MyCOVERS

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It’s an artistically dangerous, edge-of-disaster journey to “cover” a song, especially when it is someone’s “hit.” The song is so embedded in the consciousness of the public, so loved and revered you have only two choices: 

Clone the original … or completely reimagine the piece.
So, I decided to treat each song as if I wrote it. 

The hammer dulcimer in Cats In The Cradle adds an Appalachian texture to the song. A total reimagining of Satisfaction gives the famous rock song a “songwriter” feel. Cracking the famous snare in front of each chorus of Rolling Stone helps identify the chorus. Performing If You Could Read My Mind solo allows the deeply personal meaning behind Gordon Lightfoot’s poetry to become tender.  It was also the most nerve wracking of all these recording sessions. 

Merging two of Pete Seeger’s finest songs is a tribute to my mentor. Even the screaming performance of Nazareth on Love Hurts is changed and presented as a gentle composition, much like Boudleaux Bryant intended when he wrote it in 1960. Vincent was harder, as Don McLean’s guitar parts are unchangeable, but absolutely a masterpiece. 

I’ve written over 300 songs of my own, released 21 albums and lived every note, every lyric … but these songs are written by artists I deeply admire. They are like chapters, snapshots of time, experienced and lived through the years. They are companions, brutal enemies and loyal friends. 

This is just the first volume of my favorite melodies and poems. Finally, I included my own song Legacy as a tribute to all the songs, all the albums, all the artists I respect, admire and love. 

And yes, I’m making fun of those ding-dang TV commercials.   mj

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1 Blue Moon Lorenz Hart/Richard Rogers EMI Robbins Inc ASCAP
To me one of the loveliest and hopeful songs, it is a perfect guitar ballad with a gentle picking style. MJ guitar, Ronn Crowder harmonica. Ruth McLain and JP Pennington vocals. Ruth McLain upright bass.

2 Rolling Stone Bob Dylan/Special Rider Music/SESAC
One of the most powerful and intriguing rock songs in history. The crack of that snare is famous and I felt like it should identify each chorus. MJ acoustic guitars, Jason Coleman piano, JP Pennington electric. JP and Ruth McLain vocals. Steve Rankin strings, Sharon Ohler flute, John Johnson drums, MJ percussion

3 Satisfaction Jagger & Keith Richards/BMI
Kieth fell asleep in Chicago after recording the guitar lick on a cassette recorded, Mick wrote the words at a poolside in Florida. It’s a funky, punchy blues song, I love it. MJ acoustic guitars and percussion, Jeff Myers bass, John Johnson drums, Melissa Deaton vocals

4 Cats in the Cradle Harry & Sandy Chapin Copyright WB Music Corp. o/b/o Story Songs Ltd/ASCAP

Sandy wrote a missive to her first husband and later gave it to Harry as a warning to focus on home more. Harry put it on an album, it became a huge hit … and he was hardly ever home. I added hammer dulcimer to give it an Appalachian feel, the flute gives it a Scottish feel. It still breaks my heart every time I hear this brilliant song. I miss Harry. MJ acoustic guitars and percussion, Bob Bryant bass, John Johnson drums, Scott Miller hammer dulcimer, Jason Coleman piano, Ruth McLain and JP Pennington vocals, Steve Rankin violin and violas

5 If You Could Read My Mind
Gordon Lightfoot/Early Morning Music/Warner
A truly dangerous song to cover because it is so loved, so revered and special to so many. To me, the only way I could offer this great composition was totally bare, completely naked with only my guitar and vocal … nothing else. I got to perform and work with Gordon, he was a gentle, sweet and brilliant artist. MJ on Martin 000-28s guitar

6 Seeger Mashup
PETE SEEGER Figs D Music/Sanga Music/BMI
He is a towering and powerful influence on so many, even today. Pete was my neighbor along the Hudson River in upstate New York and, along with his wife Toshi, always very kind and encouraging. I noticed that two of my favorite Pete songs WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE and the lesser know SAILING DOWN MY GOLDEN RIVER were essentially the same songs, same chords, same pattern … so I mashed the two together. If you pick the guitar a bit, this is in Drop D tuning. MJ acoustic guitars, Melissa Deaton vocals

7 Love Hurts c1960/Boudleaux Bryant/Copyright House of Bryant Publications/BMI
Of course the screaming Nazareth cover is most known, but the early Everly Brothers receding is very sweet, great harmonies. I wanted a different take on this, to treat it as if I wrote it. MJ acoustic guitars and percussion, Jeff Myers bass, John Johnson drums, Melissa Deaton vocals

8 Make You Feel My Love Bob Dylan/Special Rider Music/SESAC
Honestly, one of the most beautiful love ballads ever written. All tribute to Bob. I reimagined it differently than Dylan, different from Garth Brooks, different from Adele. It needed to be gentle and personal. MJ Martin 000-28s guitar, Bob Bryant fretless bass, Ruth McLain and JP Pennington vocals, Steve Rankin violins and violas

9 Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) Don McLean/Benny Bird Company Inc/BMI
Vincent Van Gogh is one of the brilliant and tragic heroes in human history. Don captured the song while reading a book about Van Gogh in a Massachusetts boarding house while on a tour of schools. His guitar style just could not be ignored so, although I changed the arrangement to fit my vision, I used the same Martin 00-21s guitar and picking pattern he used to record the original version. MJ guitar, Jason Coleman percussion, Sharon Ohler flute, Jeff Yurkowski accordian, Steve Rankin violin and violas

10 Legacy Michael Johnathon/Rachel Aubrey Music Inc/BMI
My grand opus tribute to all the artists and albums I love. This song takes you to from Dylan to Josh White, the Kingston Trio to John Denver and all the way to Hip Hop in 9 minutes. I created this as a “derivative” a completely original work but recorded to “sound” or remind you of something else. In this case, it is American Pie. For this album I remixed the track to give it a bit more smack. MJ acoustic guitars and percussion, Bob Bryant bass, John Johnson drums, MJ and Ruth McLain and JP Pennington vocals, JP Pennington electric guitar, Sharon Ohler flutes, Jason Coleman piano, MJ Hammond B3, Steve Rankin all violin and Violas

SPECIAL THANKS

Michael Johnathon plays Martin 0000-28s, 000-28s and 00-21s guitars exclusively. Engineered and mastered by Jeff Myers at Tower Station Studios in Lexington, KY. Thanks to Dick Boak (Martin Guitars), Janet Deering (Deering Banjos), Loretta Sawyer, Gina Mendello, Lance Cowan, Pam Lewis, Bill Wence, Melissa Deaton, Caleb & Makayla, Melody Larkin, Pat & Jenny, Rachel Aubrey and MichaelB, all the musicians, Ed Freeman