Skies of Blue

classic hits...unplugged
Daniel Ho

Click on album cover for high resolution jpeg.


Song List
1.
Hotel California (4:18)
2.
Arthur's Theme (3:54)
3.
What a Wonderful World (2:52)
4.
Change the World (3:58)
5.
Every Breath You Take (3:52)
6.
If (3:04)
7.
Big Yellow Taxi (3:16)
8.
Drift Away (3:40)
9.
Take My Breath Away (4:00)
10.
Soak Up the Sun (4:05)

Daniel's Notes
Like a fine wine, a great song can be loved and loathed all at once. I write this as I sip from my glass of “Two-Buck Chuck.” Those apricot overtones. That cigar box nose. So delicate, yet powerful. Frugal, yet functional. Music is equally abstract. I’ve been listening to it my entire life, and working in it for half. It eludes me how some songs become hits, why others aren’t, or how some genres withstand the test of time. But that’s the beauty of it, not everyone likes the same thing. It’s what makes us unique. Lucky for me, when it comes to taste I have one tongue—a unanimous vote. But two ears—it’s a wonder they don’t disagree.

I’ve always favored the acoustic over electronic, intimate over theatrical, sincere over technical. This project was created with these qualities in mind. Many of these songs have long been a personal source of inspiration, admiration and reflection. What a Wonderful World inspires me with lyrics that, so poetically, paint a picture of the world as we hope it will be someday. Despite its deceptively simple melody, Hotel California is a compositional masterpiece. Throughout the verses, the chords constantly reharmonize the same melody notes, altering their color and feel. Big Yellow Taxi and Arthur’s Theme take me back to my “Hanabata Days.” The former tells a story of how paradise was overrun by civilization. I’ve watched Hawai‘i change over the years, in many ways for better, and some for worse. The latter was the theme song from one of the two movies I saw with my dad, whose name also happens to be Arthur. The other was Herbie, the Love Bug.

aloha,
Daniel

Credits
Daniel Ho vocals, guitar, ‘ukulele
Randy Drake drums
Steve Billman bass
Brian Kilgore percussion
Faith Rivera background vocals
Kazufumi Hasegawa producer
Akira Hayashiya executive producer
David Ho recording, mixing & mastering (Audio Post & Picture)
Norikazu Munekata Japanese CD jacket design
Hidenori Ogawa Japanese CD liner notes
Tohru Nishimura illustration
Lydia Miyashiro photography & project coordinator (Los Angeles)
George “Chumly” Cockle project coordinator (Japan)
Koji Toyoda hair stylist

Supervised by Cosmo Oil (www.cosmo-oil.co.jp)
Kuniharu Akamatsu
Hozumi Tokita
Toru Nakahashi
Goichi Komiyama

Presented by Cosmo in association with Tokyo FM Entertainment

Daniel plays Yamaha guitars & KoAloha ukuleles

Record Label: Daniel Ho Creations

Recorded: 2005

Release Date: October 2006