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John Fogerty wrote “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” about his brother, Tom Fogerty, who left Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1971 at the apex of the band’s popularity. The departure of his brother was a sad time for John. Eventually, the hurt healed, and the meaning of the song changed. In Fogerty’s own words, “This song was originally written about a very sad thing that was going on in my life. But I refuse to be sad now. These days, this song reminds me of my little girl, Kelsy, and every time I sing it, I think about Kelsy and rainbows. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” is another song that emerged unexpectedly from my subconscious. The song bounced around in my head until I played it. Here’s my cover.  #AcousticGuitar #Vocals #FolkRock #CreedenceClearwaterRevival #GuitarAndVocalSolos #Songwriters #songwriting # BluesMusic #FolkMusic #CountryMusic #1970sMusic #HitSongs #JohnFogerty #TomFogerty #NewOrleansMusic

Here’s another Gordon Lightfoot tune that may not be as recognizable as many of his other songs that I’ve covered here. Somehow, “I’ll be Alright” crept into my consciousness, and I’m happy to offer my cover of the song in this post. To me, the song is as lovely and memorable as many of Lightfoot’s hits, including:  “If You Could Read My Mind,”   “Early Morning Rain,”  and  “Song For A Winter’s Night.” Please enjoy this remembrance of the one and only Gordon Lightfoot. Acoustic Guitar And Vocalist In Concert

Acoustic Guitarist In her brief lifetime, which was cut short by Leukemia, Kate Wolf became a major influence on the folk scene with songs like “ Give Yourself to Love ,” “ Across the Great Divide ,” “ Green Eyes ,” “ September Song ,” and many more. Kate’s audience has continued to grow since her unfortunate passing. As an example, I found her late in my life. Here's my cover of “Green Eyes.” Beautiful Woman With Green Eyes acoustic Guitar, love, relationships, songwriter, recording artist, Kate Wolf, folk music

"Girl From The North Country" is another one of those songs that popped into my head from out of nowhere. I can't decide if it's a message from the Beyond or just a little piece of my subconscious rising like a sunspot from the deep layers of my skin with aging. Whatever the case, "Girl From The North Country" is one of Dylan's earliest recorded songs, written in England in 1961 and released in 1963. Listening to it now, I find the ballad enchanting. As a young adult, I followed Dylan's work tangentially only because it was prominent in the mainstream. Lately, I've developed a deep appreciation for Dylan's music and the man himself. I've covered several Dylan songs in this blog, including "Mr. Tambourine Man,"   "My Back Pages,"  and now this one. "Girl From The North Country" is a beautiful ballad recounting a lost love. Many believe the woman in the song is Suze Rotolo. At the time, Dylan had just dropped out of college to pursue his musical career in New York City. Rotolo had just graduated from high school and entered the Greenwich Village folk scene. Their first meeting took place at the First Riverside Church concert in New York City. Dylan described the meeting in his memoir: "Cupid's arrow had whistled past my ears before, but this time it hit me in the heart, and the weight of it dragged me overboard." Eventually, the couple lived together in Greenwich Village and then grew apart when Dylan went to England, and Rotolo went to Italy to continue her education. After some time passed, Dylan went to Italy to find Retolo. At the same time, Rotolo returned to New York City. The couple finally reunited and lived in Dylan's apartment until their final breakup. The album cover of Dylan's second album, Freewheeling, features Dylan and Rotolo walking arm in arm down a Greenwich Village street. Here's my cover.

Born to Jewish Hungarian parents in Brooklyn in 1941, Paul Simon grew up to be one of the foremost musicians of our time. He is best known for his albums with childhood friend Art Garfunkle, but I believe Simon’s solo work is where he really shines. “American Tune” is a fine example. With its melody, guitar picking, lyrics, and overall artistry, the song comes together as a masterpiece. “American Tune” expresses the recording artist’s political disappointment in the early nineteen-seventies. The nineteen-sixties bloom of racial equality, love, and peace had already blossomed and faded. While my favorite recording artists continued to produce heartfelt, meaningful, and exquisitely beautiful folk and folk rock music, America’s social and political evolution stalled. With the election of President Richard Nixon in 1972, the glowing hope and ideals of the prior decade receded into the background. Paul Simon artfully captures the undercurrents of this period in this remarkable song. Despite its melancholy tone, I am deeply moved by the beauty of the words and music. “American Tune” popped into my head unexpectedly and without warning. It literally came “from out of nowhere.” I think it did because we are about to take another evolutionary step backwards under the Trump administration. Please enjoy my cover of Paul Simon’s moving song.

The Incredible String Band burst onto the folk music scene in 1966 with the release of their first album, aptly named “The Incredible String Band.” As an avid lover and consumer of folk, I had never heard anything like their songs. The band started out as a trio composed of Clive Palmer, Robin Williamson, and Mike Heron. Williamson and Heron composed most of ISB’s music. Palmer eventually dropped out, replaced by other musicians and the girlfriends of Williamson and Heron. Signed by Electra Records, the group produced seven albums for the label, most notably their first four, which included “The Five Hundred Spirits or the Layers of the Onion” and “The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter.” Through intermittent tours and appearances at prestigious venues like the Albert Hall, The Incredible String Band gained worldwide fans and international recognition from their humble beginnings in Edinburgh, Scotland. Listen to Mike Heron’s lilting, whimsical “Painting Box” to get a sense of The Incredible String Band’s multifaceted musical range. Here’s my cover.

Nanci Griffith introduced her third album with its title song, “ Once in a Very Blue Moon, ” on the Austin City Limits TV show in 1984. She sang to a live audience with her typically bold and beautiful voice, which continues to endear this singer/songwriter to millions of people around the world after her passing. This poignant song could easily sound sad, but not the way Nanci performs it. With her crystal-clear voice, it actually sounds uplifting. A quality comes through Griffith’s songs. It sounds to me like “nothing will ever get me down.” I’m sure Ms. Griffith endured many hardships and obstacles in her life, but she always came out on top. I dedicate my cover to the memory of this inspiring woman.

Kate Wolf left a legacy of over two hundred songs that she recorded and performed in live concert. I’ve played a number of those songs here and in online groups. I’ve tried to embody and share Kate’s love, beauty, compassion, pathos, and joy. Now, it seems my journey with Kate’s music is ending with a few songs from her last albums. Here’s an upbeat one titled “Stone In The Water.” Bonus Track Linda Ronstadt made this song famous. I’m playing Eva Cassidy’s version of “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” close to the style she used to perform it. Paul Anka wrote the ballad for Buddy Holly, and Holly was the first to perform it in 1958. The song reached number 13 on the charts at the time. Ronstadt and Cassidy, two great artists, are no longer with us. They both sang like angels and their legends have grown over time. Their music lives on and is enjoyed by a worldwide audience. This track is dedicated to the memory of Linda Ronstadt and Eva Cassidy . My version of “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” #guitarstyle #acousticguitar #LindaRonstadt #folkmusic #vocalists #guitartechnique #popmusic #guitarpicking #guitarsolo #torchsinger #artists #guitar #femalevocalists #EvaCassidy #classicsongs #guitarmusic

Even if you aren’t a fan of seventies music, you’ve probably heard Don McLean’s hit song, “And I Love You So.” What you may not know is the song was widely covered by other recording artists, most notably Elvis Presley and Perry Como. Yes, I said Perry Como. In a career that spanned decades, Don McLean wrote and recorded twenty-two studio albums, four live albums, and 16 singles. He is best known for his song and album of the same name, “American Pie.” I’m constantly amazed at the way major recording artists create unique compositions to express their music. “And I Love You So” features an original picking method combined with interesting chord shapes. Learning to play a song the way the artist does is a great way to expand your musical scope and technique. Here is my cover of McLean’s hit. I’ve re-recorded it one fret lower. Take the next step that’s in your wheelhouse. This is the path to your success. #beautiful #DonMclean #seventiesmusic #folkmusic #artistprofiles #happiness #guitartechnique #solos #loverelationships #Joy #hitsongs #guitarpicking #vocals #love #inspiration #singing #sologuitar #profiles

“Crossroads” is another great song by Don McLean. It first appeared on his hit album, “American Pie.” Although the song is not as well-known as the title song and some of the other songs on the album ( “Vincent” “And I Love You So” and “ Empty Chairs “) Crossroads is nonetheless moving and beautiful. On the surface, the song is about a man remembering a long-lost love with a sense of regret and a desire to turn back time. I believe the subtext of the song has a larger and more universal meaning: hope and happiness can be found with anything that joins us on the inevitable journey of life. It doesn’t have to be a lover or anyone in particular. It can be an idea, a thought, an emotion, or even an absence of something or someone. An absence can be as strong a motivator as a presence. On the album, McLean performs the song on Piano. Fortunately, my good friend and tutor, Jerry’s Guitar Bar , has transposed the song for guitar. Here’s my version. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF . BELIEVE IN A POSITIVE OUTCOME. AND, IT WILL BE SO. #LPAlbums #DonMclean #seventiesmusic #guitartutorial #contemporaryartists #acousticguitar #folkmusic #memories #guitartechnique #loneliness #loverelationships #popmusic #guitarpicking #guitarsolo #reflections #songs #vocals #love #guitar #loss #AmericanPie #Crossroads #guitarplaying #seventiesera #singing #VincentVanGogh

"Against the Wind" is regarded as one of Bob Seeger's best songs. The lyrics are replete with the songwriter's reflections on his youth, past relationships, and music career. The metaphor of running against the wind came from Seeger's high school days, where he ran on the track team. Seeger created his eleventh album, "Against the Wind," intending to record hit songs. In other words, the artist wasn't overly concerned with aesthetics. He wanted to make a commercially viable collection of songs, leaving it up to Capitol Records which ones to release as singles. Along with his Silver Bullet Band, Seeger certainly succeeded. "Against the Wind" has been described as a bittersweet cross between country and rock music. The song holds an attraction for me as I look back on my life from the perspective of a 75-year-old. I've published eleven novels  and recorded innumerable songs. Has any of it made a positive and significant impact on the world? Perhaps in a very small sense, the answer is "yes." But the results have been far below my expectations. I'm sure we are all, in one sense or another, running against the wind. There are things we turn away from that must be confronted. There are obstacles we must overcome if we are to move forward. Seeger ends this song with a determination to keep running against the wind no matter what it takes. I offer my cover in the same spirit. # acoustic guitar # Audacity # Blue Mic # country music , # cover songs # famous bands # guitar strums # guitarist # home recording studio # musicians # pop music # recording music # recording software # relationships # rock music # Silver Bullet Band # soft rock # solo guitar # soloists # Song Meanings # songwriters

John Fogerty wrote this song, in part, for his son, Josh. Josh was three years old at the time, and John could barely wait for his son to hear him sing the song on the radio, especially the part that goes: “Doot doot doo lookin’ out my back door.” In the song’s chorus, a passing parade is mentioned. Fogerty says the lyric is inspired by a Dr. Seuss book he read as a child, “To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street.” Some people say the lyric “Won’t you take a ride on the flying spoon” is a reference to cocaine or heroin. Fogrety vehemently denies this. He discouraged drug use by any of his band members, saying drugs interfered with their music and their jobs. Credence Clearwater Revival gained prominence in the late 1960’s. The band split up acrimoniously in 1972. John Fogerty is still performing as of this writing. Here’s my cover of this fun song. John Fogerty