Yes indeed, it’s all you need…
A little song about love and dreams.
and…
The kids and I drew a little picture to go with it too!
Category: Images
1 Love & Dreams
2 Hauling Stars
You’re thinking to yourself… “Hey, I know this one” and, “I’ve seen that picture before” and, “Wait, that part at the end, I know that one too!”
Yes, it’s true, some thing’s are old and some thing’s are new. The past 3 posts have been new songs for old stories and pictures from everyone’s favorite book “Grass Stained Twilight”.
I can’t recall this elephants name ’cause, like most elephants, he comes and goes pretty quickly. No time for chit-chat. You know elephants and their rocket ships. Anyway, if you see him, maybe you’ll point out that somebody posted a song about him on the internet.
I hear elephants like that sort of thing.
Also, if you’re aware of any other species that enjoy this type of friendly entertainment perhaps you wouldn’t mind letting them know as well.
3 Say Hello To My Hippo!
Say Hello to my Hippo,
He’s as friendly as can be.
There really is no reason
To hide up in that tree.
He’s big and fat and funny,
And he’s got a lovely smile.
He only shops at thrift stores,
But he’s got a lot of style.
Don’t let his scrunched face fool you,
It’s only just pretend.
It’s not because he’s angry,
It’s ’cause he’s breaking wind.
On second thought, I’ll join you,
Up there in your tree,
‘Cause sometimes by my hippo,
It’s hard for me to breathe.
Yes, well there you are folks. This one’s a considered a classic around our camp. Coop’s been begging me to get it recorded and posted for a very long time. He’s working on an animation for it right now using the new Nintendo DSi Flipnote Studio. If you haven’t seen that little program yet you’ve got to check it out. Absolutely amazing. I’ll post a link here as soon as he’s ready. This song will be included on next CD but you’re gettin’ it here and now for free! Send your friends a link. Everyone loves a flatulent hippo!
In other news;
The Green Thing is coming along nicely. It really is turning into the epic we always wanted it to be. If you’re really wanting a sneak peak you can check out “Call Me They“. Kids Music That Rocks gave it this splendid little introduction: “If The Flaming Lips Made a Kids’ Album…”
The newest CD cover (for the collection coming out this year) is almost complete and we’ll announce the title and give you a sneak preview in the coming weeks.
And, we just can’t get enough of The Beatles RockBand around here. Landen and Caden came over last night and we rocked that thing for hours. The whole fam’s learning the words to every Beatles song. Just awesome.
2 Cereal Guy
Cereal Guy
When I wake up in the morning, I have only one goal, And that is to get to my cereal bowl. I start with the classics, The crunches and puffs, And when I have munched up All of that stuff, I move on to granolas, And then to oatmeals, Till my head starts to spinning, And I’m feeling surreal. I chew through the boxes, Never stopping to rest, Always in hope of completing my quest, Hoping that someday, When the sun starts to rise, I’ll pour into my bowl A half decent prize.
So that’s a brand new one with more to follow in the coming months.
We’ve also been hard at work on “The Green Thing” with five brand new songs in the mixing stages. Would someone please tell Hayao Miyazaki that we’d like him and John Lasseter to produce and direct the film.
Just a brief note about the passing of the amazing Les Paul…
I once had the extreme pleasure of sitting down to a conversation with Les Paul, the man who pioneered and invented everything from multi-track recording to the electric guitar. In the room with us that night were Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains, Billy Sheehan from David Lee Roth’s band, and Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick. Everyone sat completely glued to the man who had essentialy given them their reason for being. I was living on the beach in Oxnard at the time and he told me how he and Bing Crosby had been driving up the coast to an event many, many years ago. He pointed out how the drive took much longer in those days and how they had made it to Oxnard when Bing realized he had to use the restroom. There was nothing in Oxnard at the time so they drove up to a house in a residential area, knocked on the door, and the two living legends gave the occupants the surprise of their life. My re-telling of this story fails in communicating the warmth and humor that left everyone laughing and hanging on his every word. It’s not just what you do, it’s how you do it. Les continued to surprise all of us that evening with his amazing energy, his incredible joy for life, and his beautiful guitar playing. His legacy will continue to give all of us new joys and surprises for years and generations to come. I will use the tools he gave me with great joy and respect for the rest of my life.
1 They Meet
A Brand New Song of the Week! And it’s live and unplugged!Good news for all you folks in Ojai who haven’t picked up your copy of “Grass Stained Twilight” yet… We’ve just added two more stores: Serendipity Toys, without a doubt one of the greatest toy stores ever -and- Bhavantu, Catherine Nations wonderful clothing store with shoes, books, jewelry, yoga, and more.
Thank You!
1 Is It?… Oh Yes It Is!.. a Comic AND a Song!!!
2 The 4th Of July
Happy Anniversary Gina!
I Love You.
2 Hit Record
Yeah, weird, right…
Yes, well it’s back to business. Working on “The Green Thing” epic again and having a blast. But first!… it’s off to New York we go for some fun & adventure! And then, it’s back to business. But seriously, the coolest series of events unfolded with that project recently. First; ever since I started this little station over here on the internet I’ve wanted to be featured on Kids Music That Rocks – and guess what? It turns out that last week I was featured and didn’t even know it! It was for the first song I’ve released from this little “The Green Thing” project. He gave it the title: “If The Flaming Lips Made a Kids Album”… Isn’t that the coolest thing?! Now if that weren’t enough, the #2 pick for his favorite album of 2008 emails me and tells me how much she digs “Call Me They”. Her name is Nancy Falkow and her newest record is a collaboration with Fran King. It’s called Sunflow (awesome video/song here). You’ve got to listen to this record. It’s absolutely beautiful. If you like my music you’re going to love this. They site Harry Nilsson and Paul McCartney as influences (which most of you know are my very favorites). She’s toured with Daniel Lanois as a vocalist and he’s worked with George Martin and opened for Tears For Fears.
This “Hit Record” song was my final contribution to the Nur Ein project/contest. The only specifications were that “Song must include at least one distinct change in musical genre.” The overall consensus I think was that I changed genre’s a lot but that it was from one Todd McHatton song to another Todd McHatton song, and so on. Needless to say, my ride ended at the final four. However, a most deserving artist took top honors. His name is Frankie Big Face and he too has some outstanding music.
And, one more thing, Grass Stained Twilight is now up on Bandcamp in it’s entirety with pictures from the cd and everything… check it out.
Thank you all for the comments and emails. I really do enjoy the feedback.
2 Spider To The Fly
There’s a lot going on here. Give it a couple of listens. I made it to the “Final Four” in the “Nur Ein” song contest with this one (so far). The garden is going crazy, the kids are happy, my wife is amazing, life is glorious, and you’ve got to see UP!
And, I’m really enjoying this guys twitters!
5 What Once Was Grand
Like some surrealist invented this…
Here’s hoping that everyone finds their True Love.
What Once Was Grand
We traced a million stars into pictures above – Neither one of us knowing who the other was – And all the space and time between us wasn’t enough – To keep me from finding you and that’s because – When you exhale on a wish then it takes your breath – Like a passenger aboard a soaring dream – Set sail on a search for a wordless yes – And other warm, familiar, unspoken things – The dandelions dreamers blow upon fill the sky – They dart and drift along in shallow loops – Like pieces of a puzzle drift between you and I – Drawing lines connecting stars that brought me to you – And all the things we said about what once was grand – Have come along even better then we’d planned
Todd McHatton 