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Episode #15: The Magical Touch of Vocal Arranging


Scattershot Symphony – The Music of Peter Link
A Podcast


Episode #15 – The Magical Touch of Vocal Arranging

Listen to this episode here


View these Previews of Episode #15 here

In this interview with John Danny Madden,

Background Vocal Arranger extraordinaire, we not only learn about the career of this most talented man, but we also explore his work in detail by breaking down the tracks of a number of songs and learning the hows and whys of Vocal Arranging.

Youā€™ll laugh and gasp along with me at his marvelous work and learn to listen to music on a whole new level.

Both entertaining and educational — all at the same time!

Check it out!


The Magical Touch of Vocal Arranging
Explore the Playlist

Listen to samples, view lyrics and click through to download. Thanks for listening!

  • Title: I Stand For You
  • Artist: Jenny Burton
  • Lyricist: Jenny Burton, Peter Link
  • Duration:
    06:06
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    I Stand for You
    Lyrics by Peter Link and Jenny Burton
    Music by Peter Link

    I walk the roads you walked
    With every step I take
    I try to follow you
    With every move I make
    I see your shining light
    And like a magnet
    I am drawn to you
    God let your light shine through
    I'll bear the torch and share the fire
    And carry on the meanings of your life
    As I go through life

    Oh I'll remember you
    In everything I do
    In every step I take
    In every move I make
    I'll remember you
    And I'll walk in your shoes
    I'll stand in your grace
    I shall not be moved
    And what's more
    With all that you stand for

    I stand for you
    Yeah I stand for you
    Ooooohhhhhhh
    I stand for you

    I dedicate my life
    To the wisdom that you taught
    I lift your sword of truth
    To the battles you have fought
    I carry on your name
    So all the world will know
    Of the light in you
    God let your light shine through
    And when it all is said and done
    Those who've known me will have known you too
    This I hope to do

    Yeah I'll remember you
    In everything I do
    In every step I take
    In every move I make
    I'll remember you
    And I'll walk in your shoes
    I'll stand in your grace
    I shall not be moved
    And what's more
    With all that you stand for

    I stand for you
    Yeah I stand for you
    Ooooohhhhhhh
    I stand for you

    I stand for you
    I stand for you
    You are my light
    You are my lighthouse
    Your blood is runnin' through my veins
    You stand for the truth
    And nothing less
    So I got to
    Looks like it's time to get dressed

    My feet are shod
    With the preparation of the gospel of peace

    Got my shield of faith
    And the breastplate of righteousness
    Hand me down my helmet of salvation
    And the sword of the spirit
    The whole armour
    The whole armour of God

    And I'll stand
    I'll stand
    For you!

  • Title: There Is A Balm in Gilead
  • Artist: Julia Wade
  • Composer: Margaret Dorn
  • Duration:
    05:56
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    There Is A Balm In Gilead
    Lyrics: Traditional based on Jeremiah 8:22
    Additional Lyrics by Peter Link & Clara M. Brooks
    Arranged by Peter Link and Margaret Dorn
    Background Vocals Written, Arranged and Produced by John Danny Madden

    Sometimes I feel discouraged
    And think my work's in vain
    But then the Holy Spirit
    Revives my soul again

    There is a balm in Gilead
    To make the wounded whole
    There is a balm in Gilead
    To heal the sin-sick soul

    They came in search of healing
    They came in such despair
    With lame and halt and withered
    With more than life could bear

    He healed the leper and the sinner
    And he chased the clouds away
    He healed the deaf the dumb the blind
    Christ's with us here today

    There is a balm in Gilead
    To make the wounded whole
    There is a balm in Gilead
    To heal the sin-sick soul

    The heav'nly touch of spirit
    Has wondrous healing power
    To banish your diseases
    Be healed this very hour

    There is a balm in Gilead
    To make the wounded whole
    There is a balm in Gilead
    To heal the sin-sick soul
    To heal the soul
    There is a balm in Gilead

    He raised the dead he freed us
    He holds us in his care
    He is the balm of Gilead
    Yet Christ is everywhere

    There is a balm in Gilead
    To make the wounded whole
    There is a balm in Gilead
    To heal the sin-sick soul

  • Title: The Palms
  • Artist: Julia Wade
  • Composer: Peter Link
  • Lyricist: Peter Link
  • Duration:
    04:14
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    The Palms
    Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

    On the way to Jerusalem
    Thousands gathered to watch him go by
    On the way to Jerusalem
    There on the road
    He carried the load of this world
    As the colt carried him on his back
    Colt and rider
    Colt and rider
    Colt and rider
    On the dusty road

    These are the palms of peace
    Given in these times of strife
    These are the palms we gathered
    Thanking you for your life

    These are the palms of joy
    Given in these times of trial
    These are the palms of homage
    Bearing you mile to mile

    So lay down the palms
    Make the earth clean and pure
    Lay down the palms
    Comes now the Christ
    Comes now the cure

    These are the palms of dreams
    Given in these times of doubt
    These are the gifts we bring you
    For casting the shadows out

    Colt and rider
    hosanna in the highest
    Colt and rider
    hosanna in the highest
    Colt and rider
    hosanna hosanna hosanna hosanna
    On the dusty road

    Hosanna hosanna hosanna hosanna
    Hosanna hosanna hosanna hosanna

  • Title: Song of Easter
  • Artist: Julia Wade
  • Composer: Peter Link
  • Lyricist: Peter Link
  • Duration:
    07:33
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    Song Of Easter
    Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

    Weep no more
    The Lord has risen
    Spread the word
    A new age wakes
    Love has rolled
    The stone of sorrow
    Light pours forth
    Now as the morning breaks

    So weep no more
    The night has ended
    Have you heard
    The Christ is here
    Joy springs forth
    As hope eternal
    God's great gift
    Now is forever near

    Hallelujah

    Angels play on your trumpets
    And children raise up your voices
    And all mankind sing forth
    Flowers will bloom in the desert
    And trees will dance in the moonlight
    And stars will laugh in the heavens above
    The clouds roll back
    As the world is bathed in love

    So weep no more
    The Lord has risen
    Spread the word
    A new age wakes
    Love pours forth
    A new tomorrow
    And all is light
    Now as the morning breaks

    Hallelujah

    Weep no more
    The Lord he has risen
    Spread the word
    Hallelujah
    Sing the song
    The sweet song of Easter
    Love pours forth now as the morning breaks

    Hallelujah

    Oh weep no more
    The Lord he has risen
    Spread the word
    Hallelujah
    Sing the song
    The song of Easter
    Love pours forth to the world

    Hallelujah

  • Title: Turn Turn Turn
  • Artist: Jenny Burton
  • Composer: Pete Seeger
  • Lyricist: Peter Link
  • Duration:
    05:10
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    Turn Turn Turn
    Lyrics adapted by Peter Link
    Music by Pete Seeger

    To everything
    Turn turn turn
    There is a season
    Turn turn turn
    And a time to every purpose under heaven

    A time to be born
    A time to move on
    A time to sow
    A time to reap
    A time to despair
    A time to heal
    A time to laugh
    A time to weep

    To everything
    Turn turn turn
    There is a season
    Turn turn turn
    And a time to every purpose under heaven

    A time to build up
    A time to break down
    A time to dance
    A time to mourn
    A time to cast away stones
    A time to gather stones together

    To everything
    Turn turn turn
    There is a season
    Turn turn turn
    And a time to every purpose under heaven

    There are times of love
    And times of hate
    Times of war
    And times of peace
    A time you may embrace
    A time to refrain from embracing

    A time of darkness
    A time for light
    A time to speak
    And a time to be quiet
    A time of hope
    And a time to let go
    A time to grieve
    And much time to rejoice

    A time of doubt
    And a time for prayer
    A time of regret
    And a time to be tough
    A time of envy
    And a time to respect
    A time to complain
    And a time for satisfaction

    And when the hardest of these times appear
    Rise up seem real transpire
    Then it's time to turn turn turn

    To everything
    Turn turn turn
    There is a season
    Turn turn turn
    And a time to every purpose under heaven

    A time to gain
    A time to lose
    A time to rend
    A time to sew

    A time of war
    A time to create
    A time of peace
    I swear it's not too late!

    To everything
    Turn turn turn
    There is a season
    Turn turn turn
    To everything
    Turn turn turn
    There is a season
    Turn turn turn

  • Title: Boogie Man
  • Artist: Peter Link
  • Composer: Peter Link
  • Lyricist: Peter Link
  • Duration:
    04:57
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    Boogie Man
    Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

    Party, Party
    Don't you wanna party?

    Party, Party
    Don't you wanna party down?

    Party, Party
    Don't you wanna party?

    Party, Party
    Don't you wanna party down?

    Hey little girl you wanna have some fun?
    I know about a party that's just begun
    And the honored guest on this dark night
    Is the demon's dream and the fool's delight
    He's a little strange and a lotta weird
    But the party ain't started 'til he's appeared
    He's the dancin'est fool since the world began
    Yes tonight we're gonna party with the Boogie Man

    C'mon down, down, down to the basement
    C'mon down, down, down into the hole

    Where the music shrieks
    And the ghouls and guys and freaks
    Are just layin' out, hangin' around
    Everybody watchin' for the moment when the man comes down

    Come down, down, down to the basement
    Come down, down, down into your soul
    Come down, down, down to the marrow of your bones
    Know he might see ya' got ta' run for your life
    Everyone screams at the moment when the man arrives

    Here comes the Boogie Man
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    He's got his boogie band
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    Here comes the Boogie Man
    (Oooh)
    When the party fires up it's automatic
    That the old house shakes from the basement to the attic
    With the Boogie Man

    [Boogie Man laughs]

    And it's dance, dance, dance to the music
    (Dance)
    And it's move, move, move to the groove
    (Move)
    And the moon is full
    So the spooks are out tonight
    Everyone goes where the Boogie Man goes
    Cuz everyone knows that the man can boogie right

    [Boogie Man laughs again]

    Here comes the Boogie Man
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    He's got his boogie band
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    Here comes the Boogie Man
    (Oooh)

    He's doing the zombie to the haunted house rock
    From the midnight hour all around the clock

    Here comes the Boogie Man
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    He's got his boogie band
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    Here comes the Boogie Man
    (Oooh)

    And the fiends dance on to the vampire hop
    As the band keeps crankin' out the Boogie Man bop

    For the Boogie Man

    Better make up your mind
    You gonna dance
    Better make up your mind
    You gonna move

    Better make up your mind
    You gonna dance
    Better make up your mind
    You gonna groove

    Better make up your mind
    You gonna dance
    Better make up your mind
    You gonna move

    Better make up your mind
    You gonna dance
    Better make up your mind
    You gonna groove

    Hey little girl better lock the door
    Cuz the freaks are rollin' all around the floor
    There's a green-haired lady with a long mustache
    Dancin' with the dog doin' the Monster Mash
    There's an eight-legged lizard with a chicken face
    Doin' the shimmy, tearin' up the place

    There's an undertaker doin' the dead man's rag
    And the rest are doing the rumba with the Boogie Man
    (Whoa)

    Boogie Man
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    He's got his boogie band
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    Here comes the Boogie Man
    (Oooh)

    And the fiends dance on to the vampire hop
    As the band keeps crankin' out the Boogie Man bop

    For the Boogie Man
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    He's got his boogie band
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    Here comes the Boogie Man
    (Oooh)

    And when the party fires up it's automatic
    That the old house shakes from the basement to the attic

    With the Boogie Man
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    Here comes the Boogie Man
    (Yeah yeah, haunted)
    Here comes the Boogie Man
    (Oooh)

  • Title: Joy to the World
  • Artist: Julia Wade
  • Source: Ps
  • Duration:
    03:50
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    Joy to the World
    Music by Handel, arranged by Lowell Mason
    Lyrics by Isaac Watts, the Psalms of David

    Joy to the world
    Joy to the world
    Joy to the world

    Joy
    Joy

    Joy to the world the Lord is come
    Let earth receive her king
    Joy to the world the Lord is come
    Let every heart prepare him room
    And heaven and nature sing
    And heaven and nature sing
    And heaven and heaven and nature sing

    Joy to the earth the savior reigns
    Let men their songs employ
    While fields and floods rocks hills and plains
    Repeat the sounding joy repeat
    Repeat the sounding joy repeat
    Repeat repeat the sounding joy

    These are the palms of peace
    Given in these times of strife
    These are the palms we gathered
    Thanking you for your life

    Joy
    These are the palms of joy
    Given in these times of trial
    These are the palms of homage
    Bearing you mile to mile

    Joy
    Joie
    Joy
    Joya
    Joy to the world
    Joy
    Joy
    Joy to the world
    Joy joy joy joy
    Joy

    He rules the world with truth and grace
    And makes the nations prove
    The glories of His righteousness
    And wonders of His love
    And wonders of His love
    And wonders wonders of His love
    Joy to the world the Lord is come

    Repeat the sounding joy
    Repeat the sounding joy
    Repeat the sounding joy
    Repeat the sounding joy
    Repeat the sounding
    Repeat repeat the sounding joy!