Reality Show 
4:03  (J. Oestreich) POP/ROCK

This is my first song that features a lot of acoustic guitar. The double-mic'd guitar (for stereo effect) parts were laid down about three months ago but I didn't quite know what to do with it. Turns out to be a song about a woman going through mid-life crisis (where do I get these??!). Style is pop/rock. Instruments include acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums, and piano. (June 2003) LYRICS

Another Gray Sky
3:48  (J. Oestreich) POP/ROCK

A somewhat Jackson Browne sounding song. I actually really like this song but it never really seemed to gain much favor. It is a moderate tempo rocker about breaking loose. Instruments include electric guitars, bass, drums and piano. (January 2003)
 

Allright
2:39  (J. Oestreich-Zinzin) POP/ROCK

Lyrics are by a guy in the 'Harmony Central' recording forum. He also put up some chord changes and invited people to create different versions of this song. I changed the chords to put it into a minor key (and added a few more than he had proposed) and built the tune and arrangement. Didn't turn out too bad though the chorus arguably doesn't quite fit the rest of the song. Everyone says the chorus sounds like the Beatles. Cool. Instruments include piano, bass, drums, and acoustic guitar. (May 2003)

Thirty One (Pat's Song) 
1:32  (J. Oestreich) POP/ROCK

Another birthday song, this one surprised me. I wrote and figured out keyboard and guitar parts for it and recorded it all in about 4 hours before my friend Pat's birthday party. I have never turned around a song so fast.  Funny, I still like the sound of it. The song is about a girl who never admits her real age! Features voice, electric guitar, bass and drums. (September 2002)

Baby It's Cold Outside 
3:00  (F. Loesser) JAZZ/BLUES

This is a classic song written by Frank Loesser. I had the chance to hear a version made popular by Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer and knew that is was something that my friend Carol and I would enjoy singing together. I listened to the record over and over until I figured out the chords and invited Carol over. We originally recorded this earlier in 2002 and I did some voice overdubs and re-mixed and produced in December. Features voice, synth guitar and bass. (April 2002 and December 2002)

Writing On The Wall
2:55  (J. Oestreich) POP

In times of war, a return to some pretty pop and catchy hooks just seemed like the right thing to do. Obvious influence to this song is mid-career Beatles before their psychedelic period. My good friend and best critic, Amy, really likes the melody and rhymes of this one! Features piano, bass, drums, various percussion, organ, electric and acoustic guitars. (March 2003) LYRICS

Fortieth Year
2:01  (J. Oestreich) POP/ROCK

A third birthday song. This is for my good friend Susan's fortieth birthday and features my first recording with my newly acquired acoustic guitar. A pretty little song. My friend Wei-Hsing says 'Clapton-ish'. (January 2003)

Gilligan Variations - Original
1:46 (S. Schwartz-G. Wyle) TRADITIONAL

Gilligan Variations - Hood to Coast
1:46 (S. Schwartz-G. Wyle) TRADITIONAL

Gilligan Variations - Jumpy Acoustic
3:03 (S. Schwartz-G. Wyle) ROCK

Here are three different takes of the theme song from Gilligan's Island. 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. Their lyrics are actually a pretty good fit and if have ever raced the Hood-To-Coast, you will get many of the references. The first two versions are the same but the second has the run lyrics. I tried to make these versions close to the actual TV show theme. The third is a fun acoustic romp. All voices are from my Motif synth except I did play an acoustic guitar the acoustic version. (August 2003)

Alternative rock with distorted voice and guitar with a strangely sweet but twisted bridge. The song is about obsession. Some have said it is my 'John Lennon' song. I'm a big Lennon fan, but I wasn't even thinking of him when I wrote this. Sometimes your influences can be at a very subconscious level. Features voice, electric guitar, synth, bass and drums.  (September 2002)

Life Is A Wonderful Thing
3:11  (J. Oestreich)

This is the song that started everything off. I composed this song two weeks before a party that I was hosting for my friend Susan celebrating her birthday. This is a Gershwin-esque tin pan alley song with a tongue-in-cheek approach. I recorded this with my real Grand piano and an inferior microphone. I always intended to redo the song with better production. But as it sits it will always be a special song for me. (April 2002)

Don't Go
3:00  (J. Oestreich)

This was an early attempt to sound like 'Oh Darling' by the Beatles. It's a simple pop song and didn't turn out as 'big' as I would have liked. (June 2002)

This was the first song that I did with my Fender Stratocaster electric guitar (about two weeks after purchase). I still like it but like the Beatles version better ;-) (July 2002)

Gotta Get Away 
2:43  (J. Oestreich)

This is a`rock song - my first using distorted power chords LOL - pretty simple pop/rock melody and arrangement but the guys at work liked it!. (September 2002)

Unnamed Ballad 
 5:12 (J. Oestreich)

A jazz ballad improvisation. All recorded on my Grand piano. There are one or two clinkers, but overall a pretty nice effort. Another song that I have on the backburner to make a lovely ballad out of. (April 2002)

Casa Pacana Prelude 
1:37  (J. Oestreich)

This is just a quick classical orchestral improv that I did very quickly after I got my Motif synthesizer/keyboard. I kept it because I liked the sound of it and thought maybe I would use it in the future as a base for more. (April 2002)

Back To Stay 
3:58  (J. Oestreich)

This is the first song that I did with lyrics with the newly acquired recording equipment. The production is pretty shoddy compared to what I'm doing now but I think a decent first effort. The song is about how music is 'back to stay' for me! The style is pop. (April 2002)

Simpler Days 
3:40  (J. Oestreich)

An Elton John-ish piano-based rocker. Still a pretty good song but I would really have to update the production to make it more professional. The song is about yearning for the simpler days when 'I knew I could win your love...' (June 2002)