Barry De Vorzon: The Songwriter's Friend

Many career-inspiring things to experience at the Taxi Music Road Rally I attended last November.  Here's a highlight for me.  Got a photo with composer, songwriter, former record company exec, AND the creator of the songwriting computer program I absolutely love and recommend for any songwriter, MASTERWRITER. 

Yours truly with Mr. Barry De Vorzon

Barry De Vorzon was responsible for classic cuts like "Nadia's Theme" (Young and the Restless), the theme from S.W.A.T. and one of my favorite Carpenters songs, the Acadamey Award nominated, "Bless the Beasts and the Children".  He even co-wrote the Eagles hit "In The City" with Joe Walsh.

Barry De Vorzon: The Songwriter's Friend

Taxi Music Forward! - How Kitschy!

Got a Taxi Music Forward!  Yay, for kitschy retro crime jazz!


Here's what I had to go on:

MUSIC SUPERVISOR for a REALITY TV SERIES needs kitschy CRIME JAZZ and LOUNGE INSTRUMENTALS a la John Barry, Lalo Schiffrin, Peter Thomas, Keith Mansfield, David Holmes... DOWN to MID-TEMPO tracks will work best. They're looking for instrumentals with a distinctly RETRO vibe. James Bond-style brass would be nice but is not necessary. You can go DARK and a bit SINISTER but it needs to have a bit of a SMIRK. They're not looking for an epic Morricone-style Spaghetti Western score. Your tracks must be at least 1:30 long.

This was fun to do. Trying to get the feel from the Dirty Harry film soundtracks and the work of composer, Lalo Schiffrin.  Had a limited time frame as usual to put something together. I happen to love this old stuff.

Taxi Music Forward! - How Kitschy!

Christmas in August - New Recording

Worked up a "contemporary" Christmas song for a recent song pitch.  Spent 2 days at home laying tracks (vocals, guitars, keys, etc) and added the rest plus mixing (putting it all together) on the road.

In prep, had a listen to the current charts and found a song/vibe I liked. But the only elements that ended up identical to those in my track are the xylophone and the tempo. Then it just grew from there and took on a produced-by-steve life all it's own. It's nothing like the song I originally heard. lol  So, add another track to the song catalog if it doesn't hit the mark.



Would love to hear what "style" impressions you get when you hear it?  Hope you enjoy listening.

Christmas in August - New Recording

"Time Is (Was) On My Side" - New Track

...Take deadlines, for instance.  Nothing like a time limit to get something finished and move on to the next project!
Took a detour from the tunes I had planned to work on yesterday and spent the day working up a short cover of this song for an ad agency pitch. Started by 10am out by 4pm! Another excuse to use my ukulele.
It's a little strange not letting a mix sit overnight for a final next-day listen, but so be it!

"Time Is (Was) On My Side" - New Track

Taxi Forward - Urgent Entertainment News! - Sounds Like?

It's always good to get a bit of good news when you're not feeling up to snuff from the flu.

Got the results of another Taxi Music pitch of mine that was forwarded.  In short, the listing called for:

ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION-type INSTRUMENTAL CUES a la shows similar to Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, etc., needed by a Full Service Music Publishing Company with a great working relationship at a Major Network for use in multiple shows! They're looking for short cues of 60 seconds or less - think "bumpers" and transition music! They said, and we quote: "The key word often used for the music we want is 'urgent entertainment news'."


Click on the music player to hear my....creation "Celebrity D&B"



We'll see what happens"!

What is Taxi?  What is a "Forward"  Click HERE.

Taxi Forward - Urgent Entertainment News! - Sounds Like?

Update: "I'm Going To Disneyland"

You may remember my past post about a new song, "I'm Going To Disneyland".


Well, I went ahead and pitched it to a country listing, knowing there may be possible challenges with the song.  I recently got some excellent industry feedback that confirmed my misgivings.


Yes, as I suspected, it would definitely have the potential to be a "legal nightmare" for a publisher using a Disney Trademark.


Here's a quote from screener:  "You have two choices, you can recycle the music and write new lyrics or just keep it the same and use it locally and regionally. One way to recycle the music is to pitch the tracks in the instrumental listings (retro pop) for tv, movies, documentaries. Blessings on all you do!"


One reason I made it a free download was for the "locally and regionally" part.  Just leave as it is,  put it out there for others to enjoy, and keep writing other tunes.


Another clarification for me is, well, to this screener's ears, it's not country.  It's retro-pop.  I have to admit, I think my Kenny Loggins roots may have shown through on this one.


It's only one person's (educated) opinion, I know, on this song, but I think I can take some very good things away from it.

Update: "I'm Going To Disneyland"

Second Chance For Happy Circus Time

As you may have read here, when I'm not out playing shows, I'm writing tracks and songs for commercial placements in all sorts of different apllications through a company called Taxi.  They put out listings for needed music in many genres including the following left-of-center request:

UPBEAT, HAPPY, PEPPY CIRCUS CALLIOPE-STYLE INSTRUMENTALS needed by a global Music Publisher servicing ambient spaces (retail, malls, restaurants, theme parks). Aim for the authentic style of old world circus parades, carnivals and riverboats with playful melodic motifs and an upbeat spirit. Songs must be original or public domain covers. Imagine big pink swirls of cotton candy and carnival barkers on the midway and you're on your way. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine).

I decided to give this one a try and came up this little ditty below.  I did what I usually do by getting on iTunes and listening to a few samples of "circus music". I didn't have a true calliope in my arsenal of sound samples so I took an organ patch and "injected" some airiness into it.  (huh?)  Tweaked it.  This is what happened:

CLICK ON MUSIC PLAYER TO HEAR "HAPPY CIRCUS TIME"

free music download from Steve Probst

The first time I pitched it, it was returned and the critique I got back was, "This track would have been perfect for this listing.  The melody to Happy Circus Time is too close to You Are My Sunshine which is under copyright since 1938."  Oooops!

The Punch Line
And so the second chance.  The listing has been put up again for more tracks in the same genre so I get to adjust the melody a little bit and resubmit it!  I have high hopes for "Happy" the second time around since it was "perfect for this listing."

Thanks for reading along in my songwriting journey!  I'll keep you posted.

Second Chance For Happy Circus Time