Xmas 2005 Presents!!

Happy Holidays
from
MIKE LIVINGSTON
& FRIENDS!!

(Use this as the album cover "art" for your Ipod if you want.)

All you have to do is click on the links and "POW" - you'll be taken to another dimension.
If you'd like to "save" the files onto your hard drive, I-pod, or another bit of business - "right-click" on the link and do a "Save Target As".
Make sure you remember where on your computer you saved it!!!

All songs written, performed, arranged, recorded, and (too quickly) mastered by Mike Livingston unless otherwise noted.
Mike Livingston © 2006
All cover songs are presented for demonstration purposes ONLY!!

Please feel free to leave "thank you's", comments, or critiques in my GUESTBOOK.

"Baby It's Cold Outside" - Frank Loesser
A Duet by Sue Drougas and Mike Livingston
Sue is not only a fantastic singer, but she's also a wonderful person... not to mention easy on the eyes. Grrrrrr.... ;)
I first met Sue through Prof. Rick Manning. They were/are performing as a duo and wanted me to record a demo for them.
I was VERY impressed with Sue's natural vocal style, and I definitely wanted her to help me out with this stuff.
It was Sue's idea to record THIS song!!
I agreed wholeheartedly!!!

I'm playing all of the instruments except for the trumpet.
That was performed by my old high school friend Walt "Wally" Trachim, who is now my downstairs neighbor!!
Small world huh?
(Great job Wally!!!)

Doug MacCormack - father, husband, songwriter, guitarist, guitar designer/builder/repairman,
electro mechanical engineer, woodwright, graphic artist,
webmaster, computer geek, photographer, boatbuilder,
evangelist / servant

I was just fiddling around with my Puerto Rican cuatro (quatro) and happened upon the lick. The instrument just has that haunting "midrangy" sound that screams "Christmas!!" Knowing I was on to something, I worked the song hard for a day or two and it came together rather quickly. Some friends of mine were expecting a child around Christmas, and considering its lullaby sound, I reached back into my own experiences as first time parent and the imagery of memories just flowed over me like a wave spilling out onto the page.
Some songs are written and some songs are just born- this one was just "born".
Oh yeah- the child's name is Marlow.'

Instruments recorded and performed by Doug in his studio.
Lead vocals recorded at "CrowKing".
"Whoville Oooohs", "Beach Boy vocals", shaker and tamborine performed by Mike Livingston.

Final mix and mastering by Mike Livingston

"Here I Am Waiting DEMO" - Mike Livingston & Doug MacCormack
Speaking of Doug - this is a song we wrote together!
Doug was coming over to just hang out, but while I was waiting I started writing this tune.
The song was originaly intended to be about a guy waiting for a girl to "come around". I was getting nowhere!!
Then - Doug and I switched the perspective of the lyrics to waiting for Jesus' return...
WHAT?!?!
Talk about changing directions!!!

We then fired up my studio to do a quick demo.
I sang and played guitar into one mic., and then we added a few more instruments.

I made a mistake in the vocal/guitar take - you'll hear it - but we left it in because it was only supposed to be a demo...

John Erlman is not only one of my dearest friends, but he was also the lead vocalist of the "Jonathan Webster Band".
He's a teriffic singer, and I had to get him involved this year in my little holiday project!!

Since this song was written for guitar, we decided to record it that way.

I laid down the guitars, John did a couple of vocal sweeps, then I blended them all together!!

My sister and I used to LOVE the Partridge Family! This song is off of their Christmas album.
It's always stayed with me - and every year I've done a simplified version of it around the holidays.
One day I decided to learn the correct chords. YIKES!!
This is a "one microphone" recording that I made after learning the song proper (and after having a few too many "Stoli martinis").
I then added drums, bass, and a few vocals to round it off.
Please be kind...

Recorded 12-21-2005. ONE TAKE!!!! ONE MIC.!! A couple of over-dubs.... I just felt like doing it!!
Merry Christmas!!!

"The Kindness Of Friends" - Mike Livingston

I wrote this one while pushing my son along in his stroller down at EPCOT.
The rhythm of the wheels set off this beat, and the rest of the song came rather quickly.