Remember at the beginning of 2008 when I was going to record a song a week? Yeah, um, not so much. Instead, I totally futzed around in January, and then I had bronchitis for all of February and March. By the time I got over that, I had lost all my ambition. The only songs recorded were the Christmas carols earlier this month.
Not to say that there was no music at all. I did do a lot of singing with my brother, and he’s had a lot more ambition than I, lately. We actually did an open mic this year and didn’t get booed off the stage. Plus, I got a ukulele for Christmas! Yes, it was partly a joke gift, but I’m kind of excited to learn it now.
Anyway, I’m starting over in 2009, and I’m turning over a new leaf. If I’m going to be in this business of writing and recording songs, then I’m going to be in it. No more half-assed stuff. That means writing every day, recording as much as possible, and finishing what I start.
Goals for 2009 include a new CD, a re-vamped lesternorton.com with a new music blog, new artwork (via my awesome art director), and new pictures from my talented photographer wife, monthly (if not weekly) song downloads, and (scariest of all) more live performing. My brother has this notion of starting a bluegrass/country band that I’d like to be in on, and we’re planning on a trip to Maine this summer that will include a Revolver reunion.
To kick things off, here’s a recording of “House of the Rising Sun” that I started at the end of 2007 at the request of my friend, Jules. I’ll let her tell you why she requested it, if that’s what she wants, but one thing she said she didn’t want was “one of those later testosterone-pumped versions, but with the pure, traditional [feminine] lyrics” and that’s what I did. It’s still a little more growly and masculine than Bob Dylan’s version, but not as bad as the Animals version. Enjoy! And Happy New Year!
As usual, me likes….
REALLY looking forward to summer. REALLY REALLY.
So, when are you going to record that Logan’s Run song I wrote for you 20 bajillion years ago?
Is gut. Zehr gut.