Ballad of Jesse Lee

[Pine]

ok...since i have not posted on this site for almost a year and half, probably 90% of the people who read this won't know who the hell i  am... but for those that do know me... after i left here and went over to Tony's (it was all about no time for reviews here as the site was growing by leaps and bounds) i wrote and recorded my third CD, which was almost entirely instrumental soundscapes. All the songs are posted over at Cool-Lab. I may put up one or two songs here someday (actually my last two posts here were from that album, "Genesee" & "Legacy")
  The songs i would like to post here now are songs i am considering for a new album...an acoustic based, blues/americana collection. Some of the artists on this site have incredible talent and their feedback is highly valued by me. i am the first to admit i have alot to learn..and this site is a great place to do that.

Until i get some feedback on a new post i just did in "general discussions" to clarify what a "backer" truly is, i will put up this song which is as bare bones as it gets. It was an open tuning on my resonator/dobro. I am increasingly attracted to minimalism in music it seems.

THIS AIN'T A PRETTY STORY..AIN'T NO HAPPY SONG
'BOUT A BOY NAMED JESSE LEE, WHO DIDN'T LIVE TOO LONG
JUST WHEN THINGS WAS GOIN' RIGHT, YA KNOW THEY ALL WENT WRONG

JESSE WAS A GAMBLER, HE LIKED TO THROW THE DICE
BORROWED LOTS OF MONEY, FROM GUYS THAT WEREN'T SO NICE
WHEN JESSE COULDN'T PAY UP, YA KNOW HE PAYED THE PRICE

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

LOUIE WAS A FRIEND OF HIS, WHO CALLED HIM ON THE PHONE
SAID I CAN HELP YA JESSE LEE..IF ALL YA NEED'S A LOAN
MEET ME BY THE RIVERSIDE..BE SURE TO COME ALONE

SHERIFF DRAGGED THE RIVERBED..PULLED JESSE FROM HIS GRAVE
HIS MOMMA SHE WAS CRYIN' FOR THE BOY SHE COULDN'T SAVE
GAMBLIN' WAS THE MASTER..AND JESSE WAS THE SLAVE

[T.C. Elliott]

Firstly, good to see you pinedog.
Secondly, this isn't as bare bones as most of my crap.

I think this works very well the way you have it here... But yeah I can hear it 'kicking in' as well, so it is a bit sparse compared to what it *could* be. Not sure it needs more though. I like this song.

[OsCKilO]

Hey bro!!! Great to hear ya!


This is superb !!!!

Just right I think!!!

Great song!

[Bluesberry]

Hi P-dog, you know what, I really love this.  There is not one thing this needs or lacks.  Maybe a little more vocal harmony, thats the only thing I would consider.  Your guitar sounds very good as does your voice.  I like it a lot.

[Oldrottenhead]

good to see you back pinedog, i still visit your soundclick site and recommend everyone does. this is a fantastic composition/song/story work of art, i am loving the direction you are going with this  song can't wait to hear more.

ps.
don't know about being bare bones but it is certainly spinetingling.

pps.
FMGWABP

[Geir]

I too like the direction you're going !!

Music that can be played live beside a campfire ..

Great music Charlie !!!

[SwanSong]

Never heard your music so as a newbie to ur songs. this  is
smashing good.. loved the vibe. and vox. great ballad.
if doing a new cd ,. this should go on it.  big bump . regards
NEIL .

[Flash Harry]

Great guitar playing. I love the sound of the slide and the picking and it has a fantastic hook.

PiePod bound. Real cool.

[Johnbee]

Love the dobro/guitar work.  Great story song!

 :)John B.

[Pine]

Thanks guys...and i really mean that. Generally speaking i do what i want with my music and never lack for energy or direction...but that was before. At the moment, i am floundering musically.

Thanks TC..rest assured i will get to your "crap" soon....LOL.. i love when people refer to their work like that. 

James...thanks for the SC plug...i love that site because i can share my "bigger self"...my photos, vids, etc. Having two whole pages free to "express yourself" is awesome. When it comes to songwriting, you write more in a month than i write in a year...no, make that TWO years...and not just songs but GOOD songs. I still think "Start of the End" by the LHT's is one of the best tunes ever posted on this site...or any site. i love that tune!!!
As for the barge pole...that just sounds painful!

Geir...Your comment really got me thinking. Campfire replays...hmmm...well, on my first album , DR&TP, which you know better than anyone on this site, i can play every one at a campfire...then album #2, "Stray"..the blues album..uh-oh..only about half..third album, "Genesee"..OMG! One song!!! Is that the trap we fall into with our multi-track recorders? Well, it's not good or bad...right or wrong...the Beatles or Zep or any of 'em could never reproduce live wat they did in the studio...but your comment has alot of merit. I would like to be able to do a "bare bones" version of my songs if i had to..and lately, i have moved away from that. For now at least i want to try and go back in that direction..thus songs like Jesse Lee. Thanks for making me more aware of that.

SS & Johnbee..: i'll get by your work this week. Thanks for listening to a stranger!

Flash Harry...as i recall,u were once a guy who really did not care for blues. To be headed for your piepod is huge! Thanks!!

Pine