An iconic song.  Pure fun, to see if we could do it.  I don't have the vocal prowess or requisites to sing this song, but Johnny Lyon, the "King of Tampa" certainly does.  An old friend, yes, but a truly great Rock 'n' Roll, R&B, Blues singer of the first order.

Enjoy.

Sweet Emotion

Sweet Emotion (Feat Johnny Lyon)

Soundcloud asks posters to categorized songs by genre.  I'm playing an acoustic guitar on this one, so out of a sort of laziness I'm going to go with Folk, but this song is unique.  From a "song type" perspective I've never heard another one like it.  Written by Warren Zevon for his wife, and recorded for his last album, while he was certainly dying from cancer.  I'm singing it for Tasha.

Keep Me In Your Heart

Johnny Lyon is a world class Rock 'n' Roll / Rhythm and Blues Singer.  He and I were room mates at the Stockbridge School, a now defunct Boarding school (Berkshires, MA).  In other words, we were in high school together.  When I first showed up at the Old Boys Dorm in 1970 I heard the first J. Geils Band album blaring from Bruce Post's room.  'Wait' was the first track on side one of that album.  Johnny and I were both J. Geils Fans.  40 years later...

Thanks to the ultra webs, I formed out the song in MA, and Johnny sang the song in Tampa, FL.  The guitars are Johnny, the live drums mixed in with the loops are Johnny.  Greg McCleary (Owner, Heart Punch Studio, in Allston, MA) plays the bedrock keys, the glorious organ solo, and the outro piano, and Johnny plays the honky tonk keyboard noodling.

I couldn't be happier this.  Another bucket list desire fulfilled.  I hope you share it.

Wait (Feat Johnny Lyon)

Bob Gifford and I tried to get something live going after the completion of the Locating Rollie 'Crazy Parade' album.  Just him and me.

Regrettably, not from a lack of trying, the twosome idea just didn't work.  'In My Life' was one of Bob's song choices for our set.

I'm struck by the maturity of the lyric.  Easy for me, with 68 trips around the sun, to seriously sing.  It is a sentiment that all of us of a certain age share.  When the Beatles put this song together they were in their 20's.  I will not be surprised to learn that there was a somewhat older person involved in fleshing out these lyrics.

As songs go, a Masterpiece.

In My Life

Dirty Work

The Nazz!  1967.  It was probably my Brother who first played it for me.  Psychedelic Rock.  The album cover copied the Beatles first US album cover - 4 half shaded faces.  The record itself was pressed with red vinyl.  The guitar player and songwriter for the band?  Todd Rundgren.  I think you had to be listening to 1967 WNEW out of New York City to have the best chance of hearing this song, but that's a guess.  Only people my age from the Tri-State area seem to know it.  This is my take on it.

Open My Eyes

Another Johnny Lyon collaboration. A Rock 'n' Roll classic.  Too much fun.  Turn it UP!

Break on Through (Feat Johnny Lyon)

Holiday (Remix)

I'm Losing You (Remix)

Dead Flowers

It's Not Enough (Remix)

Killing The Blues

 David McDowell (guitar player, Freakin' Bravados) asked for this one.  TOO much fun to sing.

Tired of Waiting for You

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

You've Got to Hide Your Love Away

This song was originally recorded by "The Shirts".  1978.  New York band.  Those of us who were part of the late 70's/early 80's Boston new wave punk scene loved them.  If you haven't heard the original, find it.  This arrangement is very different. 

Tell Me Your Plans

I Got a Line on You

Originally recorded as an arrangement demo for the Freakin' Bravados, but I thought better of it.  I asked my beloved nephew, Giancarlo Sutton, to sing the lead vocal, and sing it, he did.  I think he is the real thing.

All the Young Dudes (Feat Giancarlo Sutton)

Get it Started, Start A Fire

Mark Scheuren sings this one.  Mark and I met each other long ago at a place called the Stockbridge School in Interlaken, MA.  An extraordinary but regrettably now defunct boarding school that was nestled neatly in the Berkshires.  We met up again a million years later at a Stockbridge reunion and I heard him sing this song at that gathering.  Putting this rendition together with him was a joy and I'm grateful that Mr. Scheuren made it...sing!  Enjoy.

When You Say Nothing At All (Feat Mark Scheuren)

This song was written by a very talented singer/songwriter named Garr Lange.  He and I had a lot of fun and no shortage of high hopes making music together back in the late 80's.

'Cry on Virginia' is one of the first songs of his he ever played for me.  It knocked me out.  I have always loved the rich imagery of the lyrics.  We played it out live many, many, many times.  Now, after all these years I decided to take a run at it.

Cry On Virginia

For the most part the songs that get posted here began their life as arrangement demos for the Freakin' Bravados, a cover band comprised of some long time R&R compatriots that was, sadly, never quite able to get it together, but some of this is collaboration with other artists or re-recordings of songs that I recorded professionally years ago, to correct "the sins of the past", so to speak.  I leave up the recordings that I think captured something special, specifically for my "target audience", which is friends and family.

I was happily diverted a while back with the now complete 'Locating Rollie' project, which is me and Bob Gifford - a long time songwriting partner.  Give it a search and a listen.  If you liked the Rings, BamBoo Gang, and the Wickermen, you'll like Locating Rollie.

That said, there's more to come right here.

Thanks for listening.

Mark Sutton

Overcoat Productions

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