Welcome and Enjoy!

So I may as well admit to myself and to the world at large that there are no more Monty Harper Songcast episodes on the way. But please enjoy the fourteen episodes listed below. Most of them provide insight into my own creative process. Whether you're a songwriter, a fan, or just curious, I think you'll find them worth checking out. I still read comments, so please let me know what you think! Thanks!

December 2007: Santa's Laugh

Unfortunately I haven't been able to put together a new podcast for you this month. However please look for new editions of the songcast in 2008, and in the meantime I hope you'll enjoy this little Santa song. Happy listening, and Happy Holidays!

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November 2007: The Wind Energy Song

One of the most striking songs in my Oklahoma program is "The Wind Energy Song." In this edition, find out what makes this song so unique, learn what creative leaps lead to its construction, and hear a version of the song recorded just for this podcast. You can also download the song, the video, the sheet music, and a study guide.

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Sept 2007: 1907

This edition follows the creation of a new song celebrating Oklahoma's statehood. Our state centennial is coming up, November 16, 2007, and I hope folks will be able to use this song to help teach kids a bit of state history. The recording features the dazzling talent of Oklahoma guitarist, Stephanie Jackson.

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Oct 2006: Halloween Madness (5 songs)

This edition, co-hosted by my daughter Evalyn, includes all five songs from my 1992 cassette, Halloween Madness: "Weird Things Happen on Halloween Night," "There's a Vampire in My Basement," "To the Monsters in My Closet," "Skeleton Dance," and "Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet."

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Aug 2006: Goodnight Sun

A conversation with my friend and children's monster rock sensation, Mr. Billy, about a new song, "Goodnight Sun," which we wrote together. The song is on Mr. Billy's CD, Batteries Not Included.

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July 2006: Take Me to Your Library

This edition details the creation of the song "Take Me to Your Library," which won first place in the 2006 Unisong International Songwriting Competition children's category!

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May 2006: Villa Villekulla Hula; Hummingbird Hum

This is a double-wide edition (the first to break the ten minute barrier)! You'll hear two songs from the Paws Claws Scales & Tales CD, and I chat with two adorable guests (my wife and daughter) about how they helped me make these two songs into great recordings.

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Mar 2006: A Pet Like That

I detail the creation of "A Pet Like That," a song destined for my upcoming CD, Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tales. Listen and learn how a well-known children's book author helped me out with finding the perfect rhyme!

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Jan 2006: Kiss a Pig!

This edition is all about a man who is destined to kiss a pig! I track the creation of the song "When Our Principal Kisses the Pig," which was written with 2nd and 3rd graders at one of my elementary school songwriting workshops. Plus, a challenge for you to complete the song "Old Pink Dinosaur," also written with kids in a school workshop.

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Dec 2005: Santa's Laugh; Dear Santa

In this edition I featured two Santa songs, one for kids and one for adults, plus sneak peeks at two songs I was working on at the time for the upcoming CD. (The drawing for a set of CDs has already been held, but watch for more drawings in the future.)

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Nov 2005: I Took My Dragon For a Walk

You'll hear early concepts for this song, an anecdote about naked tushes, and an early mix of the recording made at Woodside Avenue Music studio in Chicago, featuring Jim Cox on standup bass, Don Stiernberg on guitar, and Steve Rashid on harmonica and percussion.

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Oct 2005: Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet; Skeleton Dance

This episode features one of my most requested songs, "Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet." You'll hear a couple of work tapes from 1991 and 1992, when I wrote the song, then you'll hear the entire song edited together from five different recordings.

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Sept 2005: I Go Bananas

In this episode I track the creation of a new song, "I Go Bananas." You will listen in on my personal work tapes as I mold and shape and prod the song into existence. Then you will thrill and groove even more to the final recording as you ponder its humble beginnings.

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Aug 2005: Birthday Boogaloo; Loose Tooth

I'm reposting all my old podcast editions here to make them easier for people to find. This was my very first podcast episode, before I had a clear idea of what I wanted to do with it. You'll hear an instrumental version of "Birthday Boogaloo," as well as a rehearsal recording of "Loose Tooth," plus as I put it at the time "commentary about cool sounds to listen for."

Click here to listen.