Haven't been posting too much since I finished recording the CDs. But I got a great message today that two of my CDs have been reviewed in a major publication the School Library Journal.  They will be published in the May 2013 issue.  Check it out...

Sensational Songs About Science Fiction? Performed by Mr. Billy. CD. approx. 40 min. Prod. by Flying Bounce House Records/Mr. Billy. Dist. by AV Café. 2012. ISBN unavail. $15.

PreS-Gr 3–Blast off into outer space with Mr. Billy’s high-energy rock album of 12 songs about the solar system, extraterrestrials, space travel, and time travel. His vocal and the instrumental performances on guitars and drums are solid. Mr. Billy wrote some of the songs, but he also had assistance from Dave Kinnoin, Dino O’Dell, Monty Harper, Sue Straw, Wayne Potash, and his son, Wil Grisack (aka Pod Persin). He also covers a couple of songs, including “Year 3000,” first recorded by the band Busted, and later by the Jonas Brothers. “I Think I’m a Clone Now” is Weird Al Yankovic’s hilarious send-up of “I Think I’m Alone Now,” made famous by Tommy James and the Shondells. The Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, the ChupaCabra, and Moth Man are “Mystical Monsters” in a song that encourages listeners to swim, stomp, jump, and fly. Each generation, amazed by such inventions as radios, electric lights, cell phones, and personal computers wonder “What Will They Think of Next?” The other songs are “Peanut Butter Jellyfish,” “Flying Car,” “My Robot Army,” “Dogs in Space,” “Vacation in Roswell,” “Weightless” (in a space station), “30 Minutes or Less,” and “Science or Fiction.” A fun and light-hearted album for young science fiction fans.–Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX

 

Super Superhero Songs. Performed by Mr. Billy. CD. approx. 41 min. Prod. by Flying Bounce House Records. Dist. by AV Café. 2012. ISBN unavail. $15.

PreS-Gr 3–Mr. Billy (William Charles Grisack III) presents a high-energy album of 12 songs in celebration of various superheroes, sidekicks, and villains. Most of the numbers are in an energetic rock musical style, along with a couple of slower tunes. “A Guy Named Stan” praises Stan Lee. Mr. Billy sings “Batman” to the theme music from the old Batman television show, and incorporates that well-known schoolyard song: “Jingle Bells, Batman smells/ Robin laid an egg….” He also covers Weird Al Yankovic’s hilarious “Spider-man (Ode to a Superhero)” which borrows Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” tune. “Super Monkey” helps with grades, bullies, and finding lost things. Other songs include “Superman Mania,” “Bowling for Heroes,” “Green” (Green Hornet, Green Lantern and others), “Villains on Vacation,” “Magneto and Titanium Man,” “The Comic Book Store” (which is compared to the Fortress of Solitude and Bruce Wayne’s cave), “Super Sidekicks” (Robin, Speedy, and others), and “Action Hero, Hero Action.” A sure-fire hit with all young superhero aficionados.–Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX

Science or Fiction, You Decide

Yesterday was a great day. I finished three songs and did a bunch of other stuff (including the showers!).

Judging from the comments and emails I have received I looks like many of my followers were a bit disappointed that I didn't actually show you "how I do it". I really would love to do that, I'm just worried that it might take too much time, unless I do a live feed. Mmm...what do you think about that, would you like to actually watch me in the studio for a song or a day...maybe a marathon recording session? Let me know about that.

As I mentioned I did finish all three songs. The one that sounds the simplest, "Science or Fiction" by Dave Kinnoin was the hardest to do. This is a FANTASTIC tune. I LOVE IT (how many caps can I use in one sentence?). But to be honest every time I get a demo from Dave or his son Oliver I dread recording the vocal...mostly because these guys are like, vocal Gods...really. Me? I'm just a songwriting rock and roll guitar player that sings because as a solo artist, I kinda have to. BUT, let me say I think that working with great singers has really improved my vocals.

"Science or Fiction" is a perfect example of my new confidence and ability as a vocalist. It was a tough one to sing, the music is minimal, but overall I think it works. Check it out below.

Today I plan to FINISH this CD. I will be recording a song called "Dogs in Space" by Wayne Potash and "Flying Cars" by my most prolific buddy Dave Kinnoin. The last song on the CD is a remix of a classic Mr. Billy song called "30 Minutes or Less" from my 3rd CD "Playground". Wish me luck and spread the word!

How the Heck Do I Do It???

Over and over people always ask me how I get so much done. To be honest I've been wondering the same this. So today with deadline looming (25 days to finish 3 last CDs) I have decided to take you with me...all day. Maybe we can both learn something...ready?

5:30 - Alarm goes off (that's 5:30 am for all you musicians out there). Keep hitting snooze over and over and over.

6:00 am (guess I should put the AM and PM in, huh?) - Drink coffee and hang out with my wonderful wife till she has to got to work...what? She can't find her keys???

6:30 am - Record my "Mad Music Marketing Podcast" at the kitchen table on my iPhone using the Spreaker app.

6:45 am - Spontaneously write and record a short silly song of the day about St. Nick on the living room piano and post it up to Shout-)-Matic (again on my iPhone).

7:00 am - Make breakfast for me and my daughter.

7:30 am - Try to drive kids to school while arguing with my "usually very awesome" son about taking stuff into the house first...after a long staring match I finally get them to school, almost on time. I WILL NOT pick them up today, no way.

8:00 am - Ready to record. Ooops, the computer is a little cranky and I don't have the files I need downloaded, OK, lets update the booking calendar and send a email newsletter to my fans while I wait.

9:00 am - Newsletter done, took quick shower (TMI?) ready to record.

9:15 am - Working on a track Oliver Kinnoin sent me, I like his demo so much I am keep much of the music and ALL of his vocals. I am adding drum, keyboards, guitar and my vocals. The song is called "Weightless".

10:45 am - dome recording...wow I guess I do record fast huh? Take another shower (TM, TMI? Sorry I get very hot and sweaty when I record stuff)

11:00 am - write this blog post while uploading the song to SoundCloud.

11:15 am - Here is the first song I recorded today, I plan to do three, but we'll see...


11:30 am - More coffee. I think I'll start another song before lunch. What to do...how about "Peanut Butter and Jellyfish?" I just got this demo from Monty Harper and Dino O'Dell late last night. Yeah, let me get the words and demo up...after I check my email...faceBook...OK, gotta stop that, back to work...

12:07 pm - Get all the guitars, drum loops and bass done and recorded in GarageBand on my little cheap used MacBook (not a Pro...anyone wanna donate?). Now I need to edit and arrange the tracks so I can do my vocals...getting hungry and the phone has been ringing...better check that...

12:49 pm - While recording my vocals Cathi (Mrs. Billy) called during her lunch break. Almost done with the vocals! I think I'll finish and then have lunch!

1:15 pm - After the phone call took a nice little cat nap (why do they call it that?), now to finish the vocals, the song and have lunch!

1:30 pm - DONE! Sounds awesome. Saving and uploading now. Time for lunch. But first, here comes the post...



2:15 pm - OK, I'm back. Had some soup and crackers while I listened to the ESPN Football Today podcast (For some reason football stuff is the only think that totally takes my mind off of music and business stuff...weird). Now I need to decide what I'm gonna do next...another song? Let's see what I have on the to do list...

2:35 pm - While trying to pick the next song (I did) I got a call from a library and book a summer reading concert! Had to update schedule, website and make a contract. Kids are coming home from school in less than an hour, things usually grind to a halt when they get home.

2:51 pm - OK I picked the song I want to do next but I have to play piano on it. Problem is I don't have my midi keyboard hooked up to my MacBook (option 1) or a way to record the piano in our living room (option 2). I tried doing it on the keyboard of the iPad (I do a lot of my keyboard parts on that, but this one is real piano stuff). So, I have to see which option will actually work.

3:00 pm - Off to the kitchen to set up a keyboard and try to record it.

4:05 pm - Getting a bit tired now, should take a real nap before I have to go to parents night at my kids school. Oh, I did have to leave in the middle of recording to pick up my daughter...she got too cold walking home..in shorts...in winter...oy.

I have gotten the piano and some other keyboards done on the song, but I don't think I like it, I wish I had a real piano player play it on a real piano...dreamer that I am. I'm gonna take a stab at the vocal before I call it a day.

5:01 pm - Well I did it. THREE songs done! The piano stuff sounded great as an electric piano with some stings way in the background. VERY HARD TO SING! I am saving it now one now, but I don't think I'll be able to upload or post it tonight, I have to be at my kids school in about 25 minutes.

So, there you have it a day with Mr. Billy in the studio and around town...from 5:30 to about 5:30! Any questions?

Clones are People Two!

OK, CD #9 is in the bag, here comes CD #10...

SENSATIONAL SONGS ABOUT SCIENCE...FICTION?

Note the question mark, the idea is not to do a traditional science CD for kids (something that is all the rage these days), but a near future "what if" romp of wild imagination.

If all goes well there will be songs about robots, aliens, food (the science way), flying cars, weightlessness, space, Bigfoot, The Loch Ness Monster, Roswell and CLONES!

The first song I recorded is a remake of an old classic rock songs called "I Think We're Alone Now" with new words by Weird Al renamed, "I Think I'm a Clone Now". Very funny. Fun to record.

I only have 28 more days. Many of my friends and family are pitching in to help. Dave and Oliver Kinnoin are writing/ co-writing and producing some stuff and my son Wil (AKA POD PERSiN) is producing and writing  3 new tracks!

One called "Vacation in Roswell", another titled "What If?" and another with Dave Kinnoin doing lyrics called "My Robot Army". This is not the first time Wil has written songs of recorded instruments other than drums on one of my CDs, but the first time he's produced the music. I'm a proud dad.

OK, here is the first track from the new CD, I hope you love it...leave a comment. Thanks!