My parent's 50th wedding anniversary

Joyce and Richard Knight, October 25th, 2008

Joyce and Richard Knight, October 25th, 1958

50th wedding anniversary song
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Chorus:
It’s not easy, it’s not perfect
Find a person you respect
Who shares the values you agree with
You learn to bend instead of break
And laugh at all of your mistakes
Choose someone you really love to be with

35th anniversary song
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Chorus:
35 years of love
35 years of love
You can thank your lucky stars and the heavens above
For 35 years of love

Here are two songs I wrote for my parents' anniversaries - one for the 50th, which just happened Oct. 25th, 2008, and one for the 35th.

I was able to play them both live at the parties we had in California.

Tom Knight: vocals and guitar
Recorded Oct. 2008 by Karl Fitzke at Soundswell Studio, Ithaca, NY

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Tom Knight

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree 2007
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Rockin' Around the Chrismas Tree 2003
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Here's a Christmas song with an interesting history. I originally wrote this song at least 10 years ago. It has always bugged me that the popular song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" doesn't actually "rock." It kind of sways. I thought a song with that title should have a good uptempo groove. So I wrote one.

In 2003 I recorded a version of my song with John Simon and Radio London. Jan Nigro did some nice piano work, and the band all sang some cool harmonies on the chorus.

In December 2007, I decided to re-visit the song and give it a more funky groove. I borrowed the drum part from a song I like and made it into a loop. I was partly inspired by the Run-DMC Christmas in Hollis song. Not that I listen to a lot of Run-DMC. I think that song was on a commercial once.

2003 Version
Tom Knight - guitar and lead vocals
John Simon - guitar and vocals
Ken Zeserson - sax and vocals
Jan Nigro - piano and vocals
John Hilton - bass
Mark Cushman - drums
Tim Reppert - recording engineer

2007 version
Tom Knight - vocals, electric guitar, background harmony and bass!

Living in Color by Tom Knight

Living In Color by Tom Knight
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This is one of my early home recordings on my computer, from June 2006. I used drum and percussion loops, as well as a bass loop, to created the rhythm tracks. I recorded my electric guitar and then the lead vocal, and finally, a harmony vocal.

The song was inspired by my experiences in acting class. I was learning to access and express emotions that are usually kept inside. It was very exciting, liberating, and scary. I was also thinking about the song "You Don't Know Me," and how shyness can keep people from connecting with others.

The Holiday Song by Tom Knight and John Simon

The Holiday Song by Tom Knight and John Simon
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In 2003, I wanted to write a new holiday song. My goal was to write something that mentioned all the different holidays happening this time of year (December). I invited my friend John Simon to help.



We recorded it at REP Studios in Ithaca.

Tom Knight - vocals and guitar
John Simon - vocals and guitar
Tim Reppert - bass and jingle bells

About this blog

Hi!

Now I have three blogs, a myspace page, and a website.

The first blog is an online art show of drawings and photos of Garbage Monsters, based on the song of the same name.
The second blog is focusing on what's going on in my world of making music videos.
This one will be dedicated to my original songs that have not been released on CD.

The songs are demos recorded in my room, or simple acoustic recordings in a studio.

They range from love songs, new songs for kids, songs for my family and friends' special occasions - basically songs that don't have a home yet.

Feel free to comment on them. I'd love to hear your feedback.

- Tom