March 9, 2008

Hello again!

Did you remember to spring your clocks forward last night?

Having a bunch of days off from the real job last week I was able to get my latest tune - GREED - a lot closer to being finished. Check it out at www.soundclick.com/scottshuster and tell me what you think.

Writing lyrics for me has always been a very difficult -bordering on painful - experience. But, as many writers will verify, every once and a while a tune will come along that writes itself. This is what happened with GREED. I was reading the paper one day once again marvelling at the depths to which we can sink as a society and a species. And amazingly enough you can pretty much trace every wrong we've ever done to each other back to basic greed. Greed for money, power, land - you name it.

GREED

- Copyright SHUSTAMUZIK 2008 -

Greed - Let me tell you ‘bout Greed
They’re takin’ more than they need
Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

Always happened throughout history
Greed is the blame for our misery

Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

Takin’ it all – much more than their share
Nothin’ is left and you know they don’t care

Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

They will take your house, take your land, your car
They can wipe you out no matter who you are

Let me tell you ‘bout Greed



Greed - Let me tell you ‘bout Greed
They’re takin’ more than they need
Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

They’ll take your money and they’ll throw it away
No place left to hide - you’ve got nothing to say

Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

Doesn’t matter that our leaders are all killers and cheats
Nothings going to change it’s our agony

Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

They’re takin’ it all you know much more than their share
Nothing left at all and you know they don’t care

Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

(SOLO)



Greed – Let’s all talk about Greed
They’re takin’ more than they need
Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

They’re sending all our children off to fight their wars
Just can’t figure out what they’re fighting for

Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

In the name of the father oh now, isn’t that sad?
They’re stealing all that’s left of the little you had

Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

They will take your house, take your land and your car
They can clean you out no matter who you are

Throughout history it’s always been the same
The names have changed but it’s the same old game

Doesn’t matter that they’re liars or they’re killers and thieves
Nothing’s gone to change it’s our destiny.

Let me tell you ‘bout Greed

I was really saddened yesterday to learn of JEFF HEALEY'S passing. We was only 41 years old! Jeff was truly in inspiring individual who overcame personal physical handicaps and went on to master the guitar in a truly original fashion. Anyone that has ever seen him play can attest to that! He battled cancer most all of his life. A battle he finally lost this past Friday, March 7th.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/03/07/blind_guitarist_jeff_healey_41_had_hit_album_in_1988/

Also passing this week drummer Buddy Miles and singer/keyboardist Mike Smith of the Dave Clark Five. Sad.

That's all for now,

SS

The New Year!

OK! So, I know I haven't been a good boy keeping my blog up to date...
Up to date?!?!?! Can you say, "It's been a year?!?!?!?!"

It's been a fairly busy year between working the day job and trying to stay musically involved.

In a nutshell here's what;s been going on;

First of all, my website is FINALLY up and running. http://www.shustamuzik.com/

Also I am now also a member of the newly formed PORTLAND MUSIC FOUNDATION. It's a great idea being pursued by a notable group of Portland musicians and music industry people. Adam Ayans of GATEWAY MASTERING and JIM BEGLEY of THE STUDIO to name a couple. www.portlandmusicfoundation.org

This past summer I sold off my favorite Hammond - a '48 CV (with Trekk II percussion) and a Leslie 122 to RUSTIC OVERTONES' keyboard player and inspiration SPENCER ALBEE. It was really tough letting them go but I knew when I went to see the band play shortly after that they had found a good home touring with Spencer.

By the way, Spencer pushed me over the edge regarding the NORD ELECTRO II keyboard. After trying his I got one and it is THE most awesome clone of Rhodes, Whurli's, Clav's and Hammonds! I still have my Roland VK-8 which is, indeed another great Hammond 'wannabe'. But, the NORD covers so much more ground in a much smaller package that it has quickly become my go to keyboard for gigging - especially the mercenary, 'in & out' gigs.

Of course, while in my home studio - THE BRIDGE - I exclusively use my '68 Hammond A-105 with a Leslie122 & 142. "There's nothing like the real thing, Baby!" I aquired this organ from my friend, Harry Starbird (who has a couple more for sale, by the way!). I swear it was SO unused that the keys felt like they'd never been played. Tight and springy. Non-use was the worse crime that had been comitted against this organ. It took a bit of gentle coaxing to get it back in to good playing condition i.e. loosening up the starter motor and getting a few of the caps 're-shaped' after not having had any electrons run through them in a while.

Playing-wise I did another session for HANK DECKEN in his studio DIZZYLAND in Rochester, NH. Go to Hank's website (http://www.hankdecken.com/) for info on his CD releases.

I also did a session at Jonathan Wyman's HALO studio ith a local Portland artist named Billy Winn. See Jonathan's site http://www.thissoundsgood.com/. Billy's site is www.billywinn.com.

You can check out samplings of all the above mentioned work on my http://www.soundclick.com/ site where I have a little bit of everything I've worked on in the past few years.

Lately, I've done gigs with THE GUVNURS in Portland doing BEATLES tribute gigs where we do entire Beatle albums front to back. The most recent one was RUBBER SOUL. Lots of fun - especially when the room is packed with a real diverse crowd who know ALL the words to ALL the songs and are having a blast!

On the home front - I've been working in my studio on a tune by my friend and former bandmate, Jonathan Pierce. The tune is called WHY DOES LOVE ALWAYS MAKE ME CRY? Also playing on the tune is another friend and bandmate, HOWLAND BICKERSTAFF doing the slide and lead guitar solos.

My latest tune is called GREED. Howland also did slide and lead duties on it for me. It's still a work in progress but I expect to have it posted sometime really soon.

Interested in a Hammond CV - 40's vintage? I have TWO for sale!!!

Thanks for stopping by - and feel free to comment or drop me a line at B3122@juno.com.

Talk to you again soon.

Welcome!

February 19, 2007 - ST. Louis, MO

Welcome to my new blog. I never, ever thought I have one of these but y'know...

If you're interested in all things Beatles, Hammond or just music and recording in general let 'er rip!

I'm sure it'll take a while before I get the hang of all this so consider this blob 'Under Construction' for the time being.

Thanks for stopping by!

SS