Welcome to my music blog - The Soundtrack of My Life!

Many of you have asked me “What’s with all the music, Dr. Weiss?” Well, as I’ve told some of you:

I personally call every surgery patient on the evening of surgery just to make sure they are doing well and have no questions that need answering. Occasionally, I would be at the piano and play a song that we had listened to that day. I gradually realized that I wanted to go through all the music that I had played during my life and at least start making a list of the songs that I had recently played.

Well, there are now about 600 songs on the list and I realized that it in a way it represented the ‘soundtrack of my life’! And that’s how I got the idea to record these songs and share them with my patients, friends and family. After I record them they will reside here, for easy access.

Music is truth. It’s honest. It’s really the first social media, where in a way, people could share their souls directly. And isn’t that what the purpose of social media is and why it’s so popular - trying to share who you really are, as completely and directly as possible?

Finally, it has been (and will continue to be) a genuine pleasure sharing these different songs with you and I really appreciate all of your positive feedback!!

Categories


Chim Chim Cher ee

Chim Chim Cher-ee

December 13, 2024

Chim Chim Cher-ee (0:47) “Chim Chim Cher-ee” is a song from Mary Poppins, the timeless classic 1964 Walt Disney musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. The song won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Original Song and was written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman (the “Sherman Brothers”), who also won an Oscar and a Grammy Award for the Mary Poppins score! Bert was a chimneysweep played by Dick Van Dyke and this was his theme song. This song must have a sort of universal appeal, attested to by the covers from diverse artists including Burl Ives, John Coltrane, David Bowie, Wes Montgomery, Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Louis Armstrong, Mannheim Steamroller, and Esperanza Spalding! Here is my very simple version in tribute to Dick Van Dyke on his 99th birthday, who also has universal appeal. Happy Birthday, Dick! Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Some info from Wikipedia PS This recording is also another example of my theory that many memorable and unforgettable complete musical ideas can be expressed in less than 60 seconds (in this case, 47 seconds)– thus, Weiss Musical Minutes.

A Whole New World - from the Disney's Aladdin soundtrack.

A Whole New World

June 3, 2020

As far as the lyrics as are concerned, when I was single, I wish I was a tenth as smooth as this guy is trying to romance Jasmine! In these times, we need a minute to smile. As a matter of fact, as many minutes as possible. Here’s one. :) Bosendorfer piano sound - For this recording I’m playing a Yamaha Clavinova – which has the same keyboard action as a traditional acoustic piano, but there are no strings. Pressing a key activates (in this case) a sound which was sampled from a Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand piano. Try listening to it with a good set of headphones! It sounds better than any piano I've ever played!!
Toy space ranger Buzz Lightyear and cowboy doll Woody from Disney's Toy Story pose for an album cover, with the text "You've Got a Friend In Me."

You’ve Got a Friend In Me

December 30, 2019

Ok, who doesn’t smile when they hear this song? And another song that’s so much fun to play! Randy Newman has received twenty Academy Award nominations in the Best Original Score and Best Original Song categories and has won twice in the latter category, contributing to Newman’s being the most nominated Academy Award extended family, with a collective 92 nominations in various music categories. He has also won three Emmys, seven Grammy Awards and the Governor's Award from the Recording Academy. Notable cover versions: Michael Bublé, Dr. John, Lyle Lovett, Tom Hanks, Robert Goulet, Gipsy Kings, Chris Thile and others. Dedicated to Josh and Lana. And Jamie. Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Bosendorfer piano sound - For this recording I’m playing a Yamaha Clavinova – which has the same keyboard action as a traditional acoustic piano, but there are no strings. Pressing a key activates (in this case) a sound which was sampled from a Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand piano. Try listening to it with a good set of headphones! It sounds better than any piano I've ever owned!!
When You Wish Upon A Star

When You Wish Upon a Star

October 19, 2019

'When You Wish Upon a Star' is a song written by Leigh Harline with lyrics by Ned Washington (who also wrote the lyrics to 'Stella by Starlight', 'On Green Dolphin Street' and 'The Nearness of You') for Walt Disney's 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song. The American Film Institute ranked 'When You Wish Upon a Star' seventh in their 100 Greatest Songs in Film History! The piece has also become a jazz standard. It has been performed by artists including Linda Ronstadt, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Glenn Miller, Joe Pass, Wynton Marsalis, Bill Evans, and many others. This is one of those songs that took me several weeks to want to record, because it gave me so much joy to play! This performance is dedicated to Denis R and Therese L. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Dr. Weiss Bosendorfer piano sound - For this recording I’m playing a Yamaha Clavinova – which has the same keyboard action as a traditional acoustic piano, but there are no strings. Pressing a key activates (in this case) a sound which was sampled from a Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand piano. [...]
Elton John playing the piano

Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

June 3, 2019

Just saw Rocketman this weekend. Elton, this one is dedicated to you. Bosendorfer piano sound - For this recording I’m playing a Yamaha Clavinova – which has the same keyboard action as a traditional acoustic piano, but there are no strings. Pressing a key activates (in this case) a sound which was sampled from a Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand piano. Try listening to it with a good set of headphones! It sounds better than any piano I've ever owned!!
A Dream pic

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

March 25, 2019

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes On this day (March 25) in 1909, Jerry Livingston was born, who wrote the lyrics to “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes”, featured in the 1950 Walt Disney film Cinderella. Interestingly, the theme of the song was taken from an Etude by Franz Liszt. The song was also used in the medley for The Wonderful World Of Disney (1969–1979), where it must have been imprinted on my brain when I used to go over to my cousins’ house once a week to watch Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (as it was initially called), as our family didn’t yet have one of those miraculous new color television sets. The combination of a beautiful sentiment and an unforgettable melody must have touched other artists in the same way, as evidenced by versions by Brian Wilson, Johnny Mathis, Cher, Bette Midler, Linda Ronstadt, Shakey Graves and Hilary Duff, among others. Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Bosendorfer piano sound - For this recording I’m playing a Yamaha Clavinova – which has the same keyboard action as a traditional acoustic piano, but there are no strings. Pressing a key activates (in this case) a sound which was sampled from a Bösendorfer [...]
Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast

March 14, 2019

On This Day (March 14) in 1991, Howard Ashman who wrote the lyrics for “Beauty and the Beast” passed away at age 40 from complications due to AIDS. He also wrote the lyrics for The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. While finishing “Beauty and the Beast” his health began to decline due to his illness. He grew weaker but he remained productive and continued to write and he completed the lyrical work on “Beauty and the Beast” before succumbing to AIDS. The film was released mere months after his death and is dedicated to him. “Beauty and the Beast” is dedicated "To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman 1950–1991. I’d like to dedicate this performance to my dear friends Peggy and Dan, who treated my new wife and I to an unforgettable performance of the play at the Schubert Theatre in Los Angeles in 1995. Bosendorfer piano sound - For this recording I’m playing a Yamaha Clavinova – which has the same keyboard action as a traditional acoustic piano, but there are no strings. Pressing a key activates (in this case) a sound which was sampled from a Bösendorfer Imperial [...]