I’m proud to announce that I have successfully completed the 2010 RPM Challenge.  I wrote and recorded the album “backstage stories” all during the month of February.  It’s a fun and quirky collection of indie pop and it’s a concept album about my friend Doc from the podcast Insignificast.  The songs are all a bit odd, but I’m quite proud of what I was able accomplish in such a short time.  I wrote five songs in twenty-five years.  Thanks to RPM, I wrote thirteen more in twenty-three days.  Eleven of them made their way on to “backstage stories”.

If you’d like to download or listen to the album, there are links on the right side of the page to do both.  Also, if you are so inclined, please consider becoming a fan of Letter Seventeen on Facebook.

I had a great time writing and recording “backstage stories”.  I hope you enjoy it.

I plan on setting up a detailed web site for the album soon, so please stay tuned….

I wanted to see how my Taylor acoustic would record, so I quickly threw this cover together.

 

 Letter Seventeen - Burning Hell (R.E.M. cover) [2:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I’m thrilled to announce another cover of a song from Backstage Stories.  This time it’s lead guitarist extraordinaire Andy Samford offering up his take on “Riding With The Captain”.  Andy did a great job, offering up a slightly freaky and psychedelic take on the song.  I like it!

 

 Andy Samford - Riding With The Captain: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Another Sunday cover, this time putting an acoustic spin on one of my favorite tunes from RPM2010 – Communist Party by the great Sha-Pink. This song marks the first time I’ve ever used live percussion.  Enjoy!  Oh, and expect an electric version eventually, too.

 

 Communist Party (acoustic Sha-Pink cover) [3:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Another Sunday, another RPM cover.  This time I took on “Oh, Florida” by The Missed Connections.  I took the song in a decidely darker direction than Amelia originally did and I’m still unsure whether I did the song justice.  Still, every recording is a learning experience.

You can hear Amelia’s original version on her alonteone page.

 

 Letter Seventeen - Oh, Florida (The Missed Connections cover) [2:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I took advantage of a rainy Sunday to record a cover of one of my favorite songs from RPM2010 – Party! by Gumbo.  Check out his songs at Alonetone.

 

 Letter Seventeen - Party (Gumbo cover): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The very talented (and my new friend) Keith Landry has covered my song “Day To Day”.  He did a great job.  I think I like his version more than mine.  Go check it out and then visit Keith’s Alonetone site and leave him some comments on his own songs.  I’m hoping that Keith and I can collaborate on some songs in the future.

 

 Keith Landry - Day To Day (cover) [3:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In my entire life I’ve written maybe four or five songs.  Six, tops.  Yet here I sit, part-way through the third day of the RPM challenge and I have four pieces of music uploaded to my player with two complete sets of lyrics.  I have lyrics for another song partially done and I have a few more musical ideas floating around.

The daunting task of completing RPM2010 suddenly seems doable.  I can’t speak to the quality of the performances or the production, but that was never the point.  The idea was to see if I could do it.  And now I actually believe that I can.

That’s a great feeling.

Last month I produced my first interpretation of the 2 Guys, 1 Brain theme.  It was a fun bit of playing with electronic music.  This time through, I’ve decided to go for something simple.  It’s a cello, a piano, and a stand-up bass.  Next month, there will be guitars.  I promise.

 

 Letter Seventeen - 2Guys Theme (February 2010) [1:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For those of you who haven’t seen my discussions of the RPM Challenge on the Letter Seventeen Facebook Fan Page, I’m participating in the 2010 RPM Challenge.  I’m trying to write and record 10 songs or 35 minutes of music during the month of February.  Understandably, the songs might not be the greatest, but that’s not the point.  The idea is to go through the writing and recording exercise. Stop making excuses and start doing.  So I am.

You can keep up with my progress on my RPM page.