A 3) A Repository of Demos & Drafts ORIGINAL MISC. SONGS written by DC (w/ others)
2024 November Update by ✍️ Writer Liz
LINKS to MP3s of 🎶 DEMOS DONE BY Dennis Chandler. Songs written by TS, DC, me and PSS, too. Who? My BLOOD BROTHER Phil Smoluk. He was also called PHIL PHABEETZ … a fellow face-timer performing skits on local TV. As media freelancers … we did cross paths with some other interesting characters. What do I mean? For example … my REAL BRO … PHIL introduced us to … PRETEND BRO … Tom Schuck. Who? Tom-with-the-beautiful-tenor-voice. He is heard on many of the Demos below. The LINKS are listed below this long intro. Keep reading this setup. Hang in there … to hear him. It will be worth the wait. So, too … will be the other tunes.
To wit … Lately, I have found myself really enjoying certain songs. The ones composed by MY HUBBY, Dennis and MY BROTHER, Phil. Why? …
Because … both … DC and PSS … are SURVIVORS OF CANCER. Dennis BEAT 👍Leukemia – Type AML. He has been in REMISSION since ’87. Today … 2024 … Phil is still … “fighting the good fight”. Because of Cancer … Phil is minus a kidney … minus his gall bladder … BUT … he still has his bladder … thanks to BCG… Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, a live, attenuated strain of bacteria used as immunotherapy to treat non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). 🔬Special THANKS to the V.A. Oncology Docs, Nurses, etc. … at V.A.-Stokes, V.A.-Parma …. Cleveland Clinic-Fairview … and the good Lord. We are Blessed!”
Soo … What did I find … filed away … paraphrasing a song, “in the still, still … of the night”. Well, actually … paraphrasing a movie title, in the “Heat of the Night” … err … in the heat of our attic? I found BOXES of TAPE. What kind? REEL-to-REEL, CASSETTE, etc. They had SURVIVED the HEAT of OUR ATTIC. I took that as a SIGN from ABOVE. I brought them DOWN to Dennis. He was busy … writing his book and teaching Music. I realized I had to be the one… to deal with the dubs, (so to speak). To archive them. To put them somewhere. But where? How?
What did I do? I started to learn more about … all things, Tech. Literally, I had my homework cut out for me. What do I mean? Well, in 2017 … I broke my hand. A cast was put on my arm. I was put in my place. I was assigned … to stay in one place. Where? In front of a TV screen to pass the time away.
Then I made the move to another screen. A computer screen. At first it was a little screen … then I upgraded to a larger one. Computer-operator-me … conquered a couple more disabilities. The learning types, (so to speak). To explain … I already was a typist-of-sorts … albeit … a-not-too-accurate one. I fight to overcome fumbling with words. BUT … moving words … from the back-burner-of-my-brain … to … the keyboard-in-front-of-me? I solved that … by writing and reading on only BIG SCREENS. No LITTLE DEVICE SCREENS, for me. My i-phone is for taking phone calls and photos. OK, I’m getting good at text-speaking … (did I “say” that right, Tech Teach Don Archiable?) So back to how I’ve learned to be … just dangerous enough … to go … “do-bee-do-bee-doing”, (to paraphrase the song by Sinatra). ADOBE Photo Shop. That’s the name of the software. It allowed me to go … photo-saving … photo-shopping … and … some Soul-searching, too. Yes, it can make one … reflect on the past Times and the lost ones, still, (so to speak).
Back to the time of the COVID LOCKDOWN. There were more struggles. I prevailed. Ask DC … about that … and about me being a REBEL … (when I want to be). How did I learn that ? In school … at John Adams High … in Cleveland’s Mt. Pleasant area. Where the Rebel cry was “Go Maroon and Gold!”.
About Our M.O. .. aka … “Modus Operandi” … aka … “Way of Working”
We three … Dennis, Phil and myself … are NEURODIVERGENTS … aka … NEURODIVERSE. (“Refers to people whose thought patterns, behaviors, or learning styles fall outside of what is considered “normal,” or neurotypical of humans“
“Yaye”, says this Neurodivergent. I’m learning how to dub those tapes found in that HOT ATTIC.
As you listen … I hope these melodies … bring you Good Vibes … as they did me.
Thank you for your time … reading and listening to all this. ✍ Writer Liz.
HERE COME … THE LINKS … TO HEAR OUR MUSIC …
MUSIC THAT … ONCE WAS LOST … but … NOW IS FOUND …
CLICK on the title … to hear … that particular song.
BTW … waayyy below this list of tunes … I started posting their back stories … ENJOY
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FYI … “Don’t Stop the Music” has … 3 different lengths (for Tik Tok maybe)
DON’T STOP THE MUSIC -35 SEC CUT
DON’T STOP THE MUSIC – 51 SEC CUT
DON’T STOP THE MUSIC – FULL DEMO 2 37
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NEVER TOO OLD (TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL) – MALE VOCALIST DENNIS CHANDLER
NEVER TOO OLD (TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL) – ’60s GIRL GROUP THE SECRETS
ROCK AND ROLL MELODY – THE SECRETS
CAN YOU FEEL IT (THAT ROCK ‘n’ ROLL) – Secrets & Dennis Chandler
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IF I HAD IT TO DO OVER AGAIN – AN INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SONG FESTIVAL WINNER
DANCIN’ TO BO DIDDLEY – AN INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SONG FESTIVAL WINNER
DON’T BE FEELIN’ DOWN, DON’T BE FEELIN’ LOW
IT’S A BEAUTIFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
THE BOY IN THE MAN I LOVE – for Autism Awareness
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Universe Park – Homage to Euclid Beach Park
Go Browns -Theme for Cleveland Football Team
Ride With The Tribe -Theme for Cleveland Indians Baseball Team
Woolly, Me and You – Theme for Dick Goddard’s Woollybear Festival
Oh, How We Love Those Pierogi – Theme for Local Media
We’re The Singing Angels – Theme for a Cleveland Choir
Plymouth Rock – 45 Record of Dennis’ early 1960s band called “The Pilgrims”
Maudy – Flipside – 45 Record of Dennis’ early 1960s band called “The Pilgrims”
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE JINGLE Version 1 – Demo done by Dennis
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE II – Second Demo done w/ different theatre names
DC Full Orchestration – TV Theme for Bill “Smoochie” Gordon
DC Piano Only – of TV Theme for Bill “Smoochie” Grodn
CEDAR RAG – Pianist Dennis’ Track for TV3 Special “Dark Waters – Deep Secrets” by Reporter & Anchor Dale Solly
( More to come of Composer Chandler’s SCORE behind TV3 Special “Dark Waters – Deep Secrets” … to be posted)
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BACK STORY about … “Dancin’ to Bo Diddley”.
It was inspired by DENNIS’ FIRST GUITAR TEACHER … the ICONIC … ROCK PIONEER … BO DIDDLEY. The song won one of the AMERICAN SONG FESTIVAL AWARDS … shown here.
Lyrics were written by Phil Smoluk, Tom Schuck and Dennis Chandler. The song is in tribute to TEACHER-BO. STUDENT-DENNIS’ doin’ it … DIDDLEY STYLE. Arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC … who also sang the song.
Click on the title to hear the song.
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In 1977 … the song below we wanted to go … to Gladys Knight.
Who is GK? For the … Uninformed aka Youngins …
https://www.facebook.com/msgladysknight/
Today in 2024 … hope to have her hear it … Why? … It’s a winning song …
1976-77 American Song Festival Winner …
“If I Had It To Do Over Again (I’d Do It Just The Same)”
Lyrics by my hubby Dennis Chandler & my brother Phil Smoluk. Music by Composer-Dennis. Vocals by Dennis who also played guitar, organ, piano and bass. Ernie Nachtigal on drums. Click on the title to hear the song …
Another one for Gladys Knight …
About SONGWRITING CONTRACT … offered on … “If I Had It To Do Over Again”
1977 … those contracts were of the kind that are called … Contracts of 360 Degrees. Again … defined by many as … “A lock on all that one does”. Who would that “one” be, so to speak? The driving wheel of our creative endeavors … Chandler-the-Chameleon. Dennis would not have been able to do many of the various and sundry “stuff” …. that he wanted to do … (at that time). Is it any wonder many declined this type of deal. Musician Dennis did. Wordsmith Phil did … and I did, too.
BACK STORY about … “Right Here, Right Now (Turn Love On)”
The song was inspired by Gladys Knight. As a matter of fact, I found in the files … contracts that included this song. Some of the other contracts offered … were for my hubby Dennis, my brother Phil Smoluk and me. Read on …
2024 … Re-organizing has me finding these raw demos. I am prioritizing … playing back the reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes. Trying to figure out … what to transfer so I can upload … for your listening and dancing pleasure. Wish me luck, as I continue.
I shredded the paper files and correspondence … from SAS Publishing … a division of the management firm for BB King and Gladys Knight. The files were too faded, (so to speak). But, the songs are not. I will not let them fade away.
Speaking of the above-mentioned musical Giant … the Great Songstress … Gladys Knight. Perhaps a past musical tie … might come back into our lives. Actually he still is … via God’s Cyberspace. He’s a Facebook Friend. Who? The Great Gladys’ … Groovy Percussionist … Elijah Gilmore. Thanks to our Amigo from Argentina, Michael Paley. We had the him help host a visit to our home here, (in Solon, Ohio). To explain, guest Elijah got to what I dubbed … “A Salon in Solon”. As a result Migel brought Elijah over to engage in fellowship and a jam. Maybe we can do it again … right here … right now. OK, after Gilmore gets a night off … and … Gladys gets a night off. Maybe make it more than one night. Maybe make it with more than one musician. (Hmm, GK’s hubby, too?) 
BACK STORY about … “Keep On Trying” …
What we wanted for the 1977 song … was … for it also … to be sung by an ALL INCLUSIVE CHOIR. We envisioned singers Gladys Knight … BBK … fronting a choir.
Words by Tom Schuck and Dennis Chandler. Music by Composer Chandler. Instrumentation, arrangement and recording by DC. Vocals by Dennis and Tom.
Click on the title to hear the song …
Back Stage at BB’s 1999 Easter Sunday Concert
The above photo … I was told … was taken by the brother of Mary Bridget Davies. Who is she? At the time … an up and coming singer.
One whose CD … BB asked us to … send to his manager. Sid Seidenberg. We did. I do NOT know if SAS … the publishing arm of BBK & GK … did anything for her. But we just knew … she was destined for more … than Sid … could do for her. We guess that she did it herself, no doubt. What was that? Jumped from Playhouse Square … to … Times Square. Why do I put it like that? ….
In 2014 … MBD was nominated for a Tony award for Best Lead Actress in a musical on Broadway. That’s where Mary Bridget played the iconic singer, Janis Joplin. Now in 2024 … she got rave reviews, again. When? Where? This past Summer … in the West End … of London! See … Dreams really do come true. So happy for her.
Go to … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Bridget_Davies
Perhaps in 2025 … or sooner … we could interest her … in singing some of our songs. A duet with Dennis … or better yet … with GK and a choir. We’ll … just … Keep on Tryin’.
Speaking of Playhouse Square. We wrote and then … Den did these demos. I forgot about them … until I found them … in the files. So I’ve included them in this Archive.
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE JINGLE Version 1
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“(I See) The Writing on the Wall”
WRITING ON THE WALL – SUNG BY DENNIS CHANDLER
Lyrics were written by my brother Phil Smoluk and my hubby Dennis Chandler. Music was written by Composer Chandler. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by Dennis … who also sang the song.
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BACK STORY about … “Where Are They Now”
A Collage & A Song for Chameleon Chandler’s Crazy Quilt of Life Experiences
It was inspired by TRAVELING TROUBADOURS … DOLLY PARTON, WLLIE NELSON, etc. Dennis has YET to meet Willie … but those peeps that he DID meet … are in the collage below. This song is DEDICATED to them. Most all of those pictured … taught Dennis … FIRSTHAND … and … IN THE AGE OLD … ORAL TRADITION. What’s that? They had him sitting at their knee … saying to him, “Alrighty. Good. Good. Now try this way …” They gave so lovingly and freely to him … their music. Rare for those times, those places. Many are gone now. But their Memory is a Blessing… (and we know where they are, now, so to speak).
Lyrics were written by my brother Phil Smoluk and my hubby Dennis Chandler. Music was written by DC. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC … who also sang the song.
Click on the title to hear: WHERE ARE THEY NOW
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BACK STORY about … “Let Me Be Your Song”
It was … inspired by the ICONIC Barbra Streisand … with whom we have yet … to make a connection. I say “yet” because … we can always hope, no? How so? A FAN of PIANIST-DENNIS … said she might have a way … via a relative of hers … to connect DC to BS. But first I was asked … by that fan of DC’s … “What has been written about DC that I could share?” Hence all this info here … and … on Face Book.
BTW: Back in the day … we told BB King about DC’s admiration for her talents. Her voice, in particular. It plays in Dennis’ mind, (so to speak). Poppa BB implied that BS would be easy to talk to. Why? BB said when the two of them met … she was warm and so very gracious. He offered to help hook us up. “From one artist to another to another”, he said. But, it wasn’t meant to be … sadly, Poppa BB passed, in 2015.
BB is gone … but Barbra is still here. That’s why … we say, “we have yet to meet her”. It seems like a long way to go. However … there is an axiom … that … all-politics-is-local I think that syndrome could be in play one day, soon. How so? Via an audience member of Pianist-Dennis. Someone who proferred info … about a relative of hers … having done a Broadway project with the songbird. Well, she moved not too far from us. In fact, three miles away. (“close enough for rock and roll”, as the saying goes.) See, all politics is local. I intended to follow through. Why? …
She’s one of the many fine folks … who asked me for info (on DC). That’s why I decided to data-enter all this stuff … the songs … the stories. Hence me signing often signing off as … “Web Writer Liz Chandler … aka … Mrs. Dennis … aka … Archivist.
I hope to gain more knowledge about how to present our music. Maybe even … how to Zoom … Stream … Upload. How to make … Click Reels, Videos, etc. Why? Well … to quote another song … that Composer-Chandler did for playwright Larry Brenner’s stage play, “Just We Two” … “Maybe Someday” … the music will get to … The Great White Way. To learn more … go to this website’s page … titled, “As Composer Chandler: 2 Staged Musicals Thus Far”. Click on this link … https://dennischandler.com/index.php/just-we-two-the-musical/
Until then we will … to paraphrase Barbra … “Keep chasing … dreams” … (Barbra, can you hear me?”) …
More Back Story about … “Let Me Be Your Song”
The lyrics were written by my brother Phil Smoluk and me … aka Liz Smoluk Chandler. Music was written by my hubby and Soulmate … aka … Composer Chandler. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer-Dennis. The melodious vocals for this demo are by Tom Schuck.
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BTW: What won this song’s … first GOOD GRADE and RAVE REVIEW … was not a recorded demo. It was a live rendition. How, where, when, who … made that happen? The great GAMBLE & HUFF. Who? Learn about them at …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamble_and_Huff
https://www.songhall.org/awards/winner/kenneth_gamble_leon_huff
Back story is … the great Gamble & Huff held several series of SONGWRITING SEMINARS. The LEGENDS from the label called THE SOUNDS OF PHILLY … were in NYC … this time. There they conducted classes for composers.
My brother Phil took it upon himself to travel to Manhattan to pitch some of our songs. He had no demo to present … just the song. Phil is not a musician … he is a lyricist. (I call him a wordsmith … a sounding board on all things, written!) Fortunately for us … the judges were some real creative-types. The song was presented with just sheet music … and sung … by an unknown!
Upon hearing this song … Gamble & Huff … gave it A RAVE REVIEW. We were told they loved the song so much … they used it as an example to others at their events.
So what happened, after? The producers offered the kind of contract I previously mentioned above. Recall the one with BBK & Gladys’ management? The ones often called … Contracts of 360 Degrees? Again … defined by many as … “A lock on all that one does”. Who would that “one” be, so to speak? The driving wheel of our creative endeavors … Chandler-the-Chameleon. Dennis would not have been able to do many of the various and sundry “stuff” …. that he wanted to do … (at that time).
We were considering them. (After all, it was Gamble & Huff!) Then we got diverted … different directions, etc. Life took us all down a different road … and … loaded down with our respective familia responsibilities. (Of course, later down the road … came those health hurdles I wrote about … on this website’s page titled, “A Journey: Dennis Beats AML Leukemia”) Here is the link … https://dennischandler.com/index.php/the-journey/
Down, down, down … words used way too much back then. But … wait! Those words became lyrics for a song … (Check out, “Don’t Be Feelin’ Down … Don’t Be Feelin’ Low”). But back to about … “Let Me Be Your Song”.
So albeit belatedly, I posted the CRITIQUE from PRODUCERS GAMBLE & HUFF. Why? Because I believe … IT’S NEVER TOO LATE. Another believer was a neighbor … Lou Kassouf, (of Blessed Memory). After seeing jogger-Dennis … running again … she said she wrote out … what she “was given from Above” … a Discernment for Dennis … a Prophecy. She said she mailed it … even though she could have dropped it off. Lou always drove past our home from her home … here in North Hill. But, I’m glad she did mail it. We have it and it is postmarked Feb.14,1988. A Holi-day to be celebrated, for sure. So Den did. He got back to jogging (after beating Cancer … and surviving those experimental chemo treatments). Here’s the link to learn more. It’s this websites’ page titled, “A Heavenly Music Prophecy for Dennis” … https://dennischandler.com/index.php/prophecy-for-dc/
By the way, these notes I only recently found while de-cluttering Dennis’ files. Seems Spring came a little early this year … Spring cleaning, that is. But blossoms do bloom … and they sometimes bloom late … and I hear a songbird. Yes, Babs is buzzin’ in my brain.
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Now Back Story to this Blues Tune
Speaking of ICONIC … BLUESMASTERS. That’s BOBBY BLUE BLAND in the photo below. He asked Dennis to write something for him. Dennis did. Sadly, BBB did not get to record this song. The words and the music were written by Dennis Chandler. It is in homage to “DAD BLUE”, as many affectionately called him. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded with vocals by musician-composer DC.
It is also dedicated to … a-blues-brother-of-ours … since 1978 … Tony “TC” Coleman. Who? The drummer who provided … the rhythmic backbone behind both BBB and BB King … for decades. BTW: Tony is the son of King Coleman. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Coleman
BTW: “Coleman” is often called upon to make music with many of today’s icons. https://soulfuldrummer.com/tcslife.html
BACK STORY about … “Hard On Me”
The lyrics were written by Phil Smoluk. Music by Dennis Chandler. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded with vocals by musician-composer DC.
Click on the title to hear the song.
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A little levity with a sardonic song. Lyrics by Phil Smoluk. Music by Dennis Chandler. Instrumentation arranged, produced, recorded with vocals by musician-composer DC.
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Lyrics by Dennis Chandler & Clebert Ford. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC … who also did the vocals.
The long BACKSTORY about SONG “FENCES” is on this WEBPAGE … CLICK LINK https://dennischandler.com/index.php/fences-thsite page … e-song/
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Summer 1993: Reunion of The Secrets.
Three songs of Dennis’ … he re-recorded in 1993. They were for one very special reunion … and for one very special group. “The Secrets”. Who? A girl group from the ’60s … who had the ’63 hit song titled, “The Boy Next Door”.
So what made this so special? These tunes brought back some rockin’ memories. Not just for them. But for Bandleader Chandler aka “the boy behind them”. As a past accompanist … Dennis did many a gig with the girls … back in the day, (as they say). But, what day? Shhh … it’s a secret. 
That Secrets reunion session in 1993 … yielded a sort of mini-album, made up of original songs written by Dennis. Besides “Can You Feel It (That Rock ‘n’ Roll)” … the other songs included were … “Just a Rock ‘n’ Roll Melody” … and … (You’re) Never Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll”.
Never actually released, these songs did get some airplay by the legendary disc jockey Norm N. Nite on his then-WMJI radio show. But, that station’s Program Director felt forced to nix any more airplay. His reasoning? This material, albeit old sounding, was new and … did not fit the format of “Oldies” aka “Classic Rock”. He feared a floodgate effect of writers … submitting unpublished songs.
Nonetheless, writer-Dennis was pleased that the iconic Norm N. Nite played the songs. After all, Norm was first to go to Ahmet Ertegun … to “pitch” Cleveland as the home of the rock hall. He was pleased to hear on air again the … by-then-ten-year-old … specially written song. It was very fulfilling to hear such positive feedback. Those listeners loved the old-sounding new songs … and told Norm so. Rock on, Den did.
“Can You Feel It (That Rock ‘n’ Roll”)
“(You’re) Never Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll”
Female Vocals by The Secrets …
“(You’re) Never Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll” … Click on the title above to hear the song sung by ’60s girl group called “The Secrets” …
Male Vocals by Dennis Chandler …
“(You’re) Never Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll” … Click on the title below to hear the song sung by Dennis …
“You’re) Never Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll”
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BACK STORY about … “Don’t Be Feelin’ Down, Don’t Be Feelin’ Low”
Upon meeting and melding musically with the iconic Harold Bradley … a GUITAR HERO to Dennis … HB asked to hear some original songs. We obliged him. Then he asked Dennis to do DEMOS for him. We did.
Who was Harold Bradley? For starters he was one of the “Nashville Cats”… celebrated and memorialized in song. Why? They were members of the “A Team” … early recording session musicians. In fact, Harold and his brother Owen Bradley built the Quonset Hut … which started Nashville’s landmark Music Row. To learn more … go to … https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/harold-bradley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzmBzbu40ys
So naturally when Harold said he loved them and wanted demos sent down South … to his home. (See his biz card, etc). Well, we started to … then … sadly Harold passed.
Life took us down a different direction … that included sprinting over new health hurdles. But, now … having overcome them … we race on.
It’s 2024 … To paraphrase Oscar Hammerstein’s song … since June 15, 2023 … “June is busting out all over”, still. As up in OUR RECORDING LOFT. That’s where I found files of raw demos of our original music. That included these dubs I did … from old reel-to-reel tapes and cassettes, etc.
Perhaps it’s not too late … to plant the seeds of melody … and … bring to Harvest what Harold wanted to hear. He wanted MELODIC MUSIC to make a comeback. He wanted songs with hooks. He said … formula songs that could give the listener something to latch onto.
Pondering and wondering whom dear Harold … would have presented these tunes to? Hence this page … where I have only just begun … to post and upload the raw demos.
I could only guess what Angel Harold would like to hear … from Above. I dunno how to do You Tube … yet. But I plan to learn … Zoom, too. (Calling on Angels!)
Lyrics were written by Phil Smoluk. Music written by Dennis Chandler. Instrumentation… arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC … who also sang the song. Click on the title to hear the song.
Don’t Be Feelin’ Down, Don’t Be Feelin’ Low
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BACK STORY about … “Catch You Later”
The lyrics were written by Dennis Chandler and Tom Schuck. Music by Dennis and Charlie Adams. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Vocals by Dennis Chandler. Click on the title to hear the song …
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ABOUT … “Universe Park” – A homage to Cleveland’s iconic amusement park … Euclid Beach Park. The lyrics were written by Phil Smoluk. Music by Dennis Chandler. Vocals and instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC.
Click on the title to hear the song …
Universe Park – Homage to Euclid Beach Park
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About … “Willow Lady” … Written, arranged, produced and recorded by Dennis Chandler … sung by Dale Solly, of Blessed memory. Click on the title to hear the song.
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About … “Smilin’ That’s Her Way” … This was written for a video farewell tribute to television talk show host, Jan Jones. It was aired on her last day on ABC affiliate WEWS TV5’s “The Morning Exchange”. Lyrics by Liz & Dennis Chandler. Vocals and instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Click on the title to hear the song …
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Spring 2023 … His Memory is a Blessing … Cleveland Baseball’s Iconic Fan
Drummer John J. Adams
About the First Song Below: John Adams always found favor … wherever and whenever he added his drum beat. Savor this musical homage to fans of this city’s baseball team … (previously called the Indians). Words written by Liz & Dennis Chandler. Music by composer-Dennis. DC arranged, produced and recorded this tune.
Click on the title to hear: Ride With The Tribe
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About the Second Song Below: Drummer John Adams’ good vibrations were always felt … whenever that fan of all things, Cleveland … came ’round. So Bandleader Chandler oftentimes would egg him onstage … to sit in with his Stratophonics. That worked to the advantage of WHK Radio’s Houseband (DC & Strats) … when they were gathering signatures for the First Petition Drive and Campaign … to … “Bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to Cleveland” … (as the slogan on the banner reads).
And gather they did! Local television news anchor Denise Dufala … announced “Dennis and his band were responsible for collecting over 200,000 of the 660,000 petition signatures” (total collected in 30 days). Confirmation came from her news producer Bob Lewis. In an on-air audible “aside” … he exclaimed … “I ought to know … I had to count them all”. The song was also played for the later USA Today Phone Poll. So it is not a stretch to say “DC & Strats” had a little help from some friends. Drummer John Adams.
Words and music written by Dennis Chandler. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Vocals by DC and drummer Ernie Nachtigal.
Click on this link to hear: Dennis Chandler Intro
Click on the title to hear: Can You Feel It (That Rock ‘n’ Roll)
About … “Ride With The Tribe” … A back-in-the-day homage to our baseball team. Then called The Cleveland Indians … they are now known as The Guardians. Music by Dennis Chandler. Lyrics by Liz & Dennis Chandler. Vocals and instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Click on the title to hear the song.
About … “Go Browns” … A homage to Cleveland’s football team. Music by Dennis Chandler. Lyrics by Phil Smoluk. Vocals & instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Click on the title to hear the song.
About … “Woolly, Me and You” … Written for Dick Goddard and his Woollybear Festival. The title is “Woolly, Me and You” aka “The Woollybear Song”. This lullaby was the 1st Woollybear song. Music by Dennis Chandler. Lyrics by Phil Smoluk. Vocals by Dale Solly, of Blessed memory … with a chorus of Woollybear Watchers. Instrumentation… arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Click on the title to hear the song.
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ABOUT … Bill “Smoochie” Gordon’s Theme: Written for the media pioneer to use for his radio and television talk shows. Plus at his personal appearances … Musical Director Dennis often played along, so to speak. Bill’s memory is a Blessing.
About … “Oh, How We Love Those Pierogi” … Written for Joel Rose and his friends. Music was written by Dennis Chandler with Lyrics by Phil Smoluk. The vocals are by then-popular media-types … who are listed on the 45 record jacket. (Remember those?) I’ve included the back of the record jacket … with the words. In case you want to do a Karaoke session. Check out JR’s recipe. You can bake as you sing along. Vocals and instrumentation… arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Click on the title to hear the song.
BACK STORY about … the song … “Plymouth Rock”
It was on the A side of a 45 record that this band had way back. The 1964 song was done by DC and a group of his hometown friends. The formed a band and called themselves, “The Pilgrims”. Perhaps the name was fortuitous … for they seemed aptly named. Playing around … in the Detroit / Windsor area … in those places and in those times … in Detroit’s musical history? It was, “Priceless”, Dennis said. Why? They became the houseband for the legendary powerhouse Radio Station “CKLW”.
In support of the station’s musical format … they entertained at their many various live events and promotions … all around the area. As … Pianist-Dennis … he also became arranger and accompanist for even more diverse audiences. House parties of fond memory … included the ones at the residences of Rev. Cecil Franklin (Aretha’s father) … and … Hank Ballard of “Hank Ballard & The Midnighters”, to name just two. (Talk ‘bout “Stand and deliver!”)
The lyrics were written by Dennis Chandler and bassist Pete Dragas. The music was written by Bandleader Chandler. The other band members on the record … were drummer Ron Harkai, guitarist Glenn Schwartz and Dennis (who doubled on keyboards and guitar). Instrumentation arranged by DC … who also sang the song.
Click on the title to hear: Plymouth Rock
On the B side of this 45 record of the Pilgrims is a song … originally written and recorded by the iconic Bluesman … John Lee Hooker.
This “cover” of Hooker’s song … was done by Dennis and band. One can hear on lead vocals … Glenn Schwartz … with some shout-singing background by the rest of the band.
Click on the title to hear the song … Maudy
PARTIAL LIST BELOW … is for a few past musical projects.
I will be adding more music … as I acquire knowledge of how to do so. All the projects were written, arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC …( with some help from assistant-producer me).
Jingles … are listed in no particular order …
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE JINGLE Version 1
TV 8’s “Winners” Promotion … “We’re TV8, Home of The Winners”.
TV 5’s Morning Exchange … “Start Your Day With Us”.
Bass Chevrolet … “Home of Bass Chevrolet”.
Rinaldi Jewelry … “Where Little Things Mean a Lot”.
WERE’s Joey Jay Radio Show … “Jazz for Joey Jay” (Instrumental).
After Five Magazine … “There’s a New Way of Looking at Cleveland After Five”.
Midpark Chrysler Plymouth … “You Are Someone Special”.
Morrell Music … “If You Want More Than Just A Music Store”.
Audio Outlet … “There Is Only One”.
Kitchen Queen … “Kitchen Queen, Your Dream Kitchen Store”.
Bobby Gee Stores … “You and Me and Bobby Gee”.
Randall Park Mall … “The Best of Them All”.
Cleveland Copy and Printing … “When You Need More Than One”.
More Specialty Songs (list is in no particular order)
NBC TV3 Weatherman’s theme … “Waylon Boot’s Bodacious Blues”.
Politico Bob Hughes Tribute Song … “Hats Off To Hughes”.
Eastside Irish American Club Theme for Grand Opening … “And Yet We’ve Just Begun”.
Kidney Foundation Chili Cook-Off Winner Rafe Goldbach’s song … “Ode To Rotten Rafe’s Chili”.
M.D.A. Poster Child, Damian Claudio’s Poem (laid to video) ….”Hoping For A Miracle”.
First Rock Hall Song (all media, USA Today Phone Poll, Petition Drives) … “Can You Feel It -That Rock ‘n’ Roll”. (a cover re-recorded by “The Secrets” was mentioned earlier).
Chamber of Commerce/Growth Association Farewell Songs: Pres. Bill Bryant & Ex.VP K. Michael Benz …”Blues for Benz”.
TV8’s Dick Goddard & Dale Solly … The Woollybear Song aka “Woolly, Me and You”. (mentioned earlier).
Media Types … Joel Rose, Jan Jones, Dale Solly, The Ghoul, Tana Carli … Joel Rose’s Polka aka “Oh, How We Love Those Pierogi”. (mentioned earlier).
TV5’s Morning Exchange 10th Anniversary Song … “Start Your Day With Us”.
Morning Exchange: Farewell Song for show’s host Jan Jones (laid to video) … “Smilin’ -That’s Her Way”. (mentioned earlier).
Morning Exchange: Farewell Song for show’s host Joel Rose (laid to video) …. “Joel’s A Rose”.
Song in tribute to television personality Fred Griffith … “Always Fred”.
Cleveland Indians Song … “Ride With The Tribe”. (mentioned earlier).
The First Cleveland Browns Song (laid to video by Gib Shanley for WEWS) … “Go Browns”. (mentioned earlier).
Themes for Local Television Shows
NBC TV3 Dale Solly’s Half-Hour Special on Lake Erie titled “Dark Water, Deep Secrets” … Complete Score … (Instrumental)
TB added
CH 19 Dale Solly’s “Cleveland Homes Magazine” Show … Theme … (Instrumental)
Bill “Smoochie” Gordon’s TV Show …”Stay Smoochie You Rascal, You” …. (Instrumental)
Betsy Saltzburg’s TV Show “Positively Speaking” … Theme … (Instrumental)
Stage Music
Music written for A Tribute to Icabod Flewellen, Founder of African-American Museum … and performed by former Wings Over Jordon Baritone, Web Fleming.
Words & Music for “Maltshop Memories” (a rock ‘n’ roll roadshow that toured locally, played community theatres i.e., Gates Mills Straw Hat Theatre, etc. )
Music written for Playwright Deborah Osment Ryan’s “Ruling Passion – A Musical Comedy About Richard III”. (mentioned earlier).
Music written for Playwright Larry Brenner’s “Just We Two” – a musical comedy about a man in a coma. (mentioned earlier)
Liz Chandler, Web Writer aka Mrs. Dennis aka Archivist 2024
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