First, my latest and hopefully greatest releases playlist. Below the latest greatest playlist, there’s a “Dave Yarin sings Billy Joel” section, followed by songs from my “Vocals by Dave Yarin – Greatest Hits From The Past” album; with thanks to Brian Lee of Grammy award winning Bob Ludwig’s Gateway Studios here in Maine for mixing and mastering a few of them. Thanks to Adriana Balic for teaching me how to actually sing instead of yell, and finding the emotion in the songs. Thanks to my friends who listened. But big big thanks to my lovely wife Beth and awesome kids Jennifer and Michael for a lot of listening to the good, the bad, and yes the ugly at times; and some great feedback too! Michael (aka “Beatle”) – the LA music producer, engineer and entrepreneur – taught me a heckuva lot about singing and recording. He oughta know – it’s what he does. And thanks to you for listening!!
Latest Releases
And the rest…
One of the first songs I can ever remember liking, with a true story behind it. Paul and John had repaired their relationship to the point that John was going to join Paul in New Orleans in late 1974 – early 1975 to write and record a few songs together on the Wings album (“Venus and Mars”) on which this song appeared. But at the last minute John cancelled; having just found out that Yoko was pregnant with Sean. They very sadly didn’t get an opportunity to write and record together again.
Here’s a blast from the 80s past! I always enjoyed this song in its original form, but then the group did an acoustic version some time later and took it up a few notches, so here’s the acoustic version…
Warming up for a brunch gig on a Sunday morning and recorded this one…
Such a beautiful song, and amazing vocals from one of my all-time favorite singers – Robert Plant. The dynamics and range in his voice, especially earlier in his career – but even now, are out of this world.
The 80s Wham pop song re-arranged in a jazzier send-up for George Michael’s MTV Unplugged show in the 90s…
While I’m not yet 64, I’ve accomplished the first line of the song…
Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Paul Shaffer, Brian Setzer, Nile Rodgers producing, et al….ladies and gentlemen – The Honeydrippers 1984
Dave Yarin sings Billy Joel
As a fellow Long Islander and M.O.T., I’ve loved Billy’s music for as long as I can remember. Studying The Stranger’s album sleeve, pictures, liner notes and lyrics as a 10-year old when it came out – and all of Billy’s albums going forward, I worked my way back to his older music through the Songs In The Attic live album. Awesome piano playing and songwriting aside, I’ve always loved the range in Billy’s singing voice and the way that he used it – particularly for a guy who never took voice lessons. And he could sing all genres – rock, ballads, doo wop 50’s…you name it. Long Island’s own…Billy Joel – as sung by me.
All effects on my vocals – reverb, ambience, compression…you name it – turned off on this one (I never use pitch correction/auto-tune fyi – what you hear from me on this website I share warts and all). I might as well have sung into a Radio Shack (reference added for age significance) tape recorder. You might say that’s what it sounds like. So be it…
If I keep this up, I will record all of the songs from Billy’s Songs In The Attic live album. This is absolutely one of his best pre-Stranger songs.
“Doo wop Dave” trying something very different with a song from Billy Joel’s 1983 homage album (An Innocent Man) to the 50’s doo wop groups that he grew up listening to. This song’s chorus uses the second movement of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata, and Beethoven is credited as one of the song’s writers on the sleeve of the album as “L.v. Beethoven”. The 50s doo wop singers are the creme de la creme vocally – they used every vocal technique there is and combined it with beautiful vocal ranges, emotion, melody and soul that’s very hard to re-create.
Commissioned Work (aka more Billy Joel)
I was commissioned to provide the vocals – set to Billy Joel’s Piano Man – to this video which, along with the creative lyrics – were created by my customer to honor his late mother-in-law. Audio recording mixed and mastered by the one and only Beatle. Sing us a song to honor Perk! Watch the video here… https://youtu.be/qZqG7FaCikE
Other Recent Releases
Inspired by standing along the banks of the Ashley River in Charleston, SC – this song came on my shuffle and it seemed like a good day to lay down the track…
I have the 2 most wonderful kids. When they were young, they were described by teachers, coaches, other parents etc. as “willful” – always in a good way. Meaning, they knew what they wanted and they weren’t afraid to go get it. A wonderful life skill. And fast forward, both of them have headed West to fulfill their dreams and purpose in life. To do what matters to them. They are inspiring to say the least, and this one’s for them…
I always loved that the drummer in ZZ Top was Frank Beard, and he was the one guy in the band without a long beard. Van Halen did an awesome cover of this song in concert. Michael Anthony singing the other lead vocal with David Lee Roth was incredible. Eddie’s guitar work needs no further superlatives – RIP EVH.
Vocals by Dave Yarin – Greatest Hits From The Past
Next Album
Mrs. Gibson – our grade school music teacher – taught us this one, lyrics on ditto paper and all. She asked us to guess who we thought the song was about. Guesses?
Before Sheryl Crow sampled the guitar part for All I Wanna Do Is Have Some Fun, and before Gerry Rafferty did Baker Street, he did this. If you want to have more fun with this song, see Malcolm In The Middle, Season 1 – Episode 11. Not as much fun in the movie Reservoir Dogs.
My very favorite Who song…every component of this amazing band was on display in this song; the raw energy and power that was The Who.
A great song from Elton’s best album – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
For all you Daisy Jones and The Six fans out there, here’s the song played over the opening credits…
Here’s a blast from the past – a one hit wonder; one more than I’ve had but this is one of those “Oh yeah remember this song?” Scratch version I missed the timing with my backup singers here and there and promptly fired them from the band, but what can ya do? Happy 4th of July! And Rock On!
I love the energy of a live audience. Now I just need to find a live audience. Thank you Beth, Seaver and Stella for coming to my show!
– vocals by Dave Yarin (re-recorded September 2022; mixed and remastered by Brian Lee March 2023)
It’s the title track from my absolutely favorite Elton John album, and one of my favorite Elton songs. It’s a really challenging song to sing – I hope I did it at least some justice. Watching a few Elton live performances of this song provided some inspiration.
My favorite Led Zep song from my favorite Led Zep album – Physical Graffiti. Everyone talks about Robert Plant’s vocals (for good reason), but they forget how great a lyricist he was/is. Here’s proof…
Live album alternate working titles: “Yarin Comes Alive” or “Dave Yarin Live at Long Lake.” Vote for your favorite…
We were watching Fleishman Is In Trouble – great show. They were playing this song in one of the episodes and I said “Dang It that’s one of my favorite Neil Diamond tunes.” So here ya go…
From Sun Studio here in Maine – Elvis enjoyed a turkey leg or two…or three as the years went on. Happy Thanksgiving!
This is a Tom Waits song that The Eagles covered, and I love The Eagles version. Apparently Tom didn’t, but Glenn Frey had the last laugh in concert when he said “Tom will come around when he gets his check.” I love the dual vocals between Frey and Don Henley in The Eagles version, but alas I’m only one man so I took a shot at both. And I threw in some lyrics from another Eagles song at the end if you stick around till then.
…In honor of the documentary of the same name that came out a couple of years ago. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. The video and dialogue between John, Paul, George and Ringo (and Billy Preston) are so clear that it feels like these events happened last week or something. I know, I know but just let me have my dream ok? This has always been one of my faves from the Fab Four, and I really came to appreciate John’s lead guitar work on this song. From the rooftop of Apple Corps headquarters at 3 Savile Row in Central London…
Back Catalog
The below were all recorded long ago in a galaxy far, far away. Hopefully the singing, the recording, and the mixing have improved over time.
To Beth…every word, lyric, note, emotion…she made this song incredibly easy to sing…and re-sing.
Ah what the heck – one more song from “Long Island’s own” – Billy Joel. Another one of my favorite’s from him. “Slow down you crazy child…” – I’ve heard Billy interviewed about this song, and he wrote it about and for himself. There’s a message in there for all of us. 🙂
Hang on I’ll be adding Anytime soon…
Nilsson was an amazingly talented guy, wonderful singer and songwriter, but ironically this song – probably his best known one, wasn’t written by him. Best buddies with John Lennon and Ringo Starr, and did an amazing album of standards which somehow got lost in the shuffle, but his vocals on it (along with most of his songs) are incredible. His health failed him (in large part his own doing) and he unfortunately left us too soon. He never achieved that super-stardom status that he should have, but by talent standards he was on par with the best – big reason why all 4 Beatles respected and admired him.
Jerry Lee Lewis wrote this humorous little ditty, and I enjoy Rod Stewart’s cover. The instrument track was in a lower key than I wanted to sing it in, so I cranked it up a few steps, which is why the mouth harp sounds a little funny in the background…
Always loved David Bowie, and always loved this song. Killer guitar on this was Stevie Ray Vaughan. Bowie was not only one of the greatest artists who ever lived, but one of the best humans to ever walk this planet. Before you judge the song, here is it’s true meaning as The Washington Post reported:
“If you ever took Bowie for what was on the surface, you were missing something,” said Tiffany Naiman, whose work on Bowie was published in “David Bowie: Critical Perspectives.” “I think he was well aware of his elite cosmopolitanism. He was able to move through different cultures because of his privilege but he understood otherness and wanted to highlight that.”
“Bowie was donning the role of a racist womanizer not only to decry racist womanizing but to condemn the West’s demeaning view of the East as a whole. “China Girl” was a parody of racism and stereotyping.”
“The message that they have is very simple,” Bowie said. “It’s wrong to be a racist!”
The great Nile Rodgers produced this song and album (and I believe played guitar on this song), and combined with John Taylor’s bass playing it made for an absolutely fantastic soulful funk album. This was my favorite song off that album. Come to think of it, Nile Rodgers produced David Bowie’s Let’s Dance album that China Girl (above) is on. No doubt that Nile Rodgers is one of the greatest musicians, performers and producers there is.
Because who among us didn’t have an imaginary childhood friend? Mazel Tov Neil!
Just to make sure that I can sing this better than Kendall Roy from Succession…
Back around 1977 and already really into music, my grandma took me to Newberry’s (the “five and dime”) to buy me my first record album. Truth is before I got really into The Beatles, my first musical memories are of Paul McCartney’s solo music, and the best I could tell my grandmother at the time was that “this guy was once in a really big band.” Understatement of the century. Anyway, my grandmother bought me a Paul McCartney live album, of which one of the songs on it is this one. Oh and by the way…here’s the album. Still with me after all these years…
Produced and mixed by Beatle (aka my son – Michael Yarin)
Definitely one of my all-time favorite Van Halen songs, this one goes out to the late great Eddie Van Halen. Off their first album, when the sound was raw, sounded like they just plugged in and hit record. Eddie’s guitar on this one is absolutely amazing. Rock on! And thank you again Beatle !
To ma boys, ma homies, my Green Acres MOTs. Five guys who grew up loving The Who. The Who forevah. Best friends forevah.
A lesser-known but great George Michael song. First take on this one…
This is a song called Plush.
Happy Holidays
Five of my favorite Christmas songs below. Elton being Elton. Combining Motown and U2 is like putting chocolate and peanut butter together, and I’ve loved the John Lennon and Greg Lake songs ever since I can remember remembering. I first heard Please Come Home For Christmas by The Eagles when I was a kid, but over time I’ve discovered several other versions that are equally as good, the best of which is by Aaron Neville. Four of my favorite Christmas songs, with Happy Holiday wishes from me and the “band” to everyone!
“I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave new year
All anguish, pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear“
Theme song for life here in Maine. But seriously the guitar work between Joe Walsh and Don Felder on this one! Love it! I added lyrics in the outro from another 70s super group from a song that came out around the same time. Recognize the lyrics, the song, the group?