JOHN BARRY R.I.P. ROCK IN PERPETUITY!
January 31, 2011
The first time I met composer John Barry was at the Tokyo Music Festival. In 1973, I was General Manager of Warner Brothers Music when I accompanied one of our staff songwriters, George S. Clinton Jr. (who went on write the score for the three “Austin Powers” movies), to the Tokyo Music Festival. It was my first trip to Japan, which turned out to be one of the most significant times of my life.
Not only was it a place where I became friendly with Pop Stars from all over the world, it was also a place where I could rub elbows with the top film composers the men who scored the films. John Barry had been famous for ten years, having helped create one of the most memorable movie themes of all time, “The James Bond Theme from “Dr.No” written by Monty Norman, which has been used in every 007 film ever since.
My friend George Clinton, Jr. was also inspired by this unassuming man, which can be heard in Clinton’s “Austin Powers” film scores, a series that spoofed the super popular Bond movies.
John Barry won academy awards (see Wikipedia below) He was also knighted by the Queen, but remained the kind of guy you could sit with in a pub and have a nice quiet drink with.
John Barry R.I.P. ROCK IN PERPETUITY!
Respectfully, Artie Wayne
Copyright 2011 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
HERE”S WHAT WIKIPEDIA HAS TO SAY ABOUT HIM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barry_%28composer%29#Other_major_film_scores
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“I
t’s summer of 1973 and Ed Silvers, President of Warner Brothers Music, is losing his patience with me. He thinks I’m spending far too much time trying to get our songs cut at Motown. Although I secure songs in our catalog by some of their biggest artists, they’re only album cuts. Ed is convinced that I’ll never get a single released by Motown.
I know at this point that the only way I could have a chance for a hit and escape the wrath of Ed, is to get a cover by the Jackson 5 or little Michael. There was only one staff writer at Warner Brothers music who could write in a classic R+B style, George S. Clinton, Jr.
I go to the two producers who love George’s writing the most, Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson, who just had big hits with 12 year old Michael on “Rockin’ Robin” and “Little Bitty Pretty One” (which was my suggestion). They tell me that “Ben”, from the movie of the same name, is racing up the charts and Berry Gordy wants each of his producers to start recording new sides with him.
I sit with Jerry and Mel and we talk about what kind of song they should record with Michael. I suggest a Christmas song, one so commercial that it could be the follow up single to, “Ben”. When I see their eyes light up, I tell them that George S. Clinton, Jr. and I have started such a song! When they ask to hear it, I tell them we were still working on it, when in fact we hadn’t even started! I can’t tell them the title, ’cause there isn’t any! I do tell them, however, that it’s a true story of how my girlfriend left me out in the cold like the last tree in a Christmas tree lot, which is left unsold on Christmas Eve. They freak out and say they had to have the finished song by Monday. I say, “No problem”
I call George, who knows nothing about any of this as soon as I get back to my office. He can’t believe I told them we’d have a finished song to them by Monday, when it’s Friday and we haven’t even started.
Saturday morning we meet at my office. It’s the middle of summer, about 90 degrees, but we have to get in a Christmas Mood. As I tell George about my break up with Diana last Christmas, then I start to throw Ivory Snowflakes around the room. Soon, we have the first verse and chorus.”
“Little Christmas Tree, looking sorta’ sad and lonely just like me
No one seems to care, they just went away and left him standing there…All alone on Christmas Eve!”
On Monday morning George does a piano voice demo, and I get it to Jerry and Mel that afternoon. They love it so much that they knock one of their own songs off the date and cut ours.
I’m almost in tears when I hear the finished record the following week with the news that it’s being considered for the follow-up to “Ben”, which had just hit number one! You can imagine how I feel a few weeks later when Berry Gordy, Jr. decides not put out any follow up to the Oscar nominated “Ben”, until the Academy Awards are given out…which is after Christmas! A few days later I come up with a plan and present it to Motown. I suggest that the company puts a double albums worth of previously recorded Christmas songs by each of their hit artists, along with “Little Christmas Tree”. The double album is called “A Motown Christmas”, which includes cuts by Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Diana Ross, and it’s released just in time for the holidays.”
“LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE” George S. Clinton, Jr. and Artie Wayne
I watch the snowflakes fall
against my window plain
and wonder if you
are watching snowflakes too?
I take a walk downtown
to where you used to meet me
There’s joy everywhere
but all that waiting there is just a…
LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE
Looking sorta’ sad and lonely just like me
No one seems to care
They just went away and left it standing there
All alone on Christmas eve
I hear the Christmas bells
The happy people singing
The songs of the chill that only brings me tears
I sadly close my eyes
and say a little prayer you’ll be waiting there for me
I look but all I see is
LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE
Looking sorta’ sad and lonely just like me
No one seems to care
They just went away and left it standing there
All alone on Christmas eve
This is the season of love
(This is the season of love)
But I’m as sad as I can be
(sad as can be)
Why did you have to leave me
(Why did you leave me)
(Why did you leave me)
LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE
Looking sorta sad and lonely just like me
No one seems to care
They just went away and left it standing there
All alone on Christmas eve
Copyright 1973/2009 by Warner Brothers Music
NOW YOU CAN BUY “LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE” BY MICHAEL JACKSON IN THE JACKSON FIVE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS ALBUM AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM
If you liked “THE STORY BEHIND “LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE”, please feel free to share it with a friend…but if you loved it, please feel free to send it to your entire address book! MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH, HAPPY KWANZA…ENJOY TO THE WORLD!
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Copyright 2011 by Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com
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MICHAEL JACKSON R.I.P ROCK IN PERPETUITY!
June 25, 2009
It isn’t very often that I’m shocked at the passing of one of our musical heroes, but when I heard about Michael Jackson I was devastated. I’ve known Michael since he was 12 years old and he recorded a song I co-wrote, “Little Christmas Tree” (Clinton/Wayne)
I met him and his family at the Tokyo Music Festival in 1974, and had a chance to tell him how much I liked his recording of my song. I also told him that he was one of my biggest dance influences, which made him smile considering I was three times his age.
When I told Michael that I was a songplugger and I couldn’t go out dancing late at night like I once did, he said in that high little voice of his, “Artie…why don’t you build a dance floor in your office?”.
As soon as I got back to Hollywood, Warner Brothers Music built me a four foot circular plywood dance floor, but a few months later when I went to run A&Ms publishing company they constructed a six foot mahogany one for me! To this day I’m proud to tell everyone that it was Michael Jackson’s idea.
The last time I was in touch with him was when he was about to do the “Thriller” album. He was holding onto one of my songs for over a year, and even made a few suggestions to improve the bridge, but in the end he didn’t record it. I was still grateful for the opportunity.
From now until the end of time millions of words will be written about him and his influence in music, dance, and fashion, but the most important gift he has given the world is everlasting hope and inspiration.
Thank you Michael and R.I.P. may you ROCK IN PERPETUITY!
Respectfully, Artie https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
POSITIVE THINKING IN NEGATIVE TIMES!
March 3, 2009
Every morning when I get up I have a cup of coffee and turn on the news. This morning was different, I had my coffee without the news and I feel a whole lot better about the day ahead.
It’s very easy to become overwhelmed by events that we have no control over, and it reaches a point when we have to shut out negativity if we want to accomplish something positive.
Everybody I know is having a hard time in one way or another, and I’d like to share what has helped me every day for the past 35 years to make it through!
*******************************
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 and develop a more positive attitude.
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 2009 by Artie Wayne
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
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