I’ve picked 17 of my songs for my soon-to-be dropped “Vocals by Dave Yarin Greatest Greatest Hits” album. I like the way these songs came out both vocally and the mix on the recording. Yes I know a few of them are Billy Joel songs; so be it. With thanks to Brian Lee of Grammy award winning Bob Ludwig’s Gateway Studios here in Portland 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 the LA music producer and engineer taught me a heckuva lot about singing and recording – he oughta know it’s what he does. And thanks to you for listening!!
Vocals by Dave Yarin Greatest Greatest Hits
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.
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 was introduced to this song as the title track of the same-named Clint Eastwood movie. The song caught my ear then, and it still does now. Jamie Cullum is an extremely talented guy, and there is something about this song that – although you may think it’s sad – I think it captures a lot of different emotions in it. Some sad yes, but reflective, hopeful and looking forward too (“better dreams grow”).
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.
A second take on this one over a year after first recording it, but it’s still a fun song to sing and one of my favorites.
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…
To my one and only Valentine Beth – it’s one of her favorites. And to you all you Valentiners out there – Happy Valentine’s Day!
We were watching Fleishman Is In Trouble last night – great new show. They were playing this song in the episode 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!
Heard it on the radio – thought “what the heck I should try that one.”
“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. I gave it my best shot here.
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 last year. 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
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. 🙂
The second song that The Beatles played in their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show back on that evening in February 1964 that changed the world. For you Beth…
Seemed like a good song for finally getting my cast off and spreading my wings again…
Updated mix in progress. Stay tuned on this one!
Hang on I’ll be adding Anytime soon…
First song recorded since my achilles repair surgery. Under anesthesia, I heard the voice of Jim Morrison calling to me and saying “Dave – it’s me – Jim” …well not really but it sounded like a good story. Anyway, a song from their last album. One of the few groups who broke out with an incredible debut album, and also had their last album be a classic.
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, are out of this world.
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!”
By Ruth Tam
“How David Bowie’s ‘China Girl’ used racism to fight racism”
Washington Post
January 20, 2016
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…
True story – 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 album on which this song appeared. But at the last minute John cancelled; having just found out that Yoko was pregnant. Needless to say they very sadly didn’t get an opportunity to write and record together again.
Sort of a raw take with this one and a little clean up needed (check back soon I’ll update this one), but there is something redeeming about it. My Billy Joel listening experience growing up started with the album The Stranger and forward. Around 1980 Billy released a live album – “Songs In The Attic” – that included a lot of his earlier songs, and this instantly became one of my favorites. I like the sentimental journey he takes lyrically in the song, and I too can honestly say that I love these days.
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…
If you’re not tapping your foot during this song, something’s wrong. Check pulse, take a deep breath…rinse, lather, repeat.
To Beth…every word, lyric, note, emotion…she made this song incredibly easy to sing. Earlier recording for me…a tad loud in the chorus.
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 1Beatle !
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
Four of my favorite Christmas songs below. 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” – Karaoke Trax – 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“
The Best Of The Rest…still in a barrel aging…eh
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?
I don’t think there is any group with a sound as unique as The Doors, and certainly no singular talent like Jim Morrison. Beth and I made a pilgrimage to his gravesite in Paris a few years ago, although Beth likes to remind me that we went to Paris for a lot of other reasons. Long live The Doors!
Steve Perry – nuff said
To my favorite Auntie Cynthia of San Diego…I believe this is one of your favorites…
