78kb) - the Cranberries
The Sign (35kb) - Ace of Base
Kiss From a Rose (31kb) - Seal
I Am the Walrus (25kb) - The Beatles
Here Comes the Sun (33kb) - The Beatles
Stairway to Heaven (47kb) - Led Zeppelin
Hotel California (72kb) - The Eagles
Desperado (12kb) - The Eagles
La Bamba (34kb) - Richie Valens
Whiter Shade of Pale (32kb) - Procol Harum
Another Star (113kb) - Stevie Wonder
Stay (43kb) - Lisa Loeb
  Other

The Impression That I Get (46kb) - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Simpsons (18kb) - theme from the TV show
Peanuts (21kb) - theme from the Charlie Brown TV show
Dueling Banjos (20kb) - from the movie Deliverance
Island Music (17kb) - Reggae, steel drums, etc.
Chip's Challenge (12kb) - from a game of that name
Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies (16kb) - from The Nutcracker
Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum (31kb) - Claude Debussy

Top of page
Music videos

Jazz favorites Rock & Pop favorites Keyboard players Guitar players Bass players Various artists
  Here are some great music videos by various artists. When I first created this section I was just putting links to the videos on the websites where I found them, showing them in popups I created on my website. Then I ran into some videos, primarily on YouTube, that don't let you do that (they give a message that prohibits "embedding" them), or sometimes a video I had linked was taken down, so I started saving the videos (there is an extension in Firefox that lets you do this easily) and putting my own copies of them on my server. Most of these are in the FLV format, which streams, and I am playing them with this Flash Video Player in popup windows (which you can safely enable on my website). For you programmers, see my Perl section to see how this is done.  

  Jazz favorites
   Miles Davis – members of his bands always went on to outstanding solo careers
 
Bitches Brew, 1969
(52 min.)
Splatch
Isle of Wight Festival
(35 min.)
Hannibal


Human Nature
Footprints
So What 		 
   Mahavishnu Orchestra – John McLaughlin's superb fusion band of the early-70s (see more McLaughlin below)
 
You Know You Know
You Know You Know
The Noonward Race
Dance of Mya
Meeting of the Spirits
One Word
A Lotus on Irish Streams 		 
 
Early Video
You Know You Know 		       
   Return to Forever – Chick Corea's jazz fusion group of the 70s
 
Spain


500 Miles High


Romantic Warrior


Beyond the 7th Galaxy


Vulcan Worlds


Space Circus

 
   Milton Nascimento – one of the best performers in my favorite genre, Brazilian jazz
 
Milagre dos Peixes
Nada Será
Como Antes
Lilia
Lilia
O Que Será
(w⁄ Chico Buarque)
Cravo e Canela
Acustico Na Suica
Travessia
Don Quixote 		 
   Airto Moreira and Flora Purim – fantastic Brazilian husband and wife musicians
 
Shoulder
1982 Harvest Jazz series 		 
   John Coltrane – one of the most influential improvisors and composers of all time
 
Naima


Afro Blue
My Favorite Things
Impressions
Impressions
(w/ Eric Dolphy)
I Want To Talk
About You 		 
   Richard Galliano – amazing! (richardgalliano.com)
 
Waltz For Nicky
(w/ Birelli Lagrene)
Tangaria
Mozartango
Libertango
La Valse a Margaux
Mozambique
(w/ Michel Portal)
Tchaikovsky
1st Concerto (1972) 		 
   Anthony Braxton – fantastic avant-garde reed player
 
Impressions
Iridium 		       
   Weather Report – outstanding musicians who also had successful individual careers
 
Black Market
Elegant People
Birdland 		     

   Top of Videos


  Rock & Pop favorites
Bob Dylan – Dylan had a tremendous influence on everyone who came after him
 

History of Rock & Roll

As a folk singer
It's Alright Ma
(I'm Only Bleeding)
Maggie's Farm
Newport '65
Dylan goes electric
Like a Rolling Stone
Newport '65
Bob Dylan and
Suze Rotolo 		   
Pink Floyd
 
Us and Them
(1988)
Brain Damage*
(1994)
Another Brick
In The Wall
(1980)
Shine On You
Crazy Diamond
(1990)
Time
(1988)
Money
(1989) 		     
 
Cymbaline
(1970)
Grantchester  
Meadows
(1970) 
Green is the Colour
(1970)
Atom Heart Mother
(1970)
(1969-1972)

     
 
Comfortably Numb
(1980)
Wish You Were Here
(1988)
Live 8
(2005) 
Us and Them
(David Gilmour)
Us and Them
(Rick Wright intro)
MTV Rockumentary 		     
           * multiple videos assembled by someone to make it appear that Roger Waters was still performing with the band in the 90s
Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac – the original band (pre- Nicks & Buckingham) when they were an English group in the 60s
 
Oh Well
Albatross
Man of the World
The Peter Green Story 		     
Crosby, Stills, & Nash (and Young)
 
Teach Your Children
Long Time Gone
Helplessly Hoping
Southern Man
Down By The River 		 


Joni Mitchell – a 1979 tour backed by Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Michael Brecker, Jaco Pastorius, and Don Alias; some of the songs have film clips edited in at Mitchell's direction
 
Free Man in Paris
In France They
Kiss On Main Street
Raised On Robbery
Black Crow
Edith and The Kingpin 		   
John Lennon
 
Imagine
Woman
Yer Blues 		     
The Yardbirds – from the 1966 Antonioni film Blowup, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page on guitars
 
Stroll On 		         
Peter Frampton – like the rest of us baby-boomers Frampton has aged, just a little more publicly
 
Baby, I Love Your Way
(1976)
Show Me The Way
(1976)
Baby, I Love Your Way
(2000)
The Geico commercial
(2007) 		 
Bruce Springsteen
 
Secret Garden
Dancing in the Dark
(Courteney Cox dancing) 		     
Spirit
 
Nature's Way
Nature's Way
(environmental theme)
I Got a Line on You 		   

   Top of Videos


  Keyboard players
Chick Corea – one of the best pianists of all time
 
'Round Midnight
500 Miles High
(w/ some RTF)


Why Wait
(w/ some RTF)


L's Bop
(w/ some RTF)


Spain
(w/ Hiromi Uehara)
Mozart Allegro
(w/ Keith Jarrett)
Sometime Ago 		 
Keith Jarrett – I first saw this incredible jazz pianist perform with Charles Lloyd in the 60s
 
Fort Yawuh,
Berlin '73
Tokyo '84 Encore
Solar
Funky Tonk solo
(w⁄ Miles Davis)
Umbria Jazz Festival,
Perugia, Italy '74 		 
McCoy Tyner – a member of Trane's quartet, one of my favorite jazz pianists
 
Giant Steps
Mr. P.C. 		       
Bill Evans
 
Person I Knew
Gloria's Step
My Romance
Waltz For Debby 		   
Thelonius Monk
 
'Round Midnight
Don't Blame Me
Blue Monk
Straight, No Chaser 		   
Roger Friedman (www.rogerfriedman.com)
 

I love watching his fascinating instructional videos on YouTube, many with a MIDI keyboard above the one he is playing on showing which keys are being pressed.
Roger was at Berklee at the same time I was, and in addition to being an outstanding piano player he is also a doctor.
See also Lot2learn Jazz Piano.
Gabriela Montero (www.gabrielamontero.com) – "La Divina del Piano" is known for her celebrated technical skills and her talent for improvisation.
What she does with a little piece of melody she hears for the first time is amazing.
 

2009 Inauguration
(w/ Ma,Perlman,McGill)
Paganini Duet
(w/ Martha Argerich)
Joropo 		   

   Top of Videos


  Guitar players
John McLaughlin – Paco de Lucia – Al Di Meola – Larry Coryell – these guys could just blow everybody away in the guitar world
 
Rio Ancho
McLaughlin,
de Lucia & Di Meola
Rio Ancho
Di Meola & de Lucia
Rio Ancho
Paco de Lucia
(the original)
Meeting Of
The Spirits
McLaughlin,
de Lucia & Coryell
Guardian Angel
McLaughlin,
de Lucia & Coryell
Solo videos
Al Di Meola
Spain
McLaughlin,
de Lucia & Di Meola
Callejon del Muro
Paco de Lucia 		 
   Pat Metheny – one of the most versatile guitarists influenced by many genres
 
Have You Heard
Phase Dance
Lone Jack
Bright Size Life
Acoustic Medley
Waltz For Ruth
(w/ Charlie Haden) 		 
  – interview containing Kenny G remarks, the same way I see it. See more here.
   Bireli Lagrene – one of the world's greatest guitarists (lagrene.com)
 
A duet with
Sylvain Luc
(Live in Marciac 2000)
Vienne Song
Dinello
(w/ Dominique
Di Piazza)
Mediterranian
Sundance
(w/ Al Di Meola)
age 13
at Montreux
   
George Benson – I saw him perform several times in the '60s when he was a jazz guitarist (before he became a pop singer)
 
'Round Midnight


Stella By Starlight
(w⁄ McCoy Tyner)

       
  Jeff Beck
(one of a kind)

Cause We've Ended
as Lovers 		Luis Moreno
(guitar hammering)

Fusion 		Mason Williams
(a pop classic)

Classical Gas 		Paul Simon
(and his brother Ed)

Anji 		   

   Top of Videos


  Bass players
Stanley Clarke – my favorite bass player (listen to Clarke's 1972 solo on Sometime Ago by Return to Forever). I posted the first Clarke video below on YouTube.
 
School Days
(Live at Montreux)
School Days
Jam
Duals
Song To John
Solo and interview
at Newport, 2003
Saratoga Jazz Fest, 2008 		 

Romantic Warrior
The Thunder Tour
at the Hollywood Bowl
(more info) 		   
Victor Wooten
 
Club A38,
Budapest, 2007
2-hand tapping
jazz solo
San Sebastian
Jazz Fest, 2006
With Flecktones
at San Sebastian
Amazing Grace
(Flecktones concert)
Amazing Grace
(Bass Day 1998) 		 
 
Norwegian Wood
Slapping & tapping,
brother Regi on guitar
A Chick From Corea
(w/Steve Bailey)
 
Miroslav Vitous
 
Agitation
(w/ Stanley Clarke)
Freedom Jazz Dance
(w/ Stanley Clarke)
My Foolish Heart
Solo with
Jan Garbarek 		     
Dave Holland
 
Homecoming
Metamorphose 		     
Fred Hopkins
 
Bass solo at
Village Vanguard 		     
Charlie Haden
 
Ornette Coleman
clips
Lonely Woman
Body and Soul
(w/ Richard Galliano)
La Passionara 		     
Jaco Pastorius
 
A Portrait of Tracy
Slang 		       
Eberhard Weber
 
Brother Wind March
Why Not Brazilian 		     
Jean Baudin – tapping, slapping and fingerstyle on 11-string and 9-string bass (jeanbaudin.com)
 
Mario Theme
Bach
Every Breath You Take
(w/ Yves Carbonne)
Nuclear Rabbit
information 		         
Stuart Hamm
 
SF Concert Medley
Love Thing
Moonlight Sonata
Country Music

Star-Spangled
Banner
           
  Jeff Schmidt
(5-string bass)

Little Sunflower 		Dominique Di Piazza
(5-string bass)

Little Rose 		         

   Top of Videos


  Various artists
  Jake Shimabukuro
(jakeshimabukuro.com)

While My Guitar
Gently Weeps 		Duo 4 by 6
(guitar & violin)

Vivaldi
Summer III 		Ian & Sylvia
(a favorite 60s duo)

Greenwood Sidie O 		   


Adiemus – I love this New Age piece by composer/conductor Karl Jenkins. The vocals are used as instruments, with the words made up by Jenkins.
See Adiemus Unofficial Website, The Adiemus Singers, Adiemus Profile, and Adiemus - Wikipedia for more.
Recorded performances
  Miriam Stockley

Original recording
1995 		Karen Melis(?)

Night of the Proms
2001
 Various choruses
   
As background music
 
Anastasia
Volochkova
The Alchemist M
– Indy Parkour
Delta Commercial
(French) 		   


Carmina Burana – This is a collection of 24 poems set to music by Bavarian composer Carl Orff.
 
O Fortuna
Seiji Ozawa conducts the Berlin Philharmonic and the Shin-Yu Chorus of Japan performing O Fortuna and Fortune plango vulnera, the first two pieces in the collection.

     Other...

 
Bobby McFerrin
Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the power of the pentatonic scale at the 2009 World Science Festival.
 
Stand By Me
Recorded by artists all around the world, from the award-winning documentary, Playing For Change: Peace Through Music.
 
Video Games Live
This is the trailer for the first video game concert tour, featuring the music of Christopher Tin and other game composers.
See the website for more.
 
Tico Tico
Cecilia Siqueira (Uruguay) and Fernando Lima (Brasil) play a really incredible guitar duet at the 2009 Brazilian Music Institute.

   Top of Videos