When Richard Marx wrote “Right Here Waiting,” he never meant to publish it. He wrote the song in 2010 as a personal message to his girlfriend and actress, Cynthia Rhoads. At the time, Rhoads was in South Africa making a film. Since Skype or Google Meets didn’t exist, Marx shipped the track directly to Rhoads. Marx wrote the song in twenty minutes. His friends were so moved by it that they convinced the artist to publish it. The song went on to become one of Marx’s biggest hits. Prior to this blog post, I had never heard of Richard Marx. I was only vaguely aware of the song. When I heard the beginning of the song on a Facebook reel, I was inspired to learn it. Now that I’ve read the backstory, I agree with Marx’s friends. “Right Here Waiting” is a truly moving and beautiful ode to long-distance love. Marx plays a piano accompaniment. I’ve composed a guitar background. Here’s my cover. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

I often feel that art comes from somewhere else. Let’s call it “The Great Beyond.” To me, a serious artist is a channeler of messages from The Beyond through the prism of his or her experiences and personality. These messages want to come through and be heard by a large audience. “Teach Your Children” is a good illustration of this idea. Here’s my cover. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Like many of us, Don McLean suffered through difficult passages in his life, many of which are reflected in his music. He wrote and recorded “Empty Chairs” when his marriage was failing. Despite the subject of lost love, I feel there is incredible beauty in the lyrics and the melody, and Mclean’s unique guitar style. Although the subject is mentioned just once in the song, McLean chose the symbol to sum up his feelings and state of mind at the time. The title is inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings of empty chairs. Mclean sympathized with Van Gogh and admired his paintings as revealed in his song “Vincent” recorded on the same album: “American Pie.” I’ve re-recorded “Empty Chairs” with a better guitar and some improved technique. Please enjoy listening. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

“The time that’s left is yours to keep.” These words come at the end of the chorus of the song “See Here She Says” by Kate Wolf. While I find all of the lyrics in this song beautiful, this sentence hit me in the center of my heart. I can picture a mother teaching a child about life. She is telling the child about the importance of dreams and to use his or her time wisely. Use it well, not only for yourself but for others too. Certainly, love, beauty, and a full range of human emotions come through Kate Wolf’s music. “See Here She Says” is a remarkable song because it speaks to children and adults alike with an ocean of love and understanding. Interestingly, the word “sea” appears at the beginning of the first verse. Perhaps I can feel Kate’s heart even more now that she has passed into spirit. Please enjoy my cover of “See Here She Said.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

“I live for a sense of a feeling of purposefulness in this world, you know, that I could stop my life at any point and feel that my life has been worthwhile; that the people I’ve loved and my children have all reached a point where their lives are now going to come to fruition. And as far as something I live by, it’s to try to be as alive as possible and feel free to make my mistakes and try to be as honest as I can with myself.” Kate Wolf–Singer-Songwriter–1942-1986 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Here's another Gordon Lightfoot tune that may not be as recognizable as many of the other songs of his that I've covered here. Somehow, "I'll be Alright" crept into my consciousness and I'm happy to offer my cover of the song in this post. To me, the song is as lovely and memorable as many of Lightfoot's hits including: "If You Could Read My Mind," "Early Morning Rain," and "Song For A Winter's Night." Please enjoy the memory of this song and the one and only Gordon Lightfoot. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

"On The Road To Find Out" is a song drawn from Cat Stevens' life experiences and his quest for a deeper meaning and greater fulfillment in his existence. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Here's my cover of a song inspired by Gordon Lightfoot's 1972 concert in London, England. I've loved Gordon's music for decades. I grew old with him. The sight of Lightfoot performing his song as a young man is both glorious and saddening. Lightfoot passed away recently at the age of 84. He never stopped performing until the very end. Thanks for your music, GL. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Here's my cover of "Fill My Eyes" played with Cat Stevens' unique guitar style. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Here's my cover of "My Opening Farewell" played the way Jackson Browne does it. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2023/01/13/jackson-browne-my-opening-farewell/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message