12 CDs Done

Showing posts with label song. Show all posts
Showing posts with label song. Show all posts

Monday, April 22, 2013


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

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Only Three Days Left...Really?





Where did the time go? 

Didn't I just start this crazy adventure?

What...it's been a year?


Now I only have three days left and a half dozen songs to record...I don't even know what the last three are going to be.

I couldn't sleep last night so I did something that has needed to be done for a while, I re-mixed and mastered CD's nine and ten...yep, NEVER DID IT. The files have been sitting on my computer. CD eleven is not mixed or mastered yet and CD 12, well...I'd rather not talk about that now.

If all goes well I should be able to get nine and ten up and ready to distribute/sell today. If I'm not too tired I might be able to get CD eleven up and sometime before the ball drops on New York finish recording, mixing, mastering and uploading CD 12. I can do that, right?

Well I could...IF MY COMPUTERS DIDN'T STOP WORKING AND DESTROYING MY FILES! Not one, but both my MacBook and PC are being very difficult. The MacBook went belly up and took a whole song with it last night and the PC is eating files...NOT GOOD TIMING. 

HULK SMASH!

OK, I feel better now. It's been a few hours since I wrote that Hulk thing, back to normal now.

I just texted Mary Lynn Maestro, got off the phone with Dave Kinnoin and Marla Lewis, after chatting with them I have finalized the playlist for my final CD, here it is...


  1. With a Little Help From My Friends
  2. Worlds Lamest Superhero
  3. Together Again
  4. Wipe Out Wil
  5. Just Ducky
  6. Barbie Girl 
  7. Cleaning Up the Table 
  8. They're Never Gonna Play This Song on the Radio 
  9. Swimming With Dolphins
  10. I Don't Want an Easy Life
  11. Girl Power
  12. Why Can't We Be Friends
The songs in black are finished, the songs in red are in various states of production, but I think they will all be done tomorrow (if the computers hold up).

This CD is all about collaboration and oddly enough this is the CD I have written the least amount of songs for! I have written exactly one and TWO half's of the songs. But I feel like they are all mine in some way (Shhhh...don't tell Paul McCartney!).

I want to leave you with another song from the CD today, speaking of McCartney, here is the (sort of) title track from the CD, "With a Little Help from My Friends", enjoy and share!

Friday, December 7, 2012

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!