Home To Stay (Original song)

[Bluesberry]

Well I finally got this one finished, been working on this for the last 2 weeks.  I tried to write a standard blues rock song, but like all my songs so far, they always end up slightly different than when I start out.  This was inspired by a recent trip I took for work up to Toronto, Canada (hence the reference to Dundas and Yonge).  This trip reminded me of the other time I went up 15 years ago that ended up being one of those life turning points.  Coming home from Toronto 2 weeks ago, this song materialized based on the memories from the two trips.  I can't do any more work on this song, so I am posting it, it is finished.  This is all played by me straight into the MBR, Comments please.

[Kody]

Dude, good job....music sounds 100% professional! I can't believe that's all on the mbr! I like how you switched from cut time to an uppity tempo on the choruses~ And that harmonica is a very very nice touch! I'd kinda like to hear it a tiny bit louder maybe, but if you say it's done, I'll believe you  Bass sounds perfect...Guitar sounds perfect...One of these days I'm going to have to learn to program the drums like you~ because they came out perfect!

[lg]

Hey this is really a great song, and nicely produced.
I also like the way you changed tempo for the chorus... that's cool!
Killer guitar solo! I love it.
THis kind of makes me think of a cross between Jethro Tull and Frank Zappa.
Bravo.

LG

[Davo]

This is great, I like the electric tones, what guitars were used?

[Geir]

Nice work BB. A really good song. Good production. I get a late '60s vibe from this one (..yes I can also here some early Mothers in this one).

G.

[TomH86]

awesome, awesome, awesome.

[Greeny]

I always get the same vibe from your songs as I get listening to The Band. They take all the roots of American music... rock, blues, country, folk... and fuse them together into a timeless tapestry. It makes your songs sound like covers of something much older. I can tell there's a lot of work gone into this one. The tempo change alone took some pulling off, and it adds a lot of complexity and interest. This is a really well-honed song, and those guitar licks are just stunning.

[Ferryman_1957]

Great job Bluesberry. It's clear that a lot of thought and work has gone in to this, especially with the tempo change which I have to agree you have handled really well. You've used a mix of styles which has ended up IMO with your own unique feel to it without any particular style predominating. There is a West Coast feel to this but the solos give it a harder edge (and they are great). I really like the effects you added at about 206, which gives a psychedelic feel without overpowering it. The bass is very good as well, good heavy sound to it.

A couple of production thoughts if you do want to go back to it. I agree with Kody, the harmonica is lost and would really benefit from being higher in the mix. This adds a nice bit of depth but you can't really hear it. I also felt the rhythm guitars are a bit toppy and could do with a bit more mid frequency EQ, but that's just me. If you are happy with the sound then that's fine!

Overall, very impressive indeed and it's great to hear more original work coming out on the site.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Bluesberry]

Thank you very much guys.  That is some great compliments.  I honestly can't tell sometimes if it works or not, I mean I know it sounds good, I know I like the production, but does it really work as a song? I can't tell until I have got some distance from it.  So thank you.  I agree with your comments Ferryman, the harmonica was one of the first things recorded so it got lost in the mix after a while, it needs to come out a bit, and the rhythm guitars are a little trebly, all in all good comments there.  As for what style this is in, I was trying for standard blues rock but all my songs end up going slightly off center.  Greeny your comment about the Band really makes my day, they are in my top 5 for favorite bands of all time for sure, so I am humbled.  I find it interesting how I keep getting Frank Zappa comparisons (other posts on here as well), I have not listened to much Zappa I must admit, so I am not sure what reminds folks of Zappa.  Thanks for that, I should check Zappa out I guess.  I find this songwriting stuff hard work but I am also rewarded by it quite a bit, I especially love posting them on here and getting such great reaction, makes me think I am on the right track.  Thank you.

[Bluesberry]

This is great, I like the electric tones, what guitars were used?

For the rhythm guitar I used a Strat on Twangster setting (tweeked a bit), tracked left and a Epi Sheraton tracked right (strummed chords, some kind of crunch setting).  The little solo in the intro was with the strat, clean amp setting.  The big solos were done with my Les Paul (great blues rock guitar for sure, I couldn't pull off those solos without the LP-I wanted a tough agressive tone), I don't remember the settings, I always tweek so much anyway I usually end up with my own settings after a while).  Thanks for asking, I love talking about guitars  .  This song started out with the strat completly, but as it developed the other two guitars fit in with the sound I was after (they were feeling left out  ).