A Living Waters-style Holy Week

https://www.reverbnation.com/livingwaters/song/16174476-a-stand-of-courage

https://www.reverbnation.com/livingwaters/song/4847396-i-will-go-one-take-live

Here are two songs appropriate for this time. First, something that I threw together on GarageBand once, a song I'd had in my head since I was a teen: "A Stand of Courage". It describes the type of selfless, wholly confident hope that Christ modelled and provided through his Passion. The second song, "I Will Go", we recorded in one take live in the early nineties; it's a little uneven in the balance of tracks, but well worth it for capturing our 'live feel' in our prime. It is drawn from one of Isaiah's Suffering Servant passages about that same courage. Here are the lyrics for you:

A Stand of Courage by Mark A. Lajoie
Copyright 2011, RN SR 679-889

Deep in my sor-row and my pain
There still re-mains
A pil-lar of help for a-ny yelp of hu-man mi-ser-y
With help from you and God I'll find out where it lies
And we shall de-fy i-mag-i-na-tion

With a stand of cour-age
A stand of cour-age
With a stand of en-cour-age-ment
With a stand of cou-rage

Yeah, Yeah!
Ooooooooo!

Spi-rit of love, Spi-rit of life
You are the peace with-in our strife
You are the key that sets the cap-tives free
You are the two-edged sword that cuts through all the lies
And we shall de-fy i-mag-i-na-tion

With a stand of cou-rage
He'll be my cou-rage
Won't you be my in-spi-ra-tion
With a stand of cou-rage

Yeah, Yeah!

With a stand of cour-age
Yeah!

I WILL GO
by Mark A. Lajoie
Copyright 2011, RN SR 679-889

CHORUS
Let me hear
Let me see
Let me see what I should be
How to be me in you
Let me know
I will go
If you show me
I will fol-low
I will go with you

CHORUS

I will go Lord
I will go go go go

Day by day you o-pen my ear
I have not turned back in my fear
You've shown me how to live
You'll show me how to die

I will go Lord
I will go

CHORUS

I will go Lord
I will go go go go

I gave my back to those who beat me
Know-ing no-thing can de-feat me
I may go so far but you are near
Let me hear!

(lead)

I will go Lord
I will go Lord
I will go go go go
I will go

'NOTHer Backing Track! God is With Us

'NOTHer Backing Track! God is With Us

To hear the backing track? click this!:

https://www.reverbnation.com/livingwaters/song/4865250-god-is-with-us-karaoke

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

https://www.reverbnation.com/livingwaters/song/4536738-god-is-with-us

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!

"Love's Beginning" (Backing Tracks)

"Love's Beginning" (Backing Tracks)

For the backing track mix:
https://www.reverbnation.com/livingwaters/song/4865109-loves-beginning-karaoke
For the full group version with vocals:
https://www.reverbnation.com/livingwaters/song/4562878-loves-beginning

There's so much to say about the work done on this track! I think it is one of Greg's finest hours on electric guitar for one thing. Let's break it down a bit.

Mike wrote the song, and it is just a wonderful idea for a Christmas song from top to bottom. We probably spent the most time down in the cellar working on tracks for this particular song on instruments AND vocals, and I think the results are marvelous.

Tony's drums were individually miked, although they are dropped quite a bit in this particular  mix. If you listen to the full version we have with the vocals, you can hear those "roto-toms" used to full advantage at the end of each phrase in the chorus. This is one song that makes clear that we had a real drum player in this group.

There are a couple of songs that show off Dave's unique and fascinating take on composing for bass. One is that stick-in-your-head riff he came up with in "There's a Woman"; this is certainly another, where he does several great things. One thing to notice is that 'bass chord' thing he does during the bridge; another is how he shakes the neck when hitting that low E on the verses. Just listen once while concentrating on what he is doing.

Greg comes into his own here using the distorted electric guitar to serve a song that is so musical and lyrical. Following the bass line to back the chorus, sliding to those high rhythm chords to segue from one part to another. And that lead? it is a thing of beauty. I love that subtle bend in the beginning and those perfectly-placed triple runs leading to a perfect climax. Well-crafted is right!

As on "Glory", Mike shows himself to be an amazing piano player, particularly knowing just exactly how to ornament the background with tinkling lines that meander in exactly the right fashion. He, of course, also added several synthesizer parts. Even Mark got into the act, adding that one swelling ninth chord during the second verse and the one-finger string synthesizer backing to the lead, as well as the single piano chord which is heard at the very end on the vocal version.

It is truly our pleasure to present to you, without instruments, "Love's Beginning"!

Peace & Love & JOY,
Mark LaJOIE!

“Glory (Instruments only!)”

“Glory (Instruments only!)”
 
https://www.reverbnation.com/livingwaters/song/4864790-glory-karaoke

Thought it was time to haul out and listen to a track with just instruments. Here is "Glory" from our album, "The Joy". Mark wrote the song, but arrangement was a group effort; before this, the song had been quite simple, but a new vocal arrangement, and the layering of the instruments changed that. That 12-string intro, using the upper register, is Mark. Mike McBride is showing the wide range of our old ARP synthesizer and other keyboards in several places, making that great 'wind' sound in the beginning. On verses you hear him add those simulated woodwinds, so suitable for a pastoral scene, but the greatest thing he does are on piano: the rousing chorus chords and those sweet, tinkling lines that ornament the verses and quiet sections. Dave's bass, as always is not predictable and yet strongly drives the rhythm which is fascinating to hear. Tony's drums are clear and strong, with his crisp rim-shots. Greg is adding full rhythm acoustic underneath. We recorded this in our 505 Pleasant community house in the basement. Those were marvelous days. I will release a few more from this session soon!

"Stay!" Video

"Stay!" Video

https://www.reverbnation.com/artist/video/14294362

https://youtu.be/W-WVQJG_XUw

This February, in honor of our 40th anniversary as a group, I have created a new video featuring pictures that celebrate who we are in the context of St. Valentine's Day. (Recently, we posted an OLD love song video, "This Loving Stream", from my first dance with Julia, THIRTY years ago this year! Another old video will soon be re-posted.)

So! Mike's brand new love song, "Stay!", is now up on ReverbNation & Youtube. It rejoices in all the marriages, family and group love and prayer we have and are experiencing. It also remembers those we have loved who have passed on, in particular, Cheryl, pictured here with Mike, who cared for her so much toward the end.

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE!

Where Does This Loving Stream Flow?

Where Does This Loving Stream Flow?

Click this to see the video: https://www.reverbnation.com/artist/video/11184970

Well, it's now February, and I think we are gearing up for St. Valentine's Day. We will share several items, including the new song by Mike. This song I recorded vocal and guitar on cassette and the wedding band played along with it for the first dance at our wedding, June 1, 1986. It's kind of hard to hear the words, so I will reproduce them here:

And when I first did see your face

Time and space stopped drift-ing by

And in your eyes I saw a trace

of that for which Man's Lov-er laid down his life

Where does this lov-ing stream flow?

You know it's say-ing 'Go with me! Go with me!'

For I feel an end-less hun-ger to be free in life

And I re-a-lize I love you

I love you

And when I first drank from the well

I could-n't tell you all the sweet-ness that I found

And as we come to know it well

Two ri-vers flow-ing now will join as one

Where does this lov-ing stream flow?

You know it's say-ing 'Go with me! Go with me!'

For I feel an end-less hun-ger to be free in life

And I re-a-lize I love you

I love you

Celebrating Forty Years and New Music Continues!

Celebrating Forty Years and New Music Continues!   










(The picture above is probably one of our first concerts, at first just covering ‘songs of praise’ tunes.  But, fairly soon, we were ‘dressing up’, putting on a show and composing new music.)

Yes, it’s true: we officially started in 1976, BUT, truth be told, major players in the group, like Mark, Mike, Dave, Chuck, & Danny had known each other since 1973 or so. We evolved into several permutations over the years, but there were several constants:  the music was always inspired in a very special way, and we became much more than a simply a ‘band’, we are a faith family. There are many stories and observations available on this blog and elsewhere, & we invite you to read, listen and celebrate with us.

The music is still happening in the same way. The other day, we played music for the funeral Mass of our good buddy, Cheryl Bullock, at our old stomping grounds, St. Patrick’s in Natick. It was just amazing how beautiful the music sounded and how well Mike spoke the eulogy. I think this family is not bound by the sorrows and limits of this mortal world.

And this week, Mike McBride & Josh have produced yet another new song called, “Trouble with Angel”. It’s amazing that such fine work is being produced in this stage of our lives. (Here is the link should you want to listen to it:  https://www.reverbnation.com/livingwaters/song/25135366-trouble-with-angel )

And I have produced a new lyric video montage for “Do What He Tells You to Do”, from our award-winning  new EP, “Alive Again”. That song is now vying for the top spot on Adoration Radio. (Here is the link for the new video:  https://youtu.be/RzahABWPfmU )

Josh has approached me about producing more stuff, too. One of these vacations we’ll hopefully get that done before long for you. 

Chuck is now an officially ordained deacon, who exhibits a new spiritual power and the same old loveable silliness. I also have a new job leading a choir for the 9AM Mass at my parish.

One thing on our agenda is to get updated ‘old people’ ensemble photos for you. Hey, we’re proud to have made it this far – we’ll be glad to do that for you so you may fully behold the wonder of our agedness.

This is all just too wonderful for words! We have been blessed far beyond measure, a heaping measure that cries to be shared abroad.

Please, know, you are held in our hearts, and we are praying each day for all of our benefactors, friends and further family.

Peace & Love & JOY,

Mark LaJOIE!