STRING THEORY
A little playful and teasing sigh
A little twinkle in your eye
You’re a Devil, temptress, I am helpless
In front of you
On and off again
I’m your little plaything
Up and down I go
Puppet on a string
You let me go and…
TWICE IN A MILLION
Counted the flowers in my back yard
Dreamt of the games that I won and I lost
Sorted my ties in the closet
Had those old Father’s Day cards arranged
Love is an heirloom of a long time past
Almost not tempting…
Raised on vinyl and a needle that rides
To a paper circle at the end of both sides
Between the speakers, cover in hand
Sit in silence after Jungleland
I will not trade one bit of my soul for their pieces of gold
I've seen a world they'll…
Did a studio challenge this week from Joe Gilder to try to recreate an entire song from scratch, breaking it down and recording and producing everything. This could be considered a cover tune of "Something for the Pain" by She Drew the Gun. I…
As outraged as I've been over the past week, when I sat down to write about it, all I could think was, "How can I get through to someone?" This is the result.
I Know You and You're Not One of Them
You say you're defending the red from…
Don't tell me how it is, I'm good, I got it, I got it. But are we blind, and are there cracks in a facade? The riff was what came first, probably while watching the idiot box one evening. I am pretty sure it came very soon after RPM '15, and I…
Like a fine wine, you've matured well over the years, my friend. Nice, juicy, mellowed out sounds with good intensity, an edge of spicyness and a long aftertaste.
Here's a new one. Well, a new old one, actually... And a bit different than the last one!
Something old, something new, something borrowed, and, er, something blue...
****
**Nobody Loves You - A A J Russe**
Nobody loves you
Like you…
This song's going on 32 years old...
Some 12 years older than I was when I wrote it!!
I borrowed the title from one of my favourite madrigals, The Silver Swan by Orlando Gibbons:
"The silver swan who living hath no note, when death approached…
An instrumental guitar tune which combines some flashy rock "guitar hero" stuff with a strong melody. Couldn't think of a title so I just did what I always do in that situation... nick the name of an old movie from the '50s
This one went through many iterations before turning into what you hear. A key breakthrough came when I stumbled upon that keyboard part for the verses. That opened the whole thing up.
Oh, FUNKY!! And a clavinet to boot! Would really play along with the earlier disco tune as a B-side to the single, to be played in the small hours when the DJ:s brought out their secret personal favorites....
There is no reverb on any vox parts in this one. I loved how I was able to get the tone of the voices to have that mid-60s sound. This was aided by the fact I am running through an emulation of the Abbey Road mixing desk. ;)
Fun and playful intro followed by an axcellent melody in harmony - it can't be anything but a winner! :) Already on the second verse I'm loving it. And you're putting this one second to last? This is instantly catchy and you probably should feature it more prominently.
No offense meant to my English friends. ;) I grew up there as a kid, so we have common cause. Anyway, this song is more about the struggle between the material and spiritual, doing the right thing when you are called upon, etc. Hope you enjoy!
Good use of compressor to make the acoustic compete on equal terms with the electric. A bit weird vocal ambience but I'm guessing it's beyond my competence because it actually doesn't sound out of place. As a song it's a hit in my book. Rather sad though that my book isn't the trend setter.
As you may have picked up on, there's a lot this year about soldiering on when your world has been destroyed. So, this is a song of hope. Have faith, have faith...
Would have wished the guitars at the start, nice and juicy though they sound, to rest on the groove a bit more. It's a fab melody and song. Flangy bit at the end is a nice addition.
Intro is like The Band on a stoned groove jam just before a Dylan concert. Great singing effort and structuring of the song. The signature riff is genius.
This one was a hard one to nail. The Wurlitzer riff was something I accidentally played and fell in love with immediately, so I needed to write a song that enhanced the mood that the tone of the Wurly evoked. The sound is so empty and spacious…
BIG Rhodes sound, interesting and tense start to the song. Develops nicely, although I'd have liked the Edge-guitar maybe to have debuted earlier. Very emotional.
Defiance, self-doubt, hubris, failure, choosing...It's all here to hear.
The title is a nod to my love of a certain guitar player and singer from a late 60's act; who's solo records were even better. The vibrato guitar is inspired by him…
When your world is destroyed as you know it, the ability to overcome and renew yourself is a very steep ascent. It may take years, and this song is about that struggle to 'let it go'
Here we go again with the driving tom groove. This would go down well at any disco about 50 yrs ago... ;) Funky horn riffs, I need to hire you for some songs!
It is easy to mock and ridicule, but much harder to learn and understand. Overcoming our own pig-headedness may be our biggest personal challenge. This song thinks about that. I also was rather happy with how my Telecaster sounds in the rhythm…
The song that led the way. I came up with the guitar sound first, and needed a song that evoked the pure energy that was coming from that guitar sound. It needed to be fast and intense. And it needed harmonies. We're full abandon 'cause it's time…
Well, I'm almost on a roll now - this little love song was written, arranged, and recorded in just a week. I've been meaning to attempt something like this for years, just never got round to it.
I'd actually settled down to finally record a…
Comments on strummindude's stuff
Oh my gosh...how gorgeous. GREAT TRACK.
Classy opener.
I'm with the previous commenter -- definitely a Floyd flavor in this one, which means I love it!
Wow it's Pink Floyd meets Roy Orbison with a hint of Queens of the Stone Age.... Cool.
It really does not matter which of your songs I listen to - they are ALL great. Thanks for making them available here at Alonetone!
Perfectly played good sir. What a great record through and through.
Great rhythm, cool structure, fantastic vox work, killer tune.
Well, this is pretty majestic. Wonderful song, Jana.
That was some sweet goodness right there.
Beautiful, Jana.
Great liquid groove; great change-ups and harmonies. Smooth...and amazing harmonies...
This is awesome. I love the chorus, especially the backing vox. Brilliant S-dude!
Great song, love the harmonies.
I was about to say this was nice and delicate, and then I glanced at the title again. Great minds I suppose? Wonderful playing.
That's some serious production skills right there. - Five Stars
Another gem. First rate album, Jana. Really first rate.
So well done. OUTSTANDING.
Beautiful, Jana.
This one is especially my favorite. Well played, sir. ER
Listened to the entire album and liked it a lot. Don't be so hard on yourself. You did well. ER
Comments made by strummindude
Great stuff Keith!
Well done!
Great song and sentiment. We're all grieveing the demise of the American democracy.
Like a fine wine, you've matured well over the years, my friend. Nice, juicy, mellowed out sounds with good intensity, an edge of spicyness and a long aftertaste.
Clean as a whistle, soulful expressions, masterfully produced. Top notch!
Super sound, very airy and dynamic arrangement, thoroughly enjoyable!
Excellent, skillful playing, spot on in the various very different styles and brilliant tone throughout. Impressed!
Playful and full of fun quirks. Deceptively effortless!
Nice tones and versatile playing!
Oh, FUNKY!! And a clavinet to boot! Would really play along with the earlier disco tune as a B-side to the single, to be played in the small hours when the DJ:s brought out their secret personal favorites....
Fun and playful intro followed by an axcellent melody in harmony - it can't be anything but a winner! :) Already on the second verse I'm loving it. And you're putting this one second to last? This is instantly catchy and you probably should feature it more prominently.
Good use of compressor to make the acoustic compete on equal terms with the electric. A bit weird vocal ambience but I'm guessing it's beyond my competence because it actually doesn't sound out of place. As a song it's a hit in my book. Rather sad though that my book isn't the trend setter.
Would have wished the guitars at the start, nice and juicy though they sound, to rest on the groove a bit more. It's a fab melody and song. Flangy bit at the end is a nice addition.
Intro is like The Band on a stoned groove jam just before a Dylan concert. Great singing effort and structuring of the song. The signature riff is genius.
BIG Rhodes sound, interesting and tense start to the song. Develops nicely, although I'd have liked the Edge-guitar maybe to have debuted earlier. Very emotional.
Interesting intro sounds and mono feel. Beatlesy bridge, leading nicely on to the chorus part. Great songwriting!
Here we go again with the driving tom groove. This would go down well at any disco about 50 yrs ago... ;) Funky horn riffs, I need to hire you for some songs!
The riff king gets in the groove. Love the mid-8 with the bw-efx and build.
The love child of The Who and AC/DC. Pumping like hot iron.
Sweet, free swinging guitar sounds. Enviable production. Maybe not single material but still captivating enough!