| Chris Morrisette |
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Review by Gary Allen
Chris Morrisette is a brilliant songwriter that believes he will get a song cut before he dies. I agree
whole heartedly. I am on the radio every 4 seconds somewhere on the planet, and none of the
singers on my own records have the pipes Chris has. These songs stand up and look you right in
the soul. This is an artist flirting with greatness that has definitely raised the bar in my International
song competition.
He is accompanied by keyboard player extraordinaire Ethan Hamburg on a musical, mystical, and
spiritual quest, reflecting on life and it's meaning. "Let It Be You" reminds me of Jackson Browne at
his peek, that is, if he were as great a singer as Chris. I love all the vocals on these tracks. This is
a unique collection of songs that uncover universal truths about life, people, and about the manner
in which men and women tend to interact.
The compositions are rock solid and the lyrics are heartfelt and imaginative. They tell a story of a
good soul searching for wisdom and the comfort of angels wherever the trail ends. At the same
time Chris covers a lot of musical styles and genres that wash the slate spotlessly clean for him to
open the door to the next one in virtually any direction he chooses to go. That is no easy task but
he masterfully pulls it off. I humbly think most songs themselves are to be sung out of an odd joy -
sometimes raucous, sometimes melancholy- that appears to sink singer and even listener into the
flow of the world. So a good song is just a song that knows this. That’s what I like about Chris and
his tunes.
I challenge anyone to try to get these melodies out of your head and who would want to. I
especially like his acoustic guitar sound and his sense of composition and form. The tracks seem
familiar only because they are so fresh and perfectly executed. “Ballad of Greg Oden” takes me to
that same place “Graceland” does, Paul Simon’s masterpiece that includes my partner in crime JJ
Cale on rhythm guitar. While not arguing that third world music is or is not more spiritual, I question
the notion that spirituality -which may or may not have anything to do with music- is the domain of
other people's music and never our own. Chris makes it our own, in a way that Simon doesn’t
always pull off with “Graceland”.
Chris Morrisette is a brilliant songwriter that believes he will get a song cut before he dies. I agree
whole heartedly. I am on the radio every 4 seconds somewhere on the planet, and none of the
singers on my own records have the pipes Chris has. These songs stand up and look you right in
the soul. This is an artist flirting with greatness that has definitely raised the bar in my International
song competition.
He is accompanied by keyboard player extraordinaire Ethan Hamburg on a musical, mystical, and
spiritual quest, reflecting on life and it's meaning. "Let It Be You" reminds me of Jackson Browne at
his peek, that is, if he were as great a singer as Chris. I love all the vocals on these tracks. This is
a unique collection of songs that uncover universal truths about life, people, and about the manner
in which men and women tend to interact.
The compositions are rock solid and the lyrics are heartfelt and imaginative. They tell a story of a
good soul searching for wisdom and the comfort of angels wherever the trail ends. At the same
time Chris covers a lot of musical styles and genres that wash the slate spotlessly clean for him to
open the door to the next one in virtually any direction he chooses to go. That is no easy task but
he masterfully pulls it off. I humbly think most songs themselves are to be sung out of an odd joy -
sometimes raucous, sometimes melancholy- that appears to sink singer and even listener into the
flow of the world. So a good song is just a song that knows this. That’s what I like about Chris and
his tunes.
I challenge anyone to try to get these melodies out of your head and who would want to. I
especially like his acoustic guitar sound and his sense of composition and form. The tracks seem
familiar only because they are so fresh and perfectly executed. “Ballad of Greg Oden” takes me to
that same place “Graceland” does, Paul Simon’s masterpiece that includes my partner in crime JJ
Cale on rhythm guitar. While not arguing that third world music is or is not more spiritual, I question
the notion that spirituality -which may or may not have anything to do with music- is the domain of
other people's music and never our own. Chris makes it our own, in a way that Simon doesn’t
always pull off with “Graceland”.
 |  |  |  |  |
| Chris Morrisette & Mel Tillis |
| Let It Be You Written by: Words & Music by Christopher Morrisette King of the Yard Music (c) 2007 All Rights Reserved Verse As I count the wind with my fingers As I fly through the days of my life All my memories of you still linger Somewhere between shadow and light Verse Since you've gone I just hang on and wonder What to do with the hours of my day Goodbye fades like distant thunder I see your face when I close my eyes and pray Chorus Only God knows how much I need you Only time will heal all my wounds I don't care if it takes the rest my life In the end I have nothing to lose Only God knows how I might find you And only angels come out of the blue But if Destiny has an answer for me Oh please, let it be you Verse Now I reach for something untouchable Somewhere out there this road will end But if I can just hold out for a miracle I pray that someday I'll have you back again (Repeat chorus) Bridge Some things in life are meant to be Only fools believe in chance I'd be just driving blind End up lost for all time So I'll trust your heart because it's out of my hands Chorus Only God knows how I might find you Only angels come out of the blue But if Destiny has an answer for me Oh please, let it be you |
SONG REVIEW : LET IT BE YOU
Christopher John Morrisette is one of the first true artists
I have encountered as a reviewer here. Now I do want to
say right off the bat that I have yet to own a country CD,
just not my bag, but this song “Let It Be You” really touched
me. “Let It Be You” has all of the elements that
I have preached about in every one of my reviews.
From the melody, to the perfect lyrics, it was all there.
Let’s start right from the beginning. A gentle piano piece
opens the song (typical for the style but it feels so right),
and there is a real sweat sounding violin playing smoothly
over the top (I think it is a violin might be a fiddle, same thing
in my book). When it starts to tug at your heartstrings the
vocals come in with one of the most soothing voices I have
ever heard coming from Brock Goodwin, singing beautifully,
lyrics poured straight from the heart.
I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard this song. Reviewing
is a tough job you have to go through a lot, and I mean a
tremendous amount of garbage before you find a gem like
this. In all of my reviews I have had only two that stand out
to me, and now I get to make that three.
“Let It Be You” is gold from start to finish, and if this song
doesn’t make it to the top then we all need to reinvent
ourselves and figure out what is true to our hearts. It is
songs like this that make you gasp for air because it
touches you so deep inside. There is no way to improve
perfection and this song in my book is perfect. Thank you
Mr. Morrisette, and Mr Goodwin, the pleasure has been all
mine. Keep It Real And True To Yourself.
http://www.godsofmusic.com/gom/reviews.php?action=detail&id=5657
Christopher John Morrisette is one of the first true artists
I have encountered as a reviewer here. Now I do want to
say right off the bat that I have yet to own a country CD,
just not my bag, but this song “Let It Be You” really touched
me. “Let It Be You” has all of the elements that
I have preached about in every one of my reviews.
From the melody, to the perfect lyrics, it was all there.
Let’s start right from the beginning. A gentle piano piece
opens the song (typical for the style but it feels so right),
and there is a real sweat sounding violin playing smoothly
over the top (I think it is a violin might be a fiddle, same thing
in my book). When it starts to tug at your heartstrings the
vocals come in with one of the most soothing voices I have
ever heard coming from Brock Goodwin, singing beautifully,
lyrics poured straight from the heart.
I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard this song. Reviewing
is a tough job you have to go through a lot, and I mean a
tremendous amount of garbage before you find a gem like
this. In all of my reviews I have had only two that stand out
to me, and now I get to make that three.
“Let It Be You” is gold from start to finish, and if this song
doesn’t make it to the top then we all need to reinvent
ourselves and figure out what is true to our hearts. It is
songs like this that make you gasp for air because it
touches you so deep inside. There is no way to improve
perfection and this song in my book is perfect. Thank you
Mr. Morrisette, and Mr Goodwin, the pleasure has been all
mine. Keep It Real And True To Yourself.
http://www.godsofmusic.com/gom/reviews.php?action=detail&id=5657
| ********************************************************************************************************************************** Chris Morrisette Links: MySpace Sonicbids CONTACT CHRIS ChrisMorrisette@comcast.net |
| Instrumentation: Chris Morrisette - Electric Guitar, Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Harmonica, H. Ethan Hamburg - Piano, Organ, Keyboard |
When it comes to artistic sensibility, this fellow obviously has, as they say, a ready versatility of conviction. “A Life Well Lived” is a perfect example of what I speak of
and one of my personal favorites; Chris pondering if he gave all he had to give before it’s time to go. He seems to be a sensitive, decent and compassionate man that
most likely gives until it hurts. I feel sure Chris will be judged as fairly as I judged his songs when the man upstairs calls him home. I am a fan of Chris Morrisette and I
wish for him the break he deserves to get that cut before it’s go time. It’s my pleasure to have you as a top choice in my Sonicbids competition and I hope someone
notices you before I am reviewing you with a harp. Thanks for sharing your life and music my friend. http://www.myspace.com/balladofgregoden
-Gary Allen (JJ Cale/The Charlie Daniels Band/Stonewall Jackson)
and one of my personal favorites; Chris pondering if he gave all he had to give before it’s time to go. He seems to be a sensitive, decent and compassionate man that
most likely gives until it hurts. I feel sure Chris will be judged as fairly as I judged his songs when the man upstairs calls him home. I am a fan of Chris Morrisette and I
wish for him the break he deserves to get that cut before it’s go time. It’s my pleasure to have you as a top choice in my Sonicbids competition and I hope someone
notices you before I am reviewing you with a harp. Thanks for sharing your life and music my friend. http://www.myspace.com/balladofgregoden
-Gary Allen (JJ Cale/The Charlie Daniels Band/Stonewall Jackson)
**********************************************************************************************************************************
In His Own Words
As a songwriter I have remained fairly true to my musical influences, which are diverse. Like all of my generation I grew up during the golden age of Rock & Roll but
also was influenced by Blues, Folk and Country. A lot of the great artists made huge impressions on me but the biggest were the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry,
Van Morrison and Tim Buckley and bands from Jethro Tull to The Band to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I loved the British influence on the American Rock sound
and have always identified myself in that school. But Country played a big part of my formative years too. Growing up in Springfield Oregon (often referred to as
Springtucky by the elitist snobs in neighboring Eugene) I listened to a lot of Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams and we covered a fair amount of their
material in the bands of my youth. In the mid 1970s I played and recorded with guitarist Frank Reckard who toured with Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band for over ten
years. At that time Frank had been gigging with Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash among others and his influence in my songwriting and playing has endured to the
present. Though my playing days have given way to inactivity as a performer and I am first and foremost a songwriter, I have never lost the itch to work in a band or
play solo on the stage and am hoping to get back to playing out again soon.
**********************************************************************************************************************************
In His Own Words
As a songwriter I have remained fairly true to my musical influences, which are diverse. Like all of my generation I grew up during the golden age of Rock & Roll but
also was influenced by Blues, Folk and Country. A lot of the great artists made huge impressions on me but the biggest were the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry,
Van Morrison and Tim Buckley and bands from Jethro Tull to The Band to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I loved the British influence on the American Rock sound
and have always identified myself in that school. But Country played a big part of my formative years too. Growing up in Springfield Oregon (often referred to as
Springtucky by the elitist snobs in neighboring Eugene) I listened to a lot of Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams and we covered a fair amount of their
material in the bands of my youth. In the mid 1970s I played and recorded with guitarist Frank Reckard who toured with Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band for over ten
years. At that time Frank had been gigging with Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash among others and his influence in my songwriting and playing has endured to the
present. Though my playing days have given way to inactivity as a performer and I am first and foremost a songwriter, I have never lost the itch to work in a band or
play solo on the stage and am hoping to get back to playing out again soon.
**********************************************************************************************************************************
Chris Morrisette Bio
Chris Morrisette is singer/songwriter living in Portland Oregon. He is married to Benita, has a singer/songwriter daughter, Kay Morrisette and Uber geek son Ben
Moore. Chris drives a school bus and spends as much spare time in his project recording studio as possible. He spent a greater part of the seventies and eighties
playing in bands, working in duos and as a solo, from New York to LA and back to Oregon. Favored genres are rock, country, folk and subject matter is everything
from kid’s songs to recent rash of songs about the Portland Trail Blazers (Ballad of Greg Oden).
Chris and fellow songwriter Robert Lusson, were signed to a recording and publishing contract in 1976 by Arne Frager of Spectrum
Studios in Venice, California. In 1978, Chris co-founded Radio Child with David Reeves, performing live at many Southern California clubs,
including the Troubadour, the Starwood, LA Songwriter's Showcase and the Palomino Club.
In 1994 he founded Songwriter’s Showcase at the Rainy Day Café in Eugene. This highly successful series provided the opportunity to
work with some of the gifted singer/songwriters of the area. He also performed and recorded original material with the band, Purity Club.
Chris moved to
Portland Oregon in 1996 and soon began working the singer/songwriter club scene, winning awards and garnering solid reviews as a solo performer. It was there that
Chris met Lonnie Turner, former bass player for Steve Miller Band and co-writer of Jungle Love. Lonnie had been living in Portland for several years, basically retired
from the music business and raising a family. One night at a Portland Songwriter Association showcase Chris performed a song that impressed Lonnie, who invited
Chris to collaborate on improving the song as well as to co-write new material. This began a friendship that was important to Chris both personally and professionally.
While they only wrote a handful of songs together, Lonnie provided Chris with a much needed perspective regarding the business of songwriting as well as great
insights into the business itself, learning about such concepts as collaborator agreements and mailbox money.
Chris Morrisette is singer/songwriter living in Portland Oregon. He is married to Benita, has a singer/songwriter daughter, Kay Morrisette and Uber geek son Ben
Moore. Chris drives a school bus and spends as much spare time in his project recording studio as possible. He spent a greater part of the seventies and eighties
playing in bands, working in duos and as a solo, from New York to LA and back to Oregon. Favored genres are rock, country, folk and subject matter is everything
from kid’s songs to recent rash of songs about the Portland Trail Blazers (Ballad of Greg Oden).
Chris and fellow songwriter Robert Lusson, were signed to a recording and publishing contract in 1976 by Arne Frager of Spectrum
Studios in Venice, California. In 1978, Chris co-founded Radio Child with David Reeves, performing live at many Southern California clubs,
including the Troubadour, the Starwood, LA Songwriter's Showcase and the Palomino Club.
In 1994 he founded Songwriter’s Showcase at the Rainy Day Café in Eugene. This highly successful series provided the opportunity to
work with some of the gifted singer/songwriters of the area. He also performed and recorded original material with the band, Purity Club.
Chris moved to
Portland Oregon in 1996 and soon began working the singer/songwriter club scene, winning awards and garnering solid reviews as a solo performer. It was there that
Chris met Lonnie Turner, former bass player for Steve Miller Band and co-writer of Jungle Love. Lonnie had been living in Portland for several years, basically retired
from the music business and raising a family. One night at a Portland Songwriter Association showcase Chris performed a song that impressed Lonnie, who invited
Chris to collaborate on improving the song as well as to co-write new material. This began a friendship that was important to Chris both personally and professionally.
While they only wrote a handful of songs together, Lonnie provided Chris with a much needed perspective regarding the business of songwriting as well as great
insights into the business itself, learning about such concepts as collaborator agreements and mailbox money.
One song in particular, "LET IT BE YOU”, caught Lonnie’s ear and they spent a full year working on how to re-conceptualize it from its original state and then co-
producing a solid demo track. At the time Lonnie was working his own song catalogue and considering how to break into the Country music market, so they took what
was a mushy rock ballad and re-imagined it as a pop country song. Lonnie and his former band mate Gary Malabar, the drummer from the Miller band, laid down the
basic track with a great piano track and Chris’ guitars. Chris could not sing the song in this specific style, however, so it took a providential online meeting with a
young man from
Albuquerque named Brock Goodwin. Chris and Lonnie sent Brock the instrumental track who put down just about the most perfect vocal they could have ever hoped
for.
Then Chris connected with Dianne Petty, a respected publisher in Nashville. Dianne loved the song and thought that if it had a bridge it would be finished. So Chris
spent another few weeks figuring that one out and in the end had one of the greatest song development experiences of his life. Dianne shopped the song and while
there was intense interest for a time and Chris found out later that it came real close to being cut by Diamond Rio, nothing ever came of it. Still and all, it was an
amazing process made possible by his friend Lonnie Turner. It gave Chris a deeper and more abiding respect for the craft of songwriting than he already had and will
be forever grateful.
From 2004-06 Chris did work for hire productions of Children’s music for a music distribution company (Allegro Music) in Portland where he worked in sales and as
Children's Product Manager. Chris put together 72 tracks of Children’s Bible songs, all from the public domain as well as six CDs of spoken word Bible stories. It
inspired Chris to begin work on several yet to be completed original kids song projects.
As a season ticket holder for the NBA Portland Trail Blazers, Chris wrote, as a challenge from a fellow songwriter, two songs (links below), that were featured on local
sports related blogs. The first is “BALLAD OF GREG ODEN”, a song about a once every ten years big man who unfortunately has had three season ending knee
injuries in three years. The second, “IT’S A BLOG’S LIFE (LIVING ON THE BLAZERS EDGE)” refers to a theme song Chris wrote on a lark for the main Blazer blog in
Portland. Both songs and a subsequent song, “IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE A BLAZER”, all generated hundreds of hits and plays on MySpace in short periods of time
and have gotten some local radio airplay. This endeavor was purely for fun and is by no means his main songwriting interest :)
Listen to Chris Morrisette at http://www.myspace.com/balladofgregoden
http://blog.oregonlive.com/tailgate/2008/04/the_promise_of_greg_oden_captu.html#comments
http://www.blazersedge.com/2008/9/17/616591/a-great-moment-in-the-hist
**********************************************************************************************************************************
producing a solid demo track. At the time Lonnie was working his own song catalogue and considering how to break into the Country music market, so they took what
was a mushy rock ballad and re-imagined it as a pop country song. Lonnie and his former band mate Gary Malabar, the drummer from the Miller band, laid down the
basic track with a great piano track and Chris’ guitars. Chris could not sing the song in this specific style, however, so it took a providential online meeting with a
young man from
Albuquerque named Brock Goodwin. Chris and Lonnie sent Brock the instrumental track who put down just about the most perfect vocal they could have ever hoped
for.
Then Chris connected with Dianne Petty, a respected publisher in Nashville. Dianne loved the song and thought that if it had a bridge it would be finished. So Chris
spent another few weeks figuring that one out and in the end had one of the greatest song development experiences of his life. Dianne shopped the song and while
there was intense interest for a time and Chris found out later that it came real close to being cut by Diamond Rio, nothing ever came of it. Still and all, it was an
amazing process made possible by his friend Lonnie Turner. It gave Chris a deeper and more abiding respect for the craft of songwriting than he already had and will
be forever grateful.
From 2004-06 Chris did work for hire productions of Children’s music for a music distribution company (Allegro Music) in Portland where he worked in sales and as
Children's Product Manager. Chris put together 72 tracks of Children’s Bible songs, all from the public domain as well as six CDs of spoken word Bible stories. It
inspired Chris to begin work on several yet to be completed original kids song projects.
As a season ticket holder for the NBA Portland Trail Blazers, Chris wrote, as a challenge from a fellow songwriter, two songs (links below), that were featured on local
sports related blogs. The first is “BALLAD OF GREG ODEN”, a song about a once every ten years big man who unfortunately has had three season ending knee
injuries in three years. The second, “IT’S A BLOG’S LIFE (LIVING ON THE BLAZERS EDGE)” refers to a theme song Chris wrote on a lark for the main Blazer blog in
Portland. Both songs and a subsequent song, “IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE A BLAZER”, all generated hundreds of hits and plays on MySpace in short periods of time
and have gotten some local radio airplay. This endeavor was purely for fun and is by no means his main songwriting interest :)
Listen to Chris Morrisette at http://www.myspace.com/balladofgregoden
http://blog.oregonlive.com/tailgate/2008/04/the_promise_of_greg_oden_captu.html#comments
http://www.blazersedge.com/2008/9/17/616591/a-great-moment-in-the-hist
**********************************************************************************************************************************
| Chris wins a guitar at Portland Songwriter Assoc. Showcase, presented to him by Lonnie Turner |
Chris was very proud to meet country legend Mel Tillis last Christmas at a show in Oregon.
Back in the 70s, Mel saw Chris perform the song "A PLACE LIKE HEAVEN" (original title was
"THE LAST COWBOY") It was in LA at the Palomino Club on Hoot Night. After the performance
Mel invited Chris to his table and asked him some questions and then invited Chris to come to
Nashville to cut some demos of his songs. At the time Chris and his song writing partner were
about to sign a small recording/publishing deal and got the guy who was going to sign them
involved. Long story short, Mel finally said he wasn't interested in anyone else, so he wrote a
nice letter telling Chris to basically have a nice life. To this day Chris regrets the choice he
made and often wonders what would have happened if he had gone to Nashville instead of
staying in LA and going nowhere but back to Oregon 5 years later with nothing to show for it.
It took Chris a long time to get over that one! He actually took the letter Mel wrote to him and it
was an honor for Chris to have Mel to sign it a second time.
Back in the 70s, Mel saw Chris perform the song "A PLACE LIKE HEAVEN" (original title was
"THE LAST COWBOY") It was in LA at the Palomino Club on Hoot Night. After the performance
Mel invited Chris to his table and asked him some questions and then invited Chris to come to
Nashville to cut some demos of his songs. At the time Chris and his song writing partner were
about to sign a small recording/publishing deal and got the guy who was going to sign them
involved. Long story short, Mel finally said he wasn't interested in anyone else, so he wrote a
nice letter telling Chris to basically have a nice life. To this day Chris regrets the choice he
made and often wonders what would have happened if he had gone to Nashville instead of
staying in LA and going nowhere but back to Oregon 5 years later with nothing to show for it.
It took Chris a long time to get over that one! He actually took the letter Mel wrote to him and it
was an honor for Chris to have Mel to sign it a second time.
| ********************************************************************************************************************************** |
| Ethan Hamburg |
Chris is currently working with an accomplished piano/keyboardist and composer,
Ethan Hamburg, who is a Merle Haggard alumnus. They gigged together in the 70's and 80's
in LA. Ethan has been integral to what Chris has done musically for over thirty years as a band
mate, collaborator and friend.
Ethan is classically trained, adept at jazz, country and rock and interestingly, is steeped in the
music of India, having spent a few years there working with some top Indian musicians.
Ethan moved to Portland a couple years ago and they compose and record together.
He plays on all the material on Chris’s MySpace page.
Check out Ethan at http://www.myspace.com/ethanhamburg
Ethan Hamburg, who is a Merle Haggard alumnus. They gigged together in the 70's and 80's
in LA. Ethan has been integral to what Chris has done musically for over thirty years as a band
mate, collaborator and friend.
Ethan is classically trained, adept at jazz, country and rock and interestingly, is steeped in the
music of India, having spent a few years there working with some top Indian musicians.
Ethan moved to Portland a couple years ago and they compose and record together.
He plays on all the material on Chris’s MySpace page.
Check out Ethan at http://www.myspace.com/ethanhamburg
| ********************************************************************************************************************************** |
SONG REVIEW:
PASSING THROUGH,
(piano/vocal version)
Chris Morrisette has crafted a beautiful song here with
"Passing Through". I'm impressed that he remains a solid
collaborator, having not given up on his musical dreams
despite not getting the big break he had hoped for with his
debut album in the seventies. In this reviewer's opinion,
Morisette's voice lends itself perfectly to this style of ballad,
and as a whole, the song succeeds admirably.
Musically sound and provacative despite it's inherent
simplicity, "Passing Through" is rendered gently and honesty.
This gives the song the kind of sound that most musicians
only dream of, a song that easily could give any adult
contemporary programmer reason for repeated listens. This
is exactly the kind of song radio searches for, and with the
quality of the performance and recording, Morrisette has
more than just his foot in the door.
And his vocals, don't even get me started! I just love the way
his lyrics and voice come to the forefront of the song, as it is
just that and his piano throughout the tune. I'll give him credit,
his lyrics are better than most I hear in this genre, and
combined with the background, you have a winning
combination. I even found myself humming the bridge of this
song for several days as I let the tune bounce around in my
head. That's a sure sign of a winning song, in my opinion.
Give "Passing Through" a listen, you're sure to enjoy it. This
is the kind of song that people remember when they're done
listening, and it is of the right quality to make people want to
hear more. And as far as I'm concerned, that's as much as
you can ask from an artist.
http://www.godsofmusic.com/gom/reviews.php?action=detail&id=4953
PASSING THROUGH,
(piano/vocal version)
Chris Morrisette has crafted a beautiful song here with
"Passing Through". I'm impressed that he remains a solid
collaborator, having not given up on his musical dreams
despite not getting the big break he had hoped for with his
debut album in the seventies. In this reviewer's opinion,
Morisette's voice lends itself perfectly to this style of ballad,
and as a whole, the song succeeds admirably.
Musically sound and provacative despite it's inherent
simplicity, "Passing Through" is rendered gently and honesty.
This gives the song the kind of sound that most musicians
only dream of, a song that easily could give any adult
contemporary programmer reason for repeated listens. This
is exactly the kind of song radio searches for, and with the
quality of the performance and recording, Morrisette has
more than just his foot in the door.
And his vocals, don't even get me started! I just love the way
his lyrics and voice come to the forefront of the song, as it is
just that and his piano throughout the tune. I'll give him credit,
his lyrics are better than most I hear in this genre, and
combined with the background, you have a winning
combination. I even found myself humming the bridge of this
song for several days as I let the tune bounce around in my
head. That's a sure sign of a winning song, in my opinion.
Give "Passing Through" a listen, you're sure to enjoy it. This
is the kind of song that people remember when they're done
listening, and it is of the right quality to make people want to
hear more. And as far as I'm concerned, that's as much as
you can ask from an artist.
http://www.godsofmusic.com/gom/reviews.php?action=detail&id=4953
Caitlin (Kay) Morrisette is both daughter and focus of Chris’s fledgling production muse. Chris produced a song for her that was featured on the CD Sudan Hope -
Without A Voice. Kay is in the early stages of her singer/songwriter career. Her writing so far has been an interesting mix of fictional, some drawn from experience.
An English major, Kay reads a lot and has a lust for very literate as well as adventurous music. Hopefully the songs about the jerk boyfriends are of the former. Her
voice is very expressive, somewhat smoky, yet smooth and because her influences are so broad (from the Beatles to the Black Keys) Chris is excited to hear her
musical growth and to share that road with her for as long as he can. Kay can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/paradiseblind
And then there is Chris’s youngest brother Garth Morrisette. They are separated by ten years but stand as musical equals with a shared passion for the creative
process. Songsmiths, multi instrumentalists and production junkies, they share so much more than a familial connection.
As the senior brother, Chris was in Los Angeles pursuing a career in the music business in the mid 70s while Garth was laboring through elementary and junior high
school. Garth’s music lessons were augmented by the tapes containing recorded songs Chris sent him, either laid down on the ever present reel to reel lugged
around for years, or from the professional studio recording sessions. Inspired by the efforts of his big brother, Garth grew as a musician in his own right and was
soon writing songs and playing in bands.
The brothers have collaborated over the years fashioning a unique sound that belies their disparate musical influences and continue to explore a variety of musical
styles and song subjects.
Without A Voice. Kay is in the early stages of her singer/songwriter career. Her writing so far has been an interesting mix of fictional, some drawn from experience.
An English major, Kay reads a lot and has a lust for very literate as well as adventurous music. Hopefully the songs about the jerk boyfriends are of the former. Her
voice is very expressive, somewhat smoky, yet smooth and because her influences are so broad (from the Beatles to the Black Keys) Chris is excited to hear her
musical growth and to share that road with her for as long as he can. Kay can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/paradiseblind
And then there is Chris’s youngest brother Garth Morrisette. They are separated by ten years but stand as musical equals with a shared passion for the creative
process. Songsmiths, multi instrumentalists and production junkies, they share so much more than a familial connection.
As the senior brother, Chris was in Los Angeles pursuing a career in the music business in the mid 70s while Garth was laboring through elementary and junior high
school. Garth’s music lessons were augmented by the tapes containing recorded songs Chris sent him, either laid down on the ever present reel to reel lugged
around for years, or from the professional studio recording sessions. Inspired by the efforts of his big brother, Garth grew as a musician in his own right and was
soon writing songs and playing in bands.
The brothers have collaborated over the years fashioning a unique sound that belies their disparate musical influences and continue to explore a variety of musical
styles and song subjects.
| Kay Morrisette x 2 |
Several of the songs represented here were inspired by the television hit JERICHO. Written before the show even went into production, the songs were developed
based on the concept rather than the actual content of the program. It didn’t hurt however that their sister Keira Morrisette worked as post production producer on
the show and opportunistically they pitched the songs. Alas, the songs were never used in JERICHO but still made an impression on some fans of the show.
Whether or not the songs ever reach an audience, they stand as a testament to the Brothers Morrisette’s efforts and represent but one facet of their abilities to craft
songs worthy of their talents. They can be heard at myspace.com/margarbrothers
Chris has written and recorded many Christian themed songs co-written with fellow believers. He also produced a series of Children’s Bible Song CDs. In the
process he developed an interest in uncovering obscure hymns and songs of praise and worship of the past. To listen got to http://www.myspace.com/chrismorrisette
**********************************************************************************************************************************
based on the concept rather than the actual content of the program. It didn’t hurt however that their sister Keira Morrisette worked as post production producer on
the show and opportunistically they pitched the songs. Alas, the songs were never used in JERICHO but still made an impression on some fans of the show.
Whether or not the songs ever reach an audience, they stand as a testament to the Brothers Morrisette’s efforts and represent but one facet of their abilities to craft
songs worthy of their talents. They can be heard at myspace.com/margarbrothers
Chris has written and recorded many Christian themed songs co-written with fellow believers. He also produced a series of Children’s Bible Song CDs. In the
process he developed an interest in uncovering obscure hymns and songs of praise and worship of the past. To listen got to http://www.myspace.com/chrismorrisette
**********************************************************************************************************************************
| Chris will be releasing Half Life of Zeros & Ones sometime in 2011 on Heard It All Before Records. http://www.myspace.com/balladofgregoden |
| Passing Through Words & Music by Chris Morrisette King of the Yard Musicã2005 All Rights Reserved I’ve known many people I’ve loved them in many ways Some still orbit around my life Some belong to the good old days I think of lover’s dreams that fade and die away with time Some whose memories I hold dear They enriched this life of mine I wonder how I manage to lose the ones I lose The reasons don’t always make sense and yet somehow they always do It’s like walking through some town that seems like home but it’s just somewhere I’ll keep on passing through until I finally get there Love can be like a prison You get locked up with the good and bad Doin’ time for some unknown crime They take away what you thought you had Things like having a real family or just having what you think you deserve You want to break out and go back home But you can’t find the nerve I wonder how I manage to lose the love I lose The reasons don’t always make sense and yet somehow they always do It’s like living in some house that seems like home but it’ s just somewhere I keep on passing through until I finally get there Life is like an endless highway It’s so easy to crash and burn You’ve got to stay on the road, keep an eye on your load Be careful not to make a wrong turn Sometimes you’re going on empty, praying for a neon sign A reason to keep on going ‘Cause you just might get there tonight I wonder how I manage to lose the time I lose The reasons don’t always make sense and yet somehow they always do It’s like driving through some town that seems like home but it’s just nowhere I’ll keep on passing through until I finally get there |
| Tennessee Concerts Song Contest |
| RED FLAG! WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH NASHVILLE DRUMMER GARY ALLEN OR HIS PROMOTIONS |
