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A brand new song from me. First one I've written in ages.

It came about in the aftermath of recording Elizabeth's Room (https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=9753.0) and then vaguely explaining what that was about.

I was setting up the BR1600 to record an old song that will need a full band, drums, etc. While I was doing this I was browsing the forum and T. C. Elliot had just posted his 52nd Song A Week (https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=9778.0). I didn't actually start listening to TC's song, but there was something very poignant about the opening line of his post:

    "Yup. I did it. I'm done. Finished. Completed. It's over. (Oops, I wasn't supposed to tell you.)".

I happened to be wearing a guitar, I hit F, Dm, C, and the tune of the verse came out of my mouth. Obviously the song I was about to record could wait a few minutes if this was to prove interesting. So I got the MBR out and (for the first time ever) I actually used it for what I originally intended - a scratch pad for song writing. It took the MBR, an A4 pad and an our or so... All the while TC's thread and that line was staring at me from my laptop perched under the Christmas Tree :D. It's amazing where inspiration comes from... thanks TC :) (I was SO relieved, when I listened to your song an hour later, that I hadn't gone anywhere near where you'd gone!)

While I was writing it, from another room, Mrs R could hear "something" happening... I was really worried I'd accidentally nicked someone else's tune. She doesn't think so, but I'm still not sure.

The original lyrical ideas included "oops I wasn't s'posed to tell you" at the ends of verses, and that would have been the title. But as it developed, thoughts of a loved-one having to go through an MRI scan (with an "all clear" outcome) went through my mind... and eventually it evolved into Elizabeth singing to the singer of Elizabeth's Room. But you don't really need to know any of that... just take it at face value.

When it was finished Mrs R, as usual, wanted me to record it as just me and a guitar. But my playing isn't up to it... (and really, that's the guilty secret of why I put all the arranging into these things! :D)

Anyway, now that you're sleeping...

Its as real as it gets Andy.  There is so much warmth and life in this song.  Your acoustic guitar playing has never sounded better, and to think recorded on a microBR* of all things, it really sounds good.  You have style for sure.  There is a real easy flow, relaxed deliver here, I guess as you just went with the flow here, it feels like that, in a very good way, relaxed, easy flowing music, with a deep feeling underneath.  You need to try this kind of songwriting more often.

*Edit - brain fart...I see this was recorded on your BR-1600.  That acoustic sounds real good.

Ahh... BB, I have to admit that the songwriting demo is on the MBR... this was all recorded on the BR1600 with a couple of mics :D

EDIT: I think we could have got close with the MBR, but I'd still be trying to figure out how to do the backing vocals at the moment (and for the next week or so!). As it was, it was a couple of hours wailing at the thing to find all the parts, and then singing them in the appropriate numbers. The actual song - the lead vocal and basic guitar parts - were finished on 31st December. The "lead guitars" and backing vocals were recorded in a few hours on the 1st. What really took the time was the mixing and mastering - now I have the BR1600, I wouldn't fancy having to take that on on the MBR anymore.

Thanks Andy, I see my error there...must get coffee...

Now this is just stunning !!!

Fantastic songwriting and delivered with so much emotion. And on top of that there's a performance and production second to none !! This is ART !!!

Those harmonies, both in the vocals and the guitars are fab !!

That is also an amazingly good guitarsound you've got there ! What kind of guitar did you use? And mics? and patches (if any)?

This will get MANY listens (on my 3rd already)!!

Quote from: Geir on January 03, 2011, 07:42:35 AMThis will get MANY listens (on my 3rd already)!!

Ditto that.

This does not sound at all like a song that was written quickly, but instead like one that was crafted over many days or weeks.

I was listening to the "Latest Songs" jukebox when I first heard this, and I did not immediately recognize any Russe-isms. But soon enough they revealed themselves.

Wonderful song.  I know I've missed one or two of your recent songs. I need to go find them. Bumps ahead.

Sterling sound.

What a beautiful song...and I always appreciate the stories that are behind the production, inspiration, and all.

I haven't heard so beautiful music for a long time! Just a great performance on each level. Especially, I loved the harmonies near to the end... Fantastic...

Kari

work has kept me away from the site  but i'm back for an hour or so before i get  back to the grind. magic andy, i'm getting an elizibethan troubadour feel from this,  dont know why but i am.
gonna load it onto the piepod for further listening. gonna get as much stuff downloaded before i get dragged back to work kicking and screaming.

Wow and double wow, this is just so beautiful. Wonderful acoustic playing, sublime vocals and top notch harmonies. Not much more to add apart from of course the production is crystal clear and really lets you appreciate the nuances of the guitar and vox. You have started 2011 with a belter Andy! Superb stuff.

Cheers,

Nigel

Thanks for the comments folks :)

Production Notes/Waffles:

It's a Godin 5th Avenue, Geir. An acoustic arch-top (I got the version without p90 pickups or a cutaway, it sounded better acoustically). I love it for recording and general noodling. It's got a mellower tone than my flat-top, but still with enough zing to do folkie stuff. I was originally going to use it for Elizabeth's Room, but it didn't have quite enough zing.

There aren't any particular patches aside from the BR1600's "Vocal Comp 1" preset that I tend to leave on the input for all mic'd stuff. For some parts (long notes left ringing) I have to turn the noise suppressor off because it damages the tails. Otherwise I use the preset as is.

The main/original guitar was recorded differently this time: using a trick I picked up on here for making a big stereo guitar out of one part (I was expecting one guitar only at the start, I just couldn't play well enough) -

Close mic the guitar as usual (I used a Rodes NT1000 condensor), then stick another mic a few feet back (I've only got one other, a rusty SM58). When mixing, put the close mic track down the middle with reverb or whatever. Clone the other track, pan it hard left and right and invert the phase of one of them. It works! ... except you can't really hear the effect on here because it never plays on it's own :D.

I can't remember who posted this trick - but many thanks :) (Except I'll have to buy another large condensor mic now!! :D)

All the other guitars were recorded with just the NT1000. Most were recorded in pairs and panned opposite each other at various positions. There was also a lot of using complimentary EQing and different reverbs. I tried to keep compressors out of the equation on guitars this time except where I wanted to "round" the tone a bit or make two similar guitars sound different.

The lead vocal was recorded with both mics and then mixed - not sure this was a good idea because it produced quite a thick sound and i've got a bit of a cold at the moment anyway. I've had to fiddle with this vocal a lot more than some of the recent ones. Tip: (not sure where I got this one) an EQ cut at 500Hz, or there abouts, clears a "muddy" or "too rich" vocal and brings out some clarity you didn't think was there. I first used it on orh's voice the other day when I was bedding him into a rock track. It means you can get the vocal performance coming through the mix without having to turn the vocal track up or boost any of it's EQ. This was a life saver on my vocal here...

The backing vox were done in the now traditional "Russe" way - set the markers, clear some tracks, sit on the sofa and "arm a track, record it, arm another, record it, etc". The more often I do this, the easier it's becoming. There's all sorts of little tricks like adjusting the mix so it's easier to sing a part, lower the master volume and raise the headphone volume, sing a rough guide for a part (for the notes) and then record the real voices... anything that makes it easier for the singer. I'm also experimenting a lot more with using what I would call "silly voices" - use 3 or four of them and they sound "interesting" rather than silly. And I'm begining to better identify where "ooo", "aah", "mmm", or "bmmm" might be most effective - and I've discovered you can actually mix and match in different parts of the chord to some extent. A week ago I would have said that basses going "mmm" and others going "ooo" or "aah" at the same time was a no-no... I've discovered that this is not necessarily so! :D

Although it was recorded in a very "relaxed" and "see what happens" kind of way, as soon as I had the main guitar and lead vocal, I had a very clear vision of where the finished mix needed to go wide, where it needed to go deep, etc, etc, for "emotional" purposes... so all of the arranging and subsequent guitars and vocals went on knowing what else I was expecting to put on afterwards to achieve the effect. There was actually a final vocal stage planned that I decided not to use in the end - a close harmony on the lead in certain choice places like the end of verses or the start of verse 2. The only thing left of that is in the second chorus ("waiting for somebody's hand", and "someone who might understand"). Those are actually the original "working out" voices recorded while we had a flat full of screaming kids. I wasn't able to sing yesterday to replace them, and with a lot of trickery I was able to use them as they are, but not for the effect I was originally aiming at... it kinda worked anyway, so I kept them in. All the other ones of that layer weren't good enough, so I decided not to bother with them and left the idea out...


I have to admit, I am really proud of this song. I'm always proud of new ones, but I felt especially grateful when this one popped out. I am exceedingly happy with this recording, but I'm not sure it does the song itself full justice... I'm glad I held back on the extra layer now... I'd love to be able to record it how Rachel first heard it, me and a guitar, so I might attempt it "live" in the future when I have more mics.

What a great recording! The harmonies were great too! Great song all around ;)

I personally think this is a major departure from your usual style Andy , not production wise , just your singing style , but after a couple of listens , you got me hooked mate , great lyrics and all round superb production

Rob

If that's not superb ... !

The style reminds me of something or someone ... can't tell who or what though ...

What I can tell is that I love this piece. Nice to hear a 3/4 bar song from you. Perfect timing for folk/acoustic ballads, isn't it? :)

I downloaded the song to my mp3 player and will listen to it some more in bed.

Regards,
  Steffen

Wow........

This is an amazing song!

The instrumental section gives you just enought time for the song to sink in then the harmonies send it sky high!

Stunning!


Whilst I was on the 3rd listen of this love song, I fell in love with your Guitar!

Lol

(http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/82Emvlr1zS-scfP-RftwQJR2uOZ5BruFs6yAnlGjrGeZpAFnTIsOfUuMl36DVxxP39_rCCighbgfjayFU3tIFa3n34DHubdYeg1qg8SQhaaMmclIV2O5DVY6JgOjDDOsXdupkolTLZ03uxJDK4aPaSyPeng)

She is stunning!

And most important... She sounds like a classical!

Your Playing is sublime bro!



Awesome song you have here!

Quote from: OsCKilO on January 03, 2011, 04:29:36 PM(http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/82Emvlr1zS-scfP-RftwQJR2uOZ5BruFs6yAnlGjrGeZpAFnTIsOfUuMl36DVxxP39_rCCighbgfjayFU3tIFa3n34DHubdYeg1qg8SQhaaMmclIV2O5DVY6JgOjDDOsXdupkolTLZ03uxJDK4aPaSyPeng)

She is stunning!

And most important... She sounds like a classical!

She does, doesn't she ? Quite an instrument !!

I'll let her know you like her :)

I suspect you might find the strings a bit close, though, T. Another reason I played Elizabeth's Room on the flat-top was that I struggled to consistently get the open strings ringing using this one.

(btw, that pic is of the version that has a P90 pickup just by the neck - take that off, and the two knobs, and that's mine... even the colour is right)

what a lovely song. nice guitars and wonderful singing with som beautiful vibratos and all of it packed with tons of emotion. just beautiful

That is quite beautiful Andy.  Great song, beautifully played and superbly recorded.  You can't ask for much more than that, really.

I don't get as much time to attend the site as I once did - but I'm really glad I listened to that.

Paul

Thanks chapperz & sq51.

But really this is just a shameless self-bump ::)

But it's also to let you know this one's mp3 has moved to alonetone.com :).

I'm not sure downloading from our single-player widget (in the first post in this thread - it's playing from alonetone) is working though?? I never really use this functionality so I'm not sure if it's just me. Anyway, if you want to download this or any other of my songs, just follow the alonetone button in my signature below.

Nothing wrong with a self-bump of a song like this.  Stunningly beautiful song which it is a pleasure to listen to again.  And I also read through your earlier posts on this song and am interested to read about your use of the Rode NT1000.  I'm thinking about getting a condensor mic to record my acoustic.  I'll check out the Rode.

Cheers

Paul

Quote from: AndyR on March 01, 2011, 04:46:18 AMI'm not sure downloading from our single-player widget (in the first post in this thread - it's playing from alonetone) is working though?? I never really use this functionality so I'm not sure if it's just me. Anyway, if you want to download this or any other of my songs, just follow the alonetone button in my signature below.

Downloading works fine for me. You have to click the Play button before the Download link will appear. Then clicking the Download link should allow you to save the song to your hard drive. However, it depends on how your web browser is configured. If you've got it configured to always play MP3 files, then it won't ask you if you want to save it. Check your browser settings and make sure that it's configured to always ask you what to do with MP3 files.

For example, here's the Applications tab of the Preferences screen in Firefox:

(https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9847.0;attach=10899)

What a fantastic song and performance Andy.

I've been drooling over Godin's SA models, particularly a classical. Problem is, I can never find one to demo. I may not need to after hearing this.