Randy Brown – Performing Philosopher

Words was originally written and intended for Cliff Richard a pop music teen heart throb of the era, but he never got around to recording the track as he wasn’t making an album at the time. Rather than wasting the song, the Bee Gees decided to record it themselves. “Words” is a solo spotlight for Barry Gibb and it appears that his brother Robin did not sing on the track at all. According to Robin, it was written after an argument. “Barry and I had both been in an argument before writing the song. So we happened to be in the same mood. Robin stated that the arguments about absolutely nothing, they were just words.” i think this lyric nicely frames this month’s column about songwriting. It’s only words.

One quick disclaimer before I continue. For the purpose of this column. I will define a song as words and music. But i fully understand that ain’t necessarily so. Rules are to be broken in art and who am I to argue with that, though i am sure someone will. Words without music can be a song (example:Booker T & the MGs – Green Onions) and words without music can be a song (most of Rod McKuen’s work). However, for the purpose of, this discussion a song is words and music. Argue away if you will. But that is my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

This month’s lyric snippet about says it all for a songwriter. Words may be all we have, but they can be so powerful. To quote Cary Newcomer, who was one of the instructors at Kerrville Song School many years ago when I attended, “it is not a car; it’s a flat black Chevy from the year you were born”. That better than anything expresses to me the power of words. The simple statement of a “car” does not convey a feeling or any emotion at all and it’s lack of specificity leaves much to be desired. However, the second try “flat black chevy” stirs up a a definite picture in your mind’s eye and tacking on “from the year you were born” makes it even more powerful by personalizing the result. Thereby, attaching the statement to the listener. That is just a tiny hint of the power of words. Shelves of books can be written on the subject of song lyrics and have. We aren’t here to discuss it all just the most basic of basics.

Words wield so much power in our modern world. They can be weapons to attack with, a soothing, healing, comforting balm, a side splitting joke, the essence of a dark brooding place, a smiling face or the warmth of someone you love. They, in my opinion are the most directly powerful aspect of songs but they are not alone in helping us craft songs that move the listener. In fact without the other major tools in our song crafting toolbox; melody, rhyme and rhythm to help us with our task no song of only words will get us far. I realize that some of my readers already understand these things and are thinking, what about prosody, harmony, tempo, key, chord progression, instrumentation and arrangement? To you I say, yes these are important but they in my opinion are the icing on the cake and for a simple overview such as this, those items can be covered in a more in-depth treatment, such as books and blogs dedicated to songwriting. I am only covering these things in this column to show how they relate back to the words, where the message really lives.

After all songwriting is at it’s very core, storytelling and storytelling is one of the oldest “civilized” endeavors humans have in common. In fact many believe, as do I, that rhythm, melody and rhyme were created in order to better facilitate storytelling. Before written language was created all knowledge was passed down verbally and often around the campfire after the day’s necessary tasks were complete. The elders told their stories and thereby imparted information like: what plant are edible, where to camp and how to prepare for winter. Yet such verbal knowledge proved difficult to remember without memory triggers and that is where rhythm, rhyme and melody come in. Who knows which came first? But all three help the words “stick” to our memory. A perfect example is the fact I am terrible with dates yet I can still tell you that that in elementary school I learned ” Columbus sailed the ocean blue, in fourteen hundred ninety two” . Why? The simple answer is the rhythm of the words and the sound of the rhyme; the most basic of memory triggers. Another example, though maybe a little telling on myself, is to this day when I am alphabetizing something, I often sing the Alphabet song (to myself of course) that we all learned in school in order to get the sequence correct. I still use the maxim, ” I before E except after C” when spelling those tricky “ie” and “ei” words. Once again an example of a rhyme as a memory trigger.

A great example of this is the Lennon/McCartney song, Yesterday. The lyric goes, “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they’re here to stay, oh I believe in yesterday”. If you substituted all the “ay” rhymes (day, way, stay and day) with non-rhyming words, with equivalent meaning and roughly equivalent syllable counts such as (day, distant, permanently, day). Creating a line that reads “Yesterday all my troubles seemed so distant. Now it looks as though they’re permanent. Oh I believe in yesterday”. Well, that simply doesn’t work does it? Why? The simple answer is, no rhyme, or at least a poor non-memorable one. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of songs out there with no rhymes, a great example of that is Paul Simon’s “America”. There are no rhymes and there are plenty of other examples of songs without that work. But, I will guarantee that if you leave out one aspect of song-craft the remaining ones become all that more important. Take rap music as an example. There is no melody and therefore to take up the slack, the rhythm and rhyme aspects become much more powerful and crucial to a songs effectiveness.

So as you can see, though the words may be important, when it comes to songs, all the aspects are important. Does the melody marry with the message of the song to get the point across? Or perhaps did the writer intentionally put happy words to a sad melody or the reverse? It can work either way depending on what the writer intends but if there is no real intention except for the joining of words and music to make a song, I can almost guarantee you will miss the mark. The mark being, a memorable song that moves the listener. Isn’t that the real reason you do this?

So I guess you can say that the title of this column is a bit misleading. However, I still think that words are the most important part of a great song (you are welcome to disagree). But the words can’t stand alone without the other elements of rhyme, rhythm and melody being there to some extent. Most song lyrics without music, do not function well alone. As an example imagine Mustang Sally, Johnny B Goode or The Way We Were without music. The lyrics don’t stand alone, do they? I will admit some melodies, function better alone than words but that is neither here nor there for the purpose of this column. Good songwriting is not easy. It is not as simple as stringing a few rhymes together and adding a melody of some sort. If it was everyone would be writing good songs. Songwriting is an art, a craft, an avocation, a labor of love and if you want it to be, a life’s work. But one that I believe is well worth the effort. Let’s talk again next month, after all it’s only words.

As always, thanks for reading and if you have comments, suggestions or criticisms about this or any my columns feel free to send them to me: randy@brownrandy.com
If you are ever simply get curious about what the heck this rambling old man does then go towww.brownrandy.com/music. Listen to a few songs and let me know what you think.

See you next issue.

Randy Brown is retired from a real job, though he still manages to function as a singer/songwriter in living in East Texas. He has been involved with many sides of the music business over the years, from being a sideman, a sound man, touring songwriter, operating a venue, and a recording studio owner/engineer. He knows his lyrics are only words but dang, he sure spends a lot of time on em’.

I have played this month’s song on about half a million Saturday nights during my decade long stint as a guitar player in a country cover band. “The End Is Not in Sight (The Cowboy Tune)” was released from the album Too Stuffed to Jump. The Amazing Rhythm Aces won a Grammy that year for Country Vocal Performance by a Group. The single reached #12 on the country chart and #42 on the pop chart. In addition, it was in the repertoire of every bar band in Texas for several years due to it’s cool guitar riff and great lyrics. It also gets to the point of this month’s column.

My new CD, But Wait, There’s More, is finished after more than a year of work and is finally in my hands. In the end, I’m pleased with the results, though as I write this I am still waiting to read the first review. So, I have yet to discover if the critics are pleased. Since I am totally absorbed with promotion of this new project, it seems appropriate to talk about it. Besides, with a new CD in your hand, it would seem like you are done, at the end of the road and finished. Sorry to tell you folks, but now is only the beginning. As the song says, the end is not in sight.

So, the work is done, the recording and mastering behind you. The artwork is complete, the proofs approved and the cases and cases of your new CD project are in your possession and stacked to the ceiling in your spare bedroom. You eagerly open a case and take out a box, opening it with almost reckless abandon. The moment is finally here as you rip off the shrink wrap, remove the disk and put it on the CD player. Ahhhhhhh, all the work is finally done, and it is time to relax. Well, hold on just a second. Certainly enjoy the moment, but relax? I don’t think so. You have thousands of pieces of merchandise that you would like to sell to recoup production, recording, graphic design and manufacturing costs. They are not gonna sell themselves, get reviewed, or get radio airplay without a huge effort, and guess who gets to do it? If not you, at the least someone you get to pay to do it. So let’s examine what comes next.

First, you need to get the word out. Hopefully, you have legions of fans ready to snap up a copy of this, your latest masterpiece. Or maybe not. You have given copies to your mom, best friends, everyone who played on or helped with the project, your most vocal fans and the odd person you just met who took a copy so you would stop talking about it. With that done, you have now successfully gotten rid of what? 50 CDs. I believe it is now time to knuckle down and strike while you still are buzzed by the project. Some things you should be doing now that you have a CD in your hands:

Take it to some places where it can be easily received by friends and fans. That would include local retail outlets and online venues like CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes, and My Texas Music to name a few. I would try to get as big a variety as possible so folks have every opportunity to acquire it in a way that is most convenient.

With a little distribution out there, you need to get a buzz started. Talk about it on Facebook, Reverbnation, SonicBids, SoundCloud, your website and to your email list. Put up a song or two at several locations so that it can be heard, and when you talk about it, share those links. Many people need to taste (hear) a product before buying.

Take a copy to your local genre appropriate radio station and arts publication so they can hear and play/review it. Suck up to these guys. Remember they can make or break you. Offer to do personal or on-air interviews. Play a freebie show or two for their remote spots. If it’s a public radio station, offer to help them during a pledge drive. Do anything you can to endear yourself to them and make them love you as a person. Then it will be easier for them to like you as an artist.

Seek genre specific pundits, reviewers and bloggers and send them a copy with a personal note thanking them for listening. Maybe they will review you, maybe they won’t, but they have to hear in order to review it. Be pro-active, no one is going to come begging.

Start up the old booking machine and book some shows. Make sure they are billed as a CD release. Make it an event. Bring some folks with you who played on the CD and send out press releases to the local papers. Tell everyone; invite your friends. Even get them in for free or at a discount if necessary. Nothing gets bigger notice than sold out or packed shows.

Make a couple of simple videos and put them up on YouTube or Vimeo. They can be simple, but use the songs you are promoting as a soundtrack. Then push them on all your lists, forums and social networks.

Find tie-ins for the CD or songs contained that might let you team up with a local charity. Advertise you are donating a portion of each sale; play at fundraisers. Do whatever it takes. This makes your potential audience instantly bigger.

If you have connections with bigger but similar acts, offer to tour with them as an opener. Help them sell and promote their product and in return you get yourself in front of a whole new audience. Plus, they are bigger than you for a reason. Listen, watch and learn.

Enter songs from your new CD in songwriting contests, if they are yours. If not, try to get the writer to enter them. If either of you gets recognition, then both of you do.

Talk it up to everyone you meet. Your barber, the cashier in the grocery store, anyone that will listen. Keep a couple of copies with you at all times. You never know who you might run into. Never, never, never be without business cards, CDs and one sheets.

Do at least one new thing every day to get the word out.

So, is that enough? Well probably not, but it is a really good start. Promotion is a never ending process and is also endlessly creative. Everything you do every day can be a tie in. If you are like me – a tiny insignificant member of the music industry – you have to stand out. I don’t have thousands of dollars to plow into promotion. I only have my time and energy, and I will try to use it most efficiently and effectively. You probably should too. Just remember that once that magic new CD is in your hand, this isn’t the end of the project but the real beginning. Besides, I love doing this and don’t want it to be over. So, I can honestly say I am happy, that the end is not in sight.

Talk to you next month.

As always, thanks for reading, and if you have comments, suggestions or criticisms about this or any of my columns, feel free to send them to me: randy@brownrandy.com

If you ever simply get curious about what the heck this rambling old man does, then go to www.brownrandy.com/music. Listen to a few songs and let me know what you think.

Randy Brown is a singer/songwriter living in East Texas and has been involved with many sides of the music business over the years, from being a sideman, a sound man, touring songwriter, operator of a venue, and a recording studio owner/engineer. Promotion is not his strong suit, but it is a suit he must wear. If he wears it long enough, it even starts to fit a little

We are all secrets from each other
Deeper than a thunderstorm
Darker than a lonely midnight call
Each with a language all our own
Cold and hungry castaways
Washed up on this shore
I can’t tell you how I know this
But wait there’s more…
“But Wait, There’s More” by Randy Brown ASCAP – Copyright 2013

This month’s lyric is from the title song of my new CD, “But Wait, There’s More…” which will be ready for consumption by the time you read this. While using it as a topic may seem a tad self-serving, which it is, it also gives me an opportunity to talk about “big art projects” and the recovery process required at the end of these endeavors. Besides, it’s my column and I find it quite helpful to me (and you, I hope) when I write about something when it is fresh while I am still dealing with it. So sit back, while I wax philosophical about winding down from a big project and some of the tricks I use to get my groove back. Though I sincerely hope yours never leaves in the first place.

I am writing this on January 4th, 2013, sitting in a cabin in far southern Colorado with no cell service, no internet. There is a couple of feet of snow and the outside temperature is 5 degrees below zero right now at 7pm and expected to hit 31 below before morning breaks again. Sometimes it takes distance, both literal and figurative, from my daily regime to restore my creative juices. You see, anytime I have expended so much creative energy executing a project I become totally drained. I didn’t even have enough left to write this column. These columns normally come easy to me so when I started several times but could get no toehold on an idea, I knew then, that my battery was dead. Getting out of the daily schedule of emails, phone calls and press kits helps me re-charge and get the old creative engine to turn over. I need to get it going again to maintain sanity and self respect. I worked so hard on my CD during 2012 that for the first time in many years, I am ashamed to say, I did not write a single song last year. That really scares me.

I know deep down, the reason for my songwriting dry spell is that I simply expended all my creative energy futzing over my new CD project. While I can honestly say it does what I intended; fills out my concept, pulls no punches and is artistically true, the feeling that I am abandoning it not fully finished will not leave me alone. Be aware, my plight is not uncommon. In my experience everyone will have run out of either time, money, faith or energy and possibly all of the above by the time a project is complete. I have arranged, charted, played, sang, listened, recorded, re-recorded and even re-re-recorded every note until I am completely and totally bored and bummed out with every note and word. This always happens to me on the heels of a really big effort and from my experience producing and recording others, it does to everyone. It is a real serious challenge to your artistic vision to spend weeks or even months pulling it all together. While in the beginning I am confident of my vision and bold in it’s execution, by the end I am meek and doubtful of every aspect of what I have created.

I can assure you that every CD project I have ever been involved in is, in the end, a project abandoned. Though, I don’t know this personally I think that the same goes with any large artistic endeavor such as writing a book, creating a large art installation, writing a symphony or anything that requires staying focused for a long period time. I am telling you this not to discourage but because such is the life cycle of an undertaking as huge and audacious as a conceptual art project. It is going to happen that you will alternately love and hate everything about it. But rest assured that this is also true: once it is done and you have gotten on with the less than artistic endeavors that relate to your new project; distribution, promotion, booking shows, getting press and all of the other mundane must-do things that will make your work as successful as it can be, you will forget about the art for a while. If possible don’t listen to it for as long as you can bear, 2 or 3 months if you can stand it. Then one day when you are driving somewhere and in a good mood, pop that sucker in your CD player and turn off the critic. Listen to it like you never heard it before. Quit digging down in between the notes and being in the moment of creative process. Simply listen to music like you would someone else’s music for the pure joy of listening. You may just find as I have with past projects, not this one yet, that you like it more than you expected. Then, as the months and even years pass and you happen to listen again you might even find yourself saying, “hey that ain’t bad” or even “wow, that is really good”. Time gives me and I expect you perspective. I promise you just as the old adages say “familiarity breeds contempt” and “absence makes the heart grow fonder”, time and distance will let you experience your work as others do. Because you ARE an artist! You invested your time, spirit and talent in something that had a deep meaning to you. You made the commitment and saw it through and then on top of all that, had the courage to put it out there for others to respond to. That my dear reader is an act of faith almost beyond anything else you can do in the realm of the arts.

Sitting here with a log fire blazing in the next room while I type this I finally feel peaceful about this project for the first time in several months. I have done my best to say what I intended in a way that I believe best presents my creations to others. Not from an egotistical perspective,but from a “sharing my inner self with others” way. Never be ashamed of your creations. They are as surely your offspring as your flesh and blood children, they are in reality the children of your heart and soul. There may be work done by others that is better is some ways but none of that work is YOURS and that is what is important. You have dug into yourself and served up a big steaming bowl of what it means to be you. Nobody else in the world, past or future will ever be able to do that. What greater gift can you give than yourself?

So. by the time you read this I will be back in East Texas laboring away at all the mundane stuff that I have to do to keep my shaky little music career between the ditches. But Wait, There’s More… will be or about to be available at CD Baby, Amazon, ITunes, My Texas Music, Pandora Radio, Jango radio and hopefully in a CD or MP3 player near you. My creative urge will return as surely as the flowers of spring. As artists we all have much to give. I can’t tell you how I know this; but wait, there’s more…

As always, thanks for reading and if you have comments, suggestions or criticisms about this or any my columns feel free to send them to me: randy@brownrandy.com
If you are ever simply get curious about what the heck this rambling old man does then go to www.brownrandy.com/music. Listen to a few songs and let me know what you think.

See you next issue.

Randy Brown is a and singer/songwriter and performing philosopher, living in East Texas . Where he has been involved with many sides of the music business over the years, from being a sideman, a sound man, touring songwriter, operating a venue, and a recording studio owner/engineer. He knows he’ll finally get his groove back but always has doubts.

“City of New Orleans” was written by the late great Steve Goodman (and first recorded on his self-titled 1971 album). It describes a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the Illinois Central Railroad from the standpoint of learning about the real American. He performed the song for Arlo Guthrie in the Quiet Knight, a bar in Chicago, and Guthrie agreed to add it to his repertoire. The song was a hit for Guthrie on his 1972 album Hobo’s Lullaby, and is now more closely associated with Arlo, although Goodman performed it until his death from leukemia in 1984. The chorus of this song is a perfect comment on my first national tour in October and the perfect road song to accompany it even though I never even set foot on a train during the month I was gone.

This is a big country and I have seen a good deal of it across the years for various reasons. But until this year I had never really marinated myself in it; spending days driving the blue highways of this country. You know it is kind of funny too, after spending so much time the last few months before the tour with email, social networks and the internet in general, booking this tour, I think I had lost sight of the real world. I don’t know about you, but my Facebook feed is full of folks jockeying for position, pushing their theological, social, political or philosophical agendas. I had resigned myself to the fact that the whole country and everyone in it were totally polarized. So much so that I have begun to think that everybody had joined their own personal Taliban that was ready to enforce their views at any cost. I was expecting and almost dreading that aspect of the trip. But, after this tour I am here to tell you that just ain’t true in the real America, at least in my experience.

During my tour, I met folks from all walks of life and we talked about life, death, love and other matters of real importance. There was little talk of religion or politics. But when there was the conversations were civil and low key. Not the vitriolic babble that fills the “friend” networks of Facebook and twitter. What is it about the physical presence of another human that seems to defuse so much of the name calling and side taking occurring in the “social” media these days? I have become convinced now that the simple answer is all in the eyes. In order to really know someone we have to speak to them, hear them speak and look into their eyes while that is happening. It may sound weird to you but think about it. when you can see the other persons face, their gestures, facial expressions and most importantly see their eyes. It is hard to explain but you know I am correct. I have always heard that the eyes are the windows to the soul and I believe it now. It is almost impossible for me to have an ugly exchange with someone if I can see them face to face. I feel an almost instant affinity towards people a face to face situation and I am really not what could be called a people person.

Unfortunately, it is much too easy to not do that on the internet. So, instead we post a steady barrage of “our way” leaning crap and call it communication. I will call a big giant “bullshit” on that one. Communication is rooted in the word common. as is communion and community. I think it is safe to say that it is not common to experience real communion, real community or real communication without a face-to-face meeting. I contend that what we label as communication on the internet is too fast and faceless to be of any real benefit as far a creating deep relationships. Now that doesn’t mean that it has no use and that 100% is tainted. I have read some very thoughtful and moving posts on Facebook and other places. However, when instead of striving to write well, carefully and thoughtfully created prose. Far too many simply put up a sign, saying or party-line response to whatever question is on the table. There is no communication whatsoever taking place at that point. Calling that communication would mean that every billboard we drive by is communicating with us and despite what those in the advertising field would argue, that simply ain’t happening. Real communication, in my opinion takes 3 things; speakers, listeners and sensitivity. Not the faux, politically correct definition of sensitivity that has taken hold of society. Nope not that pap, but the real, look into each others eyes and acknowledge the other person is a living, feeling entity kind of sensitivity. That is communication.

During my October tour, I visited a fair cross-section of mid-America: big cities, small cities, tiny towns, agricultural towns, truck stops, shopping malls and industrial areas. You know what, people are all the same. We all struggle, we get frustrated, we love out kids and worry about the future. But when we talked it was amazing. Gas stations clerks or cardiologists it made made no difference. We have more in common than we have different regardless what your news feed tells you.
So what does all this babble about communication have to do with music and the business of music. Well, in my opinion, just about everything. Songs may be personal art but when performed in public they are very much about communication. I am having a dialog with the audience or at least I better, if I am gonna make it work. I can’t make it about me, I have to make it about the listener in order to connect. If I get on stage and act like it is all about me, like I am on a crusade, making blanket pronouncements, spouting platitudes, making judgements and blanket statements then that is exactly what it will be. It will be about my, me mine (to quote George Harrison) and I guarantee you that I will not get a single positive response from the audience. And if the audience isn’t important then why in the hell am I doing this? If I want to preach and pontificate, the I should just get some social network and cut loose. You won’t have any more luck there but it will save the travel and the expense. The same holds true with venue owners, house concert hosts and everyone else you come in contact with on tour or at home. Simply talk, listen and make a little eye contact. When real communication happens most issues that come up will take care of themselves and this kind of connections pay off in fans, bookings, product sales and your own personal satisfaction.

So that is one of the many things of what I learned on this, my first real tour. It wasn’t the things I thought I would learn at all. I thought I would get better at picking venues, scheduling shows, promoting and I did. But only after I realized that it wasn’t all about me. When I made it about someone else it all became easier. When it is easier, it was more enjoyable. When it was enjoyable, I had better performances and connected better with the audience. In the end it was all about people, up close and personal, connecting and communicating. But then, isn’t that what life is all about too. So I got my chance to say “Good morning America, how are you? From what I can tell, much better than the news or any other media will tell you. There are problems, but there always have been. But when we all talk and really listen we’re gonna be alright. That little bit of opinion is my Christmas present to you. Merry Christmas to everyone and we’ll talk again in January. Please talk back with your comments, column suggestions and to just say hi.

As always, thanks for reading and if you have comments, suggestions or criticisms about this or any my columns feel free to send them to me: randy@brownrandy.com
If you are ever simply get curious about what the heck this rambling old man does then go to www.brownrandy.com/music. Listen to a few songs and let me know what you think.

See you next issue.

Randy Brown is a singer/songwriter in living in East Texas and has been involved with many sides of the music business over the years, from being a sideman, a sound man, touring songwriter, operating a venue, and a recording studio owner/engineer. One tour down and hopefully a bunch more to go. If I can only get my CD in my hands, I’d be ready to go.