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

Laura

Laura

December 30, 2025

Laura (1:41) Music: David Raksin.    Lyrics: Johnny Mercer “Laura” is a movie theme melody written by David Raksin in 1944 for the film Laura, a noir mystery directed by Otto Preminger. Preminger had originally wanted to use Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady” as the theme, but Raksin was not convinced that it was suitable. Angered, Preminger gave Raksin one weekend to compose an alternative melody, and over that weekend he got a personal letter from his wife asking for a divorce – which may explain its haunting quality. The melody is lyrical, chromatic, and bittersweet, moving between major and minor moods. Because of its sophisticated structure, it became a favorite among jazz musicians for improvisation. It was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Nat King Cole, Bill Evans, and Julie London, among many others. Today, it’s considered one of the most enduring and frequently played ballads in the Great American Songbook and probably the most notable film noir music theme. The lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer after the film made the tune popular. Mercer makes Laura not just a woman, but a metaphor for elusive beauty and memory. I tried to match my illustration to the lyric: “And you see Laura […]

Free Again

Free Again

December 28, 2025

Free Again (3:44) Music: Canfora and Baselli   English lyrics: Robert Colby “Free Again” was written with French lyrics in 1965 and later made famous by Barbra Streisand on her eighth studio album, Je m’appelle Barbra (1966). She sings much of that album in French—yet “Free Again” appears in English. I originally planned to include it simply as another French-adjacent song, following my last post about Édith Piaf. But three things about it pulled me in. What grabbed me Using AI to create the visual — a practical example of how prompts can shape (and improve) an image. (See below.) Why the song feels so powerful — I realized it’s driven by emotional dissonance: the lyrics and the music tell different emotional stories at the same time. (See below.) How a spare arrangement can spotlight a piano — especially when the instrument is beautifully recorded. In this case, it’s the sampled Bösendorfer sound from a Clavinova, with a clarity that reminded me of something I heard as a teenager. When I was 14 or 15, I was babysitting and listened—on headphones, through a good stereo—to one of Sinatra and Carlos Jobim’s recordings. I remember being stunned by how good a simple piano line could sound, and wondering why my own piano didn’t. Now I understand: the […]

La Vie En Rose

La Vie En Rose

December 27, 2025

La Vie En Rose (3:17) Édith Piaf “La Vie En Rose” literally translates to “life in pink,” but it’s a French idiom that means to see life through rose-colored glasses, or to view life in a happy, optimistic, or romantic way. It conveys a feeling of bliss and happiness, often brought on by being in love. It is the signature song of legendary French singer Édith Piaf, written in 1945. The song became very popular in the United States in 1950, when seven versions reached the Billboard charts including covers by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and of course, Louis Armstrong. OK, this is interesting.  You would think that a songwriter would know an immortal hit when they wrote it. Right? However, Piaf’s peers and songwriting team did not think the song would be successful, finding it weaker than the rest of her repertoire. Heeding their advice, the singer put the song aside, only to change her mind the next year. It was performed live in concert for the first time in 1946. However, “La Vie En Rose” became a favorite with audiences and was the song that made Piaf internationally famous! It’s lyrics expressed the joy of finding true love and appealed to those […]

Al In Love Iw Fair

All In Love is Fair

December 11, 2025

All In Love Is Fair (2:43) Like much of the rest of the world, I appreciate the genius of Stevie Wonder. Even though I usually prefer to let the sampled piano ‘sing’ for me, I’ve decided to try to sing this one. I guess if you were here in my living room, I might be persuaded to try to sing the song, so here it is. Enjoy,Dr. Weiss

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)

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

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!

Andrea Miller photo

Summer’s Almost Gone – (Andrea Miller vocal)

September 21, 2024

Andrea Miller Summer’s Almost Gone Well, today you are in for a very special treat!  First, we have a guest jazz vocalist, my friend Andrea Miller (www.andreamillersings.com). I imagined an arrangement of Jim Morrison’s ‘Summer’s Almost Gone’ with a haunting, lyrical female vocalist and Andrea came up with a version that far exceeded my imagination!  She has such a lovely voice – I hope you like this delicate, beautiful audio recording as much as I do! Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Dedicated to my friend Leonardo

Jim Morrison The Doors 1 1

The Crystal Ship

March 2, 2024

Jim Morrison The Crystal Ship (3:53) Yesterday we listened to some classical Chopin waltzes.  Today let’s listen to some classic rock. I sent out this video last year, but I enjoyed playing around with the special effects and watching it so much – here it is again for all you Doors fans! We were BIG Doors fans in my Philadelphia neighborhood when I was in high school! In fact, I went to the Philadelphia Doors concert that was recorded live instead of going to the senior prom! ‘The Crystal Ship’  is a good example of “classic” psychedelic rock, a rock music genre (consisting of a variety of different styles) that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelic culture, the peak years of which were between 1967 and 1969. ’The Crystal Ship’ was released in April 1967 – 57 years ago! The music incorporated new electronic sound effects and recording effects, extended solos, improvisation and the incorporation of jazz. In fact, it’s the first time that I’ve ever started a jazz arpeggio improvisation on the very  highest key of the piano (1:29), actually twice! Psychedelic video effects start a little earlier (0:21). Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Some information from Wikipedia The Crystal Ship dedication: Larry S., with whom […]