THE JIM COMBS BAND

1978 – 1980

MUSIC PLAYLIST (click title to expand)

I Don't Know Why - Recorded 1978

Jim Combs – Guitar, Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals
Peter McCarthy – Bass
Harold Smick – Drums, Percussion
Our first multi-track recording on a Teac A-3440

Beer & Chili By Candlelight - Recorded 1979

Jim Combs – Electric & Acoustic Guitars (1st gtr solo) & Piano
Peter McCarthy – Electric & Acoustic Guitars (2nd & 3rd gtr solo)
Recorded live in my sister Kathy’s living room on a Technics RS-646DS cassette recorder

Down In The Valley - Recorded 1980

Jim Combs – 12 String, 6 String & Nylon 6 String Guitar, Synthesizer, Vocals
Harold Smick – Percussion

Music by Jim Combs words by J R R Tolkien. The lyrics are from the poem “O! Where Are You Going?” from Tolkien’s classic 1937 The Hobbit.

Prelude To Sing Along - Recorded 1997

Prelude written and performed by Jim Combs

Written for guitar, oboe, flute, bassoon and clarinet.

Sing Along - Recorded 1979

Jim Combs – 12 String Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer, Vocals
Peter McCarthy – 6 String Acoustic Guitar, Bass Pedals, Vocals
Harold Smick – Drums
Mark Major – Piano

Peer Gynt Suite - Recorded 1979

Morning Mood
Jim Combs – Piano, Synthesizers, Guitars

The Death of Ase
Jim Combs – Organ, Piano, Synthesizer (organ Solo)
Peter McCarthy – Bass, Bass Pedals
Harold Smick – Drums
Mark Major – Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Piano (synthesizer solo)

In The Hall Of The Mountain King
Jim Combs – Piano, Synthesizer
Peter McCarthy – Bass, Bass Pedals
Harold Smick – Drums
Mark Major – Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Piano

Morning In Minor
Jim Combs – Piano and Synthesizers

Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1, Op. 46 by Edvard Grieg 1875. The suite contained, Morning Mood, The Death of Åse, Anitra’s Dance and In the Hall of the Mountain King. Jim omitted Anitra’s Dance and added Morning in Minor. Morning in Minor was a variation on the Morning Mood with the key changed from major to minor.  

Ebb Tide In The Bermuda Triangle - Recorded 1979

Ebb Tide
Jim Combs – Piano, Synthesizers, Vocals
Peter McCarthy – Guitar, Bass Pedals
Harold Smick – Drums
Mark Major – Electric Piano, Synthesizers, Organ

The Sea
Jim Combs – Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizers
Inspired by Claude Debussy’s La Mer and Japanese composer, arranger and synthesizer player Isao Tomita.

Ebb Tide Reprise
Jim Combs – Piano, Synthesizers, Vocals
Peter McCarthy – Guitar, Bass Pedals
Harold Smick – Drums
Mark Major – Electric Piano, Synthesizers, Organ

 

This is the Sigman & Maxwell’s classic old standard Ebb Tide but with a twist, model harmonic structure, polychords and odd time signatures (11/8). Additionally the middle section is a homage to Claude Debussy’s La Mer with synthesizer performance reminiscent of the Japanese composer, arranger and synthesizer player Isao Tomita.

 

Two Questions Two Statements - Recorded 1979

Jim Combs – Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals
Peter McCarthy – Bass, Bass Pedals
Harold Smick – Drums
Mark Major – Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Organ

This piece was originally a college music composition class assignment in counterpoint writing.

Come On Board - Recorded 1979

Jim Combs – Piano, Organ, Synthesizers, Vocals
Peter McCarthy –Bass Guitar
Harold Smick – Drums
Mark Major – Electric Piano

The Fantasy - Recorded 1980

Jim Combs – Rhodes Piano, Synthesizers, Base Keys
Peter McCarthy – Guitar
Harold Smick – Drums

Lost On Silver Lake - Recorded 1979, Orchestration 2004

Jim Combs – Guitar, Samplers & Synthesizers, Vocals

PHOTOS

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