Well, I haven’t updated the ole’ website in a good while, and the reason is because I’m still making more rock and roll. The intention of this humble little corner of internet space was never to be a daily rock and roll blog, that happened more or less organically. The site was created to feature my music, and to that end, my album, which I’ve previewed extensively on this site, is nearly finished. The album in question, which I’ve named Funeral Business, is something I’m growing increasingly proud of. The album art, which the ever lovely Sonia Rapaport created, is the thing you’re looking at right above. Right now I’m collaborating on one last tune with Andrew Lee, and from there, the future promises to reflect the glimmering wonderfulness to be entailed within it. I’m planning a mini documentary movie in the coming weeks about the creation of the record, and a further reflection on my thoughts on rock and roll and what it means to me. Its a flourish of self centered activity that I find rather distasteful, but necessary to further spread the joy this music has brought to me. I want to thank all my friends and family who have helped me along the way here, and I also want to post this incredibly cool video someone made deconstructing the “Sgt. Pepper” song, because it goes against everything in my nature to provide an update without some music. This little video is really fascinating, breaking the song down into its component parts, giving you a sense of how the Beatles created their masterpieces. You will also be hypnotized by those groovy multicolored lines of sonic goodness. Enjoy.
Archive for Andrew Lee
Making More Rock And Roll, Deconstructing Sgt. Pepper
Posted in The Beatles, Willie Simpson's Original Music with tags 60s pop, 70s rock, 80s rock, 90s rock, Andrew Lee, blues, blues rock, British Invasion, British Rock, folk rock, Funeral Business, George Harrison, George Martin, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, piano pop, Pop, psychedelic pop, psychedelic rock, Ringo Starr, Rock and Roll, Sgt. Pepper, Sgt. Pepper deconstructed, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, soul, the Beatles, willie simpson, willie's music on December 1, 2012 by WillieWillie Simpson, My Girlfriend Needs An Exorcism
Posted in Willie Simpson's Original Music with tags Andrew Lee, exorcism, exorcism song, Funeral Business, Halloween, Halloween music, my girlfriend needs an exorcism, New York City, NYC, psychedelic pop, psychedelic rock, Rock and Roll, soul, willie simpson, willie simpson my girlfriend needs an exorcism on October 28, 2012 by WillieI wrote this song originally in 2007 (I think) in a fit of post break up madness. The song was my therapy for an otherwise sad separation. It went through a few iterations before I left it incomplete with shambling static laced vocals, unfinished drums, and an overall horrendous mix. I always kept the song on my back burner though because it had a good structure, and a funny message, and it being near Halloween, I thought it fitting to dust it off and completely re-record it. With the help of the beautiful guitar work of Andrew Lee, who provided me with gorgeous acoustic and electric slide work, not to mention a last minute brilliant backwards guitar solo, I was able to cobble together a more or less complete version of the tune. I’d also like to credit my old buddy Ken Kocses for helping me write the part the in the middle that starts, “what are you thinking?” Ken has always been an enthusiastic fan of my music, and anytime we have collaborated, its always been a fun and thoughtful experience. Anyway, the video below, is merely just the title card above with the song plodding away in the background. If you like what you hear, be sure to check out both the videos for “Funeral Business” and “Chain Letter,” my two other most recent rock and roll projects. Thanks for listening, and Happy Halloween.
My New Music Video, Chain Letter!
Posted in Andrew Lee, Willie Simpson's Original Music with tags 60s pop, 60s rock, Andrew Lee, Angel, Buffy, Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Chain Letter, Chain Letter Willie Simpson, Day Tripper, Funeral Business, Ghostbusters, Joss Whedon, Paperback Writer, Pop, psychedelic pop, psychedelic rock, Rock and Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Spike, the Beatles, willie simpson, Willie Simpson Chain Letter, Willie Simpson Music Video, Willow on September 7, 2012 by WillieI wrote this song by accident. I came home from Australia after five months of having no guitar to play with, and started to write a song about how miserable life could be. The opening line, “27 lonely years, you’ll be living with your fears, if you don’t send, this message to your friends,” was all I had. I had no idea what the song would be about, but I loved the rhyme scheme and the rapid fire delivery. As I kept writing lines that fit the pattern, it dawned on me that I was writing about the doom and gloom found in chain letters. After that revelation, it was only a matter of ripping off “Paperback Writer” and “Day Tripper,” and boom, I had a delirious new psychedelic pop song. My last music video, “Funeral Business,” featured the Ghostbusters rocking out to that jam, so I figured I’d return to the pop culture well for the equally spooky “Chain Letter.” One of my favorite shows ever, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” offered the perfect template for a song about tempting supernatural fate. I’d like to thank my friend Andrew Lee, first and foremost, for his incredible guitar solo. I’d also like to thank Lilja Nielsen for much needed video editing critiques, and the brilliant George Gross for more of the same. Lastly I’d like to thank my friends Matt Sturm, Sonia Rapaport, and Ian Wehrle for a bunch of moral support and musical advice. That’s enough yapping, so please enjoy the song and video below, and remember, chain letters only work when you share them with all your friends, so if you don’t wish to be cursed with 27 years of misfortune, please share this video with everyone you can!
Derek and the Dominos, Presence of the Lord, Covered by Andrew Lee
Posted in Andrew Lee, Derek and the Dominos, Eric Clapton with tags 60s rock, 70s rock, Andrew Lee, blues rock, British Invasion, British Rock, Derek and the Dominos, England, Eric Clapton, Funeral Business, Presence of the Lord, psychedelic pop, psychedelic rock, soul, the blues, willie simpson on July 11, 2012 by WillieAndrew Lee is an amazing guitar player. Better then amazing actually, a genius. How do I know? Well outside of the fact that he has played lead on a ton of my recordings, including this one, he has just today started making no frills videos showcasing his incredible talent. The video below shows Andrew, matching Eric Clapton of Derek and the Dominos, note for bloody note. Andrew’s casual perfection was attained through a hard earned, borderline servile dedication to blues music, a dedication that if you know him in person, is awe inspiring. Andrew is a real talent who pours genuine emotion into everything he does with a guitar, so please, just take a few minutes to bask in the “Presence of the Lord,” and remember who brought you there, Andrew LEE!
Willie Simpson, Funeral Business Meets the Ghostbusters!
Posted in Willie Simpson's Original Music with tags 60s pop, 60s rock, Andrew Lee, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Egon Spengler, Ernie Hudson, Funeral Business, Funeral Business Meets Ghostbusters, George Gross, Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters 2, Harold Ramis, Ian Wehrle, Ivan Reitman, New Ghostbusters Music Video, Peter Venkman, psychedelic pop, psychedelic rock, Ray Stantz, Rick Moranis, Rock and Roll, willie simpson, Willie Simpson Music, Winston Zeddemore on May 2, 2012 by WillieSo, several months ago, I posted a song I made called “Funeral Business,” on this site. The presentation of the song was wrapped around a simple title card youtube video, nothing fancy. Well, consider the fanciness level knocked up a notch. Over the past month, I’ve been slaving away on music video extravaganza for this song, and after 9 versions, its finally ready to the world. The video features your favorite Ghostbusters, as well as your favorite ancillary Ghostbuster characters, all rocking with spooky verve to “Funeral Business,” a song of thrashingly dynamic rock power. The song’s origins trace back to my college days, neglected, but never forgotten. When I dusted it off last Spring, I had my good friend and musical genius Ian Wehrle help me flesh out some lyrics and construct a better bridge. I then brought in another musical genius, Andrew Lee, to play the jaw dropping guitar solo that appears in the middle of the song. The second, and less draw dropping guitar solo, was performed by me, so future Andrew Lee fans, don’t judge that solo’s simplicity with that of Mr. Lee’s now legendary, um, future achievements. The rest of the music was produced and performed by yours truly, Willie Simpson. The video itself, which went through 9 alterations, was willed into its final version with aid coming in the form of technical advice and moral support from film making genius, George Gross. George is an up and coming movie man whose work not only helped inspire this video, but has been featured on this very site. (Just click his name to see.) The deliciously cool title card sequence was edited and co-conceived by this site’s brilliant banner creator, Sonia Rapaport, an insanely talented visual artist in her own right. I also want to thank Lilja Nielsen, my sonically battered roommate, who provided candid insight with each incarnation, as well as enormous patience as “soooulll” echoed endlessly throughout our little apartment. With that, I proudly present, “Funeral Business,” for you all to enjoy and share with your friends.
Willie Simpson, Memory Lane
Posted in Willie Simpson's Original Music with tags 2011, Andrew Lee, dream pop, indie pop, Memory Lane, Memory Road, Penny Lane, Pop, psychedelic rock, Rock and Roll, Strawberry Fields Forever, the Beatles, willie simpson, Willie Simpson's music, Wilson Bahg, Wilson Bahg's Music on May 8, 2011 by Willie
NEW UPDATE: Andrew and I tweaked the song. He redid his solo to make it more tuneful, and I redid the chorus to achieve a similar effect. I’d love for everyone to hear it!
I woke up at 5 am on Saturday Morning and made this, my newest song, Memory Lane. Well, to be honest, I had written most of the song last fall, but it wasn’t till this past weekend when I figured out how to record it. Conceptually, I was very much inspired by the Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields single. But unlike those songs, this one is more universal, and less personal. The version I present to you is mostly finished. I might tweak the drums or add a little more guitar color in a future version, but its basically done. I hope you enjoy it. Its also available to stream on MySpace site (link on the side of the page.)
Memory Lane featuring Andrew Lee on lead guitar.
(Words and music by Willie Simpson)
Oh, here are the lyrics if you wish to sing along.







