Always Something There (To Remind Me)

[Mike Neer]

I recorded this track after a visit with my Mom, who has Alzheimer's dementia. I thought of her listening to the LP Feliciano! when I was a child (how I learned how to play guitar) outside of my room on the console stereo. I was thinking maybe she would remember this tune. I grabbed my bass when I got home and played along with Jose (Ray Brown played bass on the track), and then decided to record a version of my own. It's how I spent my Sunday morning. All instruments were played by me, except the drum track was provided courtesy of Clyde Stubblefield.

My Clinesmith aluminum S8 was recorded through a Roland JC40 with an SM57, no effects. I like the tone a lot. I used to listen to Miles Davis a lot, and I couldn't understand why in the 80s he was playing tunes like Time After Time and Human Nature, but I understand now.

Thanks for listening and my heart goes out to all who suffer from this insidious disease and their loved ones.

https://mikeneer.bandcamp.com/track/alw ... -remind-me

[Chris Templeton]

Thank you, Mike.
It's hard when someone close is gone, harder still, I imagine, when they are there and gone.

[Mike Neer]

It sure is, Chris.

[Russ Blake]

I feel for you, Mike. Went down that road with my mother, too. It’s brutal. Music can provide a way to connect when other pathways are no longer open. Your recording has a beautiful vocal quality and I hope it brings her some joy. Wishing you and your family strength, my friend.

[Jeremy Wakefield]

Really beautiful rendition. Sorry you're going through this, Mike.

[Andy Volk]

Nicely played, Mike. Sorry your mom and family have to grapple with this disheartening disease.

[Miles Lang]

Great version, Mike.

As a teenager in the 80’s, I was quite fond of the version by Naked Eyes. I was surprised to learn that it was composed by Burt Bacharach

[Chris Brooks]

I had forgotten this was by Bacharach.

I have new respect for him after having recently read his memoir, Anyone Who Had a Heart. (Each chapter has the title of one of his tunes).

Obsessive, hard to live with, . . . but a genius.

[Mike Neer]

Thank you for kind thoughts. In a perfect storm of health crises, my father is also slipping into dementia, but he does not have Alzheimer's. The amount of work it has taken to get their proper care in place has been a life-altering process, with little time for much else.

I visited my mother and sang this tune to her yesterday. She sang along with me. I didn't play my version for her though.

[Andy Volk]

I really feel for you Mike. Caring for aging parents is one of the hearest things to do and the sense of loss can be profound. At least we have art and music to express our feelings better than words can do. I remember the Carpenters did a medley of Bacharach tunes that included ASTTRM. Their musicianship was underrated.

[Pete Martin]

In my journey into jazz the last number of years I have been surprised by how many great tunes were by Bararach.

And how incredibly good Karen Carpenter was.

My best to you Mike!

Pete