Crazy.

Wow, been a while since I've updated!  Sorry to keep you hanging, and that is if there is anyone still reading... : )   

Here is a remix of Billie Holiday's "Crazy He Calls Me" ,  uploaded to Youtube for your listening and sharing pleasure...   

DJ Catalist - Crazy

Smooth.

Smooth stones are awesome.

Smooth

Fatal Flying Guillotine.

I found this choice quote from a user on Amazon.com talking about this film:  

"Firstly, let me say that this is a terrible film. Be under no illusions, it is really terrible. The picture quality is poor, the acting atrocious, the fight scenes turgid, the special effects primitive, the plot impenetrable."

I think it goes without saying, this is a film for all to cherish.  I have not seen it yet, but will be watching sooner than later!  I thought of the name because of the classic line from Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin to F' Wit' :  'fatal flying guillotine chops off your fuckin head!' , pure class RZA!!  This beat has a Wu-Tang ish feel, kind of....

Fatal Flying Guillotine

Drama.

Today we're going to talk about drama. No, not a made for TV movie starring Richard Karn and Roseanne Arnold, which incidentally would be more of a comedrama (com - ma - drama), but rather music I created for a TV series library a few years back.  The file names are pretty arbitrary but you'll understand when you hear the music.....

Headknod

Gritty

Desiderata.

(click for full size)

Some words of inspiration today, words which resonate with me personally and I think all of us can take something from. This was scanned from the inner sleeve of Frankie Beverly & Maze - Self Titled LP (a classic record).  Follow this link to get the text version: Desiderata text .  To keep this post music related, recording artist Les Crane released an LP entitled 'Desiderata' in 1972, and it has some very nice drum breaks on it. His rendition of the poem comes off as pretty cheesy, but listen these drums from another track:  

Desiderata

It's A New Day.

I put together a collection of photos to go along with my remix I posted a couple days ago, and now it is on Youtube for your listening (and viewing) pleasure.

It's A New Day

You Know How I Feel.

"It's a new dawn, it's a new day".......  Remix I created for Nina Simone's song "Feeling Good" , this one is from 2004.  Please listen and check out my Soundcloud page (where it is hosted) and give some feedback.

Feelin'

  Nina Simone - Feeling Good (Catalist Feelin' Remix) by alisterjohnson

Gotta Get It.

Yea, I posted a picture of Harry Potter reaching for an important item, so what?  You can't get what you want if you don't reach for it (with the exception of Yoda, who easily could make shit fly into his hand at will).

Get It

The Calling.

I heard something, so I listened.  You should always listen. 

The Calling (this is an edited version, originally from the Warning Shot EP by Louwop)

Free.

Ahh, that must be a nice feeling (the whole suspended in midair with your tongue hanging out thing).  The moral of today's post is:  Don't let a few barbed wires get in the way of your dreams.

Free

Day To Day.

Music has a tendency to take us away from whatever else we might be thinking about and wrap us up in the moment, which makes it one of the most powerful ways to tap into human emotion and feelings.  Whatever your everyday life may throw at you, always remember that you can escape (even for just a few moments) by immersing yourself in music that you love.  Here is a rough song that was done back in 2003, the mix is a rough demo quality , I don't even know if I have all the parts for the beat anymore... : (    The song is an original by the magical Dave Leitao (keyboards & vocals written/performed by him).  special guest verse by Louwop.  Track produced by yours truly, on the drum/bassline programming, mixing etc.

Dave Leitao feat. Louwop - Day To Day (Unreleased Demo)

Grind.

Time to get the distractions out of the way and get the grind on.  2011 is here and time is not slowing down. If you have an idea: Act on it.  If you have something to say to someone: Say it.  Today is the future that you thought about last week (or something like that).

Get Out

Expansions.

This duo clearly knows how to expand their minds and sounds through the magic of flute & guitar.  I tried to do the same with this beat (from the archive)....

Expansions

First.

Seeing as it is the first day of the new year, I figured I would post up my first beat I ever made.  It was created using drums that I played live and recorded using a crappy computer microphone, and then I layered a classical themed sample (from CD) on top, looped it in Cool Edit and there you have it.....

My First Beat