Thomas Rucktenwald presents an original ballad, “Watch Over Me,” written in 1995 and it has a US copyright.

This song demo was written and recorded in my Connecticut digital recording studio and features the lead vocal of our then 3rd Grade son.  The song was performed in concert by a local-area Connecticut musical group fronted, for this song, by that young lad. As you might expect, the crowd at the concert where it was debuted went absolutely nuts over his performance.

When you listen to this, you will be one of the first to hear this recording as it was never released.  Every musical note and sound is either our youngest son or me; no others perform on this recording.

Watch Over Me     *
David Rucktenwald (lead vocals)
Tom Rucktenwald (composer, vocals, musical instruments and sounds)

 * Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Sandy Hook, CT.

Picture by Jan Rucktenwald

Watch Over Me

Thomas Rucktenwald presents an original pop music song, “A Little Insane,” written in 1995 and it has a US copyright.

While this might seem like a song ripe for cancellation in today’s culture, it is literally a satire about being harmlessly overly enamored. I had been working with an outstanding hip-hop duo and the samples and verbal asides inserted into this song were a lot of fun.

This sassy song demo was written and recorded in my Connecticut digital recording studio but it was never performed nor publicly promoted.  When you listen to this recording, you will be one of the first to hear this song.  Every musical note and sound is me; no others perform on this recording.

A Little Insane     *
Tom Rucktenwald (composer, all vocals, musical instruments and sounds)

 * Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Sandy Hook, CT.

Picture composited by Thomas Rucktenwald

A Little Insane

Thomas Rucktenwald presents an original song, “It Never Rains,” written in 1990 and it has a US copyright.

This song was created for children and was used as the theme song for a parade float.  The float was created by and for a church.  The parade theme was “It Never Rains on Our Parade”; the song states that “It Never Rains on God’s Parade.”  The float was created to look like Noah’s Ark.

This song provided me an experience that few composers or musicians get to enjoy.  As might happen in a parade, there commonly is a slowdown as you begin to approach the Official Grandstand; much of the crowd gravitates to this area and on that day there were a crush of people in that immediate vicinity.  The delay seemed extended and so the song played on for a bit.  Toward the end of the second pass, the entire crowd began to sing the chorus.  Hearing your own composition be sung aloud by a large crowd is an amazing experience.

This song demo was written and recorded in my Connecticut digital recording studio.  Every musical note and sound is me; no others perform on this recording.

It Never Rains     *
Tom Rucktenwald (composer, all vocals, musical instruments and sounds)

 * Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Sandy Hook, CT.

It Never Rains

Thomas Rucktenwald presents an original rock song, “Hurricane,” recorded by singer/songwriter Kathleen Kruze and myself.

This song was composed by Kathleen and recorded in my Connecticut digital recording studio; she sang and played guitar.  The musical arrangement and every other musical note and sound is me; no others perform on this recording.

This song, recorded in my digital studio, was intended for a second album that never came to be.  

This song recording has never been heard or publically played, so you are one of the first to hear it.

Hurricane     *
Kathleen Kruze (composer, vocals and guitar)
Tom Rucktenwald (musical arrangement, all other musical instruments and sounds)

 * Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Sandy Hook, CT.

Hurricane

Karen Dobbs is a SuperStar!

1 EIGHTY returns after several months.    We are back…

This is our 1 EIGHTY rendition of “Eternal Flame,” the greatest selling song for the Bangles (no, it was not “Walk Like an Egyptian”).  

We wish to thank all who have listened to our songs; we are well past 9,000 song plays, over 500 per song!  We invite you to play all the songs once again.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/1EightyBand 
SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/1_eighty 
Website:  www.tgday.com/1eighty

Eternal Flame  *
Karen Dobbs (Lead Vocals)
Carlos Barbera (Vocals, Guitar)
Tom Rucktenwald (Vocals, Bass, Flute)

 Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Tom’s House Recording Studios.

Picture, LogoTM by Andy Pieski

Eternal Flame

Our new 1 EIGHTY song is “Born Under a Bad Sign.”  Many may remember this song as it was recorded and performed by Cream (Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker).  Our arrangement is somewhat different.

The original recording was made by blues legend Albert King in 1967.  It was written by William Bell and Booker T Jones (Booker T and the MGs).  Each of them recorded a version and released the song in 1969 along with Cream.

Website:  www.tgday.com/1eighty
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/1EightyBand 

Born Under A Bad Sign   *
Butch O’Brien (Lead Vocals, Drums)
Carlos Barbera (Lead Guitar)
Tom Rucktenwald (Bass, Alto Sax, B-3, Rhythm Guitar)

 * Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Tom’s House Recording Studios.

Picture, LogoTM by Andy Pieski

Born Under A Bad Sign

This 1 EIGHTY song is “Java Jive,” a clever pre-World War II jazz-era number that 1 EIGHTY performed in a recent show here in Orlando/Groveland, FL.  This is our studio recording of that song.

The song was originally recorded by the Ink Spots in 1940, but our arrangement is patterned after the 1974 Manhattan Transfer version.

Our website and the band’s Facebook page are:
Website:  www.tgday.com/1eighty
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/1EightyBand 

Java Jive   *
Karen Dobbs (Soprano)
Diane Barbera (Alto)
Tom Rucktenwald (Tenor)
Carlos Barbera (Bass)
Gwen Cox (Keyboards)

 * Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Tom’s House Recording Studios.

Photo, LogoTM by Andy Pieski

Java Jive

“You Don’t Have To Cry” is the first song that Crosby Stills and Nash ever sang together and as such is iconic. This is our high-harmony 1 EIGHTY version of the song.

The song is on our website, www.tgday.com/1eighty.

Thanks to you, our songs on SoundCloud are well past 11,000 plays!  AMAZING…  Thank You!!!

Website:  www.tgday.com/1eighty
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/1EightyBand 

You Don’t Have to Cry   *
Butch O’Brien (Vocals (Stills))
Carlos Barbera (Vocals (Crosby), Guitar)
Tom Rucktenwald (Vocals (Nash), Bass)

 * A Tom’s House Productions release. Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Tom’s House Recording Studios.

Pictures, LogoTM by Andy Pieski

You Dont Have To Cry

Tom’s House Productions is pleased to introduce the newest member of our family, The Cascade Sisters with their first release, Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

The Cascades Sisters first release includes music from their successful Resident’s Show appearance last November.  They will soon have their own SoundCloud site as well as their own website and Facebook page. 

Temporarily, the song is on the 1 EIGHTY website, www.tgday.com/1eighty.

Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy *
Diane Barbera (Vocals)
Karen Dobbs (Vocals)
Clarissa Gregory (Vocals)

 * A Tom’s House Productions release. Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Tom’s House Recording Studios.

Pictures, LogoTM by Andy Pieski

Apple Tree Boogie Woogie

Mac (Harland ‘Mac’ McKenzie) again fronts 1 EIGHTY through this Tom’s House Productions recording of the Martha and the Vandellas song “Dancing in the Street.”

Interestingly, this song does not follow the Vandellas original riff and background but instead  borrows the groove from another song.  Can you guess what song that is?

Mac was part of the Intruders, a group with #1 hit songs on Billboard; he replaced one of the original Intruders and toured extensively with the group.  

Website:  www.tgday.com/1eighty
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/1EightyBand

Dancing in the Street   *
Harland ‘Mac’ McKenzie (Lead Vocals)
Carlos Barbera (Guitar)
Tom Rucktenwald (Bass, ORBA)
Karen Dobbs (background vocals)
Diane Barbera (background vocals)
Clarissa Gregory (background vocals)

 * A Tom’s House Productions release. Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered at Tom’s House Recording Studios.

Pictures, LogoTM by Andy Pieski

Dancing In The Street

1 Eighty is a band playing eclectic music from several eras.  We specialize in harmony, great songs, many tempos and grooves, and pleasing our listeners as well as ourselves.

We often begin with an unrehearsed jam session and proceed to learn or play the music that we love.