About Last Night and the Crocodile

OK, this will be my last update on the "Boogaloo Zoo" CD as I am getting ready to finish the mastering, checking the graphics and uploading the shabang to my manufacturer, TODAY...in an hour or so. But today almost didn't happen, read about last night...

I had one more song to finish, a cover of Sir Elton John's "Crocodile Rock". It's been done for a while but I just couldn't sing the high la-la-la part. My son Wil could do it, but he is still vocal recording shy, Taelor tried it (my daughter who's idea it was to do the song), but it didn't sound quite right. My lovely and talented wife Cathi (professional singer!) had a sore throat  she tried it, but it was too scratchy. What to do? So on a whim I called Oliver Kinnoin (one of my co writing partners, son of Dave Kinnoin the Songwizard) and asked if he could bail me out...

Me- RING-RING..."hi Oliver this is Mr. Billy. Can you sing the hi falsetto lalala part in "Crocodile Rock" and send it to ne...tonight?"

Oliver - "No problem, I was just sitting here working on my falsetto so I'm all warmed up"

Who sits around working on falsetto in the middle of the night??? I'm glad Oliver was...life saver!

WILD, and in a hour of so I had a vocal track that rocked. Here is is the last piece of the "Boogaloo Zoo" puzzle. Hope you like it! The whole CD should be up for sale at CD Baby and iTunes in a week or so. Rock on!

What happened, how is this possible?

As I sit here mixing my new CD "Boogaloo Zoo", song after song I am floored at how awesome these new tunes are. Really, no kidding.

What happened? How is this possible? I keep asking myself this...I mean this is the 8th CD I have done this year, shouldn't I be running out of steam...taking shortcuts, turning out ideas?

I honestly don't know how to explain it, this CD may be the best thing I've ever done! Weird.

Here are my thoughts on all the tracks as I mix...

Porcupine Petting Zoo - I wrote this with my son Wil on a road trip. Very George Thorogood-ish. Cool bluesy guitar, hard vocal...funny. We recorded all the drums, bass and guitar live on stage before a gig. Added vocals and lead guitar later.

Piggies - Yes, The Beatles classic (gone techno/punk?). This was a last minute add on, originally I was going to do a whole pig polka medley, but I changed my mind. This track rocks hard. I like it.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight - I have ALWAYS loved this song, used to have the 45. When I decided to cover this one I immediately asked my friend from South Africa Grahame Sacks if me would do a track for me, so (in the middle of a personal matter, amazing) he did. All the music, guitars, bass, percussion were performed and recorded by him at his South African studio, how cool is that? I added what seems to be pretty darn amazing vocals...yes that is all me (I have no idea how that happened!)

Amy Armadillo - A little advice, if you ever ask a wizard to write you a song, it will be magical. That's what my pal Dave Kinnoin is, a song wizard. He wrote this to order. Amazing song that I arranged in an unusual way that really makes the tune pop. Did the crazy auto wa-wa solo in the middle...me...I rock.

Waddle Like a Penguin - I have been writing this song for years, enter Dave again to save the day. Inspired by Led Zeppelin. Oh, that's my boy on drums...awesome.

Desert Thunder - Again a Dave Kinnoin song, genus. I hate to sound like a broken record here, but the vocals are good...really good. This one has a kind of 80's Romantics or Aldo Nova feel. Love it.

Freebird - There are some songs full time old rock and roll road dogs like myself dread...Proud Mary, Old Time Rock and Roll, Sweet Home Alabama and the biggie (by the same band that brought us Sweet Home Alabama)...Freebird. Now, I have never had a problem with this song. A few months ago some of the parents were shouting it out...so I did it. Then one day I thought about the lyrics and how it can be about something else...a different kind of bittersweet love story a child could relate to. So ia added the spoken part about a little girl and an injured bird...zappo! Instant kids classic. I'm not as happy with the lead vocal here, we did the music and the vocal live, the mix is weird, but it feels right. I added some additional instrumentation and in place of the lead guitars I had my friend Wiley Rankin do wild harmonica solos at the end (while we were at a children s music conference!). Overall this is a cool piece, not perfect, but that's rock and roll.

Crocodile Rock - The last song to finish today. All doe except for the high falsetto part...I just can't do it...Mrs. Billy to the rescue tonight! Basic tracks recorded live, added some more keyboards at home.

Dressing Up My Animals - I needed one more track, so I called my buddy songwriter Monty Harper and asked him if he had a song about a giraffe, he did...was working on one with Dino O'Dell. I asked if I could have it in 24 hours...he laughed at me. But they did it. I am wrapping it up today after mixing and mastering the other 10 songs. It's funny, you'll like it.

Boogaloo Zoo - This track really cooks, you can feel the energy. This song was a major breakthrough, recorded live with a few additions in the studio. It really captures the power my son and I create onstage together...a rock and roll machine!

Different - This is a classic cut re released from my first CD, as is. I love this track and I don't think it ever go a fair shake so, let's try it again!

Wild Monkeys - Another retread that SCREAMS to be on this CD. Recorded and written by Will Hale and myself in a motel and Chinese restaurant in MN. Very catchy, cool tune.

I don't know...this CD is pretty darn solid. I should have everything done by tonight.

I will start work on my next MASTERPIECE (haha!) "The Out of Control Rock and Roll Reading Show" tomorrow...

Progress report from Vegas

Hi all,

Still here in Vegas, took care of my moms arrangements yesterday.

I actually did start to work on the last song for my next CD " Boogaloo Zoo". I brought my iPad and recorded bass, drums and some guitar so far. I'm really happy with what I have so far. I may try to finish it today...we'll see.

Also, check this out, I have a lot of people ask me how I record a song on an iPad, so I am making a video of the process. I'll upload it to YouTube as soon and the song is finished...it's going to be a step by step thing and you can follow along and make your own song on your iPad (iPhone or like my son even your iPod!).

Once again I am taking advantage of the free wifi here at McDonalds! Having breakfast with my family and friends while updating my blog.

Ok, we'll this is just a short post today, hope all is well where you are, rock on!

Las Vegas?

I'm sitting in a McDonald's in Las Vegas right now. (Did you know the bathroom doors are locked here in Vegas? You have to get the manager to buzz you in...weird).

Over the weekend my mom passed away, after my weekend shows I grabbed the first flight I could get to take care my sister and all the other stuff you need to do when stuff like this happens, sad.

Needless to say I won't be finishing the Boogaloo Zoo CD this week (I was hoping to release it today, oh well).

I only have one more song to go, a little ditty called "Dressing Up My Animals". I did bring my iPad recording studio and if I can't sleep while I'm here (very good chance of that) I might try to record it in my rent a car.

On the way here I did do something really cool I want to share with you...

I created the cover for my next CD called "The Out of Control Rock and Roll Reading Show". The concept for the next CD is a fantasy concert that takes place at LIBRARY STADIUM...cool huh? Anyway, here is the cover, I might need to clean it up a bit, the plane was a little bumpy!

I think one of the best ways to honor my mom is to keep on track and finish this project. She knew I as going to finish, so I will. Five your kids a hug today, rock on.

An Armadillo a Tortoise and the Piggies

I am now in the home stretch of my next CD (#7...this is month 10, still a bit behind) "Boogaloo Zoo".

In the past three days I have finished "Amy Armadillo" and "Desert Thunder", both collaborations with the Songwizard Dave Kinnoin and company. I think that these are two of my finest recordings ever. My daughter thinks that they might be her two new favorite songs of mine!

Yesterday I decided not to do a Weird Al style "ALL PIG" polka and istead do a punk rock version of George Harrison's "Piggies" from the Beatles White Album. It like totally rocks dude.

I was supposed to finish it yesterday as part of my "30 Day Get Important Stuff Done Challenge" with Bob Baker, but life got in the way, again. So I am working on vocals right now.

Boogaloo Zoo might be one of the best CDs I have ever recorded, we'll see...best let you and the other Mr. Billy fans make that decision.

Anyway, here are TWO tracks to check out. Amy Armadillo and Desert Thunder. PLEASE share and comment, rock on!

30 Day Challenge, Day 1

Have you ever heard of Bob Baker? 

Bob is from St. Louis Missouri he is a full-time author and music marketing consultant. His most popular book is called "guerrilla music marketing". I found a copy of this book many many years ago and local music store, since then I've been following Bob or his music business blog, purchasing other products and listening to his podcasts. I have been lucky enough to meet him and was even interviewed (about a year ago) for a podcast that is scheduled to air very soon.

Recently, Bob offered a special program called "the 30 day important stuff done challenge'. I signed up immediately, why? Well, as you know I've been having a lot of trouble finishing my 12 CDs and 12 months project. I thought perhaps I needed a little kick in the pants, some accountability beyond the feedback you give me here on my blog.

Last night was my first conference call with all the members of the group, it was very exciting. Each member gets an accountability partner (someone else go through the process with you). My partner is a Alyse Black, and incredible singer-songwriter in the Tori Amos, Alicia Keys vain from Texas (check out her cover of the Beatles "Come Together" totally awesome!).

I was so jazzed up that I had a hard time sleeping, actually woke up about 3:30 in the morning took my iPad out to the living room and recorded two more songs that will appear on my next CD. If you haven't guessed yet, the thing I want to get them in the next 30 days is related to my 12 CDs 12 months project… Record at least one old song every day for the next 30 days, that's it!

I'll post some more music soon in the meantime check out Bob Baker and my new friend Alyse Black, leave the message or post a comment tell them that Mr. Billy sent you.

Rock on!

OMG...It's gone! NOoooo....

OK, I'm kinda freaking out right now.

Over thew weekend I attended a music conference (The Children's Music Network) in the Chicago area. While I was there I interviewed many people for a new podcast I am launching soon (3 Answers with Kids Music Makers) and I did a recording session with one awesome multi instrumentalist from California, Wiley Rankin from Jump for Joy Music.

Wiley jammed some of the BEST harmonica ever for my attempt to turn the classic, CLASSIC, rock song FREEBIRD into a children's song.

I am in the studio today finishing off the CD, I leaded my session and the harmonica track...the ENTIRE SESSION is GONE!!!!!!!! NO!

We did it early in the morning...did I press the record button? Did I somehow delete it?  I have no fricken clue, this sucks.

Well, I did video the session on my iPhone. I will now attempt to lift the audio off the phone and drag it into Garageband and see if it is usable. Here I go, wish me luck!

OK...
Step 1-I converted the video into an MP3 with an app called Music Converter.
Step 2- opening Garageband and dragging the file in (went in just fine)
Step 3-OMG!!!! It sounds great! Really, nice and clean. Too bad Wiley wants me to "dirty it up" but I will.
Step 4-OK, the dirty sound is FANTASTIC! Wiley is a genius. I used a fuzz bass amp setting with extra compression...too cool. Sounds just like a "bullet" mic with a small Fender amp, very traditional.
Step 5-Don't freak out, make lemonade out of those lemons!

I will try to post the final song here tomorrow.

Here is the video we did and the actual audio you will hear in the final session. I highly recommend Wiley for harmonica, sax and flute sessions!

What are you doing today?

It's Sunday! what do you have planned?

Me? I am at the CMN (Children's Music Network) national conference in Zion, IL (near Chicago) with my kids Taelor and Wil.

I am attending a workshop about social media and blogging etc, so I decided to update my blog today.

Started the day at breakfast and networking with my fellow kids music makers. As a result of meeting up with so many friends I was able to find some wonderful people to interview for my new podcast (more about that later).

After breakfast I met up with Wiley Rankin from Jump for Joy Music and he recorded a WILD harmonica solo for my cover of the classic rock song, "Freebird".

Now I am sitting in a great workshop moderated by Liz Buchanan, with a wonderful group of people taking about social media, blogging, Twitter, FaceBook and more.

Porcupine Petting Zoo

My son and I do a lot of traveling together now that he is the main drummer for Mr. Billy. On these trips we listen to a lot of music, tell jokes, tell stories, record the silly song of the day and on the rare occasion write songs together.

This is the most recent song that we have written, it's called "the porcupine petting zoo".

We wrote the words together in the vans ever months ago and it's been sitting in my lap top until we got to North Carolina and worked up the music and melody. 

The best way to describe the song is that it's kind of like George Thorogood for kids. I don't do a lot of bluesy stuff but this one is pretty cool.
What do you think? Here it is, check out the lyrics at the bottom…comment and share please!


Porcupine Petting Zoo

(c) 2012 William Charles Grisack III & William Charles Grisack IV

There is a place that the children avoidAnd it gets all the animals there annoyedBecause all they really want to doIs look really cute, play and cuddle with you! Porcupine petting zooPorcupine petting zooPorcupine petting zooOoo, ooo, ooo....OUCH!

Down the road there is another place,
Where all the kids wear a happy face
They have little animals just like us,
I don't know why there's such a big fuss

Porcupine petting zoo
Porcupine petting zoo
Porcupine petting zoo
Ooo, ooo, ooo....OUCH!

But we don't understand and don't get the point
We tried everything to get the kids in our joint
We learn to dance and sing like the Beatles
But children are on the way when they see our needles

Led Zeppelin and Penguins

Do I have a stairway to happy feet? Let's find out...

Everybody loves penguins, kids love penguins, grown-ups love penguins and I am assuming penguins love penguins.

I see happy feet, the original not the second one, and start stop (I love that movie). I thought the penguin was one of Batman's best bad guys the TV show penguin, not the Tim Burton movie version.

Lots of people like Led Zeppelin too, me...not so much, I'm more of a Beatles and KISS guy. But the Led Zeppelin songs I like… I really like; songs like Kashmir, Stairway to Heaven and The Immigrant Song.

So what do penguins and Led Zeppelin have in common?

They are both inspirations for my new song "Penguin Waddle".

I got the idea for the song about five years ago, and I've written and rewritten and rewritten it over and over again. I knew I wanted to do a song about penguins, as I said I was a very popular especially with kids. And after seeing the Shrek movie where the princesses used the immigrant song I thought HEY! kids must date Led Zeppelin too! Cool.

So had an idea for a song inspired by the groove of the Led Zeppelin classic. But that's as far as it got for many years.

When I decided to do a CD all about animals, "Boogaloo Zoo", I thought it's time to finally finish this penguin song once and for all so I called my good friend and songwriting buddy Dave Kinnoin. And wouldn't you know it within 48 hours the song wizard sprinkled some magic dust on me and TA-DA! the song is done and now it's recorded too.

Here it is, the lyrics are below. Please please please comment and share, ROCK ON!

PENGUIN WADDLE

William Charles Grisack lll and Dave Kinnoin

Verse One:

The ice is  hard in my front yard

And the wind has a pleasant chill.

I just got in from the sea with a grin

'Cause my tummiy is full of krill.

My buds stop by with a look in their eye

Like they wanna do more than talk.

Our flippers start twitchin'

'Cause our feet are itchin'

To make this iceberg rock!

Chorus:

Penguin waddle...

Verse Two:

Our devotion to ocean motion

Inspires and drives each move.

We swirl and swish like we're cathin' fish,

And it fits right into the groove.

We're rollin' and strollin'--our salty team

Feels the surge, has an urge for a primal scream.

We're divin', jivin', jumpin', turnin'--

Holy squid, the dance floor's burnin'!

Ooo-wee,

Gotta love this frozen water!

Splash me!

This  berg's a teeter-totter

The current's gettin' hotter...

Taking my mandolin to the zoo

I'm working on the title track of my new CD called Boogaloo Zoo, recording this was very interesting…

Zoo animals like the song BOOGALOO ZOO by Billy on GoAnimate

Video Maker - Powered by GoAnimate.

We actually recorded the guitar bass and drums live on stage during our days off at a Day out with Thomas in North Carolina. The basic guitar was recorded in one take using my line 6 guitar, which can emulate a bass guitar and an acoustic guitar at the same time while my son Wil played the drums. We played directly into the BOSE sound system taking a line out of the total match digital mixer. It has a USB output we plugged directly into the MacBook.

It sounds pretty good… Today I added vocals, and acoustic guitar solo and I broke out the mandolin. And no idea why I used the mandolin, but it sure sounds great.

This will most likely be the first track on the CD, the recording has a lot of power (from the live basic tracks?) and what I think are some great hooks in the song.

What do you think? Here it is, BOOGALOO ZOO! (BTW my daughter Taylor came up with the title for the song and CD, I think it kicks butt).

I can do more than 12 CDs, right?

If I can record 12 CDs a year, why not 13?

That is probably what's going to happen if I reach my goal of recording and releasing 12 CDs in 2012. Why? Well, the last CD, CD number six was such a disaster that I actually had to record the entire CD, but it was only released once. That means if I do get 12 CDs done this year (which is looking a little bleak right now) I will actually going through the process of recording 13 CDs. But I can't think about that right now.

Today I need to think about CD number seven, "Boogaloo Zoo", the all animal CD.

Thanks little help from my friends and family I'm doing pretty good with this one.

Graham Sacks, an awesome guitarists from south Africa has done an entire track, all the instruments for me. It's a cover, ironically, of the Lion Sleeps Tonight. The track is pretty much done, but am hoping Graham will send me a cool jazz guitar solo to go with it. This man really is amazing, and he is going through some hard life challenges right now. If you can, please take the time to check out his new children's nursery rhyme CD, it's awesome and the best part… It's only five dollars, you can pay more if you want to, I did and it's worth every penny. You could check them out here…

AFRICAN TREEHOUSE

My son, Wil has helped me out a lot too. While we were on tour North Carolina will and I spend a lot of time on our days off recording drums guitar and bass tracks together. We did about a half dozen songs. All I have to do is add vocals, and some miscellaneous instruments.

My good songwriting buddy Dave Kinnoin has stepped in with two awesome songs of his own and helped me with a song about penguins I've been working on for five years, it's done now… And it is awesome.

I don't have any songs to play for you today, so why not check out Graham Sacks, okay?

Am I a Nerd?

Am I a nerd?

Let's see, I play with my iPad and my I phone all day long, I watch Star Trek… I even have a huge Star Trek collection of action figures books videos and models. My son and I hang out in comic bookstores together. My daughter and I hang out in record stores to buy… Real vinyl records. I love techie stuff, listen to podcasts and I am addicted to the Big Bang theory. Yes, I am a nerd.

One day while checking my Twitter feed I discovered the functional nerds podcast, actually I discovered John Anilleo and his sci-fi songs… That led me to the functional nerds podcast, I became addicted.

And today, drumroll please, I am a guest on the show!

I'm taking a short break from recording and gigging today to drive from North Carolina back to Wisconsin, I just heard the show and think it's pretty cool. So I decided to stop at a McDonald's on the way, tap into their Wi-Fi and write this blog post to let you know about the episode that features me.

Here is the link…

http://functionalnerds.com/2012/10/episode-120-mister-billy/

Of Hope you like the show, please share it reposted and most importantly leave a comment on the functional nerds podcast page it would mean a lot to me and will mean a lot to John and Patrick too.

BTW listen to the music playing before I start speaking, it is the world premiere of my new song angry bird space. It's the follow-up single to my single angry birds. It will go on sale worldwide next week, but you can hear it for free today.

Here it is, hope you enjoy it Rock On!