photo: Crotaphytus collaris auriceps near Moab, Utah by Barney Oldfield

A Music Page - Seriously?
You may be scratching your head about this page, but I was a musician (guitarist-songwriter) long before I became an academic. In February 2021 I decided to record a number of songs that I've written over time, as well as songs by well-known artists that I had been playing for decades. My initial motivation was simply to record these tunes before I forgot how to play them, or that increasing arthritis in my hands would prevent playing them. But the project quickly grew in scope and took nine months to complete. Everything from 2021 was recorded with a directional microphone onto a single-track digital recorder that I had used previously to record animal vocalizations. Starting with a main guitar track, each subsequent track was recorded one at a time. Reverb and simple effects, like digital delay or chorus, were added and the individual tracks were mixed together using inexpensive recording and editing software. The bass guitar parts are actually bass notes played on the lower strings of an acoustic guitar that are pitch-shifted down an octave. Percussion tracks were largely constructed using downloadable sound samples. Oh, and if you like the weird and wonderful sound of backwards guitar, I created that for the choruses in my song "The Albatross" and for the faux synthesizer solos in the Beatles' "Because".  Unfortunately, the music player on the website greatly reduces the dynamic range of the actual recordings. Things sound much better on CD (if you're interested, email me with an address and I can send you a CD). Alternatively, you can download all the songs on this page as a single zipped folder (242.8 MB) by clicking right here: CLICK. To play an individual song, click the "play" marker on the left side of the sound bar below any song title. Last, at the end of the page I've added a few songs that I recorded with several music buddies (especially Rick and Graydon) in 1979 and 1980. Some are quite good; others I find just a little bit corny. Regardless, I hope you enjoy 'em.

SONGS WITH VOCALS (Recorded 2021)
You Can Close Your Eyes  |  James Taylor (1971)

You've Got A Friend  |  James Taylor 1971 (via Carole King)

Fire And Rain - Something In The Way She Moves  |  James Taylor (1968)

Sweet Baby James  |  James Taylor (1975)

Music  |  James Taylor (1975)

Love Songs  |  James Taylor (1975)

Wandering  - The Secret Of Life   |  James Taylor (1975, 1977)

New Tune - Shower The People - Looking For Love On Broadway - Soldiers  |  J. Taylor (1972-1977)

On The 4th Of July  |  James Taylor (2002)

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas  |  James Taylor version (2002)

Blackbird  |  Paul McCartney (1968)

Because  |  Lennon & McCartney (1969)

I Can Let Go Now  |  Michael McDonald (1982)

To The Morning  |  Dan Fogelberg (1972)

Stars  |  Dan Fogelberg (1972)

Souvenirs  |  Dan Fogelberg (1974)

Wysteria  |  Dan Fogelberg (1972)

I Want To Be With You  |  Joe Macedonia (1974)

The Albatross  |  Joe Macedonia (1976)

Simple Man, Simple Dream  |  J. D. Souther (1976)

Doors Swing Open  |  J. D. Souther (1976)

The Last In Love  |  J. D. Souther (1979)

All Things Must Pass  |  George Harrison (1970)

SOLO GUITAR INSTRUMENTALS (Recorded 2021)

The Probability Of You  |  Joe Macedonia (2020)

Say What?  |  Joe Macedonia (2004)

Enough To Be On Your Way - She's Leaving Home  |  James Taylor (1997), The Beatles (1967)

When It's Over  |  Joe Macedonia (2004)

Lazy Susan  |  Dan Fogelberg (1978)

The Last Robot - Farewell To Pluto  |  Joe Macedonia (2016, 2018)

Eldorado Springs  |  Joe Macedonia (1980)

Bobbleheads  |  Joe Macedonia (2018)

There And Back Again  |  Joe Macedonia (2017)

Until Then  |  Joe Macedonia (mid-2000's)

Fork In The Road  |  Joe Macedonia (2017)

Intro - Yesterday  |  Joe Macedonia (2020), Paul McCartney (1965)

OLDER SONGS WITH VOCALS (Recorded 1979-1980)

Back To The Islands   |  Joe Macedonia (1979)

Just In Case   |  Joe Macedonia (1977)

The Wound   |  Joe Macedonia (1977)

Blue And Lonely Night   |  Joe Macedonia (1979)

South Of The Border   |  Joe Macedonia (1977)

Broken Heart   |  Joe Macedonia (1979)

One More Time   |  Joe Macedonia (1977)

Good Friends of Mine   |  Joe Macedonia (1977)

OLDER SOLO GUITAR INSTRUMENTALS (Recorded 1979-1980)

Girl In The Red Sports Car   |  Joe Macedonia (1980)

And Then She Smiled   |  Joe Macedonia (1979)

Panama Hat  |  Joe Macedonia (1978)

The Memory That Remains   |  Joe Macedonia (1975)