This week’s “Song From The Ballroom” is a video of a live version of a song of mine, “Your Brighter Days,” which will be on my upcoming album. The video was recorded at one of my “Words & Music by Dan Wilson” shows at Room 5 in LA. These shows give me the opportunity to play songs, talk about songwriting, and to tell stories about what motivates me as an artist, what inspires me, and what keeps me going.

You’ll get two versions of the video. For those of you who want to jump straight to the music with no spoken introduction, there’s the version on the left side of the video page. Those who want to hear the story of how I was inspired to write the song can watch the “Words & Music” version on the right.

Anyone can watch this video for free by joining my emailing list (Please see link at lower left to sign up). “Songs From the Ballroom” is a series of free unreleased tracks, demos, live versions and rarities just for fans on my e-mail list. It’s been going for awhile now, and I think we’ll keep it going for a few more months at least. I hope you enjoy it.

This week’s free “Song From The Ballroom” is “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”. This song by Hank Williams is one of my very favorites ever, and righteous proof of Hank Williams’ front-row seat in the songwriters’ pantheon. When I recorded it, I was playing the piano every day, mostly jazz standards from the 50s and 60s, trying to immerse myself in that classic songbook vibe. Thus the dissonances and explorations that go further afield with every verse. I’ve often thought it would be interesting to get really good at the piano and do a tour of songs like this – country meets jazz, or whatever it is. Maybe it still can happen.

Anyone can receive this track for free for the next couple of weeks by joining my emailing list (Please see link at lower left to sign up). “Songs From the Ballroom” is a series of free unreleased tracks, demos, live versions and rarities just for fans on my e-mail list. It’s been going for awhile now, and I think we’ll keep it going for a few more months at least. I hope you enjoy it.

British singer/pianist (and now guitarist) Birdy and I wrote a batch of songs together for her upcoming album, including this one, “All You Never Say.” I love her voice and her ideas and you’ll see why when you listen to this track. The album is jam-packed with great songs, by the way.

This week’s free “Song From The Ballroom” is “Annie’s Song” by John Denver. I’ve always loved his music, “Country Roads” and “Rocky Mountain High” being especially burned into my memory. One day a while back I got an e-mail from Rick Rubin which said something like, “How about covering a John Denver song, that one where the title isn’t part of the lyrics?” Took me a minute to figure out what song he was talking about. This is it.

Anyone can receive this track for free for the next couple of weeks by joining my emailing list (Please see link at lower left to sign up). “Songs From the Ballroom” is a series of free unreleased tracks, demos, live versions and rarities just for fans on my e-mail list. It’s been going for awhile now, and I think we’ll keep it going for a few more months at least. I hope you enjoy it.