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!!

Musical Genres

That's What Friends Are For

That’s What Friends Are For

December 10, 2025

  OK, besides this song being a classic, I just had to record it today for two main reasons: 1) the cute image created by me and my pal Gemini, and 2) the chance to ‘play’ a couple of runs on the Glockenspiel (never want to miss that!) That’s What Friends Are For (3:26) “That’s What Friends Are For” is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. Although it was first recorded by Rod Stewart in 1982, for the soundtrack of the film Night Shift (I did not know that), of course it is best known for the 1985 version by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder. That recording was released as a charity single for AIDS research and prevention. It was a massive hit, becoming the number one single of 1986 in the United States, and winning the Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Song of the Year! Enjoy the glockenspiel! Dr. Weiss Some info from Wikipedia

The Long and Winding Road with play button

The Long And Winding Road

December 8, 2025

It’s always nice to start off the week with a Beatles song. I’ll let the Clavinova ‘sing’ for me (I’m certainly not going to compete with Paul). The Long and Winding Road(2:22) Paul McCartney “The Long and Winding Road” is a Beatles piano ballad written by Paul McCartney from their 1970 album Let It Be. It was one of the first songs released after the band’s breakup and their final number one hit as a group on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Brian Wilson considered it his favorite Beatles song. Many thought that Phil Spector massively overdubbed the original version. My version is closer to a non-overdubbed recording later released on Anthology 3.  Everyone sees different meanings in songs. Whether you view it as a nostalgic look back, an allegory for our lives, or even a quest toward God or spirituality – it’s one of my favorites. Enjoy, Dr. Weiss PS  Anyone wanting to attempt to fabricate a Christmas goose this season?(45 min – not for the faint of heart!) Related Weiss Beatles Posts:   Across the Universe  3:50) We Can Work It Out (2:14) Maybe I’m Amazed  (2:26) Something  (2:58) I Will (1:53)

Mazurka Chopin

Mazurka Chopin Op 68 No 3

December 7, 2025

Here is a very short dose of Chopin to start the day. I can’t understand how the ‘Poco piu vivo’ short interlude goes with the rest of the piece, it seems to come out of nowhere – but he’s Chopin and I’m not! Mazurka Opus 68, No 3 (1:42) Frédéric Chopin The Mazurka  is a Polish musical form based on stylised folk dances and became popular at the ballrooms and salons of Europe in the 19th century, particularly through the notable works by Frédéric Chopin.Several classical composers have written mazurkas, with the best known being the 59 composed by Frédéric Chopin for solo piano. The mazurka began as a dance for either four or eight couples.Chopin first started composing mazurkas in 1824, and continued composing them until 1849, the year of his death. Chopin tried to compose his mazurkas in such a way that they could not be used for dancing, so as to distance them from the original form.  No worries there – I can’t imagine anyone dancing to this song the way that I play it!Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Some information from Wikipedia Related Weiss Chopin Posts:  Chopin Waltz in C# Minor Op 64 No 2, (4:52) Chopin Waltz in Gb major Op 70 No 1 (3:36) Chopin Waltz in F Minor, Op 70 […]

Fragile 1

Fragile

December 5, 2025

Fragile  (3:43) As Sting has reminded us: How Fragile We Are! “Fragile” is a song written and performed by Sting, released in 1987 on his second solo album …Nothing Like the Sun. It’s one of his most enduring pieces, known for its delicate sound and profound lyrical message. I’ve always liked it. “Fragile” reflects on the fragility of human life and the futility of violence. It was inspired by the death of Ben Linder, an American engineer killed in Nicaragua while working on a humanitarian project during the civil conflict. The lyrics suggest that violence only perpetuates suffering, while human existence remains delicate and fleeting. Sting played it at the September 11th memorial concert in 2001, and also at the benefit concert for the LA Fires in 2025. First I tried accompanying myself in octaves. That sounded a little hollow so I added a cornet harmony in between to round out the sound. I hope you like it. Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Some info from wikipedia PS. Here is a live recording of Sting and Stevie Wonder (WAY better vocals!): Fragile – Sting & Stevie Wonder

Man Smart, Woman Smarter

Man Smart, Woman Smarter

December 4, 2025

  Man Smart (Woman Smarter) ( 3:03) “Man Smart (Woman Smarter)” was first recorded and probably composed by Norman Span (King Radio) in 1936. It’s a cool song that works into many different musical genres and was first made famous by Harry Belafonte in 1956 (on Billboard’s Top Pop Albums chart for 31 weeks.)   I first learned this song from the Grateful Dead repertoire who play it with a New Orleans ”Iko Iko” type of arrangement. In any case, I’ve always liked their version, and the lyrics resonated with me because I’ve always felt the world would probably be a little kinder if the women had more say. One of the more unique versions is performed by Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz), Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball), Fred Mertz (William Frawley) and Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance) in the 1957 episode of I Love Lucy entitled “Ragtime Band”. Check it out on youtube. Anyway, here is my version, recorded live at one of our Patient Appreciation Parties a while back.  Interestingly, I spent a little time recently overdubbing parts of my vocal to improve on the mix. As usual (see my song parody “Mr. Botox Man” of Johnny Rivers “Secret Agent Man”), I start it out on […]

Glad

Glad

December 3, 2025

Glad (1:43) I was going to do a blog showing you a behind-the-scenes look at multi-track digital recording, which enables me to create an entire soundscape. But then this post morphed into another AI blog, when I was astounded by chatGPT’s detailed analysis from my very simple prompt, and also helped me come up with this amazing creative illustration. Me: Analyze Steve Winwood’s song, Glad ChatGPT: “Glad” is an instrumental piece by Steve Winwood’s band Traffic, featured on their 1970 album John Barleycorn Must Die. The song showcases Winwood’s exceptional musicianship, blending rock, jazz, and blues into a compelling jam. Here’s a breakdown of key elements in “Glad”: 1. Musical Style and Structure Jazz Influence: “Glad” heavily incorporates jazz, featuring complex rhythms, extended chord progressions, and an emphasis on instrumental interplay. It has a jam-like feel typical of jazz-rock fusion, a genre gaining traction in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Blues and Rock Elements: Though jazz is dominant, the song retains rock and blues underpinnings, with its groove and rhythmic patterns coming from a rock-oriented perspective. Improvisation: There’s a sense of fluidity and improvisation, which is common in jazz but less so in mainstream rock, giving the song a spontaneous, […]

Bill Bailey Rick and Rina lo res photo

Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey

November 21, 2025

Rick and his Mom   Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey?   Written in 1902 by Hugh Cannon, this popular ragtime/jazz song is based on the true story of his drinking buddy Bill Bailey and his wife Sarah. They were married in 1893, but she finally divorced Bill in the 1940s after 40 years of marriage. In 1973 she told a reporter, “Bill was my sweetheart, but he was everybody else’s, too. He lied to me all the time, but I was too young to understand much then. I was a country girl.” Sarah died in 1976 at the age of 102. The song has been recorded by Louis Armstrong, Patsy Cline, Bobby Darin, Wayne Newton, Al Hirt, Brenda Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Durante, Phish, Harry Connick Jr., Lena Horne, Michael Buble, and countless others. Here is me and my mom’s version in a rollicking Weiss Music Minute! Enjoy, Dr. Weiss

Since it cost a lot with play button

Deal – Grateful Dead

February 15, 2025

Deal (3:39) Deal is a rowdy and rollicking song from the Grateful Dead, written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. Always a crowd pleaser! The story behind the AI generated video (WARNING: READ NO FURTHER UNLESS YOU WANT THE DETAILS). Note: The terms AI and chatgpt are used interchangeably below. Back in December, when I read that the Grateful Dead would be honored at the Kennedy Center, I decided to experiment with some AI text or image to video software that had just come out to go along with some music that I had just recorded. So… First I asked Dall-E (ChatGPT text to image service) to create 18 cartoon images (enough for about 18 10-second videos in a 3 minute song) to accompany the song’s lyrics: Since it cost a lot to win and even more to lose You and me bound to spend some time wondering what to choose Goes to show you don’t ever know Watch each card you play and play it slow Wait until your deal come round Don’t you let that deal go down I been gambling here abouts for ten good solid years If I told you all that went down it would burn off […]

Angel eyes with hands 30 percent and button

On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)

February 11, 2025

On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)(3:58) This is my version of how the great jazz pianist Bill Evans would have played this song by Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane from the 1965 Broadway show. A 1970 film adaptation directed by Vincente Minnelli starred Barbra Streisand, Yves Montand, Bob Newhart and Jack Nicholson. (That one might be worth checking out!)  AI Chat of the Week: The Art of Jazz Improvisation and Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery Me:   “Write a blog linking a musical improvisation of ‘On A Clear Day’ to the qualities needed to perform delicate cosmetic eyelid surgery – and vice versa” ChatGPT: “Harmony in Precision: Connecting Musical Improvisation and Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery In both art and science, mastery demands a blend of precision, intuition, and adaptability. Whether it’s an improvised rendition of On A Clear Day, with its fluid melodies and dynamic emotional shifts, or the meticulous artistry required in cosmetic eyelid surgery, the parallels between these seemingly disparate disciplines are striking. Both require a keen awareness of structure, a deep understanding of form, and the ability to adapt gracefully in the moment. 1. The Art of Improvisation: A Delicate Balance When a musician approaches On A Clear Day, they enter a space where technical proficiency meets artistic expression. The jazz-inspired nature of […]

Shallow with play button

Shallow

February 1, 2025

Shallow (2:56) Lady Gaga sang this song the other night as part of her set to close out FireAid LA. It won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 2018. (The entire show is still available on YouTube.) Click below to keep the donations going!