The following downloadable pieces of music were
composed and performed by Raymond Benson and are
all vintage recordings. They are not “professional”
recordings by any means. In other words, they are
of demo quality at best. Some are recordings of
live performances in front of audiences.
Raymond
has made some of his favorite pieces available to
you by popular demand. They are for personal, home
use only. By downloading any of them, you agree
not to distribute or exploit them in any way without
the permission of the copyright holder.
“Bridget697”
This piece was also composed in 1995 and recorded
at home on a Yamaha Clavinova digital piano.
© Copyright 1995 by Raymond Benson.
“Five
Days in October”
This piece was composed in 1996 and recorded that
same year at Viacom New Media sound studio after-hours.
Raymond is on the keyboards. Michael Henry arranged
and produced it.
© Copyright 1996 by Raymond Benson.
“Rudimentary
Rag”
This piece was composed in 1983 and recorded at
home on a Yamaha Clavinova digital piano sometime
during the 1990s.
© Copyright 1983 by Raymond Benson.
“Frederico's Song”
This piece was composed for Viacom New Media's computer game ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?--THE TALE OF ORPHEO'S CURSE, released in 1994. The music was arranged by "Audio Magic" and the vocals are by Andrew Daily.
© Copyright 1994 by Viacom New Media.
“Love Theme from "Ultima VII--the Black Gate"”
This piece was composed for Origin System's computer game ULTIMA VII--THE BLACK GATE, released in 1992.
© Copyright 1994 by Origin Systems, Inc.
“The
Right and Wrong Song” from “Deirdre”
This piece was composed in 1981 for a musical theatre
piece entitled “Deirdre,” with words
by Norman Morrow. This is a demo recording made
at home that same year. Raymond is on piano, Robin
Moseley is on vocals.
© Copyright 1981 by Raymond Benson and Norman
Morrow.
“Think
of Me With Kindness”
Recorded in 1996 for inclusion on a Gentle Giant
tribute album entitled “Giant for a Life,”
released in Italy in 1997 on Mellow Records. The
song, written by Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman, Phil
Shulman, and Kerry Minnear, originally appeared
on Gentle Giant’s 1972 album “Octopus.”
© Song copyright 1972 by Alucard Publishing
Ltd.
© Recording copyright 1997 by Raymond Benson
“Pokerface
Melodrama” from “Paper
Tiger”
Recorded live during a performance at the New York
Theater Ensemble, New York City, September 1980.
“Paper Tiger” is a theatre piece consisting
of three cycles of poetry for the stage with words
by Thomas Brasch and music by Raymond Benson. Raymond
is on the piano, Larry Zinn is on drums. Stuart
Howard is on main vocals with the rest of the cast
singing background.
© Copyright 1980 by Raymond Benson and Thomas
Brasch.
“Thirty Years After Hitler/Stiffness” from “Paper
Tiger”
Recorded live during a performance at the New York
Theater Ensemble, New York City, September 1980.
“Paper Tiger” is a theatre piece consisting
of three cycles of poetry for the stage with words
by Thomas Brasch and music by Raymond Benson. Raymond
is on the piano, Larry Zinn is on drums. Holly Powell is on main vocals with backing vocals by Wendy Jo Belcher, Marianne Kammer, and Carolyn Titone.
© Copyright 1980 by Raymond Benson and Thomas
Brasch.
“The Boat Song” from “Alice in Wonderland”
Composed for a production of Eva Le Gallienne's adaptation of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" at the Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas, in 1978. Dual vocals are by Robin Moseley.
© Music copyright 1978 by Raymond Benson.
“Prologue”
from “The Resurrection of Jackie Cramer”
Recorded live during a performance at the American
Theatre of Actors, New York City, April 1980. “The
Resurrection of Jackie Cramer” is an entirely
sung musical theatre piece with words by Frank Gagliano
and music by Raymond Benson. Raymond performs the
keyboards here, with Beverly Robinson as “The
Chorus,” Scott Ellis as “Jackie,”
and the members of the cast as “The Ensemble.”
© Copyright 1977 by Raymond Benson and Frank
Gagliano. Copyright renewed.
“Thirty
Days After Hitler/Stiffness” from
“Paper Tiger”
Recorded live during a performance at the New York
Theater Ensemble, New York City, September 1980.
“Paper Tiger” is a theatre piece made
up of three cycles of poetry for the stage with
words by Thomas Brasch and music by Raymond Benson.
Raymond is on the piano, Larry Zinn is on drums.
Holly Powell sings lead, with Wendy Jo Belcher,
Carolyn Titone, and Marianne Kammer singing backup.
© Copyright 1980 by Raymond Benson and Thomas
Brasch.
“The
Boat Song” from “Alice in Wonderland”
Composed and recorded for a production of “Alice
in Wonderland” by Eva Le Gallienne at the
Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas, 1978. Words by Lewis
Carroll. Raymond is on keyboards, Robin Moseley
is on dual vocals.
© Music copyright 1978 by Raymond Benson.
“Stayin’
Away From Home”
Words by James Goodner. Composed and recorded at
home in 1982. Raymond is on piano. Stuart Howard
and Raymond are singing.
© Copyright 1982 by Raymond Benson and James
Goodner.
“Folk
Dance”
Composed and recorded at home on a Yamaha Clavinova
digital piano in 1992.
© Copyright 1992 by Raymond Benson.
“Sailing”
Composed and recorded at home on a Yamaha Clavinova
digital piano in 1992.
© Copyright 1992 by Raymond Benson.
