Child of the Universe
The song Child of the Universe goes back a long way, this is a 2009 version I really like. The chord progression has remained the same since I first played it 35 years ago on the streets of Manhattan. Back then I played it on a 12-string Epiphone with my guitar case open and a sign that read “Please Help”. 
The original lyrics were really goofy except for the one phrase “Child of the Universe”. I later wrote some very meaningful lyrics and always loved the song. A lot of my later music dips into the same chord progression, but this version tries to capture the original essence of warm summer days in Florida with my six-string in hand. I really don’t sing much anymore, but if I did, this song would always remain.
Thanks again to everyone downloading and re-mixing these raw original tracks – if you open the original tracks you will notice I really only used the original Drum, Acoustic Guitar, and Strings tracks – everything else seemed to just get in the way.
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6
34 Fingers
This was one that came very quickly – in fact essentially this is a live performance with not much editing at all. If you want to download the individual tracks below you’ll see what I mean. The main track was created using an arpeggio effect on a string guitar voice on my keyboard – mainly because I had intended to record using my (real) guitar but the battery was gone.
So here is 34 fingers.. or should that be here ARE 34 fingers? either way I hope you enjoy listening!
Individual Tracks
Dyckman Valley
Pronounced ˆdike-man, the Dyckman Valley is where I grew up in New York City. It is the oldest inhabited part of the island, originally the home of the Weekquaeskeek Indians. They are the ones who “sold” Manhattan Island to Dutch governor Peter Minuit In 1626.
I happened to be mixing the tracks to this song when a documentary called “Super City: New York” was playing on The History Channel. What caught my attention was a shot with an archeologist taken in Inwood Hill Park. He was standing in a place I had been many times as a boy. The neighborhood kids called them “the Indian caves”. Well it turns out they actually were. It was the winter home of the Weekquaeskeek Indians. Really.
I don’t know how I connected the musical theme with that vision – but there you have it. Enjoy
download individual raw tracks:
 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. |
New All Along parts I and II
It seems like it gets longer and longer in between uploading new cuts. I don’t know if it is because I am getting too picky or what! I have kind of mixed feelings about this song, called “New All Along part I and II”. It is inspired from the old Bob Dylan song “All Along The Watch Tower” 
in that it has a similar chord progression. But the melody line is different and especially different in the second part of the song. I really like the way this came out except for one thing: No matter how I mixed it the first half sounds so different from the second half that it’s pretty much a different song.
After dozens of master mixes I finally gave up and made it obviously two songs – hence the “New All Along parts I and II” title. Pretty clever huh? 
I would really welcome your mix on this. The original unedited cuts are contained in zip files (links below) because iTunes (or the WordPress plug-in called Podpress) apparently sees posted mp3 files somewhat randomly. In fact I will go back and re-post the earlier stuff in that format to clean up the podcast tracks. As always you are free to use under the Creative Commons License. Translation – use it any way you want for free but give me credit as the song writer and performer.
Oh – and I would really appreciate it if you just let me know you used it – send me a link!
Raw Tracks:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Long Ago and Far Away
Long Ago and Far Away is the second version of the same song in the podcast series – although they surprisingly have little to do with one another beside the chord progression.
Watching the 2009 top ten Idol the comment was made about Smokey Robinson doing five hundred some-odd different mixes of a song only to use the second track he mixed… well this mix did not happen for me like that. This was the umpteenth time I’ve recorded it, and this was mix eight or nine. Still not perfect – but I really like the way it turned out.
As always the individual tracks are available below, and starting this week a podcast extra, showing how I mixed this version. In weeks to come I will have more detailed extras available for each mix – but for now I would welcome your comments .
iTunes Greenlight
iTunes has added the opensource music project as a regular podcast! If you would like to subscribe through iTunes click here – and thanks!
Prairie Dog
This mix is one of my best I think. The track started from an unusually strong rock drum beat sampled from my synthesizer. After hearing the whole set of tracks it was hard to choose what to focus on. The sax track is really smooth. The two lead guitar tracks are frequently in an interesting harmony – but not necessarily in tune with the sax track all the time.
I think you will want to turn this up.
Individual Tracks
You may preview the individual tracks >here< or download zip files below
Skyline Drive
Over the Christmas Holiday I drive with a friend to New York and enjoyed a weekend in the city. The song “Skyline Drive” was written for that trip, and we played it (really, really loud) on the way up and back. I hope you enjoy it !
The main mix is what we listened to – but I’ve also included a remix of the track as a part one, and part two.
I’ve also included each raw track below in case you want to fool around with a remix yourself – or in the event you are just curious as to how one of my recordings goes together.
Bonus Tracks
Work Parts
First Kiss
This one is pretty atmospheric in the beginning and a little fusion after that… I just don’t know where this stuff comes from sometimes. I hope you like this – I really do 
Links to work parts
Track 1 http://music.tomanthony.com/music/FirstKiss01.mp3
Track 2 http://music.tomanthony.com/music/FirstKiss02.mp3
Track 3 http://music.tomanthony.com/music/FirstKiss03.mp3
Track 4 http://music.tomanthony.com/music/FirstKiss04.mp3
Dubious by Nature
Some time ago I would spend time in a little Irish pub in NorthPort, Long Island, NY. It was a warm and accommodating place where most of the folks I hung out with were from County Cork, Ireland. I’m not sure why that was the case, but it was. I played darts and drank a ‘wee bit of Old Jamie’s and told stories with some of the coolest people I knew. My favorite memory was of playing guitar with the guys that hung out there. That’s actually the main reason I would go. Sometimes a flute would appear, and once someone whipped out an accordion.
This song reminds me of some of the music we were playing in NorthPort.
I Finished the mix just now – I hope this does not get tedious to listen to… it’s as long a recording as I have ever posted here. But I just wrote this and performed it in the last 90 minutes… it is still echoing sweetly in my ears. This is a straight up live recording.
Here are the individual tracks used in the main mix. The muse is living in track 1
Podcast Feeds
