These are my favorite songs that I've heard on Soundcloud over the last 3 months. They are not necessarily new releases and they are not in any particular order. Hope you enjoy as much as I did!! Image: The J.J. Studios

J.J.'s Picks 9-1-25 (A Quarterly Playlist)

Book of Sighs

The Wall Side 3, Part 2- https://on.soundcloud.com/3Mvt1QWd6TGHFnWr8
The Wall Side 3, Part 3- https://on.soundcloud.com/ha9vRxbyKPNyyfrr7

Last year I posted an extended remake/rework/remix/reproduction of one of my all time favorite album "sides", Pink Floyd The Wall, Side 3. At the time, I left off the first two tracks, Hey You and Is There Anybody Out There. Just for fun, I decided to revisit the project, and go ahead and include the omissions to complete the collection! 

A multitude of digital means and methods were used to recreate these iconic tunes (which were originally done in analog, of course!). All vocals are 100% redone. Here's how everything else came together:

Hey You- Full reproduction, using some predone MIDI sequences, as well as my own playing and programming. I put flesh on the bones using a variety of synths and samplers. Joined on vocals by my Floydian friend and singing partner Tone Hjelt

Is There Anybody Out There?- Pretty much same as above! Used some predone MIDI sequences, some  my own playing/programming, and put a touch of the original instrumental track under the opening drone swell to enhance the sound. 

Nobody Home- A full reproduction I actually did a couple of years ago. All instruments and vocals are done from scratch, except for the original background sounds.

Vera- Also a full reproduction, all instruments/vocals newly done from scratch, with a revised arrangement from original.

Bring The Boys Back Home- Full reproduction, using East/West orchestral software, NI Kontakt, and my trusty Korg Kronos.

Comfortably Numb- My lead vocals recorded over reworked, predone instrumental backing track, including an layered alternate melody part (done by David Bowie in a live performance with David Gilmour). No pre-recorded BGV's on this one, all the vocs you hear are mine. Instrumentally, I again layered several synths/strings over the existing tracks to enhance and embellish the sound.

Anyone familiar with these tracks will recognize the interlude/background sounds from the original. I did a bit of remixing and added enhancements on these as well to make them stand out a bit more.

Everything I recorded was done via synthesizers, samples, and sequencing. All in all, a very fun and definitely challenging project! Didn't try to reinvent the wheel here, just tried to polish up the rims a bit, and create a more immersive listening experience for these timeless and iconic tunes!

Hope you enjoy my tribute. Mad props to PF for this enduring masterpiece!!

**Updated 2025- The Wall Side 3, Part 1  (Hey You, Is There Anybody Out There?)

Artwork: Bold Reverie by Helena Wierzbicki

All rights reserved 6/16/2025

Take me away so I can be free
Sweet melody won’t you take hold of me

Turn me around
And show me the door
I don’t hear that sound 
It’s hard to ignore

Years disappear
into the darkened skies
there’ll come a day
That we rise

Take me away so I can be free
Sweet fantasy won’t you take hold of me

I’m Taking the wheel
And closing the gate
Make me believe
Before it’s too late

All in a day
The senses just wanna feel
No more to say
it’s unreal…

Take me away so I can be free
Sweet melody won’t you take hold of me

Take Me Away

Il Gigante di Monterosso – Feat: Sergei Govorov
June 2025
Duration: 3:20
Music Composition - Bruce Klepper
Effects and Mixing - John-Marc Ventimiglia 
Cover Art Photography- Heidi Schnicker 
Soprano Sax- Sergei Govorov 

On our recent trip to Italy, one of the places we stayed was Monterosso, one of the 5 villages in Cinque Terre. From our patio, we were able to see Il Gigante looking out over the ocean. I am pleased to announce this new music collaboration, Il Gigante di Monterosso - Feat: Sergei Govorov, celebrating the beauty of Italy.  Listen to Sergei's music on Spotify and Apple Music.
Sergei Govorov completed his doctoral degree at the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow with the highest honors.  In 2022, Sergei moved to the United States.  Sergei's repertoire ranges from classical saxophone to avant-garde, jazz, and pop. He has performed over 4,000 concerts worldwide.  For the last year I have been writing music for the sax and piano duo, Govorov & De Groot.  Sergei Govorov and Britta De Groot have performed my music in Colorado and have future plans for more concerts and possible recordings. 

For soprano sax, piano, tubular bells, sound effects and percussion

Il Gigante di Monterosso - Feat. Sergei Govorov (demo)

Guitar, drums and bass. No keyboards were harmed in the making of this track :-)
Based around an Am7 (flattened 5th)chord (probably) with two sections of Em and Dm
Drum loops by Boson Havoc (Looperman) 'Dub Delay A and B'

Soft And White Their Ice Cream Bodies Were Easily Digested

Hi I'm Ross, and I'm a singer, musician, songwriter, and producer. Let's connect and share our creativity with one another!

"Let there be songs to fill the air..." Robert Hunter

**Updated 2025- The Wall Side 3, Part 1 (Hey You, Is There Anybody Out There?)

Ross Smithe