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Songs Of Summer
by J.A.Stewart

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Guest views: 687
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Song comments: 46
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Plays: 78
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Submitted on: May 24, 2008 - 03:59:19 PM
Last Updated: May 26 2008 - 10:56:30 AM
Keywords Summer (72)Beach Boys (4)Beatles (10)Motown (4)sun (60)sunshine (25)fun (164)
Description Monday is Memorial Day in the U.S. and it marks the unofficial start of Summer here.

In celebration of that fact, I’m posting this sketchpad snapshot of a song I put together just to see if I could pull it off. The harmonies are all off-the-cuff, so they’re not as tight as they will be. What you hear in this version is the beginning and the end of the tune. There is an additional middle section that I’m working on, as well as a Motown-style vocal for the end part.

And then there is the... extended version. ;)

Songs of Summer is a tribute to all that great music that helped time-stamp my memories all those years ago and helped make summers fun. I hope you enjoy it. :)
Fan List

caroline

Roxylee

futzpucker

davisamerica2

dajama

MarkHolbrook

magnatone

Moviz

davisamerica

ehalbert

gail60

Vic Holman

Joe Brady

blaky smith

Skean

Lennon714

paddler

Macaudion

saymme

bud

ppfx

Jarvoid
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said 228 days ago
WOW!
Wonderful song, gorgeous work by all means. Amazing vocals and tasty music.... WOW!! Please more!

Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
Re: WOW!
Thanks, Yeman. I'm glad you liked it. "Songs of Summer" is the cornerstone for a CD concept I had, so you may here a lot more. ;)


--- Joe

caroline said 228 days ago
omg - i'm packing a picnic...
blimey - i wish i could 'pull off' something like this - not only p & f but brill too - looking forward to hearing the 'polished' version - off down memory lane now - oooo-baba-baoooo - thank you xoxo

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
Re: omg...
Thank you, Dame Caroline.

Pack your surfboard, put on your Wild Bikini and head out on the highway in your pink fluffmobile, Deary. It's SUMMERTIME!!! ;)


--- Joe

Roxylee said 228 days ago
Beach boy with pizazz!
Yeah!! I'm ready for summer, and the beach! This is cool! :-)

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
Re: Beach boy...
I''m glad you enjoyed it Roxylee. I think we're ALL ready for a Long, Hot Summer after not having much of a Spring. ;)


--- Joe

davisamerica2 said 228 days ago
You did!
You pulled it off. Loved those off the cuff harmonies. Yes, I did enjoy it. Terry

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
Re: You did!...
Thanks, Terry. I'm happy you liked it. Your avatar picture works well with the vibe, too. :)


--- Joe

dajama said 228 days ago
Wow
Is this is the snapshot, I can't wait to see the movie! This sounds great, and the harmonies sound pretty tight to me! Looking forward to hearing the next step in this one's development. Great stuff. Nicely done. Peace.

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
Re: Wow...
Thanks, David. The old falsetto's not what it used to be, so I took it easy on those parts, just to see how close I could come... I didn't want to hurt myself in the process. LOL


--- Joe

sloparts said 228 days ago
The Beachboys ride again
Nice track Joe. Has all the sounds I remember including the vocal bass line they used on some of there songs.

Very cool way to start the summer off my friend. Thanks for sharing this blast from the past. Been there, done that, got the baggies and flipflops to prove it.

Ed

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
The Beachboys...
Thanks, Ed... Yeah, those vocal bass parts used to play a HUGE role in a lot of great music. I think you're going to really like what I have planned in the extended version. ;)


--- Joe

magnatone said 228 days ago
Songs of Summer
you NAILED this! I'm back in the 60's doing the "Swim" (a dance, for you youngin's)

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
Re: Songs...
I'm pleased you enjoyed this, Karen. Thank goodness you didn't get stopped in the 70s on your way back. hehe


--- Joe

Moviz said 227 days ago
This
sounds so great, so full... you really captured that sound from way back... can't wait for the other parts, cheers M

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
Re: This...
Thank you, Maurice. I hope it captures some of the energy and excitement of those great Summer songs. I don't know that there's anything quite like it nowadays. ;)


--- Joe

davisamerica said 227 days ago
alright!
now this is summer from a better time indeed ... love this .. alot! so... waiting on the extended version!

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
Re: alright!...
Right you are, Jack... a better time, indeed. Certainly more carefree. Thanks for listening and liking. :)


--- Joe

gail60 said 227 days ago
excellent
Beach Boy Joe! I love it. You did a great job here. Enjoyed the singing and harmonies. Lots of memories and lots of fun! Looking forward to more!

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
Re: excellent...
Thanks, Gail. I'm happy it gave you a bit of a boost. Beach Boy Joe? I'm probably one of the few working musicians of the era that didn't play with the Beach Boys during the past 40 years. LOL


--- Joe

Vic Holman said 227 days ago
dang
fantastic song John, man this is Beach Boys on steroids.

J.A.Stewart said 227 days ago
Re: dang...
Beach Boys on steroids... hehe, why not?... I believe they tried just about everything else. ;) Thanks, Vic.


--- Joe

Joe Brady said 226 days ago
You know....
Brian Wilson's music teacher didn't like the way he built harmonies, but then again, his teacher probably never shot through a wave's curl either. Quintessential summer sound Joe, great start. Could be a nostalgic pop-tune (crocodile rock) or a show tune. Amazing vocals.
Joe

J.A.Stewart said 225 days ago
Re: You know...
I'm glad you liked this tease, Joe.

Interesting point about Brian's music teacher. The "Paint-by-numbers" approach may have some validity in musical composition, but it doesn't account for the music that plays inside the heads of unique people like Brian. ;)


--- Joe

Lennon714 said 225 days ago
great job
capturing the energy and excitement of summer. This piece is incredibly well constructed with enough little bits to keet you interested through several plays. Oh yeah, and it's catchy as hell, too!

J.A.Stewart said 225 days ago
Re: great job...
Thanks, Eric. Weaving the various genre elements together was an interesting challenge. Thanks for your comments. ;)


--- Joe

BossHook said 225 days ago
That open is
so big and wonderful. You make me feel like a kid on my 5 speed bike riding along the beach listening to those great summer records. You definitely cover all the Brian Wilson range Mr. Stewart. And I just got to the jump section, cool way to fit Earth, Wind and Fire into the mix!

J.A.Stewart said 225 days ago
Re: That opening is...
Thank you, John... I wanted to open with a big splash and some idea of the energy and enthusiasm those old tunes had. I'm glad you noticed. The final version, with all the various elements added should be even more fun. :)


--- Joe

biba_nova said 225 days ago
Baaa Oooooo
wah wah ooow

J.A.Stewart said 225 days ago
Re: Baaa Oooooo...
EXACTLY my point, b_n. LOL


Thanks... Joe

paddler said 225 days ago
yeeeehaaa!
happy tune! love it! and its grey and raining here!

J.A.Stewart said 225 days ago
Re: yeeeehaaa!...
Don't Worry, Richard... everything will turn out alright. We got teased with an 80 degree sun/clouds mix on Monday and then dropped down to mid-50s days yesterday and today. But Summer WILL soon lift ALL our spirits with sunshine and warmth. ;)


Thanks... Joe

Macaudion said 225 days ago
Dangit
For some odd reason, I can't llisten unless I'm able to dl, this morning!

I'll comment tonight, Sir!

I know it's warm!

I know it's fun!

I know that it'll make me smile - You always do! Macca


J.A.Stewart said 225 days ago
Re: Dangit...
Holy Cow! Dion... on top of everything else, you're psychic!!!

It IS warm... It IS fun... It WILL make you smile. :)


--- Joe

said 222 days ago
Huh... what's this??
Mike Love?? Brain?... Carl?! Maybe Al or Dennis?

I'm back in time... an audio time warp, waiting for the next track (Wendy or All Summer Long?) ;)

I can't wait for the final. Maybe the White House will let you play at the Washington Monument Mall for Independence Day festivities (James Watt anyone?)

two thumbs up Joe!



J.A.Stewart said 222 days ago
Re: Huh... what's this?...
James Watt? LOL, Jack... what's been going on here for the past few years makes Watt seem like a visionary by comparison.

Thanks for the thumbs-up on this little musical time warp... It's just a jump to the left. And then a step to the right. ;)


--- Joe

bud said 221 days ago
Wahoo - wah wahoo!
Love this. Can't wait for the final. Your strolling low piano is fantastic - and the harmonies are delicious.

J.A.Stewart said 221 days ago
Re: Wahoo - wah wahoo!...
I'm glad you enjoyed this, Kevin... it is just a taste of the final.

It was a real challenge to come up with that Motown-style piano part at the end... emulating, rather than just ripping off a bass line. Motown music provided so many memorable ones, it was hard to avoid. ;)

Thanks again,


Joe

guitapick said 215 days ago
Wow...
...so sorry I missed this, Joe...but so happy I caught it now...our roots intertwine...great tune, man...just a great tune! Love the horns...it's real fine without 'em, but they put it over the top.

Nostalgic. I love nostalgic...

J.A.Stewart said 215 days ago
Re: Wow...
Thanks, Bob. I glad you liked this tease. What kind of Motown part would it be without the horns? ;)


--- Joe

announcer said 208 days ago
Is that you?
The surf picture that is. You surfing on Lake Erie? :)

Good tune. Good song for a dreary day like the one it was when I visited this page.



J.A.Stewart said 208 days ago
Re: Is that you?
No, Bill. I believe the Euclid Beach Band answered that musical question a couple of decades back with their tune, "There's No Surf in Cleveland."

But I do surf the Internet. :p

Glad it brightened up your dreary day.

Thanks,


--- Joe

said 196 days ago
Where 's my surfboard ???
Way to capture the sounds of the 60s,,wonderful harmonies Joe.
Was that a muscle CAR?? how cool!!!!

Thanks for sharing ,,Terry

J.A.Stewart said 195 days ago
Where's my surfboard???
Have you checked your Woodie, Terry?

Yeah, I wanted to get the tune off to a roaring start, so I put the pedal to the metal. ;)


Thanks for your comments.


--- Joe

Jarvoid said 193 days ago
Funky and Summery
alright,lightly refreshing and having just pushed a motorbike and sidecar two miles in the p*****g rain to back home,I am in a foul mood and this is helping enormously in helping me chill out........


Jarvoid

J.A.Stewart said 193 days ago
Funky and Summery...
Bummer, Chris. Sorry about your ride breaking down, one of those "Why me, Lord?" moments, for sure.

I'm glad this was up to provide some help in The Big Chill afterwards. Thanks for your comments. ;)


--- Joe

Artist Profile
J.A.Stewart photo
J.A.Stewart

Artist Bio Played in a variety of Folk/Rock, Pop and Rock bands for more than a decade. After collaborating on a musical, I got hooked on songwriting and recording. After years of intense "lobbying," I'm due to enter The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. (Well i...[more]
Artist Music
Song For a Friend
OPEN SEASON (In God's Name)
Down The Road (MJCH)
Star-Bound (MJ Live Aid)
Songs Of Summer
CRAZY WORLD
If You Believe
She Can
Flim-Flamenco
Last Night
Lady-Killer
Dance, Dance, Dance
Song Of This World - Makeover
Banana Land
Modern-Day Romance