Sound Samples: If (MP3) By the Time I Get To Phoenix (MP3) Yesterday (MP3) Wind Beneath My Wings (MP3) Lady (MP3) USA INTERNATIONAL

The songs in this album were suggested by my son, Jud, who was born in 1956 and grew up in the era of the Beatles and Stevie Wonder. My daughter,Heather, 5 years younger, agreed. They said we needed something for their generation, and here it is. Opening with If and I Want To Make It With You (made famous by Bread) and closing with Kenny Rogers' Lady (written by Lionel Richie), it visits along the way with Jimmy Webb's Wichita Lineman and By The Time I Get To Phoenix. It pays tribute to Burt Bacharach, with a medley including Close To You and A House Is Not A Home. When I did the Beatles' Yesterday, I couldn't resist quoting from another generation with Jerome Kern's nostalgic Yesterdays which treats the same subject.

Two songs turned out to be special as I got into them. First, was Wind Beneath My Wings, which sort of played itself after I got into the arrangement. It was true also of Lionel Richie's beautiful and haunting Lady made famous by Kenny Rogers. The latter had an almost classical sounding minor key melody all through the first section which resolves to the major key in the final passages near the end of the song.

My conclusion is that standards come in every generation which is what Cocktail Piano is all about. My kids were not alone in asking for a more contemporary album. Many of you have made the same request over the years. We take your suggestions seriously and request that you continue to suggest songs for future albums. You can do this either by filling out one of the postage paid cards inside each CD and mail it in or by coming to our web site at www.cocktailpiano.com and sending us an e-mail.

Try out the sound samples, order a copy, and plan your next party.