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Pictures Of Life: https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13675081Looking through a photo album, the old way. Had it a while ago. Just tracked it all over again. Please enjoy while picturing your own photos. John
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Johnny,
Nice nostalgic feel, suitable for leafing through memories.
Paul
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Paul, thank you. At the time of writing it, I had just looked through two such OLD albums. Evidently, that feeling stayed with me when I went to the upright piano. It all flowed out. What do non songwriters do? I guess they just keep thinking about the pics and past times? I mean, we do that too, but with having a musical outlet, it really seals the deal, right?
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Hi Johnny:
Enjoyed this co-write and I agree with Paul's comment. It is difficult the think about times before photography existed... and how even that has changed with the digital age. Trying to remember old friends and loved ones without a photo or portrait would be much more difficult. You are so right about having a musical outlet... the ability to express emotions in the form of music and words woven together to create a tapestry much like what you two have woven... and performed for us in "Pictures of Life."
Really pretty song... thanks for sharing, ----Dave
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Feel like music to a flash back scene in a movie, for sure.
Excellent production, especially liked the big bold piano, through out.
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What do non songwriters do? I guess they just keep thinking about the pics and past times? I mean, we do that too, but with having a musical outlet, it really seals the deal, right? Johnny, When I am not writing or playing music and just listening to it, I am always taken away by the song as well. In a way that nothing else can. Music is beautiful and magical that way. I am really happy and blessed to be able to create music because the journey is such a rich one. But it's also a curse isn't it? I mean, we don't really have a choice do we? And we are rarely compensated, anywhere near the amount that we invest. It's a gift and a curse. But mostly a gift. Just a thought... -Paul
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Hi Johnny:
Enjoyed this co-write and I agree with Paul's comment. It is difficult the think about times before photography existed... and how even that has changed with the digital age. Trying to remember old friends and loved ones without a photo or portrait would be much more difficult. You are so right about having a musical outlet... the ability to express emotions in the form of music and words woven together to create a tapestry much like what you two have woven... and performed for us in "Pictures of Life."
Really pretty song... thanks for sharing, ----Dave I enjoyed your thoughtful, nice thoughts, Dave. Yeah, past times without photos. If one lost their bulk of memories, and not living nearby, I can imagine many who forgot their loved ones and friends from their younger years. We are so lucky to be living in such a media time, when technology exploded on the scene, (radio and tv from before, and all the ways to view and hear the past. And, thank you for your comments on the song. Much appreciated! John
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Feel like music to a flash back scene in a movie, for sure.
Excellent production, especially liked the big bold piano, through out.
Thank you , Nelson! I would LOVE to be part of some film again. (again, meaning two past college student films scored). Thanks for the production comment, although I kept it all simple, with the piano being the first track laid down. I left much out from a version years ago I did, thinking it was a bit much. I thought for this time, the more personal sounding instrument parts and arrangement might lend themselves to the overall personal feel of how we look through photos of our family and self. If I allowed my energy and BIG orchestra sounds I love to keep going, I guess it would have taken away the simple, personal feel of how we look through photos. Thank you for your comment on the production, as it did take a lot of needing to walk away from the keyboard/computer several times. Thank you~ John
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What do non songwriters do? I guess they just keep thinking about the pics and past times? I mean, we do that too, but with having a musical outlet, it really seals the deal, right? Johnny, When I am not writing or playing music and just listening to it, I am always taken away by the song as well. In a way that nothing else can. Music is beautiful and magical that way. I am really happy and blessed to be able to create music because the journey is such a rich one. But it's also a curse isn't it? I mean, we don't really have a choice do we? And we are rarely compensated, anywhere near the amount that we invest. It's a gift and a curse. But mostly a gift. Just a thought... -Paul Paul, I feel exactly the same! Well said. Many or even most people simply enjoy their time and results in whatever hobby or craft they are talented enough to HAVE to keep going. Golf, Bowling, Tennis, Baseball, Softball, Skiing, etc. In music, as I guess like in painting, (art), too, most of us seem to always have this wish in there too. Since we can get better with age, as opposed to most sports, we tend to think, (Hey! Why not me?!). I can write a good song with four chords like that POP song has. I can set a drum beat at 121BPM, etc, etc. We also might tend to forget that the music business is like any business, which has owners and workers. If not being in the know of HOW to actually become considered to BE a worker ant for any music business owner, (publishers and labels), we tend to assume all that needs to be done is to be heard. With millions now around the world BEING HEARD, I think it is even harder now than in the 50's and 60's to be quickly considered to enter into the REAL music business. Thus comes the ever-growing frustration of many songwriters, bands, and solo artists. The more we hear, the more we think, WHY NOT ME!? That answer most likely lies in the way we don't treat music as a business, to get to know all the workings of the Music Industry. Even for those that do take the time and education, and all the efforts within the Industry, it seems only a tiny percentage will find any business success, never mind be a known name. Tough, low odds business to try to be in, never mind many of us who aren't even trying in ways to have some chance of being accepted in the Industry. WE HAVE to find peace and pride in what we have done, regardless of failed music business results. Maybe most of us didn't even give our efforts a fair chance IN the Business of Music, for not knowing and/or doing higher odds actions. I made more lazy decisions than I care to think about, for it is HARD to sacrifice family, jobs, personal likes other than music, etc. (To even have a slight chance in any Entertainment Industry). I see it as I only have myself to blame, IF blame is justified. Poor business and personal decisions, such as also tuning pianos, doing landscaping, playing baseball and even having a tryout with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1976. I also loved rollerblading after work. Tennis, Basketball, (for fun with friends). So, I see all my decisions as not being focused enough in ONE of them to have much chance for overall, current success results. I have zero income and savings. NO IRA's. Only a soon to claim small SS monthly check. BUT, I am happy for all the things I DID enjoy through the decades. I have to stop myself when feeling sorry for myself not doing focused things in and around The Music Business, for I felt I made the right decisions AT THE TIME of making LL of them, including ALL the hobbies and things I ALSO loved to do. I hope this hits home with anyone who is kicking their ass, or blaming him or her all along the path of their life. I hope I can fully feel the satisfaction I hope for others. It's tough, having some talent and thinking we can do it too, - IF ONLY "THEY" WOULD HEAR ME! Ha! It's much more than being heard. It's a business run by lawyers and other very focused business types. Let's just be happy some here like what we do! I know I sure do appreciate all comments, even the advice ones. THAT is someone CARING about what you DID! Thanks again, Paul! I was inspired of course by your reply. John
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I just went through a bunch of my Mom's old photo albums when I was back for a visit. This would have been the perfect accompaniment to it. Lovely melody! Hope you are well, John. Scott
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Thank you Scott. (did you hear about Stevie, with having his serious illness? Wow. Such a great , helpful guy.
I am great compared to what many people have and are going through. Thank you. Hope you are also in great shape, relatively speaking. Count the blessings, right?
John
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Nice one, Johnny. Very ELO-ish. Thanks for sharing your updated version.
Ricki
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Thank you AGAIN, Ricki, for listening and commenting on one of my songs.
John
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I saw that title and it peaked my interest as to which pictures of life the song was about and these are literally pictures! I think this is lovely. The section with Mom and Dad is especially poignant with the swirling music following those lyrics. Activities like looking thru a photo album or even one picture can be so inspiring! Very nice song.
Kristi
A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be. -- Abraham Maslow, American Psychologist
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Kristi, So nice of you to comment in that way. It is how I felt at the time of writing it. Picturing the actual pictures from my photo albums, and one line of Buddy Holcombe's that he made up, from picturing the rain coming later in the day after I wrote the line from one memory of a photo about looking at the sun, what beautiful day. he then said, "Little did we know we'd get caught in the rain". As soon as he said that, I saw him as how John Lennon would counter a nice point. I said, "Brilliant, Buddy"!
Thank you for thoughtful comments, Kristi.
John
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Wow, you go against what my mother ALWAYS would say, and that is this, "Johnny, you play much better than you sing"! True. Right up to the last week of her life at age 96.
I have to admit that it tales WORK for me to get decent vocals. I record THREE lead vocals, really trying to be on the notes and with feeling. I then start with each few word phrase, and select one of the three takes to leave in, deleting the obvious worse sections. Then, it;s on to the next few words and so on. Takes more time to do that than to record ALL the music for most songs. That should tell you that I am NOT a good natural singer. It is through MUCH focus and a LOT of editing, then treatments, then even pitch control in spots if still needed.
Thank you for loving it all though. Very cool of you to say. Thanks for your time.
Johnny D
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"If one man can do it, any man can do it. It is true. But the real question is, if one man did it, are you willing to do what it takes to do it as well?" –Brian Austin Whitney
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