Songs of 2025

Basement jam session with drummer WT. Acoustic guitar and overdubbed bass.

WTJB Session 4-4-25

preparation for live shows. WT on drums. JB on bass, guitar and vocals.

Songs for the Delancey Show

Lars and John try a classic song by the Clash, "Guns of Brixton". 

Guns of Brixton (Lars) 1-5-25 v2

A second attempt at the Norah Jones song "Staring at the Wall". On this version I overdubbed the piano part that is in the original song. Thanks Chris D for the keyboard pointers!

Staring At The Wall (WTJB) 1-8-25 v1.3

A second attempt at The Clash song "Guns of Brixton". I played electric guitar and sang with a drummer and then overdubbed bass. This cool song has a hypnotic groove. 

Guns of Brixton (WTJB) 1-8-25 v1.2

My second attempt at the song "Naked Eye" by Luscious Jackson, and my first attempt with a drummer. This song has an infectious groove on the chorus. The all-female band Luscious Jackson were ahead of their time. 

Naked Eye (WTJB) 1-8-25 v1.2

A cover of the Rollings Stones song "Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" from 1973. Hard to do justice to the original song (with its cool Billy Preston clavinet), but it is fun to play. 

Heartbreaker (WTJB) 1-8-25 v1.2

A cover of Bob Dylan's classic "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" from 1963. A beautiful breakup song. I was joined by WT on egg shaker. 

Don't Think Twice (WTJB) 4-4-25

A cover of the song "Dominoes" by Syd Barrett, who was the lead singer and songwriter for early Pink Floyd. He had already lost his mind and been fired from the band when he wrote this. The original song has crazy timing issues - it is the work of a guy with schizophrenia. I learned the song from David Gilmour's version that he plays live. I like the vibe and the somewhat strange chord progression. The vocal melody sits very comfortably in these changes. In this version, I played acoustic guitar and then overdubbed upright bass. Killer drummer WT on drums. 

Dominoes (WTJB) 4-4-25

An acoustic cover of the iconic John Lennon song, "I'm Only Sleeping". Such a beautiful song. I especially love the bridge. I wish I had someone to harmonize over it. I played this on acoustic guitar, with a capo on the first fret to try out a different vocal range. I overdubbed upright bass, and the killer WT played drums. Beautiful song. 

I'm Only Sleeping (WTJB) 4-4-25

A cover of the classic Beatles song "Don't Let Me Down". I tried it in a different key (capo 3) since I find the original almost perfectly placed out of my comfortable vocal range. I can't figure out if I should go high or low. This key works a little better in my register. 

Don't Let Me Down (WTJB) 4-4-25

A version of an original song with WT on drums. This song is about the separation anxiety that my eight year old son had a few years back. He never wanted his mom or me to leave him after tucking him into bed. It became an elaborate negotiation. I'm glad he's over that phase, but it was also a tender time and this song reminds me of it. 

Please Don't Go (WTJB) 4-4-25

Cover the Steeldrivers song "If It Hadn't Been For Love". Great murder ballad by the talented Chris Stapleton. 

If It Hadn't Been For Love (WTJB) 4-4-25  v1.2

Henry and JB try the song "Better Days" by The Meltdown. First time I had heard the song, so our interpretation is a little loose. Fun song to try. 

Better Days (HBJB) 4-6-25 v1.6

Tried "Got To Be Mine" by Vulfmon and Evangeline. If you have not seen this song on youtube, look it up. Just to see Jack Stratton dancing if for no other reason. And also the bass is killer. Anyway, WT and I tried it today. 


Got To Be Mine (WTJB) 5-1-25 v2

WT on drums and me on Telecaster, getting after yet one more version of "Automatic". My inspiration is the Lake Street Dive version live outside somewhere in Boston. Damn, those guys are cool. Anyway, we tried. 

Automatic (WTJB) 5-1-25 v2

Progressing with this original song called "Mr. Blue". WT on drums, adding to the funk vibe of seventh chords played on a Telecaster. I overdubbed midi bass with a Fender plug-in. I changed the lyrics somewhat from earlier takes, and also added a bridge section. This song is fun to play.

Mr. Blue (WTJB) 5-8-25 v1.2

Acoustic guitar; folk; Americana; jam band influences; blues; rock; old time; bluegrass; grungey stuff. Even some electro and EDM vibes occasionally. I play a wide mix of music with a lot of different people.

If It Hadn't Been For Love (WTJB) 4-4-25 v1.2

John Britton