Jeff Adams – For Real

Tea In China written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

Performed by Jeff Adams

This song turned out cooler than I’d thought it would.  I used a bass guitar and an effect (can’t recall its name at present) for the lead after the second verse.  Just a point of curiosity.

Perception is everything.  Seriously.  Why does capital have value?  Because people are willing to believe it to be the case.  But where does it all come from — really?  There’s no Gold or Silver Standard.  I have some explaining to do about the ending of this song.  I used currencies from around the world in constructing the final two choruses (is that a word, choruses?).  I’ll quote the choruses and put in parentheses what the country of origin is for the currency mentioned.  K.

“I think of the millions of dollars (US) and people and Pesos (Mexico) and Rupees (India) and Francs (Morocco among other places) and Lira (Turkey) and Krones (Sweden) and Pounds (UK); Euros (EU), Makuta (Zaire) and Ruples (Russia) and Ducats (Maldova), and Yen (Japan).”

…”I think of the millions of dollars (US) and people and Pesos and Rupees and Guilders (Suriname) and Shillings (Kenya), and Rands (S. Africa) and Wons (Korea); Escudos (Chile), Guarani (Paraguay), Xu (Viet Nam), Baht (Thailand), Fen (China) and Yen…”

Thought It Would B (formerly How U Thought It Would B)

written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

Performed by Jeff Adams and Chris McDonough;

The  other version, the original distant copy, is still on this site; however, Chris and I decided to re-record it because it is a tune worthy of further clarity.  If only I had some money.  Then there would be some clarity for certain.  If there are any philanthropists out there and/or willing sponsors, I would be able to direct all of my creative abilities towards composition and production…perhaps even performing once again (it’s been 10 years)…alas, tempus fugit

Baby I Do  written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

This was a little St. Valentine’s Day effort on my part for my sweet Shirlee.  Brand-spankin’-new. 

Beyond – (family remix) written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

Performed by Jeff Adams and Chris McDonough;

Additional singers include: The Adams Family Singers, featuring Shirlee Adams, Jace Adams, Troy Adams, and Jude Adams

I couldn’t resist doing a re-mix of this tune with the whole family joining in.  I would be driving down the road and the kids would ask to hear the song.  Then I could hear them all in the background, singing.  I thought, “that doesn’t sound half bad”, so I gave it a shot. 

The Wonder Of You written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

This was a tune I wrote for my sweet Shirlee.

Storm written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

This is a re-posting of a remix.  The original recording was far too distorted.  This one is less distorted.

I wrote this song for my dearly departed Uncle Mark, who took his own life in ‘03.

Looking For In Love written by Jeff Adams - performed by Jeff Adams and Chris McDonough             © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

Hooray!  This is the first recording effort of Adams & McDonough since 1999.  Chris McDonough and I played and performed together in solo acts and bands for the entire decade of the 1990’s.  We have been trying to coordinate some material for YEARS and have finally gotten something together.  It’s quite exciting. 

Another Day In The Sun written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

performed by Jeff Adams

I wrote this song when I was living in California in 1997.  The copy I had from back then is in poor shape, to say the least, so I re-recorded it recently.

In the lyrics, when I mention:

                                                        Another day in the sun

                                                       It feels like it’s burning this ancient structure down

                                                        And what of this thought that I found?

                                                         As I’m burning it all down… 

The “ancient structure” I’m burning down relates to doing away with my former ways of doing things in order to take advantage of pleasantries.

Beyond written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

performed by Jeff Adams and Chris McDonough

This is a little ditty I wrote for our expected youngster (#4).  Special thanks to Chris McDonough.

Rise Above written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved 

I’m fairly sure I wrote this in ‘93.  This was an Adams-McDonough recording from 2000.  I’d like to do this one better yet.

 Across The Wall written by Jeff Adams© 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved 

This was a tune I wrote in 1996, in Colorado actually.  Between ‘96 and ‘97 I travelled quite a bit.  An old recording from ‘97, several generations removed from its MD4 original – well, the sound quality is a bit tinny.  New stuff is coming.

Dysfunction written by Jeff Adams  © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

This one I wrote in the winter of 1996, a simply incredible year.  Chris & I had a blast performing this one all throughout the late 90s.

Trace Of Sadness written by Jeff Adams © 1989-2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved performed by Jeff Adams and Chris McDonough

I wrote this tune ions ago, it seems, for this hatchet-faced sea hag I used to know.  This copy was actually analogically mastered in January 1992 at WCHE in West Chester, PA.  This copy, however, is a distant copy of its original, so the quality level isn’t at its’ original level.  Pero, de nada. 

 Truth written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved 

performed by Frozen Pop  ca. 1994 (Jeff Adams, Chris McDonough, Dennette Myers, George Kalman, and Carlyn Hutchins, née Hurwitz) as recorded on the DAT demo, Frozen Pop: Live At The Parlor.

Dead Dog written by Chris McDonough © 2009 Chris McDonough  All Rights Reserved

performed by Jeff Adams and Chris McDonough

It all started when my family dog died, so I decided to confide in my friend and accompanist, Chris McDonough – who proceeded to make fun of my sorrow mercilessly by composing this tune right in front of my face.  He strummed and mocked; I wrote his words down.  It is one of the best songs ever.

 Tell Me written by Jeff Adams © 1992-2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved 

performed by Jeff Adams and Chris McDonough

This tune morphed into the Self-Righteousness Trilogy while Chris and I were jamming with Frozen Pop, having blended with two other song-fragments of similar key.

Childhood Dream written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

performed by Jeff Adams and Chris McDonough

I tend to think that this is the best mix out there that I could find, although the last one isn’t too different. 

Carl’s Guitar written by Chris McDonough © 1996-2009 Chris McDonough

Back in ‘96, Chris and I used to hang around with this guy named Carl.  Carl really didn’t know how to play any instruments, although he professed some sort of ability on harmonica.  He also owned an old Sears Silvertone guitar.  I thought it was a fairly cheap looking piece of junk, but Chris was able to make it sing.  Perhaps he thereby attributed value where there was none beforehand.  It’s a great instrumental jam; this is the first demo and the sound quality is not that great – even though the rendition is awesome.  The better copy of this song, the digital copy, can be found on the album Frozen Pop: Truth.  It is of better quality, but the rendition doesn’t match its demo.  Great tune though – one of 4 that Chris has composed (and all 4 of his tunes are really great). 

Upon Reflection written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

I wrote this one just this past summer.  The lyrics in the beginning remind me of Truth a little bit. 

Truth starts:

In the early morning

As I watch the sun arise

I see how it really is; I see what it really is

Point out to me what is reality

Do I think that you believe the line

That you’re alive?

Upon Reflection starts:

I walk along this path

That’s set before me in the moning darkness

And set before my eyes all that illuminates my mind

Have I become

Desensitized, unrecognizable to myself

Upon reflection?

The Fleeting Moment – Demo written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

Performed by Jeff Adams & Chris McDonough

I wrote this song in ‘96 and recorded it the same year with Chris in California (where I was living at the time).  We were still operating on limited technology.  We re-recorded this song again in ‘99 and released it on the album Frozen Pop: Truth in 2000.  That summer, The Fleeting Moment was played on WXPN (Harrisburg, PA/Baltimore, MD) and WSTW (Wilmington, DE). 

This was such a good rendition (the Y2K version) that I have re-released it as a single, available on iTunes with MUCH greater quality than this demo.  So, please support the artist!  Buy your high-quality .mp3 of The Fleeting Moment by Jeff Adams (with Chris McDonough) right now by following this link:

How U Thought It Would B written by Jeff Adams © 1994-2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

Performed by Jeff Adams & Chris McDonough

  I wrote this song in ‘94.  Chris and I performed it for 2 years prior to recording it in ‘96.  When Chris arrived in California, where I had my studio, we didn’t have the right kind of discs for the recording device – so we were reduced to recording on two tracks, then mix-bouncing to one track a few times.  Not only that, it was mixed from a digital source onto an analog source where it sat in a box for 15 years.  Last weekend I found it and put it back to digital.  This file is the result; so there is a little sound degradation and a background hiss I couldn’t modify.  When I go to modify the song by sampling the hiss alone and then removing that sample from the entire file, it seems to take away more than just the hiss – so I left it in for now.  Perhaps it is my software!  Nonetheless, it is a good song.  I still want to re-record it one of these days.

Constellation written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams All Rights Reserved

I wrote this in 1997 for a friend of mine named AdZe MiXXe and never had a chance to record it right until lately.  I’m waiting for a few more musicians to add input for the final draft though. (hint)

Shadow Of A Dream written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

Performed by Jeff Adams & Chris McDonough

Produced by Chris McDonugh 

Black Sheep written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

This is a song I wrote for my dearly departed mother while she was still alive.

Freedom That Could Be written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

Mortal Creatures written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams All Rights Reserved

Bessie Mae written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

This is one of my more recent productions which I wrote in memory of my beloved grandmother who died 10 years ago this year. 

Truth – written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams All Rights Reserved

I wrote this song during somewhat of a dark period – although many of my songs are motivated by such periods, it seems.  In the middle of the song, I refer to Death as a person, a girl, as is portrayed in the Sandman comic books (DC Comics).  This file has degraded somewhat, but I know there’s a better copy of it floating around somewhere – I’ll post it when I find it!  This rendition is from the DAT demo Frozen Pop: Live At The Parlor.  There is another version out there recorded on the CD entitled, Frozen Pop: Truth, but that is another post.   Special thanks to: Chris McDonough, George Kalman, Carlyn Hurwitz, and Dennette Myers.

Find The Way written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams All Rights Reserved

Prison Bed Blues written by Chester (KY) Wilson, ADC# 126901

© 2009 Jeff Adams (ADC# 157650)  All Rights Reserved

It was a little unsettling playing guitar in the slammer for fear of breaking a string.  The policy was no guitars allowed, but the ones that had been there prior to the policy having become that could stay – but strings could only be attained through great difficulty.  People use guitar strings as tatooing needles in makeshift tatoo-guns made out of  Walkman-style motors.  There are some really brilliant artists in there but also a lot of Hepatitis C and Staph (both of which I was fortunate to avoid).  Anyway, this song was given to me by a phenomenal singer/songwriter who hails from Kentucky (which is the actual reason he is called KY).  We used to jam this out frequently on the acoustics in the yard.  Ah, the good old days.  I put a live acoustic version of this song on video back in ‘05 (click to watch YouTube video).

How U Thought It Would B, written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams 

All Rights Reserved

This one is an oldie that I found in some archive.  Chris McDonough and I recorded this demo in two tracks in 1997.  We never had a chance to re-visit this song to record it again, but it has been on my to-do list for a number of years now!

More Curious Still  written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams All Rights Reserved

An interesting rocker with a catchy bass-line, this song starts out with me casting aspersions at my parents, but then turns more positive by the hook – with a little word-play too.

They told me the manner of how to exist on this plane

And through the clouded plexiglass

I see the things that look mundane

More curious still

Memo To The Senate written by Jeff Adams and Chris McDonough

 
© 2009 Jeff Adams and Chris McDonough All Rights Reserved

Chris and I were doing a little morning jam-session one time and came up with this tune, trading lyrics line for line.  We got quite a kick out of it and we hope you do too.  It is meant to be satirical, despite the biting title (which Chris came up with). 

The Middle written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

Again something I want to remix and/or re-record, but a good song nonetheless.

Meadow written by Jeff Adams © 2009 Jeff Adams  All Rights Reserved

This mix is a little better and more complete than the last one I released; however, there is still a prominent buzz in the middle part of the mix towards the end.  I would love to re-record this song if I had the time.