Episode 11: Willie Wisely Songwriter Willie Wisely teleports casually across musical boundaries, with occasional forays into the sweet spot of melodic pop. "I love nothing more than stringing chords together and finding the surprising collision of wonderments." // "The clock -- the calendar -- is my collaborator... Just be patient and let it bake." Special thanks to one of my previous guests, Mark Bacino, for introducing me to Willie Wisely. Mark is acknowledged in the liner notes of Willie's "Parador" album, and Willie sang a backing vocal on Mark's "Diggin' That Girl," from his album "Pop Job." Photo by Michael Piccirilli
Bonus Talk (12 mins.)
We had a great conversation
about Willie's website curation and about house concerts.
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Album | Artist | Songwriter | Producer | Song | ||
Face the Sun
(2019) |
Willie Wisely | (See "Songs Featured") | John Strawberry Fields |
Cut Your Groove
(Willie Wisely) Compare this 2019 version with the one Willie recorded on 4-track cassette in 2000 with The Conquerors. I love the arrangements of both versions equally. It was inspired by The Rolling Stones, "Out of Time."
It’s Better Not to Care
(Willie Wisely, Shelly Peiken)
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True (2012) |
Willie Wisely Trio |
William John Wisely, Jr. |
Willie Wisely / Ed Ackerson |
Kiss Her and Make It Right A rollicking beat, a vocal with attitude, and a horn with a broken spit valve. |
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Wisely (2008) |
Willie Wisely | (See "Songs Featured") | Petur Smith / William Wisely, Jr. |
Ella (William Wisely, Jr.)
A delightful tune with a sweet, descending bridge, written and named for Willie's daughter. (Those are her scribbles on the album cover.) "Baby, don'tcha touch ground." The acoustic version on "Between the Xs and the Os" is also excellent.
Here, There and Everywhere
(Lennon-McCartney)
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Parador 2006 |
Willie Wisely | (See "Songs Featured") | Linus of Hollywood / Willie Wisely |
Altitudes (William J Wisely, Jr.) Notice that the first eight bars are produced, performed and sung like power pop, then all the instruments and vocals abruptly switch to a softer palette. This occurs again in the third verse. Willie’s voice often plays this casual balancing act between strength and sensitivity. The chorus lengthens every time around.
Too Quick To Love (William J Wisely Jr and Rebecca Elizabeth Lord)
Who Blew Out the Sun? (William
J Wisely, Jr.)
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Turn On Tune Out Drop Dead (1998) |
The Conquerors |
Willie Wisely |
Willie Wisely |
Kicking Myself The Conquerors are their own little niche sound in the Willie Wisely catalog. File under "Dukes of the Stratosphere," as this band is something of an alter-ego to Willie's solo artist, or as Willie calls it, "a beautiful wormhole." Recorded on 4-track cassette, they have a unique yet relatable, throwback sound. |
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She (1996) |
Willie Wisely | William J Wisely, Jr. | John Strawberry Fields / Willie Wisely |
Blues (All the Rage)
A great lesson in how a song with familiar chordal and harmonic touches can be completely original (and super fun)!
Go!
His Eye, It’s Wandering
Loander My Guitar
Ready to Wear
Sleeping With Girls |
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Parlez-Vous Francais? (1994) |
Willie Wisely Trio |
Willie Wisely | Willie Wisely |
So Alone (A Greta Garbo theme song?) |
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