In 1973, I accompanied one of our Warner Brothers staff songwriters, George Clinton Jr. (who went on write the score for three “Austin Powers” movies), to the Tokyo Music Festival. It was my first trip to Japan, and I was impressed how well organized the large masses of people were. Over the years my heavy workload, beautiful women and other excesses used up too much time and too many emotions. I knew I had to find a way to learn how to really focus.
When I got back to the states, I decided to look into deep relaxation techniques. I went to see my Chiropractor and friend, Dr. Floyd Taylor who had developed remarkable physical, mental and spiritual methods of healing after his plane was shot down in World War Two. Over time, and through much pain, he was able to correct his bone structure and musculature, which left him bent over and unable to walk. His super-posture and confident stride was proof positive that his methods work. He not only told me that deep relaxation techniques could help attain my goal to focus, it could help the severe back pain I suffered from congenital scoliosis. He said I could learn to go below the pain level and function better. He also mysteriously hinted that the deeper I went, the more “things” I would discover.
My equally adventuresome friend, Patti Dahlstrom (who introduced me to Dr.Taylor), was just as fascinated with the possibilities of these deep relaxation techniques as I was. We both took private lessons from Dr. Taylor’s friend, Henry Mundt.
I was helped immediately by what he taught me especially “ The 2-2-5 “ a simple breathing exercise that I continue to use everyday when I need to calm down.
When I wanted to go deeper…Here are the simple steps Hank Mundt taught me.
First…in a quiet, semi-darkened room with your eyes closed, lie down on your back on a bed or a couch or sit up in a straight chair with your feet flat on the floor, palms upward.
1. (Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) this time hold your breath for a count of Five
1………….2………..3…………4…………5………(Exhale)
2. Repeat this sequence called the 2-2-5 again
(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) this time hold your breath for a count of Five
1………….2………..3…………4…………5……….(Exhale)
3. Visualize a flight of stairs and starting at the number 100, count backwards slowly to the number 1, seeing each number as you descend…100……………..99………………98……………etc.
4. When you reach the bottom, say over and over,”Positive thinking brings results I desire. Positive thinking brings results I desire.” You feel more and more relaxed as you visualize what you want to accomplish. “Positive thinking brings results I desire”…”Positive thinking brings results I desire”
5. Once you’ve repeated it ten times, visualize taking an elevator up to the place where you started
6. You feel relaxed and refreshed…ready to take on the world.
Copyright 2012 by Artie Wayne
WHILE FIGHTING LARGE CORPORATIONS WHO ARE TRYING TO KEEP ROYALTIES AWAY ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER ARTISTS, SONGWRITERS AND PUBLISHERS, MY ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME IS FROM THE SALE OF MY BOOK. ” I DID IT FOR A SONG”, WITH OVER 100 STORIES FROM THE MUSIC BUSINESS OF THE ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. I HOPE YOU’LL CONSIDER BUYING ONE DIRECTLY FROM ME THROUGH PAYPAL FOR ONLY $9.99 AT artiewayne@gmail.com OR BY CHECK TO…ARTIE WAYNE P.O. BOX 1105, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92240
THANKS AND REGARDS, ARTIE WAYNE https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/celebrating-two-million-views-today-on-artie-wayne-on-the-web/
Brief Encounters With Clive Davis!
June 8, 2007
Long before Clive Davis, was known as the genius behind the recording careers of all the “American Idols”, he was already a legend!
I was skeptical when I heard a lawyer was taking over as head of Columbia records, until I met Clive Davis at Woodstock in 1969. Awash in the rain, the mud, and the good vibrations, I remember sharing a bottle of water with him and thinking how cool it was for the head of a record company to be out here “roughing it” with his artists!
The next time I saw him, it was at a Columbia record convention in Los Angeles, soon after Janis Joplin passed away. I knew that he and Janis had been close and mentioned that Allan Rinde, Michael Ochs and I had been with her at the Whiskey, a few nights before she died. Reverently, Clive asked me to join him in one of the conference rooms, where he played me an acetate, which he was going to introduce at the convention later that afternoon, “Me And Bobby McGee”by Janis…it was a moment I’ll always remember.
His personal taste in pop music of the sixties, and his signings at the label, put Columbia at the head of the pack. Janis Joplin and Big Brother & the Holding Company, Laura Nyro, Electric Flag, Santana, Chicago, Billy Joel, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Pink Floyd were all top moneymakers.
I was a bit worried, however, when he took over as president of Bell records just before he changed it’s name to Arista. I was with Warner Brothers Music, and had a record recently released on Bell, that was starting to make a little noise. It was the first cover of a song I picked up at the Tokyo Music Festival, “Daydreamer” by David Cassidy. Clive, however, set my mind at ease when he didn’t let the record get lost during the companies transition. It ultimately went on to become David’s biggest hit selling over 5 million units world wide!As he went on to create an Empire at Arista, his formula was simple…it all starts with the song. I remember my old friend Scott English telling me that it was Clive Davis who suggested that he change the title of his song, “Brandy” ( which had been the title of a recent US hit), to “Mandy”, which became Barry Manilow’s and Arista’s first multi million seller!
Soon the label’s artist roster included, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Monica, Exposé, Sarah McLachlan, Annie Lennox, saxophonist Kenny G, rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Sean “Diddy” Combs, Aretha Franklin, Toni Braxton, Air Supply, Ace of Base, TLC, Bay City Rollers, Nona Hendryx, and Patti Smith among others. It wasn’t long before he became CEO of the BMG music group in the U.S.
Clive Davis’ secret for finding winners is simple, “You look for stars. You look for the makeup of artists who can have long lasting careers and who could be headliners.”
He forgets to mention that it doesn’t hurt to have an incredible song sense and the power to promote the kind of music that you believe in…the kind of music that makes a difference all over the world!
Copyright 2007 by Artie Wayne
It Was Women And Children First…The Day The Bubblegum Bubble Burst!
November 12, 2006
Kristen Bell blows a bubble!
My interview with Spectropopper, Jean Emmanuel Dubois, for his forthcoming book “Le Bubblegum”, the history of American and French Bubblegum music, published by le cahiers du rock, continues…
JE- There were a lot of sexual overtones in the music? “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy”, “Chewy, Chewy”
AW- Sexual overtones! Sexual Undertones! Shit! There was all kinds of sex…all kinds of tones! (laughs) Those guys tried to get away with as much as they could…under the guise of innocent teen pop music! I remember one day a staff writer came into the office with a song, ” 1, 2, 3 Lickety Split”…and was sent home because the title wasn’t suggestive enough!
JE- Weren’t Joey Levine and Artie Resnick the first to have “backwards” versions of their a-sides as the b-sides of their records?
AW- It made sense, kids who were buying Bubblegum records weren’t buying them for the artist…but for hit A-side! There were no production costs for the B-side, and since all of the royalties were divided in the same way as the A-side, it was a win…win situation!
JE- Besides Levine/Resnick you represented Bo Gentry? ( “I Think We’re Alone Now” )
AW- Joey started writing with Bo and started coming up with some excellent stuff! They wrote a song, “Make Believe” and put it out under the name, Wind. This time Joey wasn’t the anonymous singer on the track, it was Tony Orlando. Ironically, Tony was also having hits at the same time as the anonomous voice of Dawn, (“Candida”, “Knock Three Times”)
The record was a modest hit in the US, but the B-side…a “real” B-side “Groovin’ with Mister Blo”, was top ten all over Europe!
JE-How were you involved with Tommy James and Shondels?
AW- I recorded an album under the name Shadow Mann, for the legendary Morris Levy, and he sometimes put my label mates and me out on promotion together. I remember once we all did the Upbeat TV show in Cleavland, Neil Diamond was there, Jimmy Ruffin, Kenny Rodgers and The First Edition. Tommy sang his number one hit, “Crimson and Clover”and I performed,” Come Live With Me ” the title track of my album. I also introduced my protoge, Sissy Spacek, who I renamed “Rainbo”. She was promoting her single, “John, You Went Too Far This Time”, which was a Bubblegummers reaction to the naked John Lennon and Yoko Ono, “Two Virgins” album cover.
JE- It was around this time you started writing songs with Gary Zekely and Mitch Bottler, who wrote, “Sooner or Later”, “Wait A Million Years”, “Superman”, and other “Sunshine Pop Songs”?
AW- I fell in love with a beautiful, Playboy Playmate on my last trip to California…and couldn’t wait to get back to the West Coast! The night before I was scheduled to write with Gary And Mitch…I broke up with her! I was crushed and devestated, but when I heard the chorus that Mitch started banging out on the old stand up piano I started singing some of the happiest, most positive lyrics I ever wrote in my life!
I used to look at life through a shade of grey
‘Til I found some satisfaction in the things you’d say
You took me in your hands like a piece of clay
Made me a man now I gotta’ say
Hallelujah…Hallelujah…Hallelujah…Hallelujah!
Copyright 1969/ 2006- EMI music/ Artie Wayne music
JE- What about the beautiful Playmate?
AW- Never saw her again…anyway, Gary Zekely had a top ten hit as producer for the Clique with “Sugar On Sunday” ( written by Tommy James), and recorded “Hallelujah” for the album. It was covered about a year later by Sweathog, and went to the top 30 in the US!
JE-You also produced, Sal Tramalchi who wrote the smash,”1, 2, 3 Redlight”, for the 1910 Fruit Gum Company.
AW-Sal Tramalchi was a very complex person. He could go from writing bubblegum songs to psychedelic anthems in the time it takes a cube of sugar to dissolve in a cup of coffee! He wrote a great song, “Woodstock”, which Howard Bogess and I produced for Vanguard. Sal was magic when he played guitar and sang, so I got the “Brilliant” idea to cut him live with my studio band. Unfortunately, Sal arrived in the sudio, “inspired” but unable to perform.
After we redid the tracks and overdubbed the N.Y. Philharmonic string section, Sal came in and did an excellent vocal in one or two takes. The record came out and quietly sank into the sunset, as I packed up the last of my belongings and moved to Hollywood.
JE- What would you consider your greatest acheivement in bubblegum music?
AW- In 1973, I was at the Tokyo music festival for Warner Brothers music and picked up a song from a white South African writer, who the music people were avoiding because of his country’s stand on apartheid!
JE- You’re an African- American, why didn’t you ignore him also?
Aw-After talking to him, I felt he had the heart and soul of an artist that transcended the archaic practice of his country. It only took a few minutes to listen to the song that nobody wanted to hear…but I knew right away it was a hit!
Terry Dempsey gave me the sub-publishing rights for no advance, if I could get his song, “Daydreamer”, covered by a major US artist. Within days of my returning to Hollywood, Stephen Craig Aristei, one of my “Warner Raiders” gave it to David Cassidy. He was fresh from the Partridge Family, and it became his biggest solo hit, selling 5 million records!
JE- I never realized how involved you were with Le Bubblegum!
AW- Now that you mention it…neither did I!
Copyright 2006 by Artie Wayne
If you missed the first half of the interview…and Elisha Cuthbert blows! click on https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2006/10/29/play-me-something-bubblegummy-chewy-chewy-yummy-yummy-yummy/
EXTRA! Lindsay Lohan And Paris Hilton On Top Of Britney Spears. PHOTOS! https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2006/12/04/exclusive-photos-lindsay-lohan-and-paris-hilton-on-top-of-britney-spears/
To see the naked John Lennon and Yoko Ono Naked album cover and hear Sissy Spacek (“Rainbo”) sing, “John, You Went Too Far This Time” Just click onto https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2006/08/18/the-naked-truth-about-john-lennon-and-yoko-ono-and-an-outraged-sissy-spacek/
Exclusive- My Encounter With Michael Jackson As A 12 Year Old!
October 18, 2006
Michael Jackson
At the Tokyo Music Festival in 1974, I was complaining to my new pals, The Jackson 5, that being a song plugger and running a professional department at a major publishing company had me in the office at 7 am and left me little time for me to out dancing at night.
A 12 year old Michael Jackson said in that high voice of his,”Artie…Why don’t you just build a dance floor in your office?” When I got back to Hollywood, Warner Brothers music built me a five foot circular dance floor out of plywood to keep me happy….but it wasn’t long before I left there to run Irving/ Almo Music, where a seven foot mahogany dance floor awaited me!
MICHAEL JACKSON… R.I.P. ROCK IN PERPETUITY! click on to https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/michael-jackson-r-i-p-rock-in-perpetuity/
THE STORY BEHIND MICHAEL JACKSON”S “LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE” https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/michael-jackson-and-the-story-behind-little-christmas-tree/
LISTEN TO MY LOST MICHAEL JACKSON TRACK FOUND ON YOUTUBE! ! https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/lost-michael-jackson-track-found-on-youtube-touch-the-one-you-love/
THE AMAZING SHIRT I MADE FOR MICHAEL JACKSON!https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/07/04/exclusive-the-amazing-shirt-i-made-for-michael-jackson/
EXCLUSIVE! MORE NEW MICHAEL JACKSON TRACKS FOUND! http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2172551/new_michael_jackson_recordings_to_be.html
Copyright 2009 by Artie Wayne
BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB! https://artiewayne.wordpress.com
In 1973, I accompanied one of our Warner Brothers staff songwriters, George Clinton Jr. [who went on write the score for three “Austin Powers” movies], to the Tokyo Music Festival. It was my first trip to Japan, and I was impressed how well organized the large masses of people were. Over the years my heavy workload, beautiful women and other excesses used up too much time and too many emotions. I knew I had to find a way to learn how to really focus.
When I got back to the states, I decided to look into deep relaxation techniques and self- hypnosis. I went to see my Chiropractor and friend, Dr. Floyd Taylor who had developed remarkable physical, mental and spiritual methods of healing after his plane was shot down in World War Two. Over time, and through much pain, he was able to correct his bone structure and musculature, which left him bent over and unable to walk. His super-posture and confident stride was proof positive that his methods work. He not only told me that deep relaxation and self-hypnosis could help attain my goal to focus, it could help the severe back pain I suffered from congenital scoliosis. He said I could learn to go below the pain level and function better. He also mysteriously hinted that the deeper I went, the more “things” I would discover.
My equally psychically adventuresome friend, Patti Dahlstrom [who introduced me to Dr.Taylor], was just as fascinated with the possibilities of self-hypnosis as I was. We both took private lessons from Dr. Taylor’s friend, Henry Mundt, a member of the Society of Ethical Hypnotists. I was helped immediately by the relaxation techniques he taught me especially “ The 2-2-5 “ a simple breathing exercise that I continue to use everyday. Here are the simple steps Hank Mundt taught me.
First…in a quiet, semi-darkened room with your eyes closed, lie down on your back on a bed or a couch or sit up in a straight chair with your feet flat on the floor, palms upward.
1. [Inhale] hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….[exhale]
[Inhale] hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….[exhale]
[Inhale] this time hold your breath for a count of Five
1………….2………..3…………4…………5
[Exhale] then repeat the sequence called “Two–Two–Five” again
[Inhale] 1…2 [Exhale]… [Inhale] 1…2 [Exhale]…
[Inhale] 1…2…3…4…5 [Exhale]
2. visualize a flight of stairs. Starting at the number 100, count backwards slowly to the number 1, seeing each number as you descend.
3. When you reach the bottom Then say,” Positive thinking brings results I desire (five times) Then say, “My creative forces find easy expression” (five times). Take a deep breath and say each line five more times.
When you’ve finished, visualize taking an elevator up to the place where you started.
In less than 24 hours, I had a chance to put what I learned to a practical test. Saturday morning, I had an appointment to co-write a song with my Friend WB Staff writer Alan O’Day [“Undercover Angel”, “Angie Baby”]. After spending the night breaking up with my girl. I didn’t feel very creative, but we had a title that begged to be written,” Flashback”.
Usually it took a little time before I could write about a hurtful situation…but I had an idea. If I could hypnotize myself and go below the pain in my back…why couldn’t I hypnotize myself and go below the pain in my heart? And write about it!
While Alan, skeptically but quietly watched I did couple of 2-2-5s, went down 100 steps backwards …then repeated, “Positive thinking bring results I desire…Positive thinking brings results I desire…My creative forces find easy expression…My creative forces find easy expression.”I kept repeating the phrase for about 10 minutes Alan was as surprised as I was when I came out of my altered statewith the lyric to the entire first verse and chorus intact…
I wake up in a cold sweat to a clock that says it’s only 3 AM
Thinking that I touched you when I really only dreamed of you again
I’m clinging to your pillow, like a drowning man would hold on and I
Feel a flood of memories rushing in…and I
FLASHBACK…Back to the time you were mine and we lived in a love song
FLASHBACK…Chasin’ the sun, we would run with a dream we could grow on
Everything that we touched turned to love!
Alan started writing an incredible melody and a few days later we got together again. I put myself back under and a few hours later our song was finished!
My cigarette has burned down to my finger and it brings me back to now
And I’m searching through the ashes for the answers to the where, the why and how
Did I ask for too much lovin”? Did you want too much freedom?
Did we both want more than Heaven would allow?
FLASHBACK…Back to the time you were mine and we lived in a love song
FLASHBACK…Chasin’ the sun, we would run with a dream we could grow on
Everything that we touched turned to love!
Summer nights runnin’ in the rain…
Summer Nights spinnin’ in my brain…and I
FLASHBACK…Back to the time you were mine and we lived in a love song
FLASHBACK…Chasin’ the sun, we would run with a dream we could grow on
Everything that we touched turned to love!
Copyright 1973/ 2006 – Warner Brothers music/ Sashay Music
If you’d like to hear “FLASHBACK” just click onto http://artiewayne.com/music/flashback.mp3
Ray Charles- Revisited
July 28, 2006
Ray Charles has been here for so long it’s hard to remember when he wasn’t around.I’ve always thought of him as an “Uncommon Denomonater”in popular music. For 50 years, he exposed the World to the Blues……was the “Soul” of Rock and Roll…..and brought an African-American voice to country music.
My own life was soothed, rocked,and sometimes explained by Ray Charles.Isn’t it funny how we don’t appreciate someone fully until they’re gone? Fortunately, Ray knew how much he was loved while he was with us.
I only met him once, on a plane back to L.A.from the Tokyo music festival. I felt more like a fan, than an exec at Warner Bros.Music, and became a little flustered. I introduced myself,and told him that I gave his producer a song he’d recorded,”Go On Home” (HughMcCracken)…Ray smiled and sang a few bars back to me.
I thanked him for his time….for remembering…. and went back to my seat. Now I wish I had been a little less overwhelmed….and spent a little more time talking to him.
I spent the last ten years recovering from a spinal operation and I’m still am unable to use my hands to play the piano or guitar. When Ray passed away, however, I was moved to finish up a song that I’d been working on for years, “I’m At My Best When I’m Down.”
Although I couldn’t play it, I asked my friend Allan Rinde to record me singing the song accapella (without music]. I sent it to my friend Alan O’Day (“Undercover Angel”, “Angie Baby”), for an opinion. He surprised me and put some chords behind it. You can hear it it you click over to http://artiewayne.com/best.html
Artie Wayne On The Web 