Not all of my iPod is filled with Phil Keaggy CDs and episodes of the Dead Zone.
Artists and labels are increasingly realizing that giving fans (or potential fans) a full length song goes a long way to promoting their music. People like free stuff and they take note.
Every so often, I run across someone who is still wary of the legality of music downloads. If that's you, then the only really safe place to download music is directly from the artist or label. And there's plenty of it out there. If you're looking for mp3s from a specific artist, it's best to try their official websites. You may be surprised what you could find. I recently went to one indie band who had their entire back catalog (4 albums) for free download. I found another artist who offered his latest release in exchange for telling five of your friends about the freebies! Plus, I have two friends who offer demos and unreleased material for their digital fans only. So check those official artist websites!
Record labels often have their own websites, too, and sometimes they offer full-length downloads from many of their artists to promote the latest tour or upcoming album. Gotee Records and InPop records are two fine examples.
If you're really feeling adventurous, try the band or artist's official MySpace page. Check their blog messages, bulletins, and the "About Me" section. But if you're really concerned about legality, be careful. MySpace has gotten better at removing pages unauthorized by the artist, but there are still a few "imposters" out there.
Happy hunting!
-- Steph B.
These are my favorite versions of the song, though I hadn't heard Bob Seger's version until just now and I like it.
What's your musical horoscope? (Put your player on shuffle and write down the first 10 songs that come up.)
Flood (live) - Jars Of Clay
Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix
Elias (live) - Dispatch
John The Revelator (live) - Glass Harp
A Promise Kept - Phil Keaggy
Cygnus X-1 - Rush
How Many People - Paul McCartney
Balm - Remedy Drive
Jam # 2 (live) - Glass Harp
Streets Of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Show us a musical instrument.
Will mine do?
While I'm not sure I entirely agree, there are some people who consider technology more important than food, clothes, schools, etc. It sounds good in theory--the whole "teach a man to fish" idea. But I just can't wrap my head around it; there are far too many immediate needs.
Anyway, this BBC article is an interesting read:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7094695.stm
Video: Show us a music video you'd gladly watch over and over again.
The first one that came to mind...
The second (already in my Vox library)...
Tragedy in a nutshell. Nothing new for longtime Piper listeners, but a nice reminder.
Show us the best creative artist or crafter that you know personally.
Well, I'm fortunate to know a lot of highly creative artists personally--but guitarist and songwriter Phil Keaggy, has to take the cake ! He's currently preparing to release his FOURTH original studio album since this time last year.
Ten years ago this evening, the world lost one of the most gifted songwriters in Christendom. You may not know his name, but chances are, if you've attended church even a handful of times in the past 20 years, you've sung his words.
Rich Mullins was one of a kind. Someone you felt you knew just by listening to his songs. He was so secure with who he was that he wasn't afraid to share his broken-ness and personal struggles--his very humanity---with the rest of us. If those things were what he chose to put forth, I can't imagine what he kept to himself.
I regret not seeing Rich when I had the chance. He did a concert in Waterloo ever year, so I didn't make an effort to go in August of '97. Three weeks later, he was gone without warning. And now the angels in heaven are dancing around to the music that I want to hear....
"I think that we were given the Scriptures, not so that we could prove that we were right about everything--it was to humble us into realizing that God is right, and the rest of us are just guessing."
" I don't want to run from the experience of the pain because I would miss what God is trying to teach me through it."
" It never fails. God will put people in your path that irritate you, especially if you're prone to be irritated."
"A faith that moves mountains is a faith that expands horizons, it does not bring us into a smaller world full of easy answers, but into a larger one where there is room for wonder."
"God spoke to Balaam through his ass. I believe God still speaks through asses today. So if God should choose to speak through you, you needn't think too highly of yourself."
Some of Rich's songs:
And now, some song by artists remembering Rich...
Phil Keaggy playing one of Rich's songs--at my request.
