my latest single

We'll Be Fine

Sometimes you just don't know

I remember writing this song sitting on the couch at my mom's house with my cheap Stella 3/4 acoustic guitar. It was late, probably after a gig. It was drawn from my life. I went through a rough period romantically when I was in my twenties, and the lyrics reflect a young man hesitant to fall in love again for fear of being hurt. But then he realizes it’ll be okay if he and the young lady in question just take things slow. 

This song went through a long adolescence, but it didn’t achieve adulthood until Al Snyder, my producer, wrote a wonderful bridge. Al's plays piano and strings here, and he's a great "song doctor." Pay attention to his arrangement: The verse accompaniment is sparse, hesitant, almost unsure. But the chorus  reflects confidence. Brilliant!

There are undeniable musical references to the Beatles here, some of which were unconscious. The piano part at times resembles "Golden Slumbers," "I Am the Walrus" and “Strawberry Fields Forever.” The ending reminds me of "Blackbird," which was unintentional. But I intentionally had the idea in the studio of having Joey Waslousky add tribal tom-toms to the middle 4 and choruses, ala "Hello Goodbye."

Dave Flodine added wonderful fingerpicked acoustic guitar and electric guitar, and Danny Gochnour complimented it with "George Harrison Leslie" guitar. I am fortunate to have these wonderful musicians to work with.

MY LATEST ALBUM!

Approaching End of Usable Life

Dave Molter

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One year in the making, Approaching End of Usable Life is a collection of tunes in a variety of styles, from Who-like rockers to R&B and old-school love songs. The tracks were recorded at Albey Road Studio in Pittsburgh under the watchful eye of producer/mad scientist Al Snyder, who also worked his songmeister magic as co-writer of four songs.

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    Approaching End of Usable Life

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    Trainwreck

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    You and I

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    Do You Want To

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    Here We Are

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    All the Answers

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    We'll Be Fine

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    Do You Ever Dream of Me

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WHERE IS CHRISTMAS?

A splendid review from The Ark of Music!
In its review of Bongo Boy Records' "Let's Have A Rockin' Christmas Vol. 5"  complilation, The Ark of Music singled out  "Where Is Christmas?" for special praise! here'swhat they had to say:

"OUR FAVORITE TRACK… 

Where Is Christmas? – a soulful, singer-songwriter ballad by Dave Molter and Al Snyder – is a real highlight on this compilation. While it might not be the most jovial or spirited track on this project, its somber message is so appropriate for this difficult year, where so many are celebrating the holidays in a way that feels foreign and disjointed. The track muses particularly on the theme of not quite being able to get into the holiday spirit when a certain loved one isn’t around, another difficult facet of this year that so many of us have been tasked with. Between the heartfelt lyrics and the classic pop-Christmas song production featuring a bell-toned piano and gentle strings, this song will resonate with just about anyone who’s coming into the holiday season after a difficult 2020."

You and I

"You and I" is an atypical single for me,  a short pop song that I think evokes summer and romance. It reminds me ion some ways of Simon & Garfunkel's "59th Street Bridge Song." I'm pleased to have it produced once again by my friend Al Snyder at his Albey Road Studio in Pittsburgh. Al plays keys and adds background vocals. Also onboard are drummer Joey Waslousky and my old pal Dave Flodine on slide & acoustic guitars. Another old friend,  Naomi Jarvis adds "Penny Lane " style trumpets.  If we need to pick one word to describe this tune, let's say it's "jaunty!" 

Buy "You and I" right here on this website, and find it on all streaming platforms as well!

 

All the Answers feat. Annemarie Picerno & The Soulville Horns

Dave Molter feat. Annemarie Picerno & The Soulville Horns

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All the Answers feat. Annemarie Picerno & The Soulville Horns

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The first vocal collaboration between Dave Molter & Annemarie Picerno, "All the Answers" tells the story of a wandering minstrel who strays a bit too far, only to be put in his place by his jilted lover. "This is a cautionary tale," says Molter, who admits that the tune is semi-autobiographical. "It's one of my oldest songs. I wanted a

The first vocal collaboration between Dave Molter & Annemarie Picerno, "All the Answers" tells the story of a wandering minstrel who strays a bit too far, only to be put in his place by his jilted lover. "This is a cautionary tale," says Molter, who admits that the tune is semi-autobiographical. "It's one of my oldest songs. I wanted a powerful female presence to share vocals, and when I heard Annemarie's duet "Money Pain" (with Bob McGilpin), I knew she'd be the perfect foil for my somewhat dim-witted protagonist." Dave and Annemarie have never met in person — she laid down her soulful, over-the-top vocal in Nashville. Smooth guitar by Danny Gochnour (Houserockers) and tight lines from Pittsburgh's premiere brass section, The Soulville Horns add just the right touches, and the drumming of Joey Waslousky and piano by Snyder make for a cohesive whole.

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Just found this video of my first #1 single, "Foolish Heart."  This was recorded at a Danny Gochnour CD release show at Club Cafe in Pittsburgh in September 2019. Danny is the guitarist and the rest of the band was Joe Munroe on keys; Steve Weiss on violin; and Mark Pollera on drums. Danny was kind enough to allow me to do this song, and it was a great night  for all!

Let Me Down Easy

Dave Molter

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"Let Me Down Easy" debuted at #1 on indie stations in the U.K. and Australia! A breakup is never easy. It's a slap in the face, a bucket of cold water on your heart. Sometimes there's no easy way out of a bad relationship. But we can all hope that when the times comes, we'll be let down easy.

Recorded at Albey Road Studio, Pittsburgh

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Illustration by Michael Andrulonis

"IT WAS YOU" EP NOW AVAILABLE!

7 SONGS FOR EVERYONE!

It Was You, my latest EP, is nominated for  the US Album of the Year Award at the 2021 International Singer Songwriters Association Awards!

It's a 7-song compendium of styles that range from British music hall ditties to funky, swampy, bluesy rock!  It's a great way to usher out a trying, depressing year.

The title track is an upbeat, poppy tribute to the carefree days of the mid-Sixties, when songs by the Turtles, Monkees, Kinks and others gave people a reason to be happy.

The digital version is $7. A signed physical CD ($10+ $3 shipping) is also available.

Click the button below to buy either version!

Cover illustration by Michael Andrulonis

 

GET YOUR HEART ON

There Goes My Heart

Dave Molter

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There Goes My Heart

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A tribute to the Buck Owens "Bakersfield Sound" era of U.S. country music in the Sixties, updated.

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DOWNLOAD "LATE DECEMBER"

(REALLY NOTHIN' NEW) UNDER THE SUN

Backroom Blues Vol. 9 release Friday, Nov. 13, 2020!

BACK IN THE STUDIO

Back in the studio!

Help underwrite my next CD

I'm back in the studio with producer Al Snyder!

We've just released a new single (Really Nothin' New) Under the Sun, and plan to have a new EP out before Christmas 2020.  Manufacturing of the first 100 CDs is paid for. But YOU can help offset recording costs and get an signed, personalized CD for a donation of $10 or more. Just click the button below!

Thanks for your continued support and very gracious feedback on my debut EP, "Foolish Heart," and the followup singles, "Oh Woman, Don't You Cry" and  "Lemmings."

Stay safe, and spread the words about Peace and Love wherever you go!

NOTES FROM QUARANTINE

Ain't No Quarantine Gonna Keep Me Down 

August 20, 2020

It hardly seems possible that it was one year ago today that my debut EP, "Foolish Heart, " was released. Musically, it has been a crazy year for all the best reasons. Four of the five songs on the EP hit number 1 on Indie music charts somewhere in the world over the last year. My sixth single, "Oh Woman, Don't You Cry," also went to number 1. My latest single, "Fading Away," didn't hit number 1, but it has 60,000 streams on Spotify as I write, and it has been on several "Best of Summer Indie Music" charts since June. The EP and singles from it all appeared on multiple "Best of 2019" charts at the end of last year and I was a finalist in two Music Awards shows this year.

Like all my musical brothers and sisters, 2020 has been a real kick in the ass. COVID-19 has made it impossible for me to play live shows as I had planned. It has also put a huge financial hit on those who depend on music as either a sole or supplementary income. I'd have to say that, in terms of music, 2020 has been the worst tear since I started playing 55 years ago. 

I'll take a brief sidetrack here to urge all of you who miss seeing live music to use common sense and wear a mask to help us get through this coronavirus mess as soon as possible. This isn't a political message; it's a realistic view of the state of the world as we know it at this moment. Now back to music! 

Take this, COVID-19!

As bad as 2020 and covid-19 have been for music, I have to say that isolation has afforded me the opportunity to work on new songs and, as unlikely as it may seem, to combine with several musicians I've known for a long time but have never actually played with. 

I'm happy to say that I'm back in the studio to work on new songs for the first time in almost a year. This time the studio is Albey Road, owned and operated by the remarkable Al Snyder, whose name may be familiar to you from the Corbin-Hanner Band. I have known Al since the early 1970s, but I have never worked with him. I can't accurately explain what a great honor it is to finally do so...and how much fun it is. Al us not only a great keyboard player but is also a wonderful singer. His studio chops are unparalleled. He's a great songwriter and producer and I think he has raised the level of my songs above the bar I set, and I said it pretty damned high. 

I've also worked for the first time with drummer Joey Waslousky, who I'm sure Pittsburghers know from many bands, including Studio A with Scott Anderson and Pete Hewlett and so many others. I don't need to tell you that Joey is a first-tier guy, both from a human standpoint and as a drummer -- solid and very adaptable. It's a joy to hear what he does on our tracks. 

I've also played in the studio for the first time with my good friend Danny Gochnour, who you all know from the Houserockers and his own remarkable band, of which I am proud to be a member. Well have many more friends appearing. You'll gear many new sounds on my upcoming work, some of which you heard before, but quite a few of which you probably had no idea I was interested in. 

We hope to have a new single out by Labor Day with and EP -- or maybe two -- out by late fall or the end of 2020. Stay tuned to my Facebook page and this website for more information and updates as we get closer to Labor Day. 

Meanwhile, if you aren't familiar with my music, please check it out on Spotify. If you wish to purchase individual tracks and the full EP, either digitally or physically, you can do so through Bandcamp or on the STORE link on this site.

And, if you would like to contribute to help offset recording costs, you can do so through the link at the top of the home page of thissite

Thanks to everyone who has supported me since I'm started recording two years ago, either financially or with encouragement.