Lonely Dancer Enhanced!

Thanks to Mary Gillis, we have the beloved "Lonely Dancer" video she made in the 90s, based on Mike's song that we did so often in concert. We recorded a version of the song to use in the video at Jim's house. I have decided to take this audio and enhanced it a bit, polishing it up like a precious gem.

Lonely Dancer Enhanced Audio

{and now, there is enhanced audio for the video!

ORIGINAL Lonely Dancer Vid w/Enhanced Audio}

And here is the video, should you wish to re-visit it.

Lonely Dancer Video

{and now, there is enhanced audio for the video!

ORIGINAL Lonely Dancer Vid w/Enhanced Audio}

The Spirit & the Bride will dance an Endless Dance of Love with the Bridegroom

 MERRY CHRISTMAS the Song!

Merry Christmas Instrumental

Merry Christmas full song

CLICK above to listen!

Now that we have put out an instrumental version of "Merry Christmas", mixed by Jim, which brings out some of the great parts in the song, perhaps we can take a look back.

Mike wrote a great song, and we all pitched in to produce "Merry Christmas" an LW classic. By the way, Mike accidentally erased “Merry Christmas” at one point (reminds me how Brian Eno almost erased U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name”!) but he was able to salvage a version of the song.

Greg plugged into the central effects and added some great guitar “wash” to the background of “Merry Christmas”, which we picked up from some producers of the time. (In concert, I had the duty of approximating this on Greg’s electric with swells and harmonics!) Plus, Greg does a great turn on bass in the song. Mike layered the synthesizers so very well, as he did on all the Christmas songs we did in the basement at 505. We have to mention Sully’s cute spoken section in the middle of “Merry Christmas”; that was awesome! Our beloved Mary Gillis liked to make fun of Kathy for that, but all in good fun.

This song eloquently shines with the joy of the “Reason for the Season” or “putting Christ back in Christmas” without getting at all overbearing, judgmental or preachy and it is attractive and inspiring. What a great gift!

 

Based on an earlier post

God is With Us - With & WIthout Vocals

To hear the backing track? CLICK this!:

God is With Us - Instrumental

And to hear the full version with vocals? CLICK this!:

God is With Us -W/Vocals

View of the Marist House across from our 505 Pleasant house (where we recorded this)

This is a song that I (Mark) wrote. I wanted to get the effect of chiming bells in the beginning, so I am plucking the C-G-G and then the E-C, with the change from the fifth to the third. And Greg, like some sort of genius decided to add those harmonic hammer-ons, which sound, of course, exactly like bells! (This basic effect is reprised at the end of every chorus.) The verses are in C and choruses in G.

Then Mike CHIMES IN with that da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-daaaah riff that I had composed. I wrote the basic riff, but Mike RAN with it. He did it both on piano and synthesizer. And then he figured out how to continue the effect of the basic riff through all the chord changes, in a way that so sweeeet! so bellissimo! We then mixed the different instruments in a way that perfectly complemented the lyrics of verses and chorus. Mike really is the instrumental star here.

The bridge accomplishes a really cool key change sequence that ends back at the chorus. What Mike managed to do there is just so fantastic; listen to THAT and be amazed. How do you maintain the sense of the basic piano riff while going through all the key changes, meanwhile making it all seem as smooth as silk. I love the baroque-flavored harpsichord thing on the 'Gloria in excelsis deo' segue to the chorus. 

The way Greg chimes in with distortion at just the right times is beautiful, lending power to the key chorus declarations. Listen to Tony on the drums; he is using lower/deeper runs as accents during the chorus, a very nice expert touch, as usual. Dave adds perfect bass runs especially at the end.

I suppose we should mention the funny incident at the end. We were all in the cellar playing certain parts for the lead-in to the end when Mike played that one long C on the synthesizer. What you can't hear is that he was yelling at the top of his lungs, "WHAT'S THE CHORD?!?! WHAT'S THE CHORD!!??!". He finally remembered at the end, but that unintentional held note turned out to be effective and perfect for that spot!

We did some very nice vocal arranging on this, too, so be sure to listen to that. The guys liked to make fun of how I sang, "just LAHK me"! Please, enjoy!

Peace & Love & JOY,
Mark LaJOIE!

 Prodigal Song Has Come Back to Us!

A while back, Jim had sent me a very primitive concert that dated back to the early 80's, and on there was a rare copy of "Prodigal Song". (It was the climax of our 'Prodigal Daughter'-themed show, when Mike & Chuck were still with us. The show told the story of a young runaway girl who comes to her senses.) The cuts he had included the 'witnesses' or talks we would do before songs. I had put this on our extra LW Classic Tracks site with other raw material. Lately, I realized I could just trim off that intro and post the song on our regular site; what a find!

Prodigal Song on LW's ReverbNation site

Here, we see a song being born. It might have been one of the first times we tried it which is true of several songs in this concert - we were trying things out. I noticed some 'missing' elements that we eventually used to do. For instance, my guitar would join the melody line during the bridge, Greg was yet to find his preferred distortion, and the vocals got more developed in time. But, what a treasure it is! Tony's jazz sense on drums, perfectly melded to Dave's funky bass is on full display. It is a very rare case where we can hear Chuck's 'marching valve trombone' perfectly. 

I am thinking of putting out a 'classic live' album. Stay tuned, friends!

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE!

 More Than the Sum of Its Parts

Mark's recent demo recording, "Streams of Mercy", demonstrates something that's true of Living Waters music in general from the beginning. After Mark finished doing vocal & guitar tracks, he sent that mp3 to Mike; he wanted to add piano & strings. He put these together on GarageBand, sent it back for finishing and? voila! a great demo....

Streams of Mercy CLICK!

Here's Mark with his Ovation Legend II; it's kind of beat up!

Well! Let's just say what he did really enhanced what Mark had laid down. Just one example: go to 1:33 up to 1:53 where Mark is singing the quiet part of Christ praying from the Cross. Mark has just one guitar part going, high up on the neck. Mike is adding simple stroke chords on piano that perfectly match the tones in the guitar chords. (You probably wouldn't even have noticed it if it weren't pointed out to you.) This imperceptibly 'fills it in', and makes it 'work' much better. He did this sort of thing all over the final demo - so awesome!

This makes a point. It's ALWAYS been like this in LW! During arranging & practice, each member has added 'little' things that 'serve' the song. We could talk all day about it. This is especially true of the songwriting as well as the arranging. Mark would add a vocal echo as part of Mike's song, as in "The Joy"; Mike would add a keyboard riff to top off a song of Mark's, as in "Glory". What we end up doing is often far better than if we had each gone totally solo. And even when we 'go solo', one or another of us often steps in to help & give it that "Living Waters" magic.

Mike Answers the Question!

 Mike Answers the Question!

I recently asked the question, 'was this our best vocal performance?' about "Let It Reign. Mike provided this thoughtful response to me:

I never considered myself a solid vocalist, but I am better with age. You have always had the powerful voice. But we are all in this one together. I have a fresh view now. Josh’s powerful orchestration, adding your visuals, our excitement for a new song with a great LW theme, recording live together, in His Spirit; certainly one of our best over-all performances. Then you bring it to life with the video! I do consider this my best LW song. It was a gift that came so quickly. It enhances my faith. I hope it does that for everyone who listens and watches.

Michael McBride

 

A Brand New Video: "Let It Reign"!

It has arrived! A brand new video for "Let It Reign"! This features a newly pumped up audio mix, & a truly crucial message for our times.  CLICK here: Let It Reign on RN

FEATURED VIDEO

Let It Reign

WATCH NOW

When Sunday Comes...The Bell Tolls....

When Sunday Comes...The Bell Tolls....

 

"When Sunday Comes" on RN!

"When Sunday Comes" on Spotify!

We recently got a great comment on the song from our new album, "Overflow", called "When Sunday Comes". Marian, on Number One Music, said, "“I just wanted to let you know that the 'When Sunday Comes' song was the best music I have heard in a very long time.” Wow! That's a pretty strong comment! What do you think?

At the beginning of the song, you can hear church bells ringing, calling us. As the song progresses the dissonance of the music expresses how hard it is to raise a family and have faith nowadays, with a common culture that is so against the apostolic faith. But even if we are hated or misunderstood, we will keep going to Church, to Jesus, the Source of our strength, when Sunday comes. We come together to pray for all, even our enemies and we will do good to those who harm us. Thematically, this song is very tied to the other songs on the album, especially, "Let It Reign".

We invite you to give a listen and tell us what you think!

Peace & Love & JOY,
Mark LaJOIE

"Jesus Freak Hideout"...It's Coming....

"Jesus Freak Hideout"...It's Coming....

"Jesus Freak Hideout" just sounds like a place where a band from the 70's belongs, doesn't it? We are going to have a podcast that features us coming up on there pretty soon, as well as a download and an ad. The song from "Overflow" that they are featuring is probably "Light of the World" - I left it up to them. It has been great communicating with Christopher and John. They seem very dedicated to doing a good job. Just stay posted!!

*As of May 13! The podcast is now set for Wednesday, May 22nd! AND we will have an ad, a 'middle sidebar' running from May 24 to June 6. After that, they may do an album review....

CLICK to go to Jesus Freak Hideout

New EP from Mike McBride!

NEW EP from Mike McBride!

We have been waiting for this for a few years. Ever since Mike returned to us, about 2012 or so, he has written a lot of songs. Many of Mike's new songs have fit into our Living Waters productions, but he deserves to have something that reflects his own unique talent. And so? Ta da! Here is the brand new EP, "You to Me", by Michael McBride

Here are the songs on the list:

1.     Honey (with Mark singing along)

2.     Red Blood (featuring Mike's daughter!)

3.     You (a love song)

4.     Stay

By the way, that drawing? was made by Mike himself when he was 14 years old! Cool, right?!

You and Me on Spotify

You and Me on iTunes

A Story About "Song of Witness"

A Story About "Song of Witness"

Mark after singing "Song of Witness" at Church on Easter morning 2019

In the late 70's, I wrote a song called "Song of Witness". It's an Easter song all the way. Each verse is a spoken, poetic narrative. It details Peter and John running to the tomb and finding the shroud, Mary Magdalene recognizing the Risen Lord, The Lord appearing to the Apostles on Easter night. Each verse has its own chorus ("He is risen! Alleluia...", "Long have I waited..." and "Peace be with you..."). After going through the three you join all three choruses together and then end strong on "He is risen!". (I will put the music at the end of the article.)

I happened upon a Christian Songwriters Conference at Estes Park in Colorado (I believe in 1980??). I decided to give it a shot and copied a concert version of "Song of Witness" onto a cassette tape and sent it in. Well, what to my wondering eyes did I behold in the mail but an in-depth breakdown and a pass to the main competition in Colorado! I'll never forget it. The reviewer was Dan Burgess, and we are forever beholden to him for seeing something good in the song.

So! I was off! (Those who know me, know that.) In Colorado, I got to see Amy Grant, Phil Keaggy and so many others. How exciting! Finally the day came for the competition. A room full of 'experts' judged my song. And? They absolutely ripped it apart! One guy said something like, 'what the heck is this?? you can't even tell what it is..." Another said 'this is a poor rip-off of Don Francisco' (I actually didn't even know who Don Francisco was at that point!) I just wished I could crawl under the floor, I was so embarrassed. That particular year? I actually had no reason to be that embarrassed - the winning song, was, I think, "Via Dolorosa" sung by Sandi Patti at the last show - that DESERVED best song, without a doubt far more than "Song of Witness". In later years, "We Are One Body" by Dana beat out my "Peter the Rock" for World Youth Day 1993 (in Colorado aGAIN!!) - once again, clearly destined to be. Interestingly, my son, Stephen, is now teaching in Colorado the last couple of years.

I went again to the Estes Park Conference in 1982, I believe, with Mike McBride, and myself. I had "Tonight" and Mike had "He Will Be". Well, the critics didn't like us that year either! All this might have seemed like a waste of time, but you know what? We learned from it! It made us determined to constantly improve, and boy did we ever! The next few years in the 80's saw a true flowering in so many ways. (By the way, that was the year Steve Taylor debuted on stage, and we were there to see it!)

I hope you enjoyed this tale from our past connection with the Christian Contemporary Music scene in its beginnings. Many thanks again to Dan Burgess and may Our Risen Lord bless you and yours richly!

Dan Burgess! Listen to his music www.reverbnation.com/danburgess

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE! 

Easter Playlist from Living Waters on RN

Easter Playlist from Living Waters on RN

Easter Playlist from Living Waters on ReverbNation CLICK

The Easter Season has begun! Here is a short LW Playlist which includes "Light of the World" from the new album. "Roll the Rock Over" is an old salvaged tape where the volume goes low on you, but it is well worth turning up the volume!

1. Alive Again

2. Light of the World

3. Save Me From Myself

4. Roll the Rock Over (classic live)

5. Forever

Easter Playlist from Living Waters on ReverbNation CLICK

Good Friday Playlist From Living Waters

Good Friday Playlist From Living Waters

LW Good Friday Playlist on Spotify

It is Good Friday. Such an important day! A day that every human heart has thought about and longed for, whether they knew it or not. As Isaiah said about the Suffering Servant and all he would suffer, all he would go through for our sake: "....those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it...." This is healing for the nations. I just heard that the word for "mercy" in Greek is almost exactly the same as the word for "olive oil". His total sharing of our fate is the ultimate healing balm for our deep wounds and alienation from God and ourselves and each other. "By his stripes we are healed". This has to be the deepest meaning for us. Let the Living Waters of His Grace flow to heal your confusion, pain and problems. Eat this Bread. Drink this Cup.....

"Endless Dance of Love" - The "Two Feet" song

Endless Dance of Love - The "Two Feet" song

Here we have an old live version of a favorite song of ours, "Endless Dance of Love", perfect for the Lenten season. We usually call it the 'Two Feet Song'. This version is kind of primitive; watch out as it starts with a loud buzzing sound. It also seems to be  one of the first times we did it, and the sound quality is not good, but it's worth hearing, I think. I am hoping we can do a studio version. Below the link is a discussion of how the song got written.

Endless Dance of Love (classic live) CLICK to listen

One year for our annual Christmas party, Joyce Rossignol decided that we were not going to have our usual Kris Kringle or Yankee Swap. She gave out one of her famous “homework” assignments. We had to write some sort of creative thing without spending money for a gift; I usually did a poem or a song. She passed around the hat, and I drew Kathy Bourque's name, Dave's wife. She was the leader of the dancers in the group. So I asked, ‘what can I possibly do this time, Lord’ and prayed for some inspiration that could be useful for her and us. I went to Chapel and got down on my knees to pray. (“How to say what Jesus means to do for you?”) I have to say, I think the Lord ‘opened my eyes’ to the role of the dancers in prayer and gave us a great song to express the dancers place in the group's heart of prayer.

Before this, I think I have to admit, I was usually too busy doing the music to notice or appreciate ENOUGH what they did. I ONLY saw them from the back all the time, after all, except when they would turn and glare at me when I randomly CHANGED THE WORDS TO THE SONG, rendering their movements comical or meaningless. (!) The classic has to be with Make Me Free when I said something like ‘falling on my knees like a tree’ or some such nonsense. (Believe me some of the dancers had classic ‘death-stares’. It makes me wonder how I could get my own songs so wrong and how I survived to this day.) It’s human nature not to notice something really wonderful that is very close to you and I guess that was where I was.

But as I prayed about this homework, I think God truly let me see their ministry as He sees it, like Mike had expressed in “Lonely Dancer” (of which the video is so beautiful: 

https://www.reverbnation.com/artist/video/11184972  

The key image I built the song around is that of the two feet of Jesus crucified. They are nailed down and yet his gift on the Cross is the ultimate dance, {an idea alluded to in “Lord of the Dance”}. True love circumscribes our ‘freedom’ and causes pain, worry and sacrifice, yet, paradoxically, it is the only true freedom to tie oneself down in this way, the ultimate ‘rejoicing’. [In Aramaic which Jesus spoke, the word for 'rejoice' and 'dance' are the same.] Further, I really realized how much of a prayer our group’s dancing has been, so many times.

John Drahos told me once he was using this song with his church music ministry and that everyone always called it “The Two Feet Song”! That’s probably a better working title, but I’ve decided to keep the original title here as “Endless Dance of Love”. Greg really likes to play this and we all like Denise singing the lead on it. The version I have here is probably one of the first times we did it, live from our 1993 Sheepgate Coffeehouse concert; kudos to Joe Prunera for getting it to us. It gives you a great idea how it sounded. Later I heard that beautiful song “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack and recognized a familiar invitation from the “Lord of the Dance”.

St. Cecelia loved music intensely, yet she was willing to “dance” as the Lord had, giving her life as a martyr. Her incorrupt body was discovered over a 1000 years later with three fingers extended on one hand and one on another, ostensibly expressing her faith in the Trinity. This miracle was recorded in the famous sculpted masterpiece of Stefano Moderno. “Fly free, life’s a dance.”

Endless Dance of Love (classic live) CLICK to listen

ReJOIce!!
Mark LaJOIE!

Live Interview with Mark & Mike!

Live Interview with Mark & Mike!

On St. Valentine's Day we did a live interview with Jacqueline Jax on AVA Live Radio. There are many ways to listen, but you can go to this link and scroll and press "Play" on "Episode 680 Behind the Music with Living Waters on Let It Reign". It is also up on iHeart, Spotify and elsewhere. 

AVA Live Interview with Living Waters

She really is a good interviewer, and Mike and I really enjoyed doing this. She had many positive comments about the album....

A Brand New Profile Picture

A Brand New Profile Picture!

From left to right: Greg Loell, lead guitar; Mike McBride, vocals, keys & writing; Denise Vassel, vocals; Mark Lajoie, vocals, guitar & writing; Dave Bourque, vocals & bass; Tony Vassel, drums. This is the lineup you hear on "Light of the World" & the live bonus song, "I Will Go" on the album. These are also the vocals you hear on "Hail Mary" & some other songs on there. Mike, Josh & I combined for most of the other work in the studio.

Here is our brand new profile picture. We just got together to dine, laugh, jam tunes and celebrate a milestone in the history of our faith family: our first full-length studio album. Anne-Marie, Greg's wife snapped this for us. We all seemed to inadvertently cross our arms in the first snaps so we started laughing about it, doing it on purpose and goofing. Denise always tries to hide in amongst the guys, doesn't she? We also noticed that every single one of us guys now has facial hair! I'm not sure what that means, if anything. What a group of people! What a joy to be together....

By the way, AVA Live Radio gave us this GIF as a gift on Instagram, and we have posted it to our social sites. Click on this line to see it. They seem to 'get it' about us. Mike and I will be doing a live interview with them, about the song "Let It Reign" and the album, on Thursday, February 14 (St. Valentine's Day!) at 4 PM. Say a prayer that the Holy Spirit may guide us in our words and thoughts.

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE!

Overflow Released on Spotify!

Overflow Released on Spotify!

"Overflow" on SPOTIFY CLICK to listen!

We are celebrating! After 42 years of existence as a group, Living Waters has our first full-length studio album released on Spotify. It is now also on Amazon and many other sites. I never thought this would happen. There have been hints and the aroma of grace associated with this project the whole way, as if it wasn't really our idea, but Someone else's. I call the result a small miracle. Please, rejoice with us by listening on Spotify, if you have it. If you don't, it's easy to sign up. MAKE SURE TO PRESS THE "FOLLOW" BUTTON!!! Plus, we get a tiny remuneration for our troubles. We are praying you will be amply enLIGHTened and blessed!

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE! with

Mike McBride

Joshua Loell

"Overflow" on SPOTIFY CLICK to listen!

One Day More!

One Day More! Overflow!

"Overflow" by Living Waters on Bandcamp! Click to order....

The Lajoies had a little private listening party last night. Wow! We are absolutely floored. This album is an absolute work of art. As we talked we said some of the following.

We said that anyone unfamiliar with Living Waters as a family will be suitably impressed with the genius production, for sure. But if you are a real Living Waters person you will rejoice in the deep roots in our past on this thing. There are many familiar songs and that core blend of songwriting styles and personalities, and featuring Mike, Mark, Greg, Dave, Denise & Tony at various points. And, then, there is a new 'flow' by Josh, someone steeped in reverence for who the Living Waters family is, and yet bringing a new genius to it all.

Further, we said there really is a wonderfully coherent theme to the whole thing that is so cool, something you hardly see anymore in albums. The key idea is taken from "City of Joy". It's a song that isn't on the album, but has been on every one of our full-length albums to this point. The idea is that there IS a Place that we can go with our deep needs as individuals and as a faith family, and that Place is the Person of Christ Himself, especially in the Bread and the Cup. We see this mentioned in "Sing to Jesus", "When Sunday Comes", "Covenant Love", "Let It Reign". In our pain and misery, there is one who understands, whose Heart is pouring out Grace to help us change. The image that jumps out is that of Light or Fire that shines from the Rain of Grace. "...He can brighten up your darkest night...", "The dark-ness is gone and now I see the light", the aftermath of the storm, the Light of the World, Sonrise, etc. That's why finding the album picture we did with the flowing Waters and the Light was so awesome.

Sometime this evening we will press the release button on Bandcamp, and you will all be able to hear for yourself!

"Overflow" by Living Waters on Bandcamp! Click to order.

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE!