"Helpless" (NY cover)

[Frank53]

Well, if I want to fit in here, I guess I have to try to cover Mr. Young. LOL! I don't know anything about NEILFEST, but since everyone is doing it... It's probably the easiest one I could think of. Haven't heard it in years, so I printed out the lyrics and kind of did my own thing with it. Apologies to the NY purists out there.  

This is only a few hours of off-the-cuff work. The only thing worse than the performance is the recording - really thrown together. Haven't used my falsetto much lately, so I put on the tightest underwear I could find, and gave it a shot.

Forgive me, Neil...

Helpless

written by Neil Young
recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on the 1970 album "Déjà Vu"

[Bro]

I liked it, listened to it a few times. The solo and tension is right on!

Great job on the vocals too! must have been hard getting up there!

Overall lovely project!

[Bluesberry]

Beautifully played, tenderly sung (did you have to cut the underwear off afterwards), great harmonies.  I really like this.  Part of the idea of the Neilfest is to pick your favorite NY songs and do a cover, it doesn't have to be a carbon copy, in fact variations are more than welcome.  The other idea is to record them as quickly as possible (just as Mr. Young would want it), warts and all, we are all busy with other things, you just got to get it done fast or not at all.  You have struck a home run with this one Frank.  Very nice job all around.  Great addition to the Neilfest!!!!!

[lg]

this is a great cover!
your voice was great!

LG

[Pine]

Nice one Frank! I loved the back ups and your lead vox and guitar were just fine. Always liked the imagery in this song. Neil was/is a master at that. Fine addition to
The Index !!

[Frank53]

Thanks, everyone. You're waaaay to kind. I'll put it aside, and maybe I'll revisit it someday. I don't fingerpick, so that in itself was a challenge. It was a relief getting that underwear of, though. 

Frank

[lg]

LOL

[launched]

I thought the vocals were great!! And the harmonies were quite a surprise.

A really enjoyable listen - wish I had half the talent, really!!!


Later,

Mark

[guitarron]

NeilFest 2009 Index
Well, if I want to fit in here, I guess I have to try to cover Mr. Young. LOL! I don't know anything about NEILFEST, but since everyone is doing it... It's probably the easiest one I could think of. Haven't heard it in years, so I printed out the lyrics and kind of did my own thing with it. Apologies to the NY purists out there. 

This is only a few hours of off-the-cuff work. The only thing worse than the performance is the recording - really thrown together. Haven't used my falsetto much lately, so I put on the tightest underwear I could find, and gave it a shot.

Forgive me, Neil...

real good stuff-i love the acoustic tone-how did you mic it?

[Frank53]

Thanks, for the kind words, Ron! This is just my Ibanez AEL20 acoustic/electric, recorded direct. I used the Natural Acoustic patch on the '900, and I think I tweaked the low EQ on the guitar up just a little to add some body. That's about it for recording.

What I did do was to double it up. I copied to another track, and time shifted the copy by about 15ms (0.5 frames). I placed the two tracks at L35 and R35. I then boosted the reverb a bit on the delayed copy. I think I used room reverb, 1.5 second decay, 20% on the original, and 40% on the copy. That's assuming my memory serves me, since I didn't write any of it down. LOL!

Frank