Jazz+ Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 I want to augment my solo piano repetoire for casuals beyond the the great American Songbook. Which Billy Joel/Paul Simon type tunes work best as solo piano covers? I already cover a few pop tunes like "Your Song" by Elton, "Imagine", "Let It Be", "Hey Jude", and a large number of Joe Sample tunes. Harry Likas was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Find 700 of Harry’s piano arrangements of standards for educational purposes and jazz piano tutorials at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzwee Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 I'm also interested in other's comments on this. As far as additions to the list (non-Joel or Simon): Elton's Candle in the Wind and Daniel? I also like doing a slow version of Roxanne (Sting). He did this ballad style in Live Aid. Hamburg Steinway O, Crumar Mojo, Nord Electro 4 HP 73, EV ZXA1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjzingo Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 Interesting thread, do you wan't to do them in a jazz fashion or like a pop tune, anyhow I've done a number of the below tunes both as solo tunes and with bands in a more modern jazz style. Blackbird (beatles tune) listen to Brad Mehldaus version of it, he's done some more pop tunes by radiohead and soundgarden which I'm thinking of adding/trying out as solo piano tunes. saving all my love for you (whitney Houston) streetlife - the harmony is really II-V-I all over the place. Burt Bacharach -I say a little prayer for you this masquerade- G Benson Suck my kiss - red hot chili peppers You can certainly find some inspiration in Herbie Hancock's new standards for other tunes. Also, I suggest also listen to some modern tunes on radio/MTV. I think it is quite interesting to take something more current, not just dustying of some old poptunes from the 70s. Examples could be songs from John Legends get Lifted. Wake me up when september comes - green day. or even britney spears hit me baby one more time good luck in you're search for tunes /FZ /Fred Cantaloop Soulfetch Soulbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillFightingIt Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 Here's some I do solo piano versions of: Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen / Jeff Buckley All I Want Is You - U2 Clocks - Coldplay The Scientist - Coldplay Bennie and the jets - Elton Someone saved my life tonight - Elton Tiny Dancer - Elton Scenes from an italian restaurant - Billy Joel Lady Madonna - Beatles A Day In The Life - Beatles Long And Winding Road - Beatles Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel Zak and Sara - Ben Folds Brick - Ben Folds Five Let Her Cry - Hootie and the blowfish In the air tonight - Phil Collins Everybody Hurts - REM I have about 150+ solo piano songs I do, these are just some of my favourites. My Band: www.myspace.com/fergusband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundscape Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 Originally posted by fjzingo: streetlife - the harmony is really II-V-I all over the place. Here's a Joe Sample Trio version in 2006 (with Randy Crawford on vocals): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4VN-0Nk_-0 Originally posted by fjzingo: britney spears hit me baby one more time It's a much better written song than most people give credit for. Should work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 I like Harpo's Blues (I Wish I Was a Willow), - Phoebe Snow. Yeah, it's ancient, but the changes are interesting and the melody makes it a good tune for a jazz trio. Poetry Man is nice too, but it's my second choice. I like Vince Guaraldi tunes - A Charlie Brown Christmas. Christmas Time is Here, Linus and Lucy, O Tannenbaum, and Christmas is Coming are all excellent solo tunes. I've got a link to some early recordings I made of those on my site. It was a blast getting my six year old daughter and her friend to sing Christmas Time is Here. Cast Your Fate to the Wind is really nice too. Ramsey Lewis'- The In Crowd is delightful. I love some of his early stuff. I'm all over the Bacharach & David tunes from the sixties. Most of them have great melodies with lots of twists and turns. Some early Beatles tunes have great melodies (again) and haven't been played to death - You're Gonna Lose The Girl comes to mind. Of course, lots of James Taylor tunes go over well (Shower The People). I also play The Shaker Song, sung by Manhattan Transfer. Just yesterday I realized that David Lasley helped write the lyrics. He's a backup singer for JT and a great songwriter too. I'm working on learning Weather Report's - A Remark You Made. That's such a haunting melody. I also play Birdland. I learned the theme from The Tonight Show about a hundred years ago. I think they used to play it in every key imaginable. I picked a night to record it when they were in Db. That's the version I've stuck with all these years. As a child of the fifties, I love the "Martini music" of the sixties. Jobim is a good example. Of course, the Vince Guaraldi stuff is an excellent example. I don't want to stay stuck in the sixties, but a lot of great music came out in those years. Finally, talking about the sixties, some great, great R&B music from The Tams, The Temptations, The Drifters, does anybody remember The Intruders(?)... some of this music translates very well to solo piano gigs. I hope this helps. I've played pop/jazz music since I was knee-high to a chicken because it goes over so well with a livingroom audience. People love to stand around the piano and sing some of these tunes. I guess this is what makes it all worth it for me. "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
resigned Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 In addition to the above recommendations: Alfie, Walk On By - Bachrach Just The Way You Are, NY State of Mind - Joel Way We Were, Evergreen - Streisand Fields of Gold, Fragile - Sting Angela (Theme from "Taxi') - Bob James Caught Up In The Rapture - Anita Baker And I Love Her, When I'm 64 - Beatles The Right Thing To Do, We Just Got Here - Carly Simon You've Got A Friend - Carole King Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon Also, I love David Foster songs like the Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire, Love Look What You've Done To Me, After The Love Is Gone, etc. Almost anything by Jobim works (my favs are Wave, Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars). I also like any old Bread tunes from the 70's - they translate to solo piano well and are very recognizable. Pure Imagination from Willie Wonka makes a nice jazzy tune. I like to jazz-improvise on Moon River too. I'm proud to say that I've come up with smooth jazz versions of both Freebird and In-A-Godda-Da-Vida just to turn the tables on the jerks that inevitably ask for it. And then there's the five songs that every solo pianist must know: Unchained Melody Wind Beneath My Wings The Rose Memory from "Cats" New York, New York ...and don't forget the entire Great American Songbook... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 The Mickey Mouse theme. Seriously, it works great reharmonized - I heard a great solo piano version of it one time on a Buddy Rich album. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superboy Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 I used to have a triple song set of "making the girls cry" songs, but I can't remember what the third one was... --Your Song (Elton John, already mentioned) --I have to Say I Love You in a Song (Jim Croce) --My Song (Atlanta Rhythm Section)?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridog6996 Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 Sail to the Moon by Radiohead (among many other RH tunes) Help Me by Joni Mitchell Lithium by Nirvana Human Behaviour by Bjork Paper Bag by Fiona Apple Dry the Rain by The Beta Band Say It Ain't So by Weezer Just a few of the "pop" tunes I might play if called upon for a solo piano set. Lithium in particular actually makes for a very cool piano arrangement. My YouTube Channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stepay Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 My suggestions: Levon -- Elton John Yellow Brick Road -- Elton John Benny and the Jets -- Elton John Rocket Man -- Elton John Honky Cat -- Elton John Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles The Way It Is -- Bruce Hornsby & The Range Black Magic Woman -- Carlos Santana Think Of Laura - Christopher Cross Easy -- Commodores Takin' It To The Streets -- Doobie Brothers 25 or 6 to 4 -- Chicago Allison -- Elvis Costello Wonderful Tonight -- Eric Clapton Layla -- Eric Clapton 100 Years -- Five For Fighting Mexican Wine -- Fountains Of Wayne Oh What A Night -- Four Seasons King of Wishful Thinking -- Go West Time Of Your Life -- Green Day The Load Out AND Stay -- Jackson Browne Fire And Rain -- James Taylor Shower The People -- James Taylor Middle -- Jimmy Eat World Jack and Diane -- John Cougar Mellencamp Don't Stop Believing -- Journey Faithfully -- Journey Lights -- Journey Carry On My Wayward Son -- Kansas Push -- Matchbox 20 Pink Moon -- Nick Drake Still The One -- Orleans Dock Of The Bay -- Otis Redding Maybe I'm Amazed -- Paul McCartney Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard -- Paul Simon It Don't Come Easy -- Ringo Starr You Can't Always Get What You Want -- Rolling Stones Landslide -- Fleetwood Mac The Joker -- Steve Miller While You See A Change -- Steve Winwood Free Fallin' -- Tom Petty Ball and Chain -- Social Distortion Feelin' Alright -- Joe Cocker Knockin' On Heaven's Door -- Bob Dylan The Stranger -- Billy Joel Piano Man (of course) -- Billy Joel My Life -- Billy Joel New York State Of Mind -- Billy Joel Allentown -- Billy Joel She's Always A Woman -- Billy Joel River Of Dreams -- Billy Joel Just The Way You Are -- Billy Joel She's Got A Way -- Billy Joel Heaven -- Bryan Adams Steve (Stevie Ray) "Do the chickens have large talons?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still Learning Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 How about some Ray Charles? Georgia On My Mind Hit the Road Jack What I'd Say Unchain My Heart When most people go to work, they work. When musicians go to work, they play. Which do you prefer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raddtunes Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 Great lists/tunes everyone! May I suggest. . . a little Madonna? Crazy For You, Live To Tell, Cherish, Borderline. (if you have strong feelings about her either way, so what? This is good stuff) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raddtunes Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Also - as their former piano player I'm highly biased towards The Four Tops - - Ain't No Woman Like the One I Got Baby I Need Your Lovin' Reach Out / I'll Be There Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niacin Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 What they said plus: Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers A Case of You, Woodstock, Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell Depending on the gig you might consider stuff like: Ballade pour Adeline - Richard Clayderman Song for Guy - Elton John and various movie themes. There's a few tracks from Michael Nyman's "The Piano" that are tuneful enough to work. There's not much to be done to these songs though. I'd suggest you might check out Enrico Pieranunzi's recordings of Ennio Morricone tunes with a jazz trio (with Marc Johnson and Joey Baron, no less). Outstanding. Both The Bad Plus and Tori Amos have done piano-based versions of Nirvana's "Smells like Teen Spirit", both worth checking out. Gig keys: Hammond SKpro, Korg Vox Continental, Crumar Mojo 61, Crumar Mojo Pedals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niacin Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Originally posted by mate_stubb: The Mickey Mouse theme. Seriously, it works great reharmonized - I heard a great solo piano version of it one time on a Buddy Rich album. the themes from the Flintstones and Sesame Street also work great in jazz settings. Gig keys: Hammond SKpro, Korg Vox Continental, Crumar Mojo 61, Crumar Mojo Pedals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niacin Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Originally posted by The Pro: Pure Imagination from Willie Wonka makes a nice jazzy tune. I like to jazz-improvise on Moon River too. Monty Alexander does a great version of "Candy Man". Gig keys: Hammond SKpro, Korg Vox Continental, Crumar Mojo 61, Crumar Mojo Pedals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsm Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Get a book of complete Beatles songs. If your familar with their catalog, you'll have numberous great songs to chose from. You can pick them up cheap on eBay. There are two common versions of the Beatle songs. The older Hansen versions, published when the Beatles were still together, and the Hal Leonard versions. The difference in the two is Hansen overall has more accurate melody transcriptions (although there are exceptions to this where Leonard is more accurate), while Leonard is more often in the real key and has more of the guitar solos. On arragments overall, with the later songs, its a tossup, depending on the song, one or the other might have a better arrangement. But with the early songs, Hal Leonard ussually has the better arrangements. I'd get both versions, and compare them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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