Ah, Memories...

I had some things trigger some very sweet memories today. One was my thoughts drifting back to 2011, to when I released “The Third Time”. In my efforts to promote it, I submitted it for review to lots of places. One of them was to a new music show on an internet LDS radio station. The show was hosted by one of my favorite of all LDS songwriters, Cherie Call. With the help of the techies that run the radio station now, I was finally able to acquire the mp3 of the interview, with the song samples she chose. Really, it was one of the best interviews I’ve ever had. Then, later this evening, Jodi was flipping through her iTunes on her phone and found some really old songs of mine. Songs from back in the ‘90’s, in the time of “A Joyful Noise”, the cassette album I put out. I remember so many of those songs, and could even still sing along. I’m actually quite proud of many of those songs, even if the singing isn’t the greatest. It’s great fun!

Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including his Dutch Oven blog: Mark's Black Pot and his LDS pop culture blog: MoBoy blog.

The Songs of Zion: Bill Dent: Cithara Vitae

A long time ago, when I was newly married, and trying to work my way into the Salt Lake City music and studio scene, I did some sessions for a girl named Chelsea and her backup band. They were a fun bunch, but at the time I didn't realize just how much of an impact those early friendships would have in the long run. I guess we never really do, do we?

In that band was a guitarist, Bill, a kind of quiet friendly kid, who was incharactaristically good for his teen years. We had a great time cutting and mixing the tracks, but we didn't go much beyond that.

Several years later, we met up again at a teaching/recording facility in Sandy, UT. It was there that our friendship went from casual to connected. We worked together on a lot of projects, his and mine, and we just had a great time hanging out together there.

He cut most of the lead guitar tracks on my first published recordings, on the cassette "A Joyful Noise". That was released in 1993. I've listened to those recordings so many times over the years, now, that I don't think I can imagine them without Bill's tracks.

One of my favorites is "Long Haired Weirdo". There are two solos in that song, separated by a harmonica bit. I had initially intended for him to cut both tracks, because, frankly, I'm not even close to being the melodic shredder that he is. He, however, insisted that I cut the first solo, and he would play the second. So, now, I listen to that tune, and I love how my track rips in and sets the stage for the absolutely blistering rock that comes up next.

Many is the time that he would take my ideas in a song and turn the whole thing into something far better, without ruining what I had already done. And all with a quiet, unassuming smile.

So, my point is that he has now released an album of his recordings, his own tunes. Some of these, I've been listening to for years, and he's now remixed and remastered them. Others are totally new tunes. The album is called "Cithara Vitae", which is kind of a clever way of saying that it's a guitar-based record of his life.

Check out the tunes. Get the album. It rocks. https://soundcloud.com/bill-dent

Check out Mark's other blogs: marksblackpot.com and chapterandversegame.com

My Favorites, One United Generation

In the last few days, I’ve had a little bit of fun listening to my LDS Rock Music CD’s.  I’ve got them ripped to mp3’s, on my cell phone.  They sound pretty good in my car stereo, cheap as it is, but they really sound incredible in my ears with the buds.  Especially the kind with the rubbery ear tips.  Those trap the bass the best!

It’s been quite a while since I spun these tunes, and even longer since I recorded them.  Sometimes, I get to feeling down about the whole thing and I think that they’re not any good.  Then I listen again, and remember how much fun it was to make them and I think, “Wow, these are actually really good!”

Some of them, I like more than others, of course.  Let me tell you about my favorites from each disc.

From “One United Generation”, I especially like the first track, “Here in Me”.  It was funny, but once, long after that song was done, I had a powerful testimony-building experience.  I was sitting in my studio, listening to tunes, and it came up.  I just got washed over with the Spirit and it felt soo good.  I was sitting there, listening to this driving rocker, with tears in my eyes.  What a feeling.

“The Taker” is another one that really grabs me.  I love absorbing the harmonies at the end, especially in headphones.  It’s funny, though.  I was trying to get this sort of Urban, R&B, borderline hiphop kinda vibe.  My musician friends who heard it said, “Wow, Mark, you really nailed that Pink Floyd sound! Great job!”

I love the orchestral arrangements on “Millstones”.  My friend John Newman wrote those parts, and he really took the song to new places. We tried to record live musicians, but with no budget, it just didn’t work out.  In the end, I used sampled strings.  I’ve always dreamed of performing it with a real string orchestra.

There are more, but those are the LDS Rock tunes that really catch me from the first CD.






Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including his Dutch Oven blog: Mark's Black Pot and his LDS pop culture blog: MoBoy blog.
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