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

Composer and songwriter Boris Fomin as a young man.

Those Were The Days (My Friend)

October 24, 2019

On this day (October 25) in 1948, the Russian composer of “Those Were The Days”, Boris Fomin passed away at the age of 48 from tuberculosis. The popular recorded version of the song was credited to American Gene Raskin, who put a new English lyric to Fomin’s Russian romance song which he had grown up hearing. It deals with reminiscence upon youth and romantic idealism. Mary Hopkin's 1968 debut single of "Those Were the Days", which was produced by Paul McCartney, became a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart. It was one of the first songs released on the Beatles’ Apple label. McCartney heard Raskin’s version in a London club and later said "I thought it was very catchy, it had something, it was a good treatment of nostalgia... (Hopkin) picked it up very easily, as if she'd known it for years."  Paul played acoustic guitar and possibly percussion on Hopkin’s version.  McCartney also recorded Hopkin singing "Those Were The Days" in other languages for release in their respective countries: In Spain, Qué tiempo tan feliz In West Germany, An jenem Tag In Italy, Quelli erano giorni In France, Le temps des fleurs Boris Fomin didn’t do quite [...]
Evergreen

Evergreen

September 27, 2019

Evergreen ’Evergreen' (also called 'Love Theme from A Star is Born') is the theme song from the 1976 film A Star is Born starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. It was composed and performed by Barbra Streisand with lyrics by Paul Williams. As composers, Streisand and Williams earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song.  She was the first woman ever to be so honored as a composer. At the 49th Academy Awards the song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and Streisand became the only woman in history to win the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It also won a Grammy for Song of the Year! Enjoy, Dr. Weiss Related post: Shallow (Theme from 'A Star is Born' 2018) 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!!
theme from love story pic

Theme From Love Story

June 28, 2019

“The Theme from Some Story”, written by Francis Lai, kicks off our Valentine’s day songs. Love Story is considered one of the most romantic films ever by the American Film Institute (and the one that gave rise to the famous quote: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Still can’t understand that one!) This is the 1970 role that catapulted Ali McGraw to international fame. In fact, in 1972, MacGraw was voted the top female box office star in the world. I just realized that this timeless song may have been written in a classical fashion to coincide with the fact that MacGraw’s character was a student of classical music. 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!!
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!!
One Spirit

One Spirit

April 15, 2019

In keeping with the continuing ’On This Day’ theme, today’s my birthday (April 15), so today I’d like to share with you a piano version of the song that I wrote which inspired me to found One World Sight Project, Inc., a 501.c.3 charity devoted to raising funds to cure needless blindness around the world.  This song is dedicated to the tens of millions of needlessly blind people in the world who could be permanently cured with a simple 20 minute cataract operation that in many cases costs as little as $20! This performance is dedicated to Stevie Wonder, Nelson Mandela, Bob Welsh MD, and  David Paton MD, who have all helped with their personal encouragement, advice and support.  You can visit One World Sight Project at http://www.endblindness.org  I hope you like it. Dr. Weiss PS Here is a vocal version of One Spirit - sung, arranged and performed by my good friend Jimmy Hopper (I also call him “the voice!”) Thanks again, Jimmy.   The image is an original, created by Jimmy’s daughter when she was a young child!   https://www.drweiss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/One-Spirit.mp3 Bosendorfer piano sound - For this recording I’m playing a Yamaha Clavinova – which has the same keyboard [...]
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 [...]
Van Morrison holding a guitar

Have I Told You Lately

March 11, 2019

"Have I Told You Lately" is a song by Northern Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison for his nineteenth studio album Avalon Sunset (1989). C’mon, this has to be one of the best love songs ever, by one of the best singer songwriters! Clocking in at 1:20 (despite a dropped verse), this is not quite a Weiss Music Minute. I guess there was just too much love in this song to be contained in 60 seconds. This version is dedicated to my wife, who first turned me on to Van Morrison, on her birthday (today). More than 27 years ago, I surprised her with an intimate surprise party wedding (a story for another time.) I had produced a multi-track recording of me playing this song as we walked down the aisle (on a cassette!)  I still never get tired of playing it. 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 [...]
Marilyn Monroe

Candle in the Wind

February 4, 2019

"Candle in the Wind", written by Elton John, was released on this day (February 4) in 1974. It was written about the late Marilyn Monroe, famed Hollywood actress and pin-up model of the 1950s. The opening line "Goodbye, Norma Jean" refers to Monroe's real name, Norma Jean Baker. "Candle in the Wind 1997" or "Goodbye England's Rose" is a re-recording of "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to Princess Diana. This version, released in 1997, was one of the best selling singles of all time and was produced by George Martin, of Beatles fame. This song was requested by and dedicated to my friend Heather B, as well as my partner in surgery, Jackie Smith, who recently saw Elton John in concert during his farewell tour! Enjoy! 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!!
Weiss Music Minute - I'll Be Home for Christmas

I'll Be Home for Christmas

December 19, 2018

I'm beginning our Christmas countdown today with the classic, "I'll Be Home for Christmas."  The song was popularized by Bing Crosby, who first recorded the song back in 1943, and was written to honor troops away from home.  The composer, Walter Kent, was also responsible for another popular Christmas song!  Kent also wrote "The White Cliffs of Dover", a song that was popular with British troops during the war much like "I'll Be Home for Christmas" resonated with American troops. I'd like to dedicate this song to any of our family of patients who are serving or have served - we appreciate all you do and we're wishing you the beginnings of a very merry Christmas!
Stevie Wonder against a red background

The Secret Life of Plants

May 11, 2018

Well, this Mother’s Day has been quite the confluence of events!  Of course, Mother’s Day is Sunday May 13th.  As you’ll hear in the video, I decided to play a famous piece of music for my mom called “Claire De Lune” by Claude Debussy; I had played the song some 40 years ago at my mother’s wedding. As I began playing it, I realized suddenly that the middle section of Debussy’s composition has a modulation to the same key as another song I was working on – “The Secret Life of Plants” by Stevie Wonder.  And guess when Stevie’s birthday is?  Yep – May 13th!   But wait – the connections don’t end there!  It turns out that Wonder and Debussy are musically related (in a matter of speaking).  Claude Debussy was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and 20th centuries, much as Stevie Wonder is one of the most influential composers of the late 20th and 21st centuries.  Debussy was also a child prodigy – he entered the Paris Conservatory at the age of 10 (Wonder debuted on the public stage at the tender age of around 11 or 12). Debussy was associated with the Impressionist […]