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I'm posting this "Naked" version because Mrs Russe wants me to... :)

It's "Naked" because it's not "finished" yet in my mind. There's a certain amount of "orchestration" to come.

I like the starkness of this version. But it is my intention at the moment - if I can manage it - to give you something more of a cuddle with the choruses at a later date. (If I can't manage this effectively, all you'll ever hear is this version!)

And, by the way, the other day when this arrived out of nowhere, I was absolutely convinced that I'd stolen the tune from somewhere. I've identified some of the sources in my past that could have caused it and feel comfortable that it's original enough... But you never know, do you? So, many apologies to anyone dead, alive, or otherwise occupied, who might have written this melody before me! :D

brilliant and i haven't heard it before either   ;D ;D ;D ;D. reminiscent of jacques brel in it's structure. love hearing you   stripped  ;D ;D. and production is off the scale. amazing.

this deserves a

Great tune Andy, it reminds me of something you'd hear in a show like Phantom Of the Opera or such like. Great stuff.
B.

Good song, your vocals remind of John Frusciante's on his solo records.

Listened and downloaded from the other side........brilliant stuff.....don't get dressed the birthday suits fine just the way it is.....

It does kind of sound familiar, and not because I heard it before but due to the fact that fantastic songs like this have that effect and you feel like you have known them for years after one or two listens.

By stripping down the instrumentation we are being treated to hearing your voice at the forefront, and it really does demonstrate how bloody good it is (not that we didn't know that already!)

On my third listen as I type, this song is addictive.

Wow! This is outstanding, Andy!! Sounds a classic to me. Very emotional job on vocals! Works well on "naked" version.

Kari

Spectacular brother, the tune, the vocal, the intimacy ...outrageously good! I would love to have a Spanish guitar solo in there if I could add anything!
Rock On!

Now Spanish guitar is one thing I hadn't thought of! :D

I was kind of aiming at no more guitars (or maybe lightly strummed chords to widen the stereo on the choruses).

No, I'm working on possibly some more organ.... the organ we have now is just the "left hand"... and then strings, and maybe a harp, and definitely the Andrew Russe "oohs" on the choruses. Some of the existing accompaniment will get "ducked" in a few places to make room for the other stuff.

My vision, at the moment, is that the existing vocal still sounds as naked, but there's more interest going on, and the choruses sound "warmer", promising more "enfolding" than they do at present. I've got loads of parts semi-rehearsed but none of them recorded yet. My usual technique is record, and keep, the lot; juggling them in the mix so it paints some sort of picture. But I'm trying to figure out this time what the important bits of each part are and record the minimal to get the effect. So it's a bit of an experiment to see if I can cut down on the number of parts I usually use, but still having the depth and movement. I suspect I might be about to learn something interesting, but I'm not entirely sure what it is!

Having said all that, I'm not too worried if I don't manage it :) - this stands quite happily as it is. Not what I was aiming for precisely, but it works like this. (And I've got several other things I'm working on as well)

Love it with the spare arrangement, Andy - the organ and the waltz time definitely adds to the continental atmosphere.

This is fantastic Andy! Your pipes really don't need any more backing but I can certainly can hear some orchestration going in as enhancements to this wonderful piece of writing. I haven't heard this melody before but it would fit itself well within a dark musical. I'm envious that this came to you out of nowhere because it's an absolute stunning bit of creativeness!

Farrell

Stunning is right! Amazing emotion! Yeah i hear orchestra fitting in too but as naked as it can be i like it as is.

Nice one (once again!! :D) Andy!

It does have some similarity with a song I know (but can't quite put the finger on it), but there is still more than enough originality to it.

I don't know if this song can bear a big orchestration, as fragile as it is. IMO it sounds pretty much complete. I even think it should be just vocals and an acoustic guitar - or piano, and nothing more.

I would not use that much saturation and compression - this is a very gentle, heartfelt song that needs to breathe.

Regards,
  Steffen

Just a great song.

                                                      henwrench

Say it like it is Andy!

This is stunning and keeps you interested till the end!
Bravo!

And those pipes bro!!!!  Those pipes!!

Hi Andy, another gem, but I know what you mean about sounding familiar, I often think that my stuff sounds like a hundred others. To me it sounds a bit like "Tuppence a Bag" from Mary Poppins but I am deeply in love with Julie Andrews so that might have coloured my imagination  ;D . Seriously, a top notch post............Willie

Ooo! I was deeply in love with Julie Andrews for a very long time...

... that might be it!! (or something from Mary Poppins, anyway)

Nice song; the lyrics are beautifully crafted and very sincere.

From the musical perspective - the guitar playing is near flawless and the recording quality is crisp.

Keep it up dude, and if you could take a minute to check out some of my songs, it'd be smashing :)