Joe Viglione on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

My interview with Joe Viglione, a multi-talented artist fighting against bullying in senior housing, goes live on YouTube at 6 pm, March 25.

Five Days Of Christmas

Five Days Of Christmas by Elliott Murphy, one of this year’s holiday songs I’m working. If you are looking to cover or sync holiday music for Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years, Hanukkah, send me an email at LeightonMedia@aol.com and Anne@AnneLeighton.com  #performers, #ChristmasMusic #musicmanager, #PostProduction #SyncLicensing #Superhero #songwriters #SuperheroSongwriters

Holiday Songs - Christmas, New Years & a Sarcastic Birthday Tune

 

Every Little Light, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams  For covers and radio only as this song lifts “Do You Hear What I Hear?” male vocal, Christmas folk-rock, with bells and electric guitar, open hearts, "wish the whole world were friends" celebration of lights on Christmas night, the importance of individuals, thinking like a child, peace, love for the whole world.

Robeone Christmas (instrumental) Robeone triumphant Christmas instrumental, all keyboards Used: Korg Karma. Mellotron 4000D, Roli Seaboard, Expressive E Osmose, Yamaha S80, Technics KN7000, Moog Sub 37, Kurtzweil K2000, ASM Hydrasynth  

Santa’s My Mum  Tony Moore thoughtful anthem ballad w/ bells, male vocal, this song pays tribute to his mom, keeping alive her tradition of perfect childhood Christmases, and he snuck down the stairs early in the morning and she was there, keeping him quiet. 

New Year  Izzy Meth tenor young voice, Kind of Mumford meets Lumineers meets Bob Dylan melody, about New Years, hopeful lyrics that could be about untapped potential or sticking to resolutions even though we know we should, seeking goodness in the new year, mentions "g-d"  

Just Another Birthday Song  Dean Friedman  music hall meets pop, tenor, witty, fun jabs at the birthday boy, "give thanks that your dad wasn't shooting blanks." "thank your mom for pushing you out." Mentions “isolation” from the Pandemic era

Glory to the Newborn King  Erin Hannon / Stephen Melillo classical music with a full lyric soprano that rolls her rrrrs, and "Sleep In Heavenly Peace"   

Five Days of Christmas  Elliott Murphy The story of Linear coming off his meds and coming to visit an easy-to-anger brother over the holidays. Bad boys, gangster, visual lyrical storytelling. 

April 1: Bronx Historical Society Presents The Kindness Session, a Poetry Workshop

Bronx Historical Society is presenting "The Kindness Session," a poetry workshop on recognizing the difference between kindness and cruelty to channel that in our writing on April 1 at 6 PM till approximately 7:45. The Poetry Workshop takes place at Poe Cottage, 2640 Grand Concourse, in the Bronx. Subways near the Visitors Center are the 4, B, and D train at the Kingsbridge stop.  Buses to the Center are Bx9, Bx22, Bx28, Bx38, and BxM4 (Express bus). The Poe Visitors Center is up the Hill from the Fordham Metro North train stop.

Led by area poet Anne Leighton, the Kindness Session will include sharing works from classic and contemporary including Edgar Allen Poe, Naomi Shihab Nye, Muhammad Ali, as well as selected poems from attendees.

Once the attendees discuss poems, they’ll be encouraged to think of incidents where they recognize kindness from life experiences, friends and acquaintances, and how it affected their lives. From there, writers will be encouraged to create a first draft of poetry. Writers will read their poems, and be encouraged to revise a first draft by the first week of May.   

Anne Leighton appears on the Grammy-nominated album, “Healthy Food for Thought: Good Enough to Eat,” (Audio & Video Labs) reading her poem “Feed Your Parents Well.” She’s contributed to The Indie Collaborative, The Literary Parrot, Elephant Journal. Her poetry book “The Leighton Explosion” made enough of a profit to use her earnings to record an original song, “Got My Eye on You, Santa,” which found her a publishing deal with Sheer Music South Africa/Downtown Music, USA. Anne's performed in the Bronx at ART in the Basin, Johnny Zs, and throughout New York State include NYC's Nuyorican Poets Cafe and Peter Max's Studio. 

Doug Odell talks Cobra Kai & Prog Rock on The Anne Leighton inclusion In...

Doug Odell talks Cobra Kai & Prog Rock on The Anne Leighton inclusion Interview Show on YouTube

Premiere is Tuesday, March 4, at 6 PM ET.  Doug’s the bassist for Ice Age, who I worked with in the early 2000s. The group is still recording.

"One Man's Meat" by Gary Lucas & David Johansen

 Gary Lucas co-wrote “One Man’s Meat” with David Johansen, who sang it for Gary’s Gods and Monsters’ 2006 release, “Coming Clean,” and it reappeared on 2022’s “The Essential Gods and Monsters.”   Rob Tannenbaum included the song in this past Saturday’s New York Times Playlist at https://bit.ly/41ECGhm

Rob cites David’s “Buddhist-adjacent philosophy through a series of riddles and paradoxes delivered at breakneck speed over Gary Lucas’s careening guitar.”  It's uptempo, frenetic, lucid song with a double entendre and waffles on the fine line of flow versus fear.    

John Poveromo on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

John Poveromo is the next guest on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show. Which goes live Tuesday evening 6 pm ET/3 pm PT/midnight (Wed. morning Cape Town time.

 

I fell in love with the range of musicians, comedians, and health experts that John has on his podcast, "Dystopia Tonight.”  John's a working comedian with a wide range of talent including cartoon art, writing, filmmaking, organizing, and creating projects.

 

We talk about personal experiences with depression, mental health, and the challenges of navigating the current political and social climate. The interview also shares our experiences with social media, creativity, and travel, with a focus on the importance of empathy, understanding different perspectives, and supporting those who are struggling. He created an indie movie, "Duppet," a short that visualizes depression.  

Two other deep topics were our love for the TV show, "Supernatural" and John's hair care routine!

Everyone should tune in to John's M.S. Telethon happening this March 26-27.  Type up this link for the Telethon broadcast page:  bit.ly/dystopiaallnight25  

 

Love & Valentines

Love We Need You Here Tony Moore slow, acoustic with ambient sound, keyboards, electric guitar build up, like a Pink Floyd ballad, It's a prayer to a higher power, "love remove the fear... don't leave us lost and alone." 

Love Will Blind a Woman  Suzahn Fiering gentle acoustic song, sort of young Joni Mitchell tones, "Love will blind a woman though she knows it ain't right" about a gal smitten by a charming guy, 'even tho' she knows it ain't right" https://open.spotify.com/track/3SPPgUVPHOGOoCSC2l9ahE?si=ae6bb27a0f4b43a4

Tell Me, Elliott Murphy rock, song, electric guitar, male vocals like Lou Reed, "tell me" is the hook. The guy is fighting not to end a relationship, and find ways to stay close to his soon-to-be- ex lover

Made for You Phoebe Legere upbeat female vocal, made for you, can't you see I was made for you. From "Toxic Avenger"

 

Chasing Leaves Joe Matera instrumental, guitars and keys including synthesizer, treated guitar, ambient, midtempo, repeated themes with a little variation.

 Fallin’ In Love  Jenn Cristy  seductive female vocals, R&B, funky bass & drums, has majestic piano solo, similar rhythms to "Tighten Up" foreplay, losing myself in the music of love, "baby we could fall in love" 

A Rose for Your Stone The Kings  male vocals, Americana with horns and accordion, spaghetti western sounding, a winning gunslinger returns home to find his true love is dead, all he can give her is a rose for her (tomb) stone   

Love Killer  Jaclyn Bradley   lush, slow tempo, dream pop alto female vocals, ambient, Madonna tones, theme of loving and losing, love killer, let it all hang out, I'm here for the dream of love. 

Love the Bodies We’re In  Jaclyn Bradley  female vocals, acoustic guitar, gentle tempo, intimacy, song on self-love and intimate connection "love the bodies we're in" "crawl into my bones, give me your skin"

New Radio Single “A Rose for Your Stone” by The Kings

The Kings’ “The Longest Story Ever Told” continues to build.  After months on regional radio stations and finding support even internationally, the group’s song “A Rose for Your Stone” is finding support on AAA/Americana radio. The music video features Western imagery and lead singer David Diamond performing solo on acoustic guitar. The idea behind the song is about a gunfighter returning home after hearing his former girlfriend has died.  He left her because he wanted to seek fame with his gun, but he never forgot her.  He’s chosen to not regret the choice he made, despite the tragedy.  All he can give her is a rose to put on her headstone. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAfx_HbH9bc

 Mixed by Michael Vail Blum, who has worked with Madonna and Prince the western inspired song has found support on podcasts, blogs, and magazines.  Michaels Record Collection is intrigued by the song, “It pays tribute to old country story-songs, such as ‘El Paso’ by Marty Robbins."  Americana Highways raves about the song’s musicality, including its Spanish-flavored horns, and more, David Diamond’s voice is still as powerful as when he sang ‘This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ To Glide’ on their first album.” Rave and Roll hears its cinematic quality, "How about some spaghetti western atmospherics? A Rose For Your Stone produces that vibe, underscored by an accordion and playful mariachi horns."

The Kings, originally formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Oakville, Ontario, are a Canadian rock band. The original lineup was David Diamond (lead vocals, bass, songwriter), Sonny Keyes (vocals, keyboards, songwriter), Max Styles (currently Todd Reynolds) (drums), and Mister Zero (guitar, songwriter).

Before their breakthrough, they spent over three years as WhistleKing, refining their skills through rehearsals, club gigs, and songwriting, always with recording as the goal. Their journey led them to Nimbus 9 Studio in Toronto, where renowned producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, KISS) joined the story.

Ezrin's involvement led to a worldwide major label deal with Elektra Records in Los Angeles. Their debut project, "The Kings Are Here," featured the smash hit 'This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide,' which received extensive major market airplay all over the USA and Canada, spending 23 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100, earning them a Canadian Juno Award nomination, Platinum album and Gold single status and induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The Kings continued their musical journey with the albums "Amazon Beach," "RSVP," "Unstoppable," "Party Live in '85", "The Lost Tapes of a Seventies Bar Band" and "Because of You," all of which showcase their energy and songwriting prowess. They also released a captivating documentary titled "Anatomy of a One-Hit Wonder”, as well as the incredible concert film "Live at Heatwave".

Now, in 2024, "The Longest Story Ever Told," reaffirms the Kings’ status as a rock band with songwriting depth. With a history of hits, over 2000 North American shows and a devoted fan base, The Kings remain a hungry band with something to prove.

Other Mothers

One of the songs I'm plugging this week (and for the rest of the year). "Other Mother" by Emily Hurd

https://youtu.be/jrSR4C1Gv3c?si=Mz9kgSnQcvv9Nq77