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A Friend Like You – Song by Brad Peterson


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‘A Friend Like You’ – Song by Brad Peterson.

Brad Peterson
a Friend Like You
Brad PetersonArtist Bio a Friend Like You

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Song Information:

A Friend Like You – Song by Brad Peterson
Inspired by Rushmore’s Dirk Calloway’s immortal line “With Friends Like You Who Needs Friends?” This song is a retrospective description of betrayal, gossip, and disappointment and how from which, one may rise anew. Plenty of modulation experimentation on traditional instruments really made this feel modern.

Lyrics:

when you tell your little stories
of my faults won’t gain you glory
when you act unkindly and malign me
though at first i was discouraged
eventually it gave the courage
to realize i opened up my eyes
i didn’t see but now i do
with enemies who needs a friend like you
who needs a friend like you
rumours of my death inflated, dramatized, and overstated
spread certain parts of the town
knives were twisted and lessons learned
my back was stabbed and some bridges burned
way to kick a fella when he’s down
i didn’t see but now i do
with enemies who needs a friend like you
who needs a friend like you

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

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BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

Genre : Alternative, Indie, Singer-Songwriter, Alt-Folk
ISRC: QZAMM1710040
ISWC: T9241853703 – ASCAP INFO HERE
UPC: 812264032921
BPM: 92
Key: F Major

Keywords: Alternative, Adult Alternative, Indie, Indie-pop, Singer-Songwriter
Drums, party, celebration, neighbors, friends, retro, throwback
upbeat, uplifting, positive, empowering, fun, feel good, bouncy, cheerful, celebratory, bright, sentimental, heartfelt, tender, emotive, heartwarming, moving, Wonder

Listen if you like: U2, Gotye, The Verve, Band of Horses, The National,The Shins, OneRepublic,  Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, The Antlers, Grizzly Bear, Beirut, Iron & Wine, Neutral Milk Hotel, S. Carey, Volcano Choir, Broken Social Scene, The Mountain Goats, Perfume Genius, Elliott Smith, Dirty Projectors, The National, St. Vincent, Animal Collective, Sharon Van Etten, Mount Eerie, The Microphones, Something, Sung Hoon

Beautiful & Bright (Christmas Song) – Brad Peterson


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‘Beautiful and Bright’ Holiday Song by Brad Peterson.

Brad Peterson
Beautiful and Bright
Brad PetersonArtist Bio Beautiful and Bright

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Song Information:

Beautiful and Bright Holiday Song by Brad Peterson
the ever-acroamatic Brad Peterson annual holiday song in a hand-constructed garden shed studio. lyrics inspired by a postcard sent in 1912, this song attempts to convey a feeling of a holiday celebration with friends and family.
more: https//bradpeterson.com
Written, performed, and produced by Brad Peterson
Guest appearance by THE RAG-TAG-GARDEN-SHED-CHOIR: Kim Sommers, Joeseph Sommers, Chelsea Goldberg, Heidi L Riley, Scott Reily, Joanna Claypool Walla, Joseph James, Jp Perlow, Larry Brown, Suede Stout, Susan Carey-Perlow

Lyrics:

May the Yuletide Joy be forever thine
May your new year be so beautiful and bright
If the wind should bring the cold
In the darkness of the night
May a distant star serve to be your guide

To the gala it’s begun
I hope that you will come
a time for mirth and peace on earth and goodwill to everyone

May your hearts be filled
This blithesome time of year
…that lived that loved that liked that looked with cheer

You drink your cup and I’ll take mine
O’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne
A sound as sweet as a mother’s song
We almost forgot it it’s been so long
peace on earth and goodwill to everyone

To the gala it’s begun
I hope that you will come
a time for mirth and peace on earth
and goodwill to everyone

May the Yuletide Joy be forever thine
May your new year be so beautiful and bright
May the Yuletide Joy be forever thine
May your new year be so beautiful and –
Bright…….
Noel.

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

Genre : Christmas,  Alternative, Indie, Singer-Songwriter, Alt-Folk
ISRC: QZ-AMM-17-31031
ISWC: T9268347531
UPC: 193339052205
BPM: 115
Key: D# Major

Keywords: Holiday, Christmas, Alternative, Adult Alternative, Indie, Indie-pop, Singer-Songwriter
sleigh, bells, jingle, choir, double, upright, bass, stand, mallets, french, horns, tuba, harmony, acoustic, guitar, vibraphone, party, celebration, neighbors, friends, retro, throwback
love, happy, upbeat, uplifting, positive, empowering, fun, feel good, bouncy, cheerful, celebratory, bright, sentimental, heartfelt, tender, emotive, heartwarming, moving, Wonder

Listen if you like: The Beach Boys, The Monkees, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Hollies, The Grass Roots, Tommy James & The Shondells, Herman’s Hermits, The Turtles, The Association, The Mamas & The Papas, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Buckinghams, The Troggs, Sonny & Cher, The Young Rascals, The Box Tops, Manfred Mann, The Cowsills, The Searchers, The Spencer Davis Group, The Zombies, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Something, Sung Hoon, Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, The Antlers, Grizzly Bear, Beirut, Iron & Wine, Neutral Milk Hotel, S. Carey, Volcano Choir, Broken Social Scene, The Mountain Goats, Perfume Genius, Elliott Smith, Dirty Projectors, The National, St. Vincent, Animal Collective, Sharon Van Etten, Mount Eerie, The Microphones, Something, Sung Hoon

All Is Well (Christmas Single) – Brad Peterson


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“All Is Well” Christmas Song by Brad Peterson.

Brad Peterson
All Is Well
Brad PetersonArtist Bio All Is Well

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Song Information:

All Is Well” was recorded in a garden-shed studio…

Notes: Brad describes the song’s inspiration as such:

“There’s a word in Portuguese: sau·da·de / souˈdädə;  plural noun: saudades

a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia…
If we’re fortunate, as we get older, we may recall in wistful reverie -an idyllic Christmas season surrounded by loved ones. For me, that blissful time, before experience and loss, can hurt to contemplate. Rather than the melancholic tendencies I’ve often fallen to, this year I choose to celebrate in fond remembrance, those absent loved ones.”

Lyrics:

It’s twenty-five of twelve and all is well
Yet there seems there’s been something lost
The absent ones we grieve On a Christmas eve
Sparkle in the crystalline frost
Come this late December -Recall when we were all together
We’ll toast the one who’ve come and gone
Ribbons on the wreath -Lights are strung on trees
Kiss me underneath mistletoe
Happy on our way -On a Christmas day
Memories buried deep in the frost
Come this late December -Recall when we were all together
We’ll toast the one who’ve come and gone
And if the wind blows -Like the ghosts of Christmas past
If come a long snow in a wintery blast
We’ll hold fast…
It’s twenty-five of twelve and all is well
Yet there seems there’s been something lost
The absent ones we grieve On a Christmas eve
Sparkle in the crystalline frost
Come this late December -Recall when we were all together
We’ll toast the one who’ve come and gone…

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

Genre : Christmas,  Alternative, Indie, Singer-Songwriter, Alt-Folk
BPM: 130
Key: E Major
ISRC: QZ-AMM-17-24345
UPC: 8720356845491
ISWC: T9229859409

Keywords: happy, nostalgic, whimsical, wistful, magical, dreamy, celeste, glockenspiel, mellotron, Christmas, Acoustic guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Drums

Listen if you like: Tame Impala, Elliott Smith, XTC, David Gray, Joshua Radin, Joe Purdy, Beach Boys, Matt Costa, Mason Jennings, Blind Pilot, Iron and Wine, Nathaniel Rateliff, José González, Glen Hansard, S. Carey

Forever is a Long Time (September Remix) – Brad Peterson


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Forever is a Long Time (September Remix)
Song by Brad Peterson.

Brad Peterson
Forever is a Long Time (September Remix)
Brad PetersonArtist Bio Forever is a Long Time (September Remix)

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Song Information:

Forever is a Long Time” was rethought in my garden-shed studio, August of 2020.

Notes: Brad Peterson releases a new recording for Autumn 2020. Brad describes the song’s inspiration as such:

“This song was written and recorded in a garden shed in the brilliant cinematic colors of September, with its long light through tall pines, aromatic redolence, and melodious chorus of nature that seems to sing tales of long forgotten secrets. There is something mystical about this time of year when the veil between light and dark, past and present, the terrestrial and the celestial wears thin. Our minds are free to wander and reflect. “Forever is a Long Time” is an unrestricted journey through the sublime -like a childhood daydream. There’s also a sense of melancholy as one ponders the shortened days ahead -coupled with a sense of loss of the bright days; I ponder my own mortality. These concepts combine into a complex feeling for which the English language has no exact words. Perhaps this song was my exercise to bond with nature and accept my autumn days as a human being -while trying to let go of regret, what might have been, and what will never be again.”

Lyrics:

in the chorus of the dawn’s song is a pause
comes a memory of the days gone -then it’s lost
i open up my eyes
content yet mystified
and we’ll ride into the long light with a whimsical tune
flecks of red and gold that burn bright will be gone soon
charcoal written secrets in words that don’t exist
though it isn’t known
maybe it’s this here
a clearing in the pines
empyrean skies
sleeping dogs that lie
a word to nullify
a soothing anodyne
and forever is a long time

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

Genre : Americana, Alternative, Adult Alternative, Indie, Singer-Songwriter, Folk, Alt-Folk, Rock
BPM: 103
Key: D Major
ISRC: QZAMM1940447
UPC: 193339438467
ISWC: T9203194927

Keywords: nostalgic, dreamy, contemplative, epic, hypnotic, surreal, autumn, drone, equinox, acoustic, September

Listen if you like: Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, Ray LaMontagne, David Gray, Joshua Radin, Joe Purdy, Peter Bradley Adams, The Weepies, Alexi Murdoch, William Fitzsimmons, Matt Costa, Mason Jennings, Blind Pilot, Iron and Wine, Nathaniel Rateliff, José González, Glen Hansard, S. Carey

New PC for the BP Labs Shed

Latest Update

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New PC for the BP Labs Shed.

  1. 5.3ghz CPU (10 cores 20 threads [Intel i9-10900K 400 Series Chipset) 125W]
  2. 128GB ram @ 3600mhz [G.SKILL (4 x 32GB) Trident Z Royal]
  3. 1500watts [be quiet! Dark Power Pro 12]
  4. Motherboard w/ thunderbolt 3 [GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D]
  5. 20TB fast storage
    • OS Drive: SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus SSD 2TB
    • Media Drive: SAMSUNG 870 QVO-Series  8TB
    • Archive Drive: Seagate IronWolf NAS Internal SATA 6Gb/s 256MB Cache 10TB
  6. Monitor: LG OLED55CXPUA Alexa Built-In CX 55″ 4K OLED
  7. Audio Interface: ApolloX4 12×18 Apollo TB3 Int/UAD-2 4x DSP
  8. GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 ULTRA
    • 10496 CUDA Cores
    • 1800 MHz Boost Clock
    • 590.4GT/s Texture Fill Rate
    • 10496 CUDA Cores
    • 1800 MHz Boost Clock
    • 590.4GT/s Texture Fill Rate
  9. Case: be quiet! Dark Base 700

Tell Me What’s New


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“Tell Me What’s New”
Song by Brad Peterson [released August 2020]

Brad Peterson
Tell Me What's New
Brad PetersonArtist Bio Tell Me What's New

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Song Information:

Tell Me What’s New” was written and recorded in my garden-shed studio, July of 2020.

Notes: Brad Peterson releases a new recording for summer 2020. Brad describes the song’s inspiration as such:

“A friend is someone who makes you a better person; a fellow who delights in your well-being and offers assistance in rough waters.

I think we are fortunate if we find such a human in our lifetime. I’m lucky enough to have met one such rare soul, and his name was Vince Waters.

He had a soft and quiet way about him, he was slow to judge, he was considerate and empathetic. Years ago, when I was down, he was one of the few people on earth that cared enough to help me weather the storm; this, when he himself had his own share of burdens and misfortune.

As time moved on, so did I. Happiness returned to me and Vince and I would write or call each other a few times a year, even though we lived some distance apart. He continued to struggle. I tried to encourage him, the way he had done so for me, but I could sense his hope fading and our conversations became less frequent until a time he stopped writing or calling me back altogether.

Selfish, as I sometimes am, I was a little hurt and maybe a bit angry for his lack of response. After waiting for over a year, another attempt to reach out, but again: no call, and no message back. Vince and I didn’t have mutual friends for me to contact, so I started looking for him on social media. There, I happened upon some in-memoriam messages. My heart sank when it dawned on me that my friend had died some while back. I became overcome with a sense of loss and regret -that I had the audacity to somehow feel slighted when I should’ve been a better friend. Enough about me.

Vince loved his children, a good cigar, playing chess, sharing stories, and I especially enjoyed his tales from the sea -when he was most free on the waves and enjoying his passion for sailing.

This song: “Tell Me What’s New” includes elements of those final and unanswered letters that I wrote to Vince. It was written and recorded in my garden-shed studio, July of 2020, and I’d like to dedicate it to him.”

Lyrics:

well, I wrote in that letter
I hoped you felt better
and the rest of the things that you say
and asked you what’s new
did you ever get to do
the things you wanted to ?
it’s been kind of warm here
no rain and the sky’s clear
can’t complain and the days are getting long
how’s it up there ?
Is there sunshine? Is it fair ?
I hope it lessens your despair
write and tell me what’s new
write and tell me what’s new
brother, I know you’ve been blue
I’ve been worried about you
tell me what’s new
how is the family
and are they all healthy
Is everyone getting along ?
I know it’s been hard
to love them from afar
remain true to who you are
write and tell me what’s new
write and tell me what’s new
brother, I know you’ve been blue
I’ve been worried about you
tell me what’s new
wrote you in vain
for all your pain
I remain
write and tell me what’s new
write and tell me what’s new
brother, I know you’ve been blue
I’ve been worried about you
tell me what’s new

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

Genre : Americana, Alternative, Adult Alternative, Indie, Singer-Songwriter, Alt-Folk, Rock
BPM: 67
Key: A♭ Major
ISRC: QZAMM1917667
UPC: 193339387345
ISWC: T9328774727

Keywords: letter writing, friendship, true friend, loss, correspondence, sorrow, pedal steel, leslie, rotory speaker, guitar, vocal harmony, acoustic, vintage, retro, throwback, sentimental, heartfelt, tender, emotive, heartwarming, moving, nostalgic, gospel music

Listen if you like: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Leon Bridges, Ray LaMontagne, The Teskey Brothers, David Gray, Del Amitri, The Waterboys, u2, Lenny Kravitz, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke, Percy Sledge, Jackie Wilson, Crowded House, James Morrison, Damien Dempsey, The Alarm, Son Little, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Pink Floyd, The Dip, David Gilmour, Black Pumas, Curtis Harding, Durand Jones & The Indications, Anderson East, Lake Street Dive, Alabama Shakes, Jordan Mackampa, Maggie Rogers, Lady Wray, Jordan Rakei, The California Honeydrops, Allen Stone, Bahamas, Lee Fields & The Expressions

The Loneliest Man in the Universe


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“The Loneliest Man in the Universe”
Song by Brad Peterson [released July 2020]

Brad Peterson
The Loneliest Man in the Universe
Brad PetersonArtist Bio The Loneliest Man in the Universe

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Song Information:

The Loneliest Man in the Universe” was written and recorded in my garden-shed studio, June of 2020.

Notes: Brad Peterson releases his new recording for summer 2020. Brad describes the song’s inspiration as such:

“I’ve long felt that the pinnacle of human achievement took place in July of 1969, culminating with Apollo 11’s mission to the moon and back.

Perhaps seemingly unrelated, as a recording artist and songwriter, my lodestars are members of a group responsible for making record albums. For example: Paul McCartney may have written a good song, but the Beatles helped refine the performance, Geroge Martin helped arrange it, Geoff Emerick engineered the recording et al. I study the recording techniques, and also enjoy the artisanship of the equipment they used and their design. Revolver is a good example of such an assembly of crew, technology, and effort.

As an engineer and scientist, my archetypes [some might say heroes] are the team responsible for the lunar landing. Folks are likely to know who Neil Armstrong was, but amongst the 300,000 workers who contributed, I’ve become a fan of men like: Gene Kranz (Chief Flight Director), Bill Tindall (Aerospace Engineer ), and perhaps the least sung astronaut of the Apollo 11 mission, Michael Collins.

While the world’s headlines in the summer of ’69 were mostly about landing, another profound occurrence was quietly happening when Michael Collins flew around the far-side of the moon -completely on his own, becoming the furthest any solitary human had ever been. I find it orphic that Mike was completely cut off from all communication to all mankind during this event. I’ve always enjoyed the playful misnomer: “The Loneliest Man in the Universe”; it’s been on my “song ideas list” for years.

The only “non musical instrument” hanging on the walls of my garden-shed recording studio, is a framed autographed photo of the 3 Apollo 11 astronauts along with the mission patch, and a replica of the placard which was mounted to one of the legs of the lunar module. It is with respect that I recorded ‘The Loneliest Man in the Universe’ nearly 51 years after the event that inspires me so.”

Lyrics:

revolving around the dark side now
he’s flying solo
his vision is fixed on the instruments
the lunar surface below
columbia come back we know
isn’t perfect but could be worse
can you’re confirm you omni bravo
loneliest man in the universe

a quarter million miles from home
so dark and quiet
it’s you, your wit, that’s it, within[your] metallic island
columbia come come back
we can’t read you
we’re not receiving telemetry
the stars, the sun, the moon, and you
were never really lonely now as it seems

what in the world were you
thinking when the eagle flew
one lone soul on your own

revolving around the dark side now
he’s flying solo
his vision is fixed on the instruments
the lunar surface below
columbia come now we know
if you a transmitting you can’t be heard
will you confirm you’re omni bravo
loneliest man in the universe
columbia come back we know
isn’t perfect but could be worse
will you confirm you omni bravo
loneliest man in the universe

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

Genre : Americana, Alternative, Adult Alternative, Indie, Indie-pop, Singer-Songwriter, Alt-Folk
BPM: 118
Key: E major
ISRC: QZAMM1882847
UPC: 193339341767
ISWC: T9328773655

Keywords: Apollo 11, NASA, acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, acoustic bass, standup bass, drums, retro, 69, michael collins, acetone, tremolo, clave,  bossa nova,  percussion, varispeed tape, vibrato guitar, pedal steel, guitar, vocal harmony, acoustic, vintage, retro, throwback, sentimental, heartfelt, tender, emotive, heartwarming, moving, nostalgic

Listen if you like: Hers, Summer Salt, Yung Heazy, Banes World, ansire, RICEWINE, TEMPOREX, No Vacation, Gus Dapperton, Brad stank, Michael Seyer, Lunar Vacation, The Marías, Mellow Fellow, Jakob Ogawa, Hala, Acid Ghost, Yellow Days, Black Pool, Men I Trust, CASTLEBEAT, Sunset Rollercoaster, Boyscott, The Buttertones, SadGirl, Triathalon, Vundabar, Dreamgirl, Goth Babe, Loving, Joy Again, Good Morning, The Walters, Current Joys, Kid Bloom, The Symposium, Magroove, Vansire, Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, The dB’s, Matthew Sweet, The Posies, Marshall Crenshaw, Flamin’ Groovies, Teenage Fanclub, Nick Lowe, The Soft Boys, The Feelies, Emitt Rhodes, Paul Westerberg, Gene Clark, The Replacements, Raspberries, John Cale, Guided By Voices, The Nerves, The Modern Lovers, Big Star, Dwight Twilley Band, Dennis Wilson, Shoes, Game Theory, Robyn Hitchcock, The Flying Burrito Brothers, ELO, Mott The Hoople, Badfinger, Raspberries, Todd Rundgren, Ringo Starr, Emitt Rhodes, Big Star, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Hollies, The Move, The Grass Roots, The Guess Who, Jeff Lynne, Harry Nilsson, The Association, Faces, The Monkees, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Zombies, Mott The Hoople, Tommy James & The Shondells, Flamin’ Groovies, The Turtles, The Beach Boys, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Herman’s Hermits, The Mamas & The Papas, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Buckinghams, The Troggs, Sonny & Cher, The Young Rascals, The Box Tops, Manfred Mann, The Cowsills, The Searchers, The Spencer Davis Group, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Something, Sung Hoon, Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, The Antlers, Grizzly Bear, Beirut, Iron & Wine, Neutral Milk Hotel, S. Carey, Volcano Choir, Broken Social Scene, The Mountain Goats, Perfume Genius, Elliott Smith, Dirty Projectors, The National, St. Vincent, Animal Collective, Sharon Van Etten, Mount Eerie, The Microphones, Sung Hoon

Sample Downloads


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Sample Downloads [free]

See The Video for how to use these:

Sample Downloads:

This is a trick I sometimes use to enhance drums that are too dead or dry and make them sound more “tonal”.

Download BP-Snare-Ring.wav
Download BP-Kick-Sine-Tone.wav

Cakewalk has it’s own triggering built into the DAW but others may find free plugins that work too. Formed out of an experiment with Sound Design, this covers some common / basic methods and tricks that I often use with song writing and recording in my home recording studio. This isn’t for everyone, but I have had a few questions recently about how I record and write. The truth is: it’s never the same but what is consistent is that inspiration often comes from trying new things and experimentation -whether it be from a new chord, musical instrument, vst, effect plugin, eq setting, compression, microphone, scale, you never know…

BP Social Links:

Song Information:

The song used in this example, “The Loneliest Man in The Universe” will be released on July 17:  all instruments and production, written and performed by Brad Peterson in the garden shed, June of 2020.

Notes: Brad Peterson releases his new recording for summer 2020. Brad describes the song’s inspiration as such:

“I’ve long felt that the pinnacle of human achievement took place in July of 1969, culminating with Apollo 11’s mission to the moon and back.

Perhaps seemingly unrelated, as a recording artist and songwriter, my lodestars are members of a group responsible for making record albums. For example: Paul McCartney may have written a good song, but the Beatles helped refine the performance, Geroge Martin helped arrange it, Geoff Emerick engineered the recording et al. I study the recording techniques, and also enjoy the artisanship of the equipment they used and their design. Revolver is a good example of such an assembly of crew, technology, and effort.

As an engineer and scientist, my archetypes [some might say heroes] are the team responsible for the lunar landing. Folks are likely to know who Neal Armstrong was, but amongst the 300,000 workers who contributed, I’ve become a fan of men like: Gene Kranz (Chief Flight Director), Bill Tindall (Aerospace Engineer ), and perhaps the least sung astronaut of the Apollo 11 mission, Michael Collins.

While the world’s headlines in the summer of ’69 were mostly about landing, another profound occurrence was quietly happening when Micheal Collins flew around the far-side of the moon -completely on his own, becoming the furthest any solitary human had ever been. I find it orphic that Mike was completely cut off from all communication to all mankind during this event. I’ve always enjoyed the playful misnomer: “The Loneliest Man in the Universe”; it’s been on my “song ideas list” for years.

The only “non musical instrument” hanging on the walls of my garden-shed recording studio, is a framed autographed photo of the 3 Apollo 11 astronauts along with the mission patch, and a replica of the placard which was mounted to one of the legs of the lunar module. It is with respect that I recorded “The Loneliest Man in the Universe” nearly 51 years after the event that inspires me so.”

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

ISRC: QZAMM1882847
UPC: 193339341767
BPM: 118
Key: E  Major

Genre : Americana, Alternative, Adult Alternative, Indie, Indie-pop, Singer-Songwriter, Alt-Folk

pedal steel, guitar, choir, bass,  70s, dry, vocal harmony, acoustic, vintage, retro, throwback, sentimental, heartfelt, tender, emotive, heartwarming, moving, nostalgic

Listen if you like: ELO, Mott The Hoople, Badfinger, Raspberries, Todd Rundgren, Ringo Starr, Emitt Rhodes, Big Star, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Hollies, The Move, The Grass Roots, The Guess Who, Jeff Lynne, Harry Nilsson, The Association, Faces, The Monkees, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Zombies, Mott The Hoople, Tommy James & The Shondells, Flamin’ Groovies, The Turtles, The Beach Boys, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Herman’s Hermits, The Mamas & The Papas, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Buckinghams, The Troggs, Sonny & Cher, The Young Rascals, The Box Tops, Manfred Mann, The Cowsills, The Searchers, The Spencer Davis Group, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Something, Sung Hoon, Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, The Antlers, Grizzly Bear, Beirut, Iron & Wine, Neutral Milk Hotel, S. Carey, Volcano Choir, Broken Social Scene, The Mountain Goats, Perfume Genius, Elliott Smith, Dirty Projectors, The National, St. Vincent, Animal Collective, Sharon Van Etten, Mount Eerie, The Microphones, Sung Hoon

Charcoal Soul


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“Charcoal Soul” | Song by Brad Peterson [released June 2020]

Brad Peterson
Charcoal Soul
Brad PetersonArtist Bio Charcoal Soul

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For Bloggers:

copy embed code (for use in posts):

Song Information:

Charcoal Soul:  all instruments and production, written and performed by Brad Peterson in the garden shed, spring of 2020.

Notes: Brad Peterson releases his new recording for spring 2020. Brad describes the song’s inspiration as such:

“I spend quite a bit of time in my shed; it’s very quiet here. So quiet that the tiniest of sound seems especially conspicuous: the sound of birds, an aeroplane, or the hissing of an amplifier at the ready. There’s a sort of music to it -all hushed within my deadened burlap walls. As an engineer, I’m normally compelled to squelch these uninvited sonic contributors whilst I record and mix my songs, but for this experiment I asked: why not invite it in? And why not capture the sound of the homely shed as it is?

This song began as humble mellotron organ chords through various filters and modulation effects and an early 70s dry drum kit. Instead of suppressing the hiss in the signal path, I chose to accentuate it. I improvised a melody and some chord changes as the words “Charcoal Soul” just came out. It’s a sort of ode to the songs that could be heard emanating from neighborhood teenage kids’ bedrooms in my childhood. I suppose there’s a juxtaposition of idyllic memory backdropping a more cynical lyrical commentary about how time has slightly embittered the sweetness. It’s mostly a temperate arrangement except for when the comparatively lush backing vocals kick in; it was a lot of fun to record. With my ever-developing production skills, I’m able to Frankenstein almost any instrument and arrangement at this point …at varying levels of ability.”

I can imagine listening to this song as a six-year old, sprawled out on shag carpeting and staring at an album cover with the smell of patchouli incense”

Lyrics:
I promise to tell you
if I should stop believing
you move and dance
with slight of hand
that grabs and then retrieves me
but not without a heavy toll
when did we get so old
how do I have a big black charcoal soul
it’s been a while
can’t remember when we’ve last smiled
we seldom speak
and when we try
a magnificent lie
not without a heavy toll
when did we get so old
how did I get a big black
When did I get the big black charcoal soul
on this quiet night
in this dim light…
I promise to tell you
if I should stop believing
you move and dance
with slight of hand
to grab and then retrieve me
but not without a heavy toll
when did we get so old
how did I get a big black charcoal soul
when did we get so old
how did I get a big black charcoal soul

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

ISRC: QZAMM1858336
UPC: 193339301129
BPM: 111
Key: C  Major

Genre : Americana, Alternative, Adult Alternative, Indie, Indie-pop, Singer-Songwriter, Alt-Folk

pedal steel, guitar, choir, bass,  70s, dry, vocal harmony, acoustic, vintage, retro, throwback, sentimental, heartfelt, tender, emotive, heartwarming, moving, nostalgic

Listen if you like: ELO, Mott The Hoople, Badfinger, Raspberries, Todd Rundgren, Ringo Starr, Emitt Rhodes, Big Star, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Hollies, The Move, The Grass Roots, The Guess Who, Jeff Lynne, Harry Nilsson, The Association, Faces, The Monkees, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Zombies, Mott The Hoople, Tommy James & The Shondells, Flamin’ Groovies, The Turtles, The Beach Boys, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Herman’s Hermits, The Mamas & The Papas, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Buckinghams, The Troggs, Sonny & Cher, The Young Rascals, The Box Tops, Manfred Mann, The Cowsills, The Searchers, The Spencer Davis Group, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Something, Sung Hoon, Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, The Antlers, Grizzly Bear, Beirut, Iron & Wine, Neutral Milk Hotel, S. Carey, Volcano Choir, Broken Social Scene, The Mountain Goats, Perfume Genius, Elliott Smith, Dirty Projectors, The National, St. Vincent, Animal Collective, Sharon Van Etten, Mount Eerie, The Microphones, Sung Hoon

Keepsakes In The Garbage (Silver Anniversary Edition)

Brad Peterson releases:
“Keepsakes In The Garbage (Silver Anniversary Edition)

New Single for 2020

private soundcloud embed code:

Brad Peterson
Keepsakes in the Garbage
Brad PetersonArtist Bio Keepsakes in the Garbage

more player options available below

Also Available on  Spotify

Also Available on iTunes / Apple Music

Also Available on  Amazon Music

Also Available on SoundCloud

Also Available on bandcamp

BP Social Links:

Song Information:

Keepsakes in the Garbage – Silver Anniversary Edition (Lyric Video) Originally written in 1993, and recorded in 1995. Silver Anniversary Edition: All instruments and production by Brad Peterson in the garden shed, winter of 2020.

Notes: Brad Peterson releases his new recording for 2020. Brad describes the song’s inspiration as such: “There comes a time when a young man must venture forth into the real world and leave behind the comfort and whimsies of childhood. I wrote this song on the eve of my move to Chicago from a little-rural burgh, which was my boyhood home. Surrounded by bags, boxes, and various bric-a-brac, I had to decide what items where to be kept and which were to be discarded forever -like my youth. It’s now years later and I’ve decided to let nostalgia get the best of me -to record this memory of my memories for the sake of posterity… I miss unannounced visits and tapes”, he then added. Written and performed entirely by Brad Peterson and recorded in his Garden Shed.

Lyrics: Never had no treasures of gold Just keepsakes in the garbage And the house has been sold I won’t be living here no more I’ve got all my shi_ in boxes and I’m walking out the door But I’ve got keepsakes in the garbage I’ve got keepsakes in the garbage All the ribbons and my medals in a hefty bag The t-bird’s in the junkyard and all I got is Crumpled drawings by the road and then a careful handed garbage man starts to unfold I’ve got keepsakes in the garbage I’ve got keepsakes in the garbage Crayola built this house with an orange roof Flowers clouds and rainbows too And in the upper right hand corner So yellow and so bright A spoked wheel sun shines in a sky of blue And with every Schlitz I think of the old man I see his face and I hear his voice and then I I open another can I open another can But I’ve got keepsakes in the garbage I’ve got keepsakes in the garbage yeah I’ve got keepsakes I’ve got keepsakes in the garbage

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

Dead to Rights

Brad Peterson releases “Dead to Rights”

Another New Single for Spring, 2019

copy the soundcloud embed code below for use in your publication:

Brad Peterson
Dead to Rights
Brad PetersonArtist Bio Dead to Rights

more player options available below

Also Available on iTunes / Apple Music

Also Available on  Amazon Music

BP Social Links:

Latest News:

‘Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere’ info

[/fusion_title]

Brad Peterson releases his new song for the May 2019 called “Dead to Rights”. Brad describes the song’s inspiration as such: “I felt sadness when I discovered the trap. There was the limp-lifeless body of a creature -exanimate and serene. Does this fellow mortal not deserve better a better and noble end? I recalled a poem called: “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns and decide to write its antithesis”. “I like the drums”, he then added.

ISRC: QZ-AMM-17-55009 UPC: 193339134383
ASCAP Publishing Info

Written and performed entirely by Brad Peterson in his Garden Shed.

Lyrics:

you heard me scurry in the ceiling
you heard me hurry down the hallway to and fro

I dash right past you as you’re sleeping
I like to dine on morsels from the floor

I hide in the daytime oh I stay up all night
you bait the trap and prepare my plight
my fate was doomed then, you had me dead to rights

oh fellow mortal oh fearful man,
your dominion I’ve come into
However clever are the best laid plans,
we’re scuttering through

I heard the murmurs of you speaking
was I the topic of your conversation

I wasn’t stirring wasn’t squeaking
It gang aft agley from your ill opinion

I hide in the daytime oh I stay up all night
you bait the trap and prepare my plight
my fate was doomed then, you had me dead to rights

Listen if you like:
Peter Gabriel, U2, Coldplay, David Gray, Cold War Kids, Band of Horses, Blind Pilot, Broken Bells, Broken Bells, Cage The Elephant, Cold War Kids, Death Cab for Cutie, Delta Spirit, Dr. Dog, Fleet Foxes, Frightened Rabbit, Fruit Bats, Generationals, Grouplove, Iron & Wine, Lazy Eye, Local Natives, Matt and Kim, Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket, OK Go, Okkervil River, Passion Pit, Ra Ra Riot, Rogue Wave, Silversun Pickups, Spoon, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Decemberists, The Funeral, The National, The Shins, The Tallest Man On Earth, Tokyo Police Club, TV On The Radio, Vampire Weekend, Young the Giant \#violin #acousticguitar #electricguitar #harmonies #breakbeat #12string #funky #raw #groove #mouse #poem #energetic #urgent #driving #pulsing #ominous #bouncy #action #exciting #intense #unconventional #moody #reflective #indifferent #weary #tragic #ragedy #aweinspiring #humorous #playful #whimsical #quirky #compelling #groovy #cool

Direct all inquiries to Kim Sommers | kim@bplabs.com

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere

Brad Peterson releases “Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere

copy the soundcloud embed code below for use in your publication:

Brad Peterson
Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere
Brad PetersonArtist Bio Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere

more player options available below

Also Available on iTunes / Apple Music

Also Available on  Amazon Music

Also Available on  Pandora

BP Social Links:

Latest News:

‘Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere’ info

[/fusion_title]

Out like a lion, Brad Peterson releases his new song for the spring called “Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere”. Brad describes the song as: “a sonic divergence where we may never discover what’s been hidden in this mysterious region called ‘Nowhere’. Still, it seems that we are only scratching the surface and only time will tell what is to be unraveled.”.

“I like the bridge”, he then added.

ISRC: QZ-AMM-17-49603
UPC: 193339110622

Written and performed entirely by Brad Peterson in his Garden Shed.

#distortion, #acoustic guitar, #electric guitar, #harmonies, #guitar solo, #pentatonic, #gritty, #raw, #heavy, #desert, #Hidden, Energetic, #Urgent, #driving, #pulsing, #tension, #anxious,#ominous, #Aggressive, #rebellious, #mysterious

Lyrics:
Mama, I’ve been on the run
olly olly oxen free, the absentee, your son of a gun
I don’t wanna add extra to your grief
but I’m past the point of no return with bingo fuel and way beyond relief

so strayed far off the thoroughfare
I took the turn and wandered into
somewhere in the middle of nowhere

Somewhere in the middle of nowhere
no telecaster, television, telephone ring
no evidence of have been ever being there
and as I make my way across the plain
after my Illiad and my Odyssey
I’ll compose my epic poem

Mama, I’ve been on the run
olly olly oxen free, the absentee, your son of a gun
I don’t wanna add extra to your grief
but I’m past the point of no return with bingo fuel and way beyond relief

so strayed far off the thoroughfare
I took the turn and wandered into
somewhere in the middle of nowhere

Listen if you like:
The Beach Boys, The Monkees, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Hollies, The Grass Roots, Tommy James & The Shondells, Herman’s Hermits, The Turtles, The Association, The Mamas & The Papas, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Buckinghams, The Troggs, Sonny & Cher, The Young Rascals, The Box Tops, Manfred Mann, The Cowsills, The Searchers, The Spencer Davis Group, The Zombies, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Something, Sung Hoon, Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, The Antlers, Grizzly Bear, Beirut, Iron & Wine, Neutral Milk Hotel, S. Carey, Volcano Choir, Broken Social Scene, The Mountain Goats, Perfume Genius, Elliott Smith, Dirty Projectors, The National, St. Vincent, Animal Collective, Sharon Van Etten, Mount Eerie, The Microphones, Something, Sung Hoon

Direct all inquiries to Kim Sommers | kim@bplabs.com

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

Tilting at Windmills

Tilting at Windmills

A Song By Brad Peterson

Listen on Soundcloud

Listen on Spotify

Also on Apple Music.

Malaprops are often used in my songwriting – this is a fun tune in 9 that strikes my funny bone in it’s playful rhythmic notation and Emerson/Goethe/de Cervantes lyrical nods.

Lyrics:
I dot the Ts and cross the Is
I’m untoward and ostracized
tilting at windmills I can’t standstill 
my fate to be misunderstood
in a misadventured childhood
wrong or right I came out fighting
making mountains of molehills
tilting at windmills I can’t stand still 
Making it up as I go along
One of these times I might get it right
ready, steady, go
Making it up as I go along
One of these times I might get it right

 

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Beautiful and Bright

Brad Peterson releases “Beautiful and Bright”

Holiday Song For the Winter of 2018-2019

copy the soundcloud embed code below for use in your publication:

Brad Peterson
Beautiful and Bright
Brad PetersonArtist Bio Beautiful and Bright

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BP Social Links:

‘Beautiful and Bright’ info

Every year, from a quiet and snowy wood near Lake Michigan, the ever-acroamatic Brad Peterson writes and records an annual holiday song in a hand-constructed garden shed studio. Just a few months after the release of “the unknown album“, comes his 2018-2019 offerings.

With some of the lyrics inspired by a postcard sent in 1912, this song attempts to convey a feeling of a holiday celebration with friends and family.

Written, performed, and produced by Brad Peterson
Guest appearance by THE RAG-TAG-GARDEN-SHED-CHOIR
Kim Sommers, Joeseph Sommers, Chelsea Goldberg, Heidi L Riley, Scott Reily, Joanna Claypool Walla, Joseph James, Jp Perlow, Larry Brown, Suede Stout, Susan Carey-Perlow

ISRC: QZ-AMM-17-31031
BPM: 115
Key: D# Major
Holiday, Christmas, Alternative, Adult Alternative, Indie, Indie-pop, Singer-Songwriter
sleigh, bells, jingle, choir, double, upright, bass, stand, mallets, french, horns, tuba, harmony, acoustic, guitar, vibraphone, party, celebration, neighbors, friends, retro, throwback
love, happy, upbeat, uplifting, positive, empowering, fun, feel good, bouncy, cheerful, celebratory, bright, sentimental, heartfelt, tender, emotive, heartwarming, moving, Wonder

Listen if you like:
The Beach Boys, The Monkees, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Hollies, The Grass Roots, Tommy James & The Shondells, Herman’s Hermits, The Turtles, The Association, The Mamas & The Papas, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Buckinghams, The Troggs, Sonny & Cher, The Young Rascals, The Box Tops, Manfred Mann, The Cowsills, The Searchers, The Spencer Davis Group, The Zombies, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Something, Sung Hoon, Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, The Antlers, Grizzly Bear, Beirut, Iron & Wine, Neutral Milk Hotel, S. Carey, Volcano Choir, Broken Social Scene, The Mountain Goats, Perfume Genius, Elliott Smith, Dirty Projectors, The National, St. Vincent, Animal Collective, Sharon Van Etten, Mount Eerie, The Microphones, Something, Sung Hoon

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

Image Gallery

BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

Christmas With You

Brad Peterson releases “Christmas With You” 10th Anniversary Re-Mix

Holiday Song For the Winter of 2018-2019

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Beautiful and Bright
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‘Christmas With You’ info

Every year, from a quiet and snowy wood near Lake Michigan, the ever-acroamatic Brad Peterson writes and records an annual holiday song in a hand-constructed garden shed studio. Just a few months after the release of “the unknown album“, comes his 2018-2019 offerings.

An antithesis to a traditional Holiday song, this song was written looking out over a snowstorm that blanketed the cityscape on Christmas eve, which seemed to ‘freeze’ it as a still image.

Written, performed, and produced by Brad Peterson
ISRC: QZ-AMM-17-27371
ISWC:T9213374642
BPM: 114
Key: Bb Minor
bells. celeste, acoustic guitar, piano, mallets, bass, harmony, backing vocal, Brass, Tuba, French Horns, nostalgic, Winter, City, Orchestral, Dreamy, Expressive, melancholy, lonely, Serious, reflective, anthemic, introspective, inspirational

Listen if you like:
Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, The Antlers, Grizzly Bear, Iron & Wine, Beirut, Neutral Milk Hotel, S. Carey, Volcano Choir, Broken Social Scene, Perfume Genius, The Mountain Goats, Elliott Smith, Dirty Projectors, The National, St. Vincent, Animal Collective, Sharon Van Etten, Mount Eerie, M. Ward, Rose Petals, S. Carey

Direct all inquiries to Kim Sommers | kim@bplabs.com

2020-05-10T18:08:47+00:00

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BRAD PETERSON Photographs of Brad Peterson: Brad Peterson is an indie-singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago, where he built a little back-yard garden shed – effectively a music-making laboratory where he Writes, Records and Produces all his music. [...]

a friend like you – first song from the unknown album

We all have a friend like this...

We all have a friend like this... Who is yours?

Posted by Brad Peterson on Friday, August 24, 2018

a friend like you

Inspired by Rushmore’s Dirk Calloway’s immortal line “With Friends Like You Who Needs Friends?” This song is a retrospective description of betrayal, gossip, and disappointment and how from which, one may rise anew. Plenty of modulation experimentation on traditional instruments really made this feel modern.

Lyrics:
when you tell your little stories
of my faults won’t gain you glory
when you act unkindly and malign me
though at first i was discouraged
eventually it gave the courage
to realize i opened up my eyes
i didn’t see but now i do
with enemies who needs a friend like you
who needs a friend like you
rumours of my death inflated, dramatized, and overstated
spread certain parts of the town
knives were twisted and lessons learned
my back was stabbed and some bridges burned
way to kick a fella when he’s down
i didn’t see but now i do
with enemies who needs a friend like you
who needs a friend like you

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The Remorseful Day

The Remorseful Day

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop / Indie Folk
Description: This song was inspired by a series called Inspector Morse. Housman, a fellow Oxford fellow and a favourite poet of Dexter (author) and Morse and is quoted in the finale. The music was the result of playing with some new additions to my studio -specifically the Chamberlin, the Mellotron, and the Optigan -which offer a sort of kitchy nostalgic and romantic lo-fi texture. 
Tempo/ Key: Mid – 112 bpm /  C Major
Keywords:  Chamberlin, Mellotron, Optigan, mallets, strings, classical guitar, bass, toms, drums, lush, throwback, fuzzy, retro, electric guitar solo, harp, poem, oxford, morse, dexter
Moods: Dreamy, heavenly, reflective, sentimental, ethereal, bittersweet, melancholy, optimistic, inspirational, Expressive, flowing
Style-similar-to: Beck, tame impala, washed out, Ariel Pink, Deerhunter, Panda Bear, Atlas Sound, Animal Collective, The Microphones, Destroyer, Grizzly Bear, Galaxie 500, Yo La Tengo, Jon Brion, Michael Penn

Notes: This song was inspired by a series called Inspector Morse. Housman, a fellow Oxford fellow and a favourite poet of Dexter (author) and Morse and is quoted in the finale. The music was the result of playing with some new additions to my studio -specifically the Chamberlin, the Mellotron, and the Optigan -which offer a sort of kitchy nostalgic and romantic lo-fi texture.

Lyrics:
Ensanguining the skies
How heavily it dies
Into the west away;
Past touch and sight and sound
Not further to be found,
How hopeless under ground
Falls the remorseful day.
To-day I shall be strong,
No more shall yield to wrong,
Shall squander life no more;
Days lost, I know not how,
I shall retrieve them now;
Now I shall keep the vow
I never kept before.
How clear, how lovely bright,
How beautiful to sight
Those beams of morning play;
How heaven laughs out with glee
Where, like a bird set free,
Up from the eastern sea
Soars the delightful day.

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

A Friend Like You

A Friend Like You

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop / Alternative Rock
Description: Inspired by Rushmore’s Dirk Calloway’s immortal line “With Friends Like You Who Needs Friends?” this song is a retrospective description of betrayal, gossip, and disappointment and how from which, one may rise anew. 
Tempo/ Key: Mid – 92 bpm /  F Major
Keywords: sub, dance, hand claps, drums, percussion, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, organ, synthesizer, moog, harmonies, backing vocals, snaps, tremolo, bitte, synth bass, sticks, tambourine, toms
Moods: reflective, exciting, pulsing, propulsive, moving, inspirational, bold, uplifting, Energetic, Expressive, ethereal, lush
Style-similar-to: David Gray, James, Cast, Blur, Super Furry Animals, U2, Keane, Travis, The Verve, Oasis, Stereophonics, Starsailor

Notes: A song about inspired by Rushmore’s Dirk Calloway’s immortal line “With Friends Like You Who Needs Friends?” this song is a retrospective description of betrayal, gossip, and disappointment and how from which, one may rise anew. Plenty of modultion experimentation on traditional instruments really made this feel modern

Lyrics:
when you tell your little stories
of my faults won’t gain you glory
when you act unkindly and malign me
though at first i was discouraged
eventually it gave the courage
to realize i opened up my eyes
i didn’t see but now i do
with enemies who needs a friend like you
who needs a friend like you
rumours of my death inflated, dramatized, and overstated
spread certain parts of the town
knives were twisted and lessons learned
my back was stabbed and some bridges burned
way to kick a fella when he’s down
i didn’t see but now i do
with enemies who needs a friend like you
who needs a friend like you

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

Whispering

Whispering

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop / Alternative Rock
Description: A song about getting back to nature and the essence of things. I think about in the old testament when Elijah came to a mountain cave where he took shelter. There were heavy winds, earthquakes, fires, and after it all there was a tiny whispering sound.
Tempo/ Key: Mid – 79 bpm /  F# Major
Keywords: organic, acoustic, backwards guitar, harmonies, glockenspiel, electric guitar, waltz, pulsing, celeste
Moods: Hopeful, Warm, Positive, Calm, laidback, Determined, majestic, introspective, lush, floating, Dreamy
Style-similar-to: Andrew Bird, Bahamas, Fleet Foxes, Mondo Cosmo, Grizzly Bear, The Tallest Man On Earth, Local Natives, Fruit Bats, Father John Misty, The Shins, Phosphorescent, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Notes: A song about getting back to nature and the essence of things. I think about in the old testament when Elijah came to a mountain cave where he took shelter. There were heavy winds, earthquakes, fires, and after it all there was a tiny whispering sound.

Lyrics:
in the crashing the waves
in the vearing of the wind
hear my name calling like it’s whispering
the shaking leaves
the singing birds
buzzing like a song that we’ve always heard
turning all the knobs counterclockwise
pulling all the power switches down
open all the valves to depressurize
gonna head on straight out of this town
in the crashing the waves
in the vearing of the wind
hear my name calling like it’s whispering
the shaking leaves
the singing birds
buzzing like a song that we’ve always heard
all the guards benumbed and so stupefied
I’ll escape a lowly prison cell
I’ll be long gone come the dawn
i won’t even hear the tolling nell
in the crashing the waves
in the vearing of the wind
hear my name calling like it’s whispering
the shaking leaves
the singing birds
buzzing like a song that we’ve always heard

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

Secret Messages

Secret Messages

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop / Alternative Rock
Description: Anyone who’s ever had a secret liaison in their life may understand this. Based on real experiences, this number captures some of the cloak and dagger elements and stealthy rendezvous of young loves within the framework of a mid-century pop song.  Fairly raw vibe.
Tempo/ Key: Mid – 111 bpm /  F# Major
Keywords: rhodes, electric guitar, solo, drums, telephone, film-noir, gumshoe, blues, swagger, psychedelic, electric guitar solo, drama
Moods: secret, message, jangle, electric guitar, harmonies, claves, retro, throwback, flashback, earnest, map, confession
Style-similar-to: The Beatles, Wilco, Buddy Holly, The Zombies, The Hollies, The Turtles, The Monkees, The Tremeloes, Beta Radio

Notes: Anyone who’s ever had a secret liaison in their life may understand this. Based on real experiences, this number captures some of the cloak and dagger elements and stealthy rendezvous of young loves within the framework of a mid-century pop song. I just let the tape roll as I wrote it, and left it fairly raw to maintain that vibe.

Lyrics:
i’ve been writing letters placed them in a book
in between the pages hidden in a nook
on the corner of the top shelf look around
i’ve been writing secret messages to you
i hope that you’ll be writing back to me real soon
i’ve been hiding treasures for you underground
tucked away in burrows hidden to be found
oh so beautiful and inestimable
i’ve been writing secret messages to you
i hope that i’ll be hearing back from you real soon
oh oh
i’ve been writing secret messages to you
i hope that you’ll be writing back to me real soon
wak four hundred yards due east past the stream
and then turn left at a willow tree that’s where you’ll see
a trail that leads to me
i’ve been writing letters placed them in a book
in between the pages hidden in a nook
on the corner of the top shelf look around
i’ve been writing secret messages to you
i hope that you’ll be writing back to me real soon
i’ve been writing secret messages to you
i hope that you’ll be writing back to me real soon

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

Boohoo

Boohoo

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Blues Rock / Alternative Rock
Description: Much in the spirit of Pink Floyd and The Doors, this minor and murky interpretation of blues takes place near a phone booth in London on a cold wet February day like a film-noir esque scene.
Tempo/ Key: Mid – 126 bpm /  E Minor
Keywords: rhodes, electric guitar, solo, drums, telephone, film-noir, gumshoe, blues, swagger, psychedelic, electric guitar solo, drama
Moods: Suspenseful, Sexy, Urgent, Energetic, Serious, moody, edgy, mysterious, gloomy, dark, intense, eerie, somber,
Style-similar-to: Pink Floyd, The Doors, David Gilmour, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Cream, Deep Purple, Supertramp, Jethro Tull, The Moody Blues, Muse, Blur, Kasabian, Kaiser Chiefs

Notes: Much in the spirit of Pink Floyd and The Doors, this minor and murky interpretation of blues takes place near a phone booth in London on a cold wet February day like a film-noir esque scene. I’ve never been much of a soloist but this was a lot of fun to record and I got to channel my “inner Gilmour”.

Lyrics:
the life and times all filled with lies
we stood before graves with weeping eyes boohoo
a bell that rang a voice that cried
from someone down the telephone line
the picture is in black and white
you asked me i told you i never wanted to tell you so
the life and times all filled with lies
we stood before graves with weeping eyes boohoo
a bell that rang a voice that cried
from someone down the telephone line
the picture is in black and white
you asked me i told you i never wanted to be the one to tell you so

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

Cnut and the Tide

Cnut and the Tide

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop / Alternative Rock
Description: Based loosely on the legend, this pop gem alludes to the humility and piety of King Cnut. The swirling bits are, as always, in reverence to my favourite bands and songs with mid-century pop sensibilities. Ticket to ride, tomorrow never knows, peter pumpkinhead, et al.  
Tempo/ Key: Mid – 120 bpm /  D Major
Keywords:uilleann pipes, harmonium, 12-string, piano, bass, drums, octaves, anthem, legend, tambourine, jangle, syncopation, lush, throwback, tale, story
Moods: emotive, wonder, powerful, majestic, heroic, grand, anthemic, intriguing, moving, luminescent, ambient, warm, hypnotic, ethereal, serene, heavenly, lush, melodic, windswept, serene, fantasy, Dreamy, Expressive, Awe-Inspiring, heroic, reflective, passionate, inspirational
Style-similar-to: The Verve, XTC, The Beatles, Jellyfish, The Grays, Matthew Sweet, The Posies, Imperial Drag, Tommy Keene, Teenage Fanclub, The Lemonheads, Mercury Rev, The House of Love, Super Furry Animals, Spiritualized, Galaxie 500, The Jesus and Mary Chain

Notes: based loosely on the legend, this pop gem alludes to the humility and piety of King Cnut. The swirling bits are, as always, in reverence to my favourite bands and songs with mid-century pop sensibilities. Ticket to ride, tomorrow never knows, peter pumpkinhead, et al.

Lyrics:
There on the shore stood the throne
While they were waiting, courtiers clueless prating.
The robes that he wore and a crown to disown
A command not to rise, gave Cnut to the tide
Sitting there was the great king
The waves washing his feet
On the coast of the North Sea
And an empire fleeting
Ahead and underway across the waves
Varied shields stern to bow
And gold shown from the prow
The cyning hence believing voyaged far and wide
For miles and miles acrost many isles
Sitting there was the great king
The waves washing his feet
On the coast of the North Sea
And an empire fleeting
He didn’t enjoin they put his face on the coin
They faltered to atone and did then scatter his bones
There on the shore stood the throne
While they were waiting, courtiers clueless prating.
The robes that he wore and a crown to disown
A command not to rise, gave Cnut to the tide
Sitting there was the great king
The waves washing his feet
On the coast of the North Sea
And an empire fleeting

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

Unknown

Unknown

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop / Alternative Rock
Description: Slowly and steadily rising throughout the piece, this song in “about waking up” and rising toward enlightenment and fighting the good fight, good versus evil, triumph and all that stuff. The piano part really captures the sound of a lonely basement with dust and spider webs -in a good way.
Tempo/ Key: Mid – 126 bpm /  D Major
Keywords:Piano, backing vocals, strident, strings, building, tale, story, new day, overcoming odds, fight the good fight
Moods: emotive, hopeful, moody, reflective, intense, anticipation, wonder, powerful, majestic, heroic, grand, anthemic, intriguing, moving, Dreamy, luminescent, ambient, warm, hypnotic, ethereal, serene, heavenly, lush
Style-similar-to: U2, Travis, Coldplay, Keane, Snow Patrol, The Fray, Stereophonics, The Verve

Notes: Slowly and steadily rising throughout the piece, this song in “about waking up” and rising toward enlightenment and fighting the good fight, good versus evil, triumph and all that stuff. The piano part really captures the sound of a lonely basement with dust and spider webs -in a good way.

Lyrics:
wasn’t long ago when i was sleeping like a stone
dropped down in the middle of the ocean
when i awoke i was shaking i was cold
solemnly rose in slow motion
oh and with my head hung low let’s go
pet, there’s much yet left unknown
wasn’t long ago when i chose to wake and face the day
even though i found that irritating
it’s been said the nature of the rain is the same
it can grow thorns in the marshes and flowers in the garden
it may be your comfort or it could be your bane
helion leviathan lurk beneath obsidian seas
hence subside as i slowly rise
oh and with my head hung low let’s go
pet, there’s much yet left unknown

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

Tempest In a Teapot

Tempest In a Teapot

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop / Alternative Rock
Description: have you ever had an argument or tiff with someone only to realize how silly it was later? Reverent to mid century pop rock, this pop gem explores this simple experience.
Tempo/ Key: Mid – 122 bpm /  C Major
Keywords: strings, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mid century, rock, backing vocals, rock and roll, melodic, throwback, clever, syncopation, counterpoint
Moods: happy, fun, driving, bouncy, bright, pulsing, whimsical, reflective
Style-similar-to: The Shins, The Beatles, Modest Mouse,

Notes: Have you ever had an argument or tiff with someone only to realize how silly it was later? Reverent to mid century pop rock, this pop gem explores this simple experience. As always, I’m fascinated with archaic words like: “upsot” and “afeared” so I had to use them haha. [ see  information on idiom ]. Recorded over two days in my backyard garden shed.

Lyrics:
of the things I’ve done of have failed to do
I stop to review
In my wayfare mind all the time
I misconceived and half forgot
inclined toward to be upsot
for what we fuss and fret for naught
it was a tempest in a teapot
somewhere in my thoughts or in the words I choose to use
I can be obtuse
if you find I’m wry this is why
I misconceived and half forgot
inclined toward to be upsot
for what we fuss and fret for naught
it was a tempest in a teapot
be not afeard of all the noise
of a storm that comes to destroy
it’ll be over in a minute
of the things I’ve done of have failed to do
I stop to review
In my wayfare mind all the time
I misconceived and half forgot
inclined toward to be upsot
for what we fuss and fret for naught
it was a tempest in a teapot

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

Offer It Up

Offer It Up

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop / Alternative Rock
Description: If a rockin’ James Brown and Beck collaborated with The Hollies in the late 60s
Tempo/ Key: Up – 130 bpm /  F Major
Keywords: twang, funk, groove, guitar, tac piano, saloon, soul, drums, tambourine, gospel
Moods: Energetic, propulsive, bouncy, driving, playful, hip, fun, soulful, joyous
Style-similar-to: James Brown, The Hollies, The Beatles, Beck, The Zombies, Otis Redding

Notes: This soulful piece was formed after experimenting with various drum and bass funk grooves -reminiscent of James Brown, and was intentionally produced to sound like a band in the 60s. Because of the gospel element, I chose a spiritual construct from my catholic background, focusing on the mystery of redemptive suffering. Another playful experiment was to make heavy use of expressions dealing with animals.

Lyrics:
Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches blister of on the broken toes
and if you’re workin’ like a donkey man
the sweat and spade appreciate it it if you can
offer it up when it’s too much
offer it up when you’ve had enough
you offer it up
a wild turkey is on the attack there’s a bee in your bonnet and a monkey on your back
your dogs are barkin’ and you’ve worn a hole in your soul
suckered by a snake in the grass and jumped down a rabbit hole
offer it up when you feel low
offer it up when you’ve had 400 blows
offer it up
one to make ready and two to prepare
three is for luck away goes the mare
four horseman riding through the vale
white, red, black, and pale
Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches blister of on the broken toes
and if you’re workin’ like a donkey man
the sweat and spade appreciate it it if you can
offer it up when it’s too much
offer it up when you’ve had enough
you offer it up
offer it up when you feel low
offer it up when you’ve had 400 blows
offer it up

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

Skewed Lines

Skewed Lines

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop / Alternative
Description: Depicting an image of two cowboy friends/enemies on trek through a mystical desert night
Tempo/ Key: Mid – 120 bpm /  F# Major
Keywords: bell tower, castanets, whip, cowboy, western, samba, bossa, desert, western, camp
Moods: epic, adventurous, bold, confident, wonder, powerful, majestic, grand, anthemic, Dreamy, luminescent, ambient, warm, hypnotic
Style-similar-to: echo and the bunnymen, lord huron, The Shins

Notes: Recorded late at night in my garden-shed after pondering a poem by Rudyard Kipling. Comparing the idea with “cowboys and indians”, it struck me that “… never the twain shall meet” may be described in three dimensional geometry as a skewed line. I tried to invoke the mysteries and romanticism of a desert journey through Wyoming night with the arrangement and lyrics.

Lyrics:
Across the divide we ride forth parallel
Taking the curves
images blur
riding the same carrossel
Among the creatures tonight
Through the desert we dwell
Under twinkling of stars
Light from afar
Where we should stand is where we fell
Two skewed lines
Ne’er the twain shall we meet
Though we’re the same
No one’s to blame
We should accept it’s the nature of two skewed lines
The faded mark of an X
Of a map that’s weathered and torn
Moon beams through holes
In delicate folds
Where it began is where it ends
Two skewed lines
Ne’er the twain shall we meet
Though it’s the same
No one’s to blame
We’re just accepting the nature of two skewed lines
Well we stopped to rest next to a river bed
Silhouettes before a campfire glow
Beneath the Lesser Bear
And Polaris’ fare
Lights a trail of want and woe
Across the divide we ride forth parallel
Taking the curves
images blur
riding the same carrossel
Among the creatures tonight
Through the desert we dwell
Under twinkling of stars
Light from afar
Where we should stand is where we fell
Two skewed lines
Ne’er the twain shall we meet
Though we’re the same
No one’s to blame
We should accept it’s the nature of two skewed lines

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

Magpie

Magpie

200% Owned © Performed & Written by Brad Peterson
 Click ASCAP INFO   | Click Full Bio
Genre: Indie Rock / Indie Pop / Alternative
Description: Imagine a spooky and dramatic title sequence placed in the lake district of England on a wet and foggy day
Tempo/ Key: Mid – 80 bpm /  G minor
Keywords: Harmochord, upright, piano, music box, choir, attic, basement, superstition, haunting
Moods: Epic, Adventurous, Bold, Confident, Wonder, Powerful, Majestic, Grand, Anthemic, Dreamy, spooky, soulful, groove, mysterious, driving, bombastic, hypnotic
Style-similar-to: Jeff Buckley, The Beach Boys, Radiohead

Notes: Throughout Britain, it’s thought unlucky to see a lone magpie and there are a number of beliefs about protocol. This perhaps draws its root from an old rhyme” “One for sorrow, Two for joy…”. I’ve seen many magpies in my journeys and tried to respectfully depict them with these ghostly arrangement and lyrics. I’d been using a lot of mallets with my drums and lush vocal choir arrangements at the time.

Lyrics:
I saw the flash of black and white
from my peripheral sight
there flown the lone magpie
so we paused and we salute
for the omen posing bad fortune
and away he flies
good morning general
how’s your wife today
we’re both flying solo
kingly woe obey
for a secret never to be told
I’ve been one for sorrw
if I’m to tell the truth
in all these years, but few
oh and too the joy I’ve seen
in the moments inbetween
so far and few
morning general
how’s your lady-wife today
we’re both flying solo
kingly woe obey
for the secret never to be told
in the distance glimmering
glints and catches my eye
illusively shimmering
winging the lone magpie
I saw the flash of black and white
from my peripheral sight
there flown the lone magpie
so we paused and we salute
for the omen posing bad fortune
and away he flies
good morning general
how’s your wife today
we’re both flying solo
kingly woe obey
for a secret never to be told

Alternate and Custom Mixes are Available Upon Request

Far-off places | 4th song from Brad Peterson’s The Ellipsis Album

Brad Peterson is an indie-pop singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago. There, he built a little back-yard garden shed – where he writes and records his songs. He has shared stages with Jeff Buckley and Radiohead, but stopped making music after a spinal injury left him unable to record or perform for several years.

About the song “Far-off places, which is on “the Ellipsis Album”, Brad notes:

“I have a bit of a cinematic sensibility in my daydreams. If this were a scene from a movie, it would like was colorized by Juarez Machado. I picture a town near the lake district in England at sunset in late summer where I hope to go someday soon. The drumming tendencies of this recording (and of the whole record) represent a shift for me supplanting the hi-hat with floor tom. Resisting it’s “epic disposition” there were many more instrument parts that I muted in the final version.”

‘The Ellipsis Album’ was written, recorded, and produced solely by Brad in his garden shed

Lyrics:

Of far-off things we’ve thought today
Our cares dissolve and fade let’s go
To the far-off places
Remembrance of how it was
With woes forgotten just because we’ll know
In those far-off places
To Far-off places
To Far-off places we’ll go
The walls dissolve from where we stay
Our care will slowly fade away for to
Beguile and engrace us
Warm golden light and floral scent
A gentle breeze our hearts distend
By smiles of those foreign faces
To Far-off places
To Far-off places we’ll go
From a drawn-beat haunt
Amongst the empty vaunt
Ameliorate detente
There lies our hidden want
To Far-off places
To Far-off places we’ll go

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Brad Peterson X-Mas 2017

Who do you miss this Christmas?

Who do you miss this Christmas? not your typical Christmas song…
There’s a word in Portuguese:
noun: saudade; plural noun: saudades
a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia

If we’re fortunate, as we get older, we may recall in wistful reverie -an idyllic Christmas season surrounded by loved ones. For me, that blissful time, before experience and loss, can hurt to contemplate. Rather than the melancholic tendencies I’ve often fallen to, this year I choose to celebrate in fond remembrance, those absent loved ones.

All Is Well – Brad Peterson #Christmas #ChristmasMusic #ChrismasSongs #LiveLooping

Acoustic guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Drums
written, performed and produced at BPLabs Highland Park, IL 2017-11. more Christmas music at http://facebook.com/bradpetersonmusic
Lyrics:
It’s twentyfive of twelve and all is well
Yet there seems there’s been something lost
The absent ones we grieve
On a Christmas eve
Sparkle in the crystalline frost
Come this late December
Recall when we were all together
We’ll toast the one who’ve come and gone
Ribbons on the wreath
Lights are strung on trees
Kiss me underneath mistletoe
Happy on our way
On a Christmas day
Memories buried deep in the frost
Come this late December
Recall when we were all together
We’ll toast the one who’ve come and gone
And if the wind blows
Like the ghosts of Christmas past
If come a long snow in a wintery blast
We’ll hold fast
It’s twentyfive of twelve and all is well
Yet there seems there’s been something lost
The absent ones we grieve
On a Christmas eve
Sparkle in the crystalline frost
Come this late December
Recall when we were all together
We’ll toast the one who’ve come and gone

Live Loop Intro Version on Youtube:

Live Loop Intro Version on Facebook:

Full Studio Version (audio)

There’s a lot more to this story…

All Is Well – Brad Peterson

There’s a word in Portuguese: sau·da·de
souˈdädə;  plural noun: saudades
a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia…
If we’re fortunate, as we get older, we may recall in wistful reverie -an idyllic Christmas season surrounded by loved ones. For me, that blissful time, before experience and loss, can hurt to contemplate. Rather than the melancholic tendencies I’ve often fallen to, this year I choose to celebrate in fond remembrance, those absent loved ones.
 Brad Peterson: Acoustic guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Drums
written, performed and produced at BPLabs Highland Park, IL 2017-11
Lyrics:
It’s twentyfive of twelve and all is well
Yet there seems there’s been something lost
The absent ones we grieve
On a Christmas eve
Sparkle in the crystalline frost
Come this late December
Recall when we were all together
We’ll toast the one who’ve come and gone
Ribbons on the wreath
Lights are strung on trees
Kiss me underneath mistletoe
Happy on our way
On a Christmas day
Memories buried deep in the frost
Come this late December
Recall when we were all together
We’ll toast the one who’ve come and gone
And if the wind blows
Like the ghosts of Christmas past
If come a long snow in a wintery blast
We’ll hold fast
It’s twentyfive of twelve and all is well
Yet there seems there’s been something lost
The absent ones we grieve
On a Christmas eve
Sparkle in the crystalline frost
Come this late December
Recall when we were all together
We’ll toast the one who’ve come and gone

More Brad Peterson Christmas Songs

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Clap Your Hands | 3rd single from Brad Peterson’s The Ellipsis Album

written, performed, and produced by Brad Peterson

Hands are the fundamental percussion instrument. Ala Chuck Berry to the Stones, to the Kinks, this song pretends to be little more than a song about good times. I once walked down an ancient stone Calle of Madrid and heard the distant sounds of clapping. Following my ears through the labyrinth of twists and turns, I came to an open street-level window -inside which, was a flamenco dance instructor and her group of teenage girls in chorus. Of course, here may be deeper implications on the universality and uniting nature of music, but in the end, I let the tape roll, clapped my hands for a few measures and viola -instant song. The recording process took a few hours from start to finish and didn’t even bother changing the faders from the default position.

Everybody stand
Everybody clap your hands
Across the land
Everybody clap your hands
Won’t you clap your hands
By happenstance
We all got up to dance
We took a chance
We all got up to dance
We got up to dance
Oh Won’t you clap your hands
We don’t have a plan

We don’t need to understand
There’s no demand
Just listen to the band
The backbeat is grand
Oh Won’t you clap your hands
Oh Won’t you clap your hands

 

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Unbroken | 2nd single from Brad Peterson

Brad Peterson earned huge successes back in the day, sharing the stage with the likes of Radiohead and Jeff Buckley. But, a spinal injury put a premature stop on his musical career…until now. He pushed through the pain, rehab and dark days to complete The Ellipsis Album, which will hit on September 22nd. Our first listen is this track, opening with a joyous burst of promise, then pulling back for Peterson to allow his hallowed vocals to soar atop the pounding rhythm. The recording of the album alone should be a testament to Brad’s undying strength, as he recorded all the instruments himself, persevering beyond the pain and internal woe. Really, this song’s a marvel, but we should rejoice in the spirit of music for bringing Brad back to us.
 

 

Crack and Boom | it was 51 years ago today

Many artists talk about ‘the album’ that changed their life; for me, it happened in the spring of 1971. My older brother and father were listening to music in the living room of our old farmhouse in Baltimore, Maryland. Mark was around thirteen and my father was a bit of an audiophile with an impressive sound system composed of mammoth Bozak speakers, Scott amplification, and Ampex reel-to-reels. They put on a store-bought reel of the Beatles’ Revolver and it boomed throughout the house.

That was the moment I became sentient and aware. To describe the experience using my abilities in the English language that I have since learned, I’d say I was in awe and asked: “what is this wonderful thing?” as I crawled on the carpet. I don’t know what it was or who it was but I’m certain that it was a pivotal moment in my relationship with music and my development as a human being. A few years ago I wrote about this earliest memory of my life called “Crack and Boom”. On this fifty first anniversary of the release of Revolver, I offer you this:

Listen to the latest Single: “What the Open Heart Allows”  from the forthcoming: “the ellipsis album”

what the open heart allows | a new song by brad peterson

what the open heart allows (2:32)
written, performed, and produced by Brad Peterson

This song was written and recorded in 2 days. The images had come to me in a dream (as is with many of my songs). In was variation of my recurring celestial dreams, it had a very Jean-Pierre Jeunet cinematic look and storyline to it. It was a pleasant and enjoyable dream in which “openness” tended to be the sublime theme and emotion. There were one or two people I passed while walking. I never saw their faces and wasn’t concerned or threatened by their shadowy figures as I climbed to the top of a bluff where I saw other characters in the distance who involved with some sort of festival.The twinkling lights looked like an abstract mirror of the stars above.  Like the others [of this series of dreams], I had the power to magnify what I saw in a night-time sky. The colors were vivid blues and yellows. Time and scale seemed to fluctuate.

After I woke up, it was still fairly dark. I made coffee I went out to the garden shed to sketch out the lyrics, chords and melody with my acoustic guitar and a notebook. It was mostly done within a few hours -after I tracked guitar, bass, drums, piano, and all the vocals, later that same day. On day two, I had been experimenting in my lab with various circuits and processes with my electric guitar for a lark. The opening sort-of sci-fi sound is actually my electric guitar feeding back; I chopped it up and altered the speed and oscillations for the effect. I added banjo and mixed the final version in about another hour.

Abounding constellations shown
Luminous we’re not alone
Traverse a path when the night is dim
We wouldn’t sleep in the state we’re in
Tried and took a fall
Tired and emotional
We don’t know which way is up
What may be will be
With our friends and enemies
Take from us this immense cup
Somewhere further down the stream someone from a dream
Nothing as it seems
Hark ye come forth here and now
All we dare avow
What the open heart allows
Full stop turn it around
Is what the open heart allows
Somewhere further down the stream someone from a dream
Nothing as it seems
Hark ye come forth here and now
Abounding constellations shown
Luminous we’re not alone
Traverse a path when the night is dim
We wouldn’t sleep in the state we’re in
Somewhere further down the stream someone from a dream
Nothing as it seems
Hark ye come forth here and now
All we dare avow
What the open heart allows
Oh What the open heart allows Oh What the open heart allows

Girls Just Want to Have Fun | a version by Brad Peterson

This was more enjoyable to arrange and record than should be admitted….

For Educational Use Only – Scene and Song Analysis:

Production CREDITS:
Arranged, and all instruments performed by Brad Peterson @ BPLabs March 26th, 2017

Film CREDITS:
Written by and first recorded in 1979 by American musician Robert Hazard. However, it is better known as a single by American singer Cyndi Lauper

Film CREDITS:
Mi®amax Films (2001)
Cast: Audrey T@utou, Mathieu Kassovitz
Director: The Great Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Producers: Helmut Breuer, Jean-Marc Deschamps, Arne Meerkamp van Embden, Claudie Ossard
Screenwriters: Guillaume Laurant, Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Keep Calm (the sea lion sleeps tonight) | a song by Brad Peterson

Often, I imagine myself in Great Britain for the early days of of the war. Late summer 1940 was unseasonably warm and recent Luftwaffe raids made it not so “phoney” anymore. The island being terrorized nightly by such awesome and ruthless forces, I perpetually ruminate. Juxtaposition of beauty amidst horror and hideousness are the things of an epic picture. The Supermarine Spitfire itself is a flying contradiction -with it’s elegant and graceful lines, it wields such dreadful weaponry.

I’ve had a dream in which I dwell in London’s late afternoon hours of September 7th, 1940. There’s a warm-cinematic orange light from the west. Ever so faintly, I hear a growing and distant droning of Heinkel He-111s with Messerschmitt Bf 109 escorts that loom easterly in a cold-blue sky. Barrage balloons waft clumsily overhead and I sense impending doom.

This is a dream from which a song emerged. ‘Keep Calm (the sea lion sleeps tonight)’ was originally to be an ode to the Spitfire, but I realized while writing that it was more of an anthemic composition about collective perseverance of the British people at an important time.

Written and Produced by Brad Peterson (Voices, Drums, Bass, and Guitar) March, 2017 at BP Labs.

Lyrics:

Barrage balloons waft
The hum of Heinkles amidst the Messers zoom aloft

Homes set aflame late the afternoon in september
But then the spitfires came

Ellipses of tracers And the thunder of bombs
Keep calm and carry on

Esprit de corps stood
Like the dome saint paul
And the Hurricanes flew as fast as they could

Ellipses of tracers And the thunder of bombs
Keep calm and carry on

In the low tide
The sea lion sleeps tonight

The gramophone played
In the shelter
and echoed Vera -we’ll meet again

A garden anew
amid a crater
Where seeds of death were sown vegetables grew

Ellipses of tracers And the thunder of bombs
Keep calm and carry on

The Lesser Celandine | a song by Brad Peterson

Like the Lake District poets, I am inclined to frame seemingly mundane things in a romantic light. I remind myself that the miraculousness of love isn’t always a shout but may be better expressed as a quiet whisper, daily. And, true love takes less than it gives. For my valentine:

Lyrics:

Astuciously you drew the curtains
While I put the kettle on
The morning sky is dim and blurry
With dew upon the lawn
Behold the Lesser Celandine
Enfold its blossoms for my Valentine
The garden trowel and gumboots are muddy
While I wheelbarrow along
To meditative contemplation
In the shed where I belong
Behold the Lesser Celandine
Enfold its blossoms for my Valentine
Oh from thy fair and shining youth
Age might but take
The things Youth
Took for sake
Lovingly washing the dishes
And take the garbage to the curb
Walking around on my tiptoes
So carefully not to disturb
Behold the Lesser Celandine
Enfold its blossoms for my Valentine
Oh from thy fair and shining youth
Age might but take
The things Youth
Took for sake

The Story of Santa Bill

It didn’t seem particularly extraordinary that late December evening at 528 Maple Lane. Members of my family were gearing up for Christmas. Our usual silliness and routines were  from my perspective as a nine-year old in the late seventies. Seasonal smells of treats in the oven and the sounds of light chatter from other rooms, imbued every corner of the house. It was taken for granted that all was well and there would soon be gifts waiting under the tree on the morning of the twenty fifth -just a couple more nights to go.

It had become somewhat of a tradition that Bill Herrera -a friend of my teenage sister Paula, would swing by in a silly Santa costume, to entertain my little brother and I. The doorbell rang, and we were off to the races. I’m not sure when we realized it was Bill, but I do remember being especially obnoxious that last year -pointing out his eyebrow-color and saying “Santa isn’t real”. We were excitable, Ted and I, and especially so that night.

Amidst our escalating hyperactivity and increased boisterousness, Bill suddenly took a calm and serious tone and asked us to sit down. There was a change in his voice that indicated something important was about to be said and I recall it almost like the prophetic words of a mystic.  He said in enhanced molossus foot: “The spirit of Christmas IS REAL…”. I sat ruminating for a good while.  There was a profound impact and something subtly changed for me that day.

Continuing and having gone to the bookshelves, Ted verified Bill’s statement with cited examples of the Santa Claus tradition from our world book encyclopedia -our go-to source of truth in those days. “It must be true” we agreed.

Some time after that winter, I heard that Bill had died in car accident. Though I never had the chance to see him again, through these years I still pause and recollect what Christmas is and what it means to make a gift of one’s self. I now have a Santa suit of my own, which can be seen on some December evenings, when I drop by friends homes and continue the legacy.

I’ll always remember Santa Bill; “The spirit of Christmas IS REAL…”.

Lyrics:
It didn’t seem particularly extraordinary
A late December evening at 528 Maple Lane
Acting goofy as was usual with my family
We kept ourselves entertained with candy canes

Mom cooking something while we were all getting merry
Unboxing ornaments that we had left  to hang
The Batmobile lost a wheel and Robin laid an egg
Was the song we sang when the doorbell rang

The suit and the beard were silly but still
No gift wrapped present can reveal
The were the words of Santa Bill
The spirit of Christmas is real

Somewhere It had become somewhat of a tradition
When the profound friend of my big sister came
A fool, I joked as he provoked my contrition
The impact made I still hear him say

The suit and the beard is silly but still
No no gift wrapped present can conceal
I’ll remember Santa Bill
The spirit of Christmas is real

Remember Jeff

In November of 1993, I was a fresh-faced singer-songwriter -completing my first national tour in New York City. The final performance was to take place at the renowned CB’s Gallery. Road-weary and recovering from the flu, I trudged through the front door of 313 Bowery, hoping to muster the last of my strength for the night ahead. As the door closed behind me, I was enveloped by sound of a most peculiar and unearthly sort. My jaw dropped, literally, as did the guitar I had been carrying. Before me was a trio in full soundcheck; so overwhelming was the song and the exquisite singer, my movement involuntarily halted. This continued until the nearly empty space fell quiet and I remembered why I was there: I was the opener for someone called Jeff Buckley.

After a while, and a few strangers sporadically entered, I began to play. So inspired was I -from the artist to come, I intensely reached for everything I had left -but fell short and exhausted. The audience was small but I really only hoped to impress one young man who impacted me. Sheepishly, I concluded and scurried off the stage in shame, and into the back room where I lamented briefly.

My friend Peter was to play next so I had to emerge into the club but hoped to do so inconspicuously through the narrow passage. I was about half way when Jeff appeared walking in the opposing direction. I looked to the ground with the intention to slip by without eye-contact. I thought I had, but a second later, I felt arms around me. I heard Jeff say: “that was incredible” as he lifted me . In an instant, he became like a loving big brother. He later explained: “there’s beauty in the struggle”…

Mid-set, Peter had decided that there was a small enough audience to unplug, move to the bar, and continue unamplified. He asked: “Brad, Jeff, will you sing with me on this?” and then began to play Van Morrison’s “Sweet Thing”. We traded verses, counterpointed, and harmonized; and it was good.

Three months later I saw Jeff again on a stark and snowy night at a tiny Uncommon Ground cafe on Chicago’s North side. There was camaraderie among us few in attendance as we kept each other warm. With the background sounds of steamed milk, the smells of espresso, the window panes were gradually painted white. -All were enchanted by our chanteur -there against the display of desserts.

Jeff and I became friends over the next years, occasionally visiting -in each other’s cities; sometimes it was planned and sometimes by providence. Our conversations spanned all subjects and he never failed to provide encouragement. On this anniversary of his birth and on the anniversary of our meeting 23 years ago, I remain like the faithful and loving younger brother.

I wrote a song that fateful spring of 97, originally titled is “File” (feel-uh), which is a Gaelic word meaning vision poet. Jeff saw things and said things that still influence me today. In his words: “It’s, Never, Over”.

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