Johnny J. Blair "Singer at Large"

Musician, entertainer, singer-songwriter, bassist, keyboardist, producer, curator, journalist

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MONDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO “We’re Alive” by Kris Ryder a.k.a. Chris Andrews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ2XeA-0gPE Like a day at the beach in Kokomo, this song tells a tale of a man running into a lost girlfriend who went down a sad road, but today they're glad to be alive! Chris Andrews a.k.a. Kris Ryder presents this upbeat reggae-fied Motown-ish New Wave power pop/synthpop anthem—with fab guitar work by guitarist Phil Palmer (Eric Clapton, David Essex, Dire Straits, Wishbone Ash) + big harmonies by Kris with Dominic Bugatti and Frank Musker (who co-wrote Queen’s “Too Much Love Will Kill You”). This track was produced by Christopher Neil (A-ha, Sheena Easton). On a cosmic jukebox this record would play somewhere between The Beach Boys, The Buggles, and Men at Work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ2XeA-0gPE

#alive #krisryder #chrisandrews #kokomo #reggae #newwave #powerpop #philpalmer #beachboys #buggles #menatwork #johnnyjblair #sheenaeaston #aha #christopherneil #queen #dominicbugatti #frankmusker #wishboneash #direstraits #davidessex #ericclapton

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SUNDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO “Music Up Inside of Me” (live in New Jersey) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFn1NUNPNlQ Music goes into people in ways that language and science can’t articulate, into the mind and into the soul. I’ve performed in places from the Royal Albert Hall to The Fillmore to Disney to Caribbean cruise ships to churches to temples in India to prisons to Las Vegas to assisted living homes to biker bars to Japanese nightclubs to subway stations and more and, yes, I can testify…music has given me healing, safety, and sustenance in more ways that I can describe. Playing it, creating it, listening to it, talking about it…it’s medicinal for me! This song is a refraction on some Motown lyrics and worship descriptives from the prophet Zephaniah. This clip is from a series of New York City-area concerts (circa 2009-10) I performed with Felipe Torres, my friend and musical colleague from the Davy Jones/Monkees orbit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFn1NUNPNlQ

#music #newjersey #royalalberthall #fillmore #disney #caribbean #cruiseship #church #temple #prison #India #lasvegas #bikerbar #nightclub #Japan #healing #safety #johnnyjblair #motown #worship #zephaniah #newyork #felipetorres #davyjones #monkees #singersongwriter #singeratlarge

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SATURDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO: “Look Who Crashed My Rehearsal”—You never know who’s going to barge in on your practice space (or give lessons in how not to get too serious).

#gnome #rehearsal #piano #singersongwriter #sanfrancisco #serious #johnnyjblair #duck #elf #shortpeople #travelocity

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peter chauncey’s SONG OF THE WEEK “Go Your Own Way” https://peterchauncey1.bandcamp.com/track/go-your-own-way-2 peter takes Fleetwood Mac’s twangy power pop song into a “blue light in the basement” vibe. Personnel:

Peter – vocals & arrangement

Daniel Berkman – percussion & synthesizer

Johnny J. Blair – bass, guitar, & production

#peterchauncey #fleetwoodmac #lindseybuckingham #bluelight #danielberkman #johnnyjblair #americana #alternativerock #trippy #basement

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“High Time Baby” https://timchrisandrews.bandcamp.com/track/high-time-babyRaw energetic 60s garage rock from the deep files of British Rock. The Gremlins released but one single, but they made a killer cover of a Spencer Davis track (written w/Steve Winwood). In the photo (left to right) Chris Jennings, Chris Andrews, Chas de Lacy and Graham McCubben. Chris Andrews recalls, "Me at 17! Great guys! We were all based in South London playing local gigs and having a lot of fun doing so. We were only together for a short while but managed to record this track at the legendary Oak Studio's in Wimbledon. I'd just discovered a new gadget for the guitar... the Fuzzbox." https://timchrisandrews.bandcamp.com/track/high-time-baby

#gremlins #garagerock #britishrock #spencerdavis #stevewinwood #oakstudios #wimbeldon #fuzzbox #chrisandrews

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SONG OF THE WEEK “Night Garden” https://johnnyjblairsingeratlarge.bandcamp.com/track/night-garden-3 This psychedelic Cuban-jazzified pop song that started with a bass line, flowing out of me while I was playing cruise ship gigs in the Caribbean. Every time I played this magnetic groove, musicians would start jamming, people would start dancing... Cuban and Caribbean music is animated and easeful to me, rhythmically and harmonically, making me feel like I’m moving with confidence, no matter what’s going on in the world.

The song title came from an airline magazine article, written by an articulate gardener named Lee May. His specialty was plant life that blooms at only night. As to the lyrics, Donald Fagen said he’d write lyrics simply because the words suit his mouth and a melody. He’d let words flow until they find their own meaning. That was the case with “Night Garden.” Lyrics & melody lines grew into “a song novelette” about a couple of lovers heading south of the border, on the lam because of an unspecified crime.  The music bed was recorded in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Williamsport PA (final mix by Xavier Francis). It features the indispensable drum/trumpet/co-production work of Eric Biondo (a.k.a. Beyondo) + magnificent piano by Mike Garson, a composer-artist in his own right, but he’s best known as David Bowie’s longtime keyboardist. https://johnnyjblairsingeratlarge.bandcamp.com/track/night-garden-3

Credits: Eric Biondo a.k.a. Beyondo: drums, drum program, keyboards, co-production, & trumpet JJB: bass, electronic drums, keyboards, co-production, songwriting, & all vocals Xavier Francis: mixing Mike Garson: lead piano

#nightgarden #johnnyjblair #psychedelic #cubanjazz #poprock #Caribbean #cruiseship #bass #groove #leemay #gardening #donaldfagen #crime #ericbiondo #beyondo #mikegarson #davidbowie #piano #xavierfrancis

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It's Memorial Day…

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Chris Andrews SONG OF THE WEEK: “Standing in the Rain” https://timchrisandrews.bandcamp.com/track/standing-in-the-rain —A rock’n’roll torch song, cut in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis or Freddy Fender, and sung with British verve by Chris Andrews—a singer-songwriter and recording artist whose songs have been covered by Roger Daltrey, David Essex, and Davy Jones (Monkees). Under the name Tim Andrews he was a champion of late 60s psychedelic pop and (later), as Kris Ryder, he released New Wave synthpop sides in the 80s. Chris was also part of the seminal freakbeat band Fleur de Lys. “Standing in the Rain” is one of Chris’s more recent sides (don’t forget your umbrella)…

#torchsong #rocknroll #piano #JerryLeeLewis #FreddyFender #chrisandrews #rogerdaltrey #davidessex #davyjones #monkees #fatsdomino #littlerichard #rain #singersongwriter #britpop #clout #umbrella

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SUNDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO + HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB DYLAN “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome” (a Dylan cover) performed by The Gypsy Lizards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYHrP-NsELU As Bob Dylan celebrates another spin around the earth, I offer this take on a song from his touchstone BLOOD ON THE TRACKS album. Like a lot of Dylan songs, the lyrics are interpreted different ways. Were they confessional? Exercises in love poems? Disclosures on relationships? The consensus is that it was inspired by literature. In his memoir Dylan stated, “I would even record an entire album based on Chekov short stories. Critics thought it was autobiographical – that was fine.” I played this song often with The Gypsy Lizards in the 1990s. Put “lounge lizard” in a blender with “gypsy music,” and The Gypsy Lizards came to be. They were a folk trio led by Paul Farnham, himself a Dylan-ologist and disciple of neo-traditional pop/folk in line with Gordon Lightfoot, The Brill Building, and more. The GL set list included well-known covers mingled with Celtic/Irish, European, and Americana deep cuts. This 1996 King Street Coffeehouse recording is the only known document of this line-up, recorded on the fly to cassette. It was recently remastered and I added this video. Enjoy this and have your own Bob-fest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYHrP-NsELU

#bobdylan #blood #birthday #gypsy #lizard #gypsylizard #literature #chekov #rimbaud #verlaine #paulfarnham #gordonlightfoot #brillbuilding #celtic #folkmusic #americana #kingstreet #coffeehouse #northumberland #pennsylvania #selinsgrove #johnnyjblair

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BOB DYLAN—What a milestone for a cultural figure who enlivened the soundtrack of a generation, stirred up the world and the Spirit, and is still cranking out masterworks. I can’t compete with the surfeit of well-written Bob-fest birthday tributes going out today, but I did find this cover of “It Takes a Lot to Laugh It Takes a Train to Cry.” It was a rehearsal take with The Rover Boys, sung by the band’s house Dylanologist Adam Savetsky. We wanted to take it into a Creedence-zone and had fun trying…Meanwhile, HB Bob and thank you for your volumes of words and music.

 

https://johnnyjblairsingeratlarge.bandcamp.com/track/it-takes-a-lot-to-laugh-it-takes-a-train-to-cry-rehearsal-3-90

 

#bobdylan #dylan #birthday #train #laugh #adamsavetsky #roverboys #creedenceclearwaterrevival #CCR #JohnFogerty #johnnyjblair #singeratlarge #sanfrancisco

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SATURDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO: Davy Jones live in Pittsburgh 5/14/10 as filmed for PBS at Benedum Theatre with me, Jessica Pacheco, and members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. This was an auspicious occasion for me on several counts—including that, for the first time, I played guitar on songs that I usually played bass or keyboards. That very day, Davy bought me that blue tie “to go with my guitar” (I still wear it). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NFNmneZilI

Elsewhere on this shoot (we were there 2 days) was Paul Revere & The Raiders, Jay Black (Jay & The Americans), Roger McGuinn, The Miracles (the classic line-up minus Smokey Robinson), and Gary Lewis & The Playboys w/my friend, drummer Mike Arturi. Also, I was blessed to spend time with Jackie DeShannon (who MC'd) and Chad & Jeremy. The project was produced by Jim Pierson. Before we went onstage, Paul Revere asked me to nudge Davy into joining them as both The Monkees and The Raiders have a connection to the song “Steppin’ Stone.” Davy balked at first but finally caved in. 

Only our take of “Daydream Believer” remains in circulation on PBS, but the full set was broadcast only one time, including Davy’s cameo with Paul Revere & The Raiders. From that one broadcast came some misconceptions—particularly from the mouth of an errant PBS announcer who falsely claimed this was Davy’s last live concert. In fact, after this Pittsburgh gig, Davy performed at least 100 more concerts plus an international Monkees reunion tour before he died in 2012. I’m grateful that to have acquired the full set and you can watch it on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NFNmneZilI

#monkees #davyjones #daydreambeliever #johnstewart #cheer #sleepyjean #homecomingqueen #johnnyjblair #sunshinepop #powerpop #concert #PBS #benedumtheatre #pittsburgh #colgems #neildiamond #boyceandhart #girl #paulrevereandtheraiders #steppinstone #jackiedeshannon #chadandjeremy #rogermcguinn #garylewis #miracles 

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peter chauncey’s SONG OF THE WEEK “Feel U Evrywr” https://peterchauncey1.bandcamp.com/track/feel-u-evrywhr-3 Space funk befitting of a spy movie soundtrack..the path one is on vs. one path one can take...and the will to change paths...2MA... On a cosmic jukebox this would play between David Bowie and Massive Attack.  https://peterchauncey1.bandcamp.com/track/feel-u-evrywhr-3

#spymovie #soundtrack #peterchauncey #davidbowie #massiveattack

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SONG OF THE WEEK “Fantasy Number One” by Chris Andrews https://timchrisandrews.bandcamp.com/track/fantasy-number-one The dancers are lining up to choreograph this one, a funky tale on how a few words from a woman can do a number on a man’s fantasy. On a cosmic jukebox this song would play somewhere between BTS and Bruno Mars. Dance on…https://timchrisandrews.bandcamp.com/track/fantasy-number-one

#chrisandrews #BTW #brunomars #dance #funk #fantasy #singersongwriter #hove #bristol #UK

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MONDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO “Sad Simon Lives Again” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2N9fZs0Nbo First released December 1967, "Sad Simon..." was the first Parlophone single by Tim Andrews a.k.a. Chris Andrews after he’d cut loose from the “freakbeat” band Fleur de Lys. He was signed by producer, promoter, and music executive Tony Hall, who’d plugged The Beatles, Carmen McRae, and later inked Black Sabbath’s first record deal. “Sad Simon” was tailored for Tim’s voice by songwriter Mike Noble (who went on to work with Joan Armatrading, John Kongos, and Ralph McTell). It’s a bittersweet tune about waiting for love, but Simon is going to rebound. The Andrews recording reached fans of the “baroque/chamber pop” subgenre—when classical music forms are blended with psychedelic rock, a style championed by The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Bee Gees, Left Banke, Moody Blues, Procol Harum, etc.—though the jazzy bridge comes out of the Zombies playbook. If this is your introduction to Mr. Andrews, he’s a British actor and singer-songwriter whose songs have been covered by Roger Daltrey, David Essex, Davy Jones (Monkees), and others. In the 80s he released synthpop recordings under the name Kris Ryder, and since the 90s he returned to being “Chris Andrews” and continues to release new music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2N9fZs0Nbo

#sadsimon #timandrews #chrisandrews #simonbaker #parlophone #fleurdelys #tonyhall #beatles #mikenoble #johnkongos #beachboys #beegees #leftbanke #moodyblues #procolharum #zombies #rogerdaltrey #davidessex #davyjones #monkees #johnnyjblair

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Erik Satie is 160 years old: “All this happened to me because of music.”

A birthday salute to Satie, Gnosseinnes #1, and The Tears of a Velvet Clown

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SUNDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO + HAPPY BIRTHDAY IAN WHITE! “Watch Over Me” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sik0pwxMqQU (my cover of a song written by Ian White, based on Psalm 1). Music has many healing properties—I see it all the time, especially when I'm entertaining in assisted living homes or leading music in times of worship. The music of Ian White came along when I needed my own healing and strength. Since 1992, I've been a huge fan of Ian, an amazing singer-songwriter from Scotland whose music has been a powerful refreshment to many. It started when a mutual friend (and former bandmate) Chris Haggerty gave me a CD from Ian’s landmark Psalm series. In 2011 (after years of correspondence), I finally met Ian and his wife Carol for tea in Glasgow, Scotland (sorry I lost our photo). He has a distinctive voice that leaves a lasting impression, and his style draws on Britpop and classic pop/folk/rock singer-songwriters. On a cosmic jukebox Ian would play somewhere between Cliff Richard and James Taylor. Give him a listen: https://www.littlemistymusic.com Meanwhile, HB Ian and God bless you and yours and your heart’s desire. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sik0pwxMqQU

 

#ianwhite #scotland #singersongwriter #glasgow #perth #christianmusic #CCM #cliffrichard #jamestaylor #littlemisty #worship #psalms #johnnyjblair

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SATURDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO: The Monkees live at the Royal Albert Hall 5/19/11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxW1Cdo5LTo&t=3181s It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since this auspicious event. I was the bassist-vocalist on this tour and here are a few recollections: The Monkees 45th Anniversary Tour was a commercial and critical success, even getting good reviews in Rolling Stone (whose editors historically have been Monkees-bashers). It was a touchstone reunion featuring the excellent multi-media staging work of Andrew Sandoval, deep album cuts as well as the hits, and the entire HEAD film soundtrack performed live. It would also turn out to be the last tour with Davy Jones, who died 9 months later. The tour went around England, Scotland, Canada, and across the United States, but (surprisingly) no professional film or recording was made. What survives are countless phone videos of mixed quality. Thanks to Elixir101, who gathered videos from various sources and edited this summation of the sold-out Royal Albert Hall concert, booked after Eric Clapton gave up one night of his usual May residency at the Hall so The Monkees could perform. You can read the entire set list on the Youtube caption. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxW1Cdo5LTo&t=3181s

#monkees #mickydolenz #davyjones #petertork #royalalberthall #reuniontour#johnnyjblair #andrewsandoval #felipetorres #ericbiondo #ericclapton #wayneavers