"When I'm 64"

64Guitars · May 15, 2012, 08:36:11 AM

I recorded this in August 2010 for BeatlesFest but never completed it (it's missing some parts in the last verse). I remembered it when I saw oldrottenhead's post wishing a happy birthday to Brian Eno who turned 64 today. I doubt if I'll ever get around to finishing it. If I do, I'll update this post with the new version. Until then, here's the almost finished version.

I played the melody on my Godin xtSA. I used the BR-864's Slow Attack effect with the neck pickup and the tone control turned down. Bass is my Gibson EB0 with the BR-864's StdoBass preset patch (#90). I programmed the drums in Hydrogen and played everything else on my Yamaha PSR-2100 keyboard. The keyboard patches included clarinet, oboe, strings, "Hah" choir, piano, and glockenspiel.

written by Paul McCartney
performed by 64Guitars
recorded on Boss BR-864

Geir · May 15, 2012, 09:03:29 AM

Sounds great (even on crappy PC speakers). That is a fun sounds you've got from that Godin+"slow attack" almost Brian May-ish.

Great work on a happy tune !! Made me smile on a rainy day !

Flash Harry · May 15, 2012, 09:17:45 AM

Clinical perfection. Sing it man! You know you can.

Geir · May 15, 2012, 09:39:17 AM

Quote from: Flash Harry on May 15, 2012, 09:17:45 AMSing it man! You know you can.

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!

64Guitars · May 15, 2012, 10:04:40 AM

No chance! I have no pitch control for singing. It's really quite offensive to the ear.

Many years ago (I was in my twenties), I was taking flute lessons. I wasn't playing this one part quite right so my teacher told me to sing it. I said "No, I can't sing". He said "Nonsense. Everybody can sing". I said "No, I really can't sing". But he insisted so I gave it my best shot but it wasn't even close. So he made me try it again. Again I failed. Then he sang it to demonstrate and told me to try again. Again I failed to find the notes. After a few more tries he finally gave up and said "You're right. You can't sing".

So it's strictly instrumentals and collabs for me. I won't embarrass myself by trying to sing as I know how awful it will sound.

Oldrottenhead · May 15, 2012, 11:42:14 AM

yeah yeah yeah

cuthbert · May 15, 2012, 12:08:55 PM

Quote from: 64Guitars on May 15, 2012, 10:04:40 AMNo chance! I have no pitch control for singing.

Then do it Flash & The Pan (Vanda & Young) style!

Great job putting this together, 64G (I need to use Hydrogen again someday myself).

A very nice listen, and I also dig the Brian May-like tone to the guitar.

launched · May 15, 2012, 01:09:34 PM

This is cool - The song reminds me of riding in my mom's Impala with the AM radio blasting Beatles and Wings songs when I was a kid. "When I'm 64" seemed to play quite a bit.