I consider my music a constant work in process as my work in composing, singing, playing instruments (well guitar mostly - piano I'm already decent enough), and producing the final product are getting better every month. Most of these songs are in chronological order but in some cases I put songs I liked better near the top. But - go figure - one of the songs I am most proud of is a classical composition that is at the very bottom of the list! Nerdy details about the song file formats can be found at the bottom of this page. 

Also visit my Microphone Test Page features the smash hit "Testing Mics Again". (updated Sept 2003)

Podcast Star 3:39  (J. Oestreich) ROCK

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

This one was recorded for our podcast This And That (w/ Jeff and Pat). Adam Curry, playing this song on his very popular podcast, The Daily Sourcecode said "Wow, does that rock!!" Pretty cool from an ex VH1 jock. This song was also featured on an episode of another very popular podcast The Dawn And Drew Show. Podcast Star is a tongue-and-cheek look at wanting to achieve stardom through this new production medium. I tracked all the instruments and put the song together in about a week. Instruments include electric guitars, electric bass and drums. The drums were played 'live' on my Yamaha Motif keyboard. Hope you like it! (April 2005) LYRICS

Sugar Daddy 3:06  (F. Perren-A. Mizell-B. Gordy-D. Richards ) POP

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

When I cover a song, you can be sure that is because it's one of my favorite songs in the world. Sugar Daddy is no exception. I've always liked this old Jackson 5 song. I've had a thought to cover it from about a year ago. I've fooled around a bit with it and never quite liked the result. When I settled on focusing on the electric bass riff first, the arrangement started to come together and this effort is the result. This is such a silly song with dumb but likeable lyrics. The Jackson 5's version is probably one of their best works. The format follows so closely to their other hits (ABC, Love You Save, Mama's Pearl) that you sort of wonder if the team who wrote it wrote all these songs in the same month. Instruments include the Motif (piano, drums, organ, percussion), the electric bass and electric guitar. (November 2004)

Thanksgiving Day 2:36  (J. Oestreich) ROCK

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

A boy (I like to kid myself), an electric guitar, a simple and sweet song - are you ready to ROCK? Inspiration for this is of course the coming holiday. The song takes you on a trip through the yearly holidays peaking on Thanksgiving. Influences would probably be Weezer and the Ramones. Instruments include electric guitars, electric bass and drums.  (November 2004) LYRICS

Dawn Awaits 3:18  (J. Oestreich) POP/ACOUSTIC/ECLECTIC

play lo-fi full version play hi-fi full version

Sometimes a quiet Sunday morning can offer reflection. I've been messing around with this idea on the acoustic guitar for a couple of weeks and then along one Sunday in a quiet moment the words just came out quick and furious. I had previewed this song to some but have redone it recently to include strings and a tighter production. Influences here are Elliot Smith, Simon and Garfunkel, and Paul McCartney. Instruments include acoustic guitar and strings.  (August 2004) LYRICS

Dreams By The Lake (Tribute to Bix) 3:48  (J. Oestreich) POP/JAZZ

play lo-fi full version play hi-fi full version

This song was written as a tribute to a jazz cornetist from very early last century - Bix Beiderbecke. It is a kind of a combination of pop and jazz (well, mostly pop). I used the Motif for all instruments (piano, clarinet, cello, strings/horns patch, drums) but the electric bass and the vocals. The song was inspired by a book that I read when I was young that was written by a guy who was looking back to a summer he spent when he was 13 years old in 1926 when Bix was vibrant and jazz was new. If the song intrigues you, more about Bix can be found here at the following two places - Biography with Sound Samples and NPR Audio Biography. (July 2004) LYRICS

Boyfriend 3:32  (J. Oestreich) ROCK

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

It's been awhile since I posted a new song up here. I've been busy with a new job but also working on my guitar and bass skills when time permits. This song has influences that include Counting Crows, Smashing Pumpkins, and Weezer. Instruments includes electric guitars, electric bass and drum machine (from the Motif). (June 2004) LYRICS

A Little Love 3:28  (J. Oestreich) POP/REGGAE

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

This is a reggae-inspired pop song that features the debut of my newly acquired bass guitar. This was recorded about a week after I learned to play it! The song is a positive statement as a reaction to the divided nature of our country lately. Instruments includes bass and voices from the Motif (piano, drums, horns). Would love to find a vocalist to collaborate with on the chorus 'ad-lib' part. (March 2004) LYRICS

RIHS Alma Mater  2:17  (J. Hasley) TRADITIONAL AND JAZZ

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

This was my high school Alma Mater song. It's been a favorite in the family (my sister used to play it on piano when she was young). It's actually quite a pretty piece. In this arrangement I added some strings to go along with a new piano treatment. It ends in a bit of Mississippi River influenced bop-swing jazz that features piano, bass, drums, saxophone and flute! Hope you like it! (February 2004)

Superstar  3:13  (J. Oestreich) POP/ROCK

play lo-fi full version play hi-fi full version

This song is about that part of all of us that want to be a superstar. The influence started off being the Red Hot Chili Peppers but somehow ended sounding a bit different. It's an 'adult alternative' song with hints of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Counting Crows, and perhaps some Old '97s. Instruments include acoustic and electric guitars, bass and drums. (January 2004) LYRICS

The Day Grows Long  4:18  (J. Oestreich) POP/ROCK

play lo-fi full version play hi-fi full version

This song was partially inspired by something that happened in Dallas last month. A 50-year old fellow ended his life on the ‘X’ on Elm Street marking the spot in the Grassy Knoll where JFK was shot 40 years ago. Comparisons would be to John Lennon, Oasis, Travis, Radiohead, etc… Instruments include acoustic and electric guitars, synth, strings, piano, ‘music box’, bass, and drums. (December 2003) LYRICS

Jolly Old St. Nick  2:18  (Traditional) ROCK/PUNK

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

This is a fast rock / punk version of the traditional Christmas song "Jolly Old St. Nicholas". While in the middle of writing some other things, I found myself putting this together as a 'break'. Recommend cranking up the volume and rocking!I Instruments are electric guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, and.. umm..sleigh bells! (December 2003)

It Doesn't Feel Like Christmas (Without You)  4:08  (J. Oestreich) JAZZ/BLUES

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

I wrote this Christmas last December but decided to record it again with the benefit of a year of singing and some new equipment. My dream is to have Norah Jones sing this song!! Features voice, piano, bass and drums. (December 2003, originally written December 2002) LYRICS

When Cathy Comes To Town  3:24  (J. Oestreich) POP/ROCK

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

Here comes some piano pop! This is a very innocent song is about those certain people that we all know that sometimes like to come to stay but never seem to extend the same invitation. I performed this song live with a bass and drum track at a company talent show (about 500 people in the audience!). I lost out to a woman singing 'Wind Beneath My Wings'. No wonder original musicians starve... (but I'm not bitter! lol) Instruments include piano, bass and drums. (November 2003) LYRICS

Gilligan Island Theme - Funky Ballad Version  4:16 (S. Schwartz-G. Wyle) POP

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

Here are four different takes of the theme song from Gilligan's Island (the other three are in the archives). What would ever prompt me do something so silly!? Well, a friend of mine was going to run the 'Hood-To-Coast' run and asked if I could come up with the music for the theme with lyrics that he and his run team came up with. I just decided to have a bit of fun with the song and tried to get a bit creative. This version is kind of an emotional ballad (lol!) with some funky stuff stuck in the middle. All voices are from my Motif synth. (August 2003)

Cool Shade  3:24  (J. Oestreich) JAZZ

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

The days of 100 degree heat are upon us in Texas now. In honor or this dubious occasion I give you 'cool' jazz in the style that was made famous on the west coast. This is a straight ahead boppy jazz piece that alternates between a syncopated stride and a swing. Have a lemonade (or something stronger), get a nice fan and crank it up! Instruments include trumpet, tenor sax, piano, bass, and drums. (July 2003)

A Change Is Gonna Come 4:30  (S. Cooke) JAZZ/BLUES

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

This will be my last cover song for awhile. The song was written by Sam Cooke but I actually have never heard his version! As sung by Otis Redding, this song is one of my all-time favorite songs in the world. I know I can't do Otis Redding (or Sam Cooke) justice so I changed the early soul / r&b feel to a more bluesy-jazzy thing (think Norah Jones - yea - how I wish I could sing like her, well a male version of her anyway).  Instruments include piano, bass, electric guitars, organ, and drums.. (June 2003)

Wake Up  4:23  (McFadden-Whitehead-Carstarphen-J. Oestreich) POP

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

Philly soul meets Jamaican reggae. I was listening to a '70s station the other day and came across this gem. This song was originally done by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes in 1975. I really liked the song but hated the arrangement - it was big Philly Soul-produced (which isn't too bad) but right at the time of disco so it was full of the disco beat and disco strings. I thought it would be fun to 'dust it off' and modernize it a bit. I also replaced one of the verses. Mine is the last one about world leaders. Instruments include piano, bass, drums, percussion, electric guitar and horns. (June 2003)

Wonderful  3:46  (J. Oestreich) POP/ROCK

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

This is a piano-based rocker sort of modeled after something Ben Folds might do. The song is about a young girl from the Midwest trying to make it big in show business. Some pretty cool piano riffs. Features voice, piano, organ, horns, bass and drums. (December 2002) LYRICS

Seven 2:56  (J. Oestreich) ROCK

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

This song is a little more modern sounding than some of my regular pop music. It is the spirit of Weezer, Green Day, or Foo Fighters. The song features two electric guitars - Fender Stratocaster and my newest guitar a Les Paul copy (this is the debut song for this guitar!). Other instruments are bass and drums. (April 2003) LYRICS

Across The Universe  3:38  (J. Lennon-P. McCartney) POP/ROCK

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

The classic Beatles song off of the 'Let It Be' album. I have done this beautiful song in a more modern arrangement. Influences include Smashing Pumpkins and Radiohead. Instruments include drums, bass, 8 electric guitar parts (!), and acoustic guitar. (February 2003)

December In Milwaukee  4:03  (J. Oestreich) POP/ROCK

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

I used a year that I spent in Milwaukee as inspiration for this song. Nothing against Milwaukee - it was just a very bad year. My model for this song was the Counting Crows but I can't say it really sounds like them. If I had my acoustic guitar at this point, I probably would have put it in the mix somewhere. Features voice, piano, strings, bass and drums. Re-mastered in July 2003. (November 2002) LYRICS

Winter Wonderland  3:14  (Bernard-Smith) JAZZ

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

This is my jazz be-bop arrangement of the classic Christmas song. I really liked the way this one turned out. Features piano, tenor sax, trumpet, bass, and drums. (December 2002)

Nocturne in C minor  4:16  (J. Oestreich) CLASSICAL

play lo-fi 30 second sample play hi-fi full version

My first and only (so far) attempt at writing a classical piano piece. I recorded this one on my Motif synthesizer but I still think it sounds more passionate on real piano! Features piano. (August 2002)

Can't find your favorite? Check out our Music Archives. (updated March 2004)

A technical word about formats: All musical formats here are variable bit rate (VBR) MP3s. These type of MP3 are playable on most MP3 players and provide for better quality compression than their more common constant bit rate (CBR) cousins. Specifically, the 'hi-fi' versions are sampled using the LAME codec with the 'alt standard' preset typically resulting in a bitrate of approximately 180-220 Kbps. The 'lo-fi' versions are sampled using the Fraunhofer codec with quality level of 1 typically resulting in a bitrate of approximately 80-95 Kbps. Note: some MP3 players may incorrectly display playing time when playing VBR MP3s.