Blue Skies

James Taylor wrote this song at a time when he was going through some difficult stages in his life. I think we have all been there. While this song, lyrically, can make one feel melancholy, I find this arrangement to be uplifting! Ok, I’ll explain. I sent this arrangement to my son, Matt, who is without question the finest musician I have ever played with, to see what his thoughts might be. He sent back the second verse and last chorus that was totally unexpected. His bass guitar solo is amazing and his electric guitar background and electronic drum programming gave the song a whole new flavor that is, well, uplifting! Add my great friend Lynn Nash on Flugelhorn to the mix and here is a rendition of a great song that I am truly proud of. There is always someone we can turn to in the good times and bad - our Heavenly Father is always listening. I offer this arrangement to all of you today, in honor of my son, Matt, whose birthday is today. Fire and Rain.

It;s the Billy Joel version of this classic Praise and Worship tune!

From the album I recorded with my son and his friends in Nashville a few years back, here is one of my favorites - Better Is One Day

I've had a lot of requests to repeat this song I featured last Fall. Here's my friend Mike Petrokonis, and 10,000 Reasons.

Yesterday in our Horizons service we did something different. In fact we did several things differently, but one thing I have not down before. More on that in a minute. I picture myself as a life long learner - I think I may have mentioned that before. One aspect of playing the I have wanted to learn is the Black Gospel style. Every once in a while I’ll get interested in it, but lately that interest has blossomed a little and with the help of my son Matt, I learned a few progressions I wanted to use on a Sunday Morning. And that day was yesterday. So I enlisted the congregation to be the percussion section! That means they clapped on 2 and 4 while I played and we all sang. So here’s a recording I made this morning of that arrangement, and I added hand claps on 2 and 4. One of my favorite songs - I Love To Sing Your Praise, Lord.

Today's Music Monday features another song from the album I made with my son, Matt, and some of his friends in Nashville. Here's The Solid Rock.

I had an opportunity to record an album with my son and some of his friends in Nashville a few years ago. Here is the title cut, "Sing to The King."

When Covid 19 struck, normal went out the window. For us, at PUMC, we developed a pre-recorded daily devotional and Sunday program to try and stay in touch with our members. As we moved further and further into the pandemic we looked for new ways to expand or enhance our services. Since we were limiting our exposure to people, I did something I had never done before - at least in any kind of serious fashion. I started singing. I had been using a lot of instrumental music I had created, along with my flugelhorn friend Lynn Nash, and occasionally our incredibly talented Noémi Lee on piano. But people get tired of nothing but instrumental music - at least I did so I wandered into those murky waters of recording myself. You have to understand that I live with an incredible singer, so I’m always intimidated when I play myself singing for her. Tricia, hmmm, let’s see here - that would bet Dr. Campbell not only is an incredible singer but she teaches voice for a living, so you can imagine how I was feeling about re

Every once in a while I have the opportunity to bring some of our vocalist into the studio to do a little recording. It’s fun for them and me as well. Typically, I bring them in one at a time so we can avoid spreading germs, and it kinda takes the pressure off for them. I sent this song down to my flugelhorn buddy Lynn Nash to add some horn tracks, and I added some trombone parts as well. What a great, fun, worship song - You Are Good!

And just like that. It’s Music Monday again! Open: I have worked with some great musicians in my life. In today’s Music Monday, one of these musicians wrote a little chorus to the hymn O God Our Help In Ages Past. Along with another great musician friend of mine, Lynn Nash, I set this tune with an uptempo groove. Close: O God Our Help! The lyrics for the chorus, you ask? Oh God, You are, You are our help, You are our helper. To all generations You will be forever and ever our shield and our eternal hope, Oh Lord. You are the Ancient of Days and worthy of our praise! If you like this, consider sharing with a friend. You can find this song, along with a lot of other songs on my website: linwoodcampbell.com. Thanks for listening! See you next Monday!

Today is the 9th of January 2023! Happy New Year! Well, it’s a little late for that I suppose. Today’s Music Monday, the first of this new year is a little late. You see, today’s Music Monday’s song is We Three Kings, which seems a little late because Ephinany is over. Now, Ephinany celebrates the 3 kings seeing the baby Jesus and bringing him gifts. And the Bible tells us that the Kings were advised to leave by a different route on their way home. And that’s all it says about them leaving - go home a different way. Well, there is no mention of how they might have been feeling. I can imagine that they were awe struck initially, then as they thought about and talked about it they started getting excited. The further they went, the more excited they got. And so, here is my musical thoughts on the 3 Kings journey home. Did I mention I think they were all musicians?

This track was created for the memorial service for Lynn's father.

L and L take a stab at this classic from Carole King. As always, it's our take on this haunting melody and timely lyrics that hopefully brings a refreshing but respectful interpretation of her biggest hit.

The Lynn and Linwood version of this song is loosely based on several artists renditions of this old classic. Ramsey Lewis and Greg Vail to name a few!

Lynn and Linwood are at it again with this rendition of Deck The Halls! Definitely not your grandmother's version!

The first in the new series, "Blue Skies, " this podcast is about some things musical, some things spiritual, some things fun and a whole lot of life.