This is my demo of "You're The Only Heaven I Need," which was used in the film 'From Zero To I Love You,' which was written and directed by Doug Spearman. I wrote the lyrics and music to the song, and I also produced and performed all instruments.

Since the song hasn't been released, and since I've gotten requests for this song, I'm uploading it here. 😊

Merv's Song Demos

You're The Only Heaven I Need (Demo v2)

From the film 'The Out-of-Towners' (1999)
Arranged & Produced by yours truly.

Mervyn Warren & Josie Aiello "Isn't It Romantic" (1999)

Written in 2008 for a Nelson Mandela tribute project that was in development, but which never materialized. (Prelude to the song "Deep In My Heart," which I've also posted here.)

"Mandela Prelude"

this is the demo of a song that i wrote (both music and lyrics). i'm also singing all of the vocals. although intended as a demo, this recording was actually used in an episode of the tv show "noah's arc," circa 2006.

Mervyn Warren - "Slow Motion" (demo)

A tribute to Alma Blackmon, a primary musical influence in my life. As a member of her choral group, "The Aeolians," I (we) sang this piece -- "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come" by Paul Manz -- all over the globe (literally). This is my reinterpretation of an excerpt of that piece.

Mervyn Warren - "E'en So" (Tribute To Alma)

demo of the love theme for the play 'the interlopers.'

Mervyn Warren - Love Theme For 'The Interlopers'

This is the main-title track from my friend Doug Spearman's comedy/thriller/noir 'Hot Guys With Guns.' He wanted a dramatic, "Bond-like" number, and I believe I delivered.  :-)  (In the movie, the song plays over a very hip, animated sequence, much like those you'd see in a Bond movie.

The song was written, arranged, performed, and produced by yours truly.

The album also contains an alternate, piano-vocal version of this song: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hot-guys-guns-music-from-motion/id854580653

"Something To Shoot For" (Main-Title Version)

This is the demo of a wedding song that I wrote with Siedah Garrett -- and which I recently sang live (with Nita Whitaker) at Siedah's own wedding to Erik Nuri.

This demo features Siedah and myself on vocals.

"Bless This Union" (Song Demo)

The 1st of two radio jingles we recorded for Spike Lee's 1989 film 'Do The Right Thing.'

Take 6 - "WELOVE Jingle #1"

The 2nd of two radio jingles we recorded for Spike Lee's 1989 film 'Do The Right Thing.'

Take 6 - "WELOVE Jingle #2"

An unreleased track I arranged and produced for the vocal group 'For Real' in 1994. (Yeah, before Auto-Tune existed. LOL.) These girls can SING!

For Real - "Just My Imagination"

a demo i created for a recent movie score. i sang all parts and played all instruments.

the director wanted it to sound like the score to "butch cassidy and the sundance kid." little did he know, that score was performed by 'the swingle singers,' and i'd grown up listening to them. literally. (ultimately the director abandoned the "butch cassidy" idea.)

Mervyn Warren - "PM Swingle" (demo)

track from an entire album i produced on the unparalleled chris willis (cousin of claude and brian mcknight). sadly, the album got caught up, at the time, in politics at warner bros. and was never released.

chris continues to record and perform, having achieved a number of dance hits, partiularly in europe.  http://www.facebook.com/chriswillismusic

recorded and mixed by tony shepperd.  http://www.tonysound.com/

Chris Willis - "Shine" (1992/Unmastered/Unreleased)

an unreleased version of a track from the #1 film "the wedding planner." 

i wrote the underscore for the film, and this song's melody is based upon my main theme from the film. lyrics by david zippel.

although the song does appear on the official soundtrack (http://amzn.to/oIbQTE), there was a problem making a deal with dana glover's label. so, on the soundtrack they released the DEMO, which featured another vocalist.

oh, the politics of the music business.  :-)

Dana Glover & Mervyn Warren - "Plan On Forever" from 'The Wedding Planner' (2001)

someone asked me to post a midi demo from the score i'm presently writing for the movie "joyful noise." so, i figured what the hell... remember: 

(a) it's a MIDI DEMO;
(b) it'll be recorded next week by a live orchestra; and
(c) it'll probably change before it's recorded. (lol.)

'Joyful Noise' 4m48 - MIDI DEMO (in progress)

a diet-coke spot i did, eons ago. (man, would i love to retouch 4 or 5 of the lead-vocal notes with melodyne.) all vocals performed by myself, except vocal guitar by david thomas and bass by alvin chea (both of take 6).

"Diet Coke" - A Cappella 60 (circa 1997)

words & music by Mervyn Warren
performed by Mervyn Warren

"Say It Isn't So"

just a quick demo of a quirky song i wrote with mark kibble (of 'take 6') eons ago. one reason it's quirky is that it's in 6|4. (rod temperton sometimes wrote in 6|4. see siedah garrett's "baby's got it bad.")

at the time, it was recorded by vocal monster chris willis (on an album that i produced, but which warner bros. never released, for political reasons). i'd love to post that version, here, but it still may be released at some point.

this is a more-recent demo -- this time as a duet with trippy drums, featuring the amazing judith hill (from michael jackson's 'this is it').

Mervyn Warren & Judith Hill - "Love Is Just That Way" (Song Demo)

this is an H&R Block spot we recorded, while in college in huntsville, AL. for this one, my mixed quartet, 'A Special Blend' joined forces with 'Alliance' (our a-capella sextet that later became 'Take 6').

A Special Blend:
Joya Foster
Lori Bryan
Mark Kibble
Claude V. McKnight III
Mervyn Warren

Alliance:
Claude V. McKnight III
Mark Kibble
Mervyn Warren
Keith Paschal*
Jerry Hutchinson*
Eric Greene

* (the 'Alliance' line-up changed occasionally, so if i have any of the names wrong, please let me know.)

A Special Blend & Alliance (aka Take 6) - "H&R Block Jingle" (~1983)

this is a jingle that mark kibble (of take 6) and i created, arranged, performed, and produced together in ~1981 for a clothing store in huntsville, AL. mark's on lead vocal, and we're both on keys and BGVs.

we were 17. lol.

Mark Kibble & Mervyn Warren - "Oaktree Jingle" (~1981)

another jingle we recorded, while in college. (i'm guessing at the year on this one.) 

* imported from a cassette that had a serious *dropout* at the top. so, for those who've been asking for this one (and a few have - lol), that's why: 

(a) the intro's cut off, and 
(b) i'm singing the first line you hear.

the dropout went all the way to mark saying "pizza," so i replaced that first line, so it makes musical sense.

(NOTE: if anyone has an intact copy of this, PLEASE let me know, so i can get a copy from you. thanks!)

Alliance (aka Take 6) - "Dominos Pizza Jingle" (~1984) [*modified]

A score piece I whipped up for Sony Pictures Imageworks, a few years ago. Lots of fun!

"Catch Me (Think You Can?)"

This is a demo of a song I wrote for my 2012 film "Joyful Noise," starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton. 

I was asked to write an uplifting, choir ballad with no solos and minimal drums. (Of course I hear ad-libs and drums all over this thing, but omitted them, as requested.)  :-)  I'm playing and singing everything you hear.

Ultimately, this song did not make it into the film. Them's the breaks!

Mervyn Warren - "Joyful Noise" (Song Demo)

From the Eddie Murphy film "A Thousand Words" (2012).
Music by John Debney & Mervyn Warren.
Lyrics by Mervyn Warren.
Produced & Arranged by Mervyn Warren.

Mary Mary - "Out Loud"

This is a *demo* of a song I wrote with Jeff Marx (of 'Avenue Q') to lend our support to the It Gets Better Project (www.itgetsbetter.org). I'm on piano and vocals.

Far too many young LGBT people commit *suicide* because they feel isolated and hopeless. So, the It Gets Better Project was created to show these young people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach — if they can just get through their teen years. The It Gets Better Project reminds them that they are not alone — and it WILL get better.

The project is mounting a live, touring show to reach out to, and educate, families and communities. That show will feature this song.

"You Have More Friends Than You Know" (Song Demo)

The synth demo of my end-credits cue for the film 'Growl,' a short, monster flick that's being developed into a feature film. While scoring a film, I create these synth demos for the director to hear against picture, then they're later replaced by live orchestra.

'Growl' - End Credits (SYNTH Demo)

Lyrics by Mervyn Warren
Music by Mervyn Warren & Alex Teamer

Lead vocal: Nayanna Holley

Written in 2008 for a Nelson Mandela tribute project that was in development, but which never materialized.

Just now (6.30.13), on MSNBC, I saw a clip of President Obama in Africa, saying "If they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love."

Those are lyrics in the 2nd verse of this song! Although it's *possible* he might have heard this demo, I'd say it's unlikely. But -- wow.  :-)

"Deep In My Heart" (Song Demo)

5-time Grammy-winning film & TV composer, record producer/arranger, songwriter/lyricist, pianist, vocalist, and all-around fun guy.

MervynWarren

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