All Original Music, Drafts, Demos & More
March 2023: Chameleon Chandler’s RECORDINGS REPOSITORY. I have found more old REEL-to-REEL RAW DEMO TAPES. Daily, I am finding more DRAFTS, too. From tape to computer … another leg of a song’s journey. May it bring us … more EGGHEADS (read: musicians, singers, etc.) Wish me luck … with this tech stuff … it’s tough. Why? Because I am my own teacher. Signed, “Student Liz” aka “Mrs. Dennis” aka an-archivist-in-training.
Feb. 2023 … We Remember Cleveland Baseball’s Iconic Drummer John J. Adams
First Song … BELOW: Savor our homage to this city’s baseball team. Previously called the Cleveland Indians … they are now “The Guardians”. Words written by Liz and Dennis Chandler. Music by composer Dennis. DC also arranged, produced and recorded this tune. John Adams always favored … adding his drum beat to it. Click on the title to hear to hear Ride With The Tribe
Second Song … BELOW: Many volunteers … including John J. Adams … worked on the grassroots campaign … the Petition Drive … USA Today Poll and Campaign to … “Bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to Cleveland” (as the slogan on the banner reads).
Words and music written by Dennis Chandler. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Vocals by DC and drummer Ernie Nachtgal.
Can You Feel It (That Rock ‘n’ Roll)
BELOW the next Collage is … “Where Are They Now”. It was inspired by TRAVELING TROUBADOURS, DOLLY PARTON and WILLIE NELSON. 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 TRADITION ORAL TRADITION. What’s that? They had him sitting at their knee … saying to him, “Good. Good. Now try this way…” They gave so lovingly and freely to him … their music. Rare for those times, those places.
Lyrics were written by Phil Smoluk (my brother) and Dennis Chandler (my hubby & partner). 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 the song.
BELOW is … “Plymouth Rock”. It was inspired by Bandleader Chandler for his band called “The Pilgrims”. They were the houseband for CKLW RADIO. The lyrics were written by Dennis and bassist Pete Dragas. The music was written by DC. The other bandmembers 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 the song.
BELOW is … “Dancin’ to Bo Diddley”. It was inspired by Dennis’ FIRST GUITAR TEACHER … the ICONIC … ROCK ‘n’ BLUESMAN … BO DIDDLEY. The song won one of the AMERICAN SONG FESTIVAL AWARDS … shown below. Lyrics were written by Phil Smoluk, Tom Schuck and Dennis. 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.
“If I Had It To Do Over Again” was another AMERICAN SONG FESTIVAL WINNER. Lyrics were written by Phil Smoluk. Music written by Dennis. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC … who also sang the song. Click on the title to hear the song.
BELOW … is … “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 … offered that 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 about DC’s admiration for her talents. Her voice, particulary. It plays in Dennis’ mind, (so to speak). Poppa BB implied that BS would be easy to talk to. Why? BB said she was very gracious … when the two of them met. He said he would help with a hookup, (so to speak). It wasn’t meant to be. BB’s gone. But, Babs still here. So while we are also still here … we say, “yet”. It seems a long way to go. But … it was a “Broadway connection” … said, that-fan-of-Pianist-Dennis’. “Close enough for rock and roll”, as they say … even those … on Broadway.
By the way, this song did get a GOOD GRADE and RAVE REVIEW … from a couple of other ICONIC creative-types. How it happened was quite a while back … when the great GAMBLE & HUFF were holding their series of SONGWRITING SEMINARS. The LEGENDS from the label called THE SOUNDS OF PHILY … were in NYC conducting classes for composers. Upon hearing this song … they GAVE A RAVE REVIEW. There was to be a contract … a “360 Degree” one … as the industry labels call some contracts (go to Google on this stuff).
In any case … we never did get to follow up with those fine folks from Philly. Why? Health hurdles here at home for us. For them … tax hurdles from the powers-that-were … at the time. So albeit belatedly, I’m posting that CRITIQUE from PRODUCERS GAMBLE & HUFF.
By the way, these notes I only recently found while de-cluttering Dennis’ files. Seems Spring has come 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.
“Let Me Be Your Song” lyrics were written by the two of us … (LC & DC). Music by Composer Chandler. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. The melodious vocals are by Melissa Barber. Click on the title to hear the song.
Speaking of ICONIC … Bluesmasters … that’s BOBBY BLUE BLAND. 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 in homage to “DAD BLUE”, as we affectionately called him. His memory is a Blessing. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded with vocals by musician-composer DC.
BELOW is the song “Hard On Me”. FYI: There are TWO versions featured here. The lyrics were written by Phil Smoluk. Music by Dennis Chandler. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Click on the TWO titles to hear the song TWICE. (Not to worry … the Bluesy tune is easy on the ear, so to speak!)
The FIRST version of the song has vocals & instrumentation by Dennis Chandler.
The SECOND version has vocals by Melissa Barber. Instrumentation by Dennis Chandler.
“(You’re) Never Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll”
“Never Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll”
BELOW … is the song … “Don’t Be Feelin’ Down, Don’t Be Feelin’ Low”. It was inspired Vince Gill. It was our hope that Harold Bradley (who loved our songs) … would present the demos Dennis was asked to do … (by the iconic Bradley). Sadly, Harold passed. Harold was a legend … a member of recording studio musicians called, “The A Team” aka “Nashville Cats”. (I reference the song written in Harold’s honor. You MUST Google him!)
But, perhaps it’s not too late to bloom. I wonder to whom dear Harold wanted these tunes sent? Hence this page that I have begun … since I dunno how to do You Tub (yet).
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
“Right Here, Right Now (Turn Love On)” was inspired by Gladys Knight. As a matter of fact, I found in the files … contracts for songs that included this one. They were the kind I mentioned above … the “360 Degree” kind. (FYI … that meant labels had a lock on all that one does … in this case … Musician Dennis) BTW, I stopped shredding the other paperwork that came from SAS Publishing. (They were BB King’s management and handled Gladys Knight, at the time) Today, perhaps the tie that binds … will be a past musical one. Dennis could deal … via another visit and jam with Elijah … right here, right now. (OK, maybe after the drummer stops touring).
“I See The Writing On The Wall”: The lyrics were written by Phil Smoluk. Music by Dennis Chandler. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Vocals by the incomparable Betsy Hammer. Click on the title to hear the song.
“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 the incomparable Betsy Hammer. Click on the title to hear the song.
The lyrics were written by Tom Schuck. Music by Dennis Chandler. Instrumentation … arranged, recorded and produced by composer-DC. Vocals by Tom Shuck. Click on the title to hear the song.
Below are three songs of Dennis’ … that 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 hit titled “The Boy Next Door”)
So what made this so special? These tunes brought back some rockin’ memories … for them and for himself. Why? Bandleader Chandler aka “the boy behind them”… did many a gig with the girls … back in the day, (as they say). But, what day? Shhh … it’s a secret.
Words and music written by Dennis Chandler. Instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. The vocals were done by the girls. Click on the title of each song … to hear that particular song.
Never Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll
Can You Feel It (That Rock ‘n’ Roll)
“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
“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.
“Smilin’ That’s Her Way”: This was written for a video farewell tribute to Jan Jones. It was aired on her last day hosting TV5’s Morning Exchange show. Lyrics by Liz & Dennis Chandler. Vocals and instrumentation … arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC. Click on the title to hear the song.
“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.
“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.
“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.
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.
“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.
“Will We Love Again”: Commissioned by the ICONIC MEDIA PIONEER and GRAND DAME … the famed DOROTHY FULDHEIM. One of her published books … the one titled “Three and a Half Husbands”… was to be turned into a stage play. She began to CHAMPION Dennis … calling him, “MY COMPOSER”. “A MUSICAL CHAMELEON”… who would write for her what she wanted … “a VARIETY of songs”. Dennis started her project … but then dear Dorothy suffered a stroke. Sadly, it was not meant to be. But what is meant to be … is remembering her here. About Dorothy … go to this website’s page titled, “Dorothy Fuldheim Challenges Composer Chandler”. One can read how the two met … and melded musically. It was a grand “Meeting of the Minds”… as another mutual friend STEVE ALLEN would have called it. (I reference another iconic Media Pioneer … that we had the Blessing to know).
Spoiler Alert: about the optics below. The PICTURE posted … BELIES … the SONG’S SERIOUSNESS … but that’s what Dorothy enjoyed … juxtaposing elements and music, too.
Below is a partial list … of a few past musical projects. I will be adding more music … as I acquire knowledge of how to do so. Speaking of what one should know (SO NEW WORK MAY COME HIS WAY) … all the projects were written, arranged, produced and recorded by musician-composer DC.
Jingles (list is in no particular order)
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)
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 2023
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