Reeves Piano and Synthesizer Music Album 21

Album 21 - Piano Bar Misery Cover Art in Color as shown on the Reeves Motal Piano and Synthesizer Music Website

In Chicago there was a combination drug store/diner/bar right across from the Navy base. I hustled a few tips playing there. I found a slightly better "gig" within walking distance at a Holiday Inn hotel bar. Those two experiences convinced me that I was not cut out to do the "piano bar" bit.

There was a whole litany of reasons, but one of them was the requests (demands) for songs from (slightly?) inebriated bar patrons.

"No, I don't know how to play The Fighting Illini. I don't even know how to spell it."

"What? You want me to play Oskee Wow‑Wow? This is a joke, right?" (It wasn't! Do a YouTube search. Try the a cappella version.)

Another thing with the piano bar is that it is just flat hard work. Imagine sitting for four hours on a hard bench holding your hands up waist high in front of you. Try it and I'll bet you don't last five minutes.

The most important objection is that it's just plain boring. There is only so much that can be done with a solo piano. After a short while every song starts to sound the same. If I could have sung along, it would have been better, but there is still no way to get the variety to keep things interesting without a band. But bands present their own problems - personality problems. There are serious reasons bands break up.

But - a solution was on the horizon - - -

Reeves

PS The album cover was created in Corel Draw and Corel Photo‑Paint, my graphic suite of choice. OK, enough already - I'm starting to sound like a salesman for Corel Draw.