Dear Elaine - a cover by Chapperz and Pipes

[chapperz66]

Dear Elaine is a song which was quite important to me.  Recorded in 1972 when I was still in the school brass band (Bb and soprano cornet - rock and roll eh!) and was still working my way through Tune-a-Day books on guitar, the fact that Roy Wood played all the instruments on his solo stuff was really inspirational.  I clearly remember wondering if I would ever be able to do something like that.  This song is something that I have wanted to do for ages but never quite got around to.

It's a fairly strange song - a bit baroque in feel and I don't recall there being many other songs in the charts featuring a lute.  Wikipedia says it got to number 18. Sadly I don't have a lute so had to use nylon and steel string acoustic guitars and some mandolin sample patches in Omnisphere.

It took me over three weeks to work out what was going on and transcribe it, and then record myself playing the parts using sample libraries.  Originally it was intended to be just an instrumental orchestral mock up, but it really needed to be sung as the lyrics are also a bit baroque.  Not an easy one to sing, but my old mate Nick (Pipes) has done a truly remarkable job I think. Rich baritone to soaring tenor and beyond - its all there, and I'm very grateful to him for indulging me with this, particularly given the song is new to him.

Enjoy, people!

Paul Chapman

[Farrell Jackson]

WOW! Nice work Paul and Nick...I'm blown away by your skills!

[Mike_S]

WOW! Nice work Paul and Nick...I'm blown away by your skills!

Yep, this is absolutely beautiful, majestic... Nick has totally nailed the vocal. Can't even begin to think how much goes into putting something like this together. All those instruments fit together perfectly to my ears. Great listen.

Mike

[thetworegs]

That's quite a range you have Nick a really impressive vocal and a beautiful backer as always Paul now I'm off to check out Roy woods back catalogue

[Pipes]

Thank you all for your kind replies

Thanks for the opportunity Paul.

 Brilliantly arranged and produced.

Nick

[cuthbert]

So many things here that I love to hear: from the baroque style with a wide range of instruments (very early-orchestral sound), to fantastic performances, both musical and vocal, all the way to... ROY WOOD! I'm a big RW fan, from the Move to ELO (briefly) to solo and Wizzard.

The way this has been arranged, performed, and produced is genius-level stuff. I'm in awe of both of your musical talents.

Well done, gentlemen.

[StephenM]

The whole track blows ya away... first though those vocals are so beyond special.  My goodness... to be able to even dream of singing this way would be challenge enough but to then pull it off beyond the dream... Pipes you got some dang pipes...but beyond that your ability to reach for and execute such feeling, such intense changes and styles within the frame work is something I can only say I have heard in rare talents like perhaps Bowie, Mercury, a few, very few others.... some get a little of it, but only a little...this is unbelievable.  I have heard your vocals some on the site...you don't post that often...but hats off to you man.  I don't know your status in your country but you belong in a big studio somewhere, a pro studio singing into those million dollar consoles...
not as surprised in the music as I have heard Paul's incredible music work often... But as Pipes mentioned... not only great music but the mix and production are pro!  Good work, great work men

[Ray Brookes]

Magnificent track from you two. I actually met Roy Wood in 1973 when we supported his band 'Wizzard' at Birmingham Town Hall. Very nice guy and very talented.