Original Music
Original Music
Eastside Project was originally the name I went under for my progressive rock music. I delved into this style of writing in college when I discovered classic progressive rock bands such as Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, King Crimson, Triumvirat, and Pink Floyd. The album I am currently working on is the combination of recording projects I worked on in college which I had converted to digital in 2001. There were many things about the original recordings that I hoped someday to improve on and now I finally have that capability, although the time I commit to it is very limited. So with that said, it's only taken me 20 years to get this far but hopefully it will be completed and released soon. I'm providing some excerpts for examples of my writing and recording styles. These are some of the songs from the first Eastside Project CD with a working title of "Cry Forevermore". There are 3 additional albums that will be recorded following this entitled 'Through The Rings' and 'Life Cycle' 1 & 2. I've tried to keep as much of the original recordings as possible and replaced or added to where needed.
Click on the song titles in red to download a portion of each song.
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Cry Forevermore I wrote the intro to this in high school (thanks Lee King for the inspiration!) and finished it a couple of years later. I somehow pictured the beginning as pilgrims sailing across the Atlantic though I don't know why. The rest is about a love betrayal I guess - I don't really remember why I wrote those lyrics. It's one of the few songs I wrote all on piano. Definitely a Kansas influence. Sailing on the crest of a wave
through an endless time There has to be a reason for turning me away I sense a thought of treason in the words you say I fell the essence of your power extending jealously and sin I stand alone upon the tower, I don’t know why you’d wanna do it again
You’ve gotta say what you mean and promise never again To be the pray and desire of a hungry man You’ll find a way to the fire if you do it again You’ll be a-runnin’ into the night!
You tell me that you’re lonely, I never treat you right But now I know you’re only lovin’ me at night Am I the only one who feels this? Like Heaven must have passed me by Am I no longer sure I want this? Oh baby don’t you know you’re makin’ me die
Were you the one who loved me? Or did you run away? Are you thinkin’ you’re above me in the light of day? I feel the essence of you power extending jealously and sin I stand alone upon the tower, oh baby baby don’t you do it again
Cry forevermore Cry forevermore
Cry forevermore |
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Did You Know?
My favorite song on the album. I was really getting into Yes when I wrote this though I think it stands well on it's own. I'm working on a video for this song.
Do you think you’re doin’ right? Can you tell me that I’m wrong? Sleepless on a summer night Something tells you that I’ve gone
Did you know I was sure to be a clown? Just for you, but you see I’m not around
Points of light come shining through the sky No reflections in your eyes Do you feel the burdens of our time? May resistance be your guide
Did you know there are ways to be amazed? Just to you all my love will go I pray I was hoping you would come around someday Baby try to consecrate your life, showing everyone the way
Like a little bird she flew away Too afraid to follow what’s inside, oh If he never thought she knew the way, Would he be allowed to go his way? On his way…
Take a look around you girl Will it get you down? The clouds are gathering And you run home…
If you come into my heart Treat me right baby
Please be nice |
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Eternity Of Ages More of a spiritual song I wrote when I was questioning Christianity with a bit of an ELP feel. Lonely, never seein’ you Someone who would die for me Is no one I could hope to be But what does it mean? What does it mean?
You keep tryin’ to break me Someone tryin’ to take me Where love is gone, all gone
He told us what we should not do Below us, have you not a clue? Is love all that strong? Why can’t we belong?
You keep tryin’ to break me Love is strong and I need you Lord Someone tryin’ to take me Just keep holdin’ me in your arms Look up into the sky to see
beyond the lights, there is no fault And if you’ve gotta be up, don’t be lookin’ down If you wanna get up, turn it around
The question must resolve the answer to the pages in our hands The dream of knowing all became Creator of the book of man
If you’ve gotta be up, don’t be lookin’ down ‘Cause if you wanna get up, turn it around, alright! |
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For You, If You Want It I wanted to try coming up with something similar to Steve Howe's classical guitar work on his 'Mood For A Day'. I know I can't compare to his playing but I think I came up with something nice at least. |
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Let Me Be Part Of You I was starting to write more obscure lyrics when I wrote this one in the style of Jon Anderson of Yes. I didn't realize until just now that this is an answer to the Prologue!
Break the darkness, live your mind’s
will Once a long time now is over Half of all that is alive Don’t believe me, find it don’t hurt Won’t discover till we die
I was only tryin’ to help you all What is it worth to you? You’re so alone Let me be part of you Oh what it would mean Let me be part of you…
On the highway, drivin’ nowhere If you need me, don’t be lyin’ You’ll be leavin’, you’ll be cryin’ Realizin’ you’re alone
Love is just one thing I can give Nobody told you how to live No use in talkin’ ‘bout the things that you’ve missed, like knowin’ me I would like just to be with you again
In the darkness by the ocean Feelin’ heartless, no emotion Just a notion to die
Somethin’ told me you were lonely Still I can’t see why you only Must disown me your life
I am the one You can do anything through me, you’ll see the life
Don’t you run |
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Eternity Of Ages Well there can't be a Prologue without an Epilogue! Thanks to Greg Busby for the great drumming on this album. You have eternally told of
a greater time See you passin’ by I was sold on you Disregard the few Some evil deep inside of us haunting me and you
Send me out, or send me out an “okay” Think it out before you doubt the same mistake
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Vacant Land Al Gore would be proud - sorry I didn't vote for you. (Not sorry really!) Now the sun is shining
through the vacant land |
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Fanfair For my senior project I wanted to try to record as many different instruments as possible, as well as deliberately write a piece of music based on parallel fifths! |
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Tellurian's Bane Cool rockin' tune - thanks to Doyle Newmeyer for the B3 solo! I guess the title is a bit redundant to the next song but I've always liked Tolkien's inventions. |
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Extinction
A foreshadowing of Through the Rings and a bit of Sci-fi. Saw today they’ve all gone away Will they be forgotten? One did say there was a way Was it meant for all men? Flying, I may go there someday
Thought today if I would remain (He is coming someday) Will I be forgotten? One did say life could sustain (Life eternal at stake) Was it meant for all men Flying higher away… (Stay, stay, stay) |
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Life Is Something Blue The first half of the song is just acoustic guitar and strings, then I rock it up a bit. Here's the ending with a guitar solo and horns. There may be life behind
confusion Mistreated, innocent, unsheltered love Look at the things you have done Soon to abandon, a seed in the dust Breaking a warm-tailored trust
Light is the sun that may all creatures know Dark is the song that you sing while you go Life is something blue
Here is the time so don’t abuse it Don’t let them die or fade away We have no right to kill for fortune Wasting their lives on our mistakes
Forest diminishing, Nature undone Please let the animals run Father Creator, a tear in His eye Knowing we may not survive
Light is the sun that may all creatures know Dark is the song that you sing while you go Life is something blue Life is something blue
Don’t you think that money is the key to love and life? Someday when your money’s gone there’s something you will find
Now I’m alone, I feel a lot older Some things are wrong, my world’s a bit colder Older, colder… |