Whistle While You Work This Labor Day, let’s celebrate by trying to make our work, whatever you do, more pleasurable and fun! Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Dedicated to Wendy L. and Bill B. “The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.” James Taylor
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!!
On the Good Ship Lollipop
December 7, 2021
On The Good Ship Lollipop Tribute to Shirley Temple What can I say about Shirley Temple (who passed away today – December 7 – at age 85)? I will miss her but never forget her spirit. Thanks for all your smiles! We should all slow down and watch a Shirley Temple movie soon! In the meantime… Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Dedicated to Josh and Lana
We’ve Only Just Begun
September 18, 2021
We’ve Only Just Begun This is a double tribute to the composers of ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’. Paul Williams was born on September 19, 1940 (age 80) and Roger Nichols was born on September 17, 1940 (also age 80)! I don’t know why I started humming this song in particular in the shower last month except to say that it is definitely part of the soundtrack of my life. It is also peaceful and optimistic, something that we all need right about now. This song has an interesting story behind it. It debuted within a wedding-themed television commercial for Crocker National Bank in California in the winter of 1970, with Paul Williams on vocals. The song played over footage of a couple getting married and just starting out. Richard Carpenter (of the Carpenter’s) recognized Williams as the vocalist and after running into him in a back lot, asked if he had another version of the song to record. And the rest is history, contributing to the Carpenter’s selling more than 90 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Could this be the best song for a first dance at a wedding? This rendition is dedicated to Marcy W, a […]
My Cherie Amour
May 13, 2020
One of my favorite musical artists turns 70 years old today, and as the tributes roll in from celebrities and others all around the world, I thought I'd add my voice to the chorus. I was lucky enough to meet Stevie again at the Grammys years ago. I don't remember what we were discussing in the photo or if he won that night, but he's won 25 Grammy awards so the odds were definitely in his favor ?. Stevie's music inspires people all across the world, and inspiration is something we could all use right now. I recorded a piano cover of his classic, "My Cherie Amour", believed to be written about his girlfriend while attending the Michigan School for the Blind! Happy 70th Birthday to the legend, and we wish you many more! 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!!
Hold On
January 20, 2020
"Hold On" is a song from the album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon released in 1970 (my first year in college.) I’ve always liked this song but I don’t know how it came into my head just now, except that I find it very reassuring and especially comforting for these troubling times. The music alone is soothing, but then Lennon adds words like these: Hold on It’s gonna be alright You’re gonna win the fight You’re gonna see the light So hold on Lennon has explained the song as follows: “Hold on now, we might have a cup of tea, we might get a moment's happiness any minute now. So that's what it's about, just moment by moment. That's how we're living now, but really living like that and cherishing each day, and dreading it too. It might be your last.” [1] I’m not even going to try to add any more comments to his. This performance is dedicated to Yoko in memory of John. Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Related posts: Imagine, We Can Work it Out 1. Rogan, J. (1997). The Complete Guide to the Music of John Lennon. Omnibus Press. pp. 38–39. ISBN 0711955999. Bosendorfer piano sound [...]
The Circle Game
January 6, 2020
The Circle Game was written by the incomparable Joni Mitchell and was released on her 1970 album Ladies of the Canyon. This is what we were listening to when I was a freshman in college at NYU. I can see why it was so popular because of her lyrics, melodies, arrangements, guitar playing and most of all, her pure, clear, almost crystalline voice. Looking back now, I’m amazed at how someone so young came up with such a mature theme and sophisticated lyrics. Lyrics such as: “we're captive on the carousel of time, we can't return we can only look behind”, “words like, when you're older, must appease him”, “dreams have lost some grandeur coming true”, and especially the poignant phrase “it won't be long now till you drag your feet to slow the circles down” - how did she so convincingly have that perspective at her young age? Anyway, here’s my version playing the ‘Dynamic Nylon’ acoustic guitar sample from the Yamaha Clavinova. I enjoy listening to it, but not as much as listening to Joni’s voice singing it. Dedicated to my friend W Beaubeaux. Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Dynamic Nylon acoustic guitar sound - For this recording I’m playing [...]
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!!
Never My Love
December 30, 2019
Ok, so I recently watched the music documentary by Jakob Dylan called ‘Echo in the Canyon’ [highly recommended], about the fertile creative scene in Laurel Canyon in the sixties. I immediately wanted to hear how this song would sound on the Bosendorfer piano sample on my Yamaha Clavinova. I was drawn to Dylan’s sparse arrangement of this sixties love song recorded by The Association and written by the Addrisi brothers. It’s similar in style to many of the songs that I have been sharing with you, in that even without words, the simple beauty of the melody and chord changes is so compelling that it stands on its own without much improvisation. Anyway, 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!!
Lately
December 30, 2019
"Lately" is a song by Stevie Wonder recorded for his nineteenth album ‘Hotter than July’ (1980). The recording sessions were primarily done at Wonderland Studios in Los Angeles (which Wonder had recently acquired). This song’s powerful emotional strength is largely because of evocative lyrics such as “far more frequently you're wearing perfume with you say no special place to go”, “just the other night while you were sleeping I vaguely heard you whisper someone's name” and “what I really feel my eyes won't let me hide, ‘cause they always start to cry.” But, as usual, the music is also pretty powerful, especially the key change after the deceptive cadence just before the last chorus. And, really especially when sung with Stevie’s incomparable vocals! For this song Stevie Wonder must have had a lot of fun - being not only responsible for vocals but also synthesizer, drums, Fender Rhodes, bass guitar, clavinet, background vocals, ARP, vocoder, piano, harpsichord, celeste, keyboards, harmonica, cabasa, percussion, bells, handclaps, flute! This performance is dedicated to Stevie. Please enjoy my humble piano version. Dr. Weiss Related posts: The Secret Life of Plants We Can Work It Out Bosendorfer piano sound - For this recording I’m playing [...]
I Will
December 30, 2019
"I Will" is a song recorded the Beatles, from their 1968 double album The Beatles (also known as "the White Album"). It was written by Paul McCartney. I’ve always particularly liked this song. Paul must agree, because according to McCartney: "It's still one of my favorite melodies that I've written. You just occasionally get lucky with a melody and it becomes rather complete and I think this is one of them; quite a complete tune.” Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Related posts: Maybe I'm Amazed, Let It Be, We Can Work It Out 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!!
