**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 5
Written Thursday 10th February 2022
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What can I say? Mrs R likes it.
I knew she would.
Scheduling-wise, songs per day, I've now caught up with having missed the first 5 days of…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 3
Written Tuesday 8th February 2022
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So, here's today's little ditty.
(I don't know whether folks outside the UK would know what a Chelsea Bun is. I love them, they are extremely yum…
Great story line - has a true troubadour feel about it! Love it - kind of dark.
I have had the pleasure of a Chelsea bun here in Canada - yup, extremely yummy.
Very creative song. I'm listening to a great concert of all your songs ...loving it.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 2
Written Monday 7th February 2022
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I wrote this one a couple of hours ago.
I set up for recording, and busted a string on the Martin... GAH!!!
I tried a big ole dreadnought thing…
holy cow......I hadn't heard this one before! Gorgeous!!! That Fender did it's job well. Absolutely love this. I think this one is perfect as an acoustic version.
As If It Really Matters - A A J Russe
Written 16th January 1999
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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Crumbs, even this is 23 years old!
We used it as a set-opener in the last band I was in.
I've been trying to make…
Wow!!! This song did not age ....it is gorgeous. Truly beautiful and I love the complexity of the melody and how it moves about. I imagined hearing it live at a concert (I'd be in the front row!).
No-one To Blame - A A J Russe
Written 1st January 1988
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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Nearly forgot to post this one! (it's been a busy week at work)
I was 24 when I wrote it. What more can I say…
The Feast - A A J Russe
Written 26th September 1985
Recorded 3rd March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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This one's been sticking out of the shoebox for a long long while. It always shows up in a list of maybes. And it did this time…
Just To Make It What You Want - A A J Russe
Written 1st October 2016
Recorded 4th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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I was going to choose a more uptempo one next, then this one jumped out of the shoebox at us, shouting "me me ME…
Gates Of Heaven - A A J Russe
Written 15th January 1988
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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This is about as naked as I can get.
This is how I wrote it. It's never had any accompaniment.
I was a bit young to sing…
Isn't This Fun - A A J Russe
Written 1980 (Completed 16th June 1991)
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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I wrote most of this in my first year at university.
But the Shoebox says I completed it 16/06/1991 - and the…
I Want You To Know - A A J Russe
Written 21st June 1987
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This was to the same lady who inspired Foolishness. There's a couple of others from the same period, related to her, that will…
I Want You To Know - A A J Russe
Written 21st June 1987
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This was to the same lady who inspired Foolishness. There's a couple of others from the same period, related to her, that will…
Gates Of Heaven - A A J Russe
Written 15th January 1988
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This is about as naked as I can get.
This is how I wrote it. It's never had any accompaniment.
I was a bit young to sing…
I Hope I Love Them - A A J Russe
Written sometime in 1989
Recorded 2nd March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This one has tugged at me for many many years.
I absolutely adored it from the moment I wrote it in 1989... But I thought…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 1
Written Sunday 6th February 2022
****
OK, this is a bit of a departure for me - posting songwriting demos.
This is a one mic recording made this morning in the living room, touch of reverbs…
First time hearing your stuff. After the first song, I love your writing. I'll be listening through what you have posted for the rest of the day!
Completely agree with RPM. I do enjoy it, however this year, my focus was more on songwriting and having fun. Production took a back seat.
I Want You To Know - A A J Russe
Written 21st June 1987
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This was to the same lady who inspired Foolishness. There's a couple of others from the same period, related to her, that will…
I Hope I Love Them - A A J Russe
Written sometime in 1989
Recorded 2nd March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This one has tugged at me for many many years.
I absolutely adored it from the moment I wrote it in 1989... But I thought…
The Feast - A A J Russe
Written 26th September 1985
Recorded 3rd March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This one's been sticking out of the shoebox for a long long while. It always shows up in a list of maybes. And it did this time…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 13
Written Saturday 19th February 2022
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UPDATE: 8 Hours after posting I just spotted that I listened to and favourited a song called... um... "We're Done" by oldfolks2 - check it out…
I had your FAWM playlist going and sort of forgot I was supposed to be active listening, but this one pulled me right back into it... then I saw your liner notes. I know the feeling of not being happy with something but needing to get it out, but this is great. I'm curious to see what you do with it, because I think it works far better than you it seems.
You better close the stadium with this one, because all those lighters and voices in unison are going to violate some sort of by-law.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 3
Written Tuesday 8th February 2022
****
So, here's today's little ditty.
(I don't know whether folks outside the UK would know what a Chelsea Bun is. I love them, they are extremely yum…
I'm a little perplexed at the narrative, but oh what a great narrative it is. That second verse paints a pretty vivid picture, although I'm a little unsure that being denied pastries is an apt consequence, but then Ive never had a Chelsea Bun.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 1
Written Sunday 6th February 2022
****
OK, this is a bit of a departure for me - posting songwriting demos.
This is a one mic recording made this morning in the living room, touch of reverbs…
Congratulations on the FAWM "win", especially with only 23 days to do it. A great start as well.
I share the sentiment on production. Part of me wants to do RPM next year because I wonder if I had too, could I move fast on production? It sounds a lot more exhausting than FAWM, that's for sure.
Once upon a life
By OsCKilO
Once
Upon a life
Do we find
A happy ending
More
Are the times
That we try
To race from the line
Slow down Laddy
Wont you go a little bit Slow
So Daddy can
catch up
Hey there Laddy
I could run fast in my day
And…
No problem :-)
I hope a lot of people hear it. For me, it's one of those songs/performances that gives the listener a lot of reward for just listening.
My missus thinks so too (and she's the one who ALL of my stuff goes through before it gets out - I don't post anything without her reassurance first!).
Not all songs do this. And the writer never really knows that they've done it, or whether they're imposing on people with it if they have... The minute I heard it I knew this was one (might not be for everyone, I guess, but it is for me and Mrs R), and I suspected you might need to know it was cool and needs to be "out there"...
Once upon a life
By OsCKilO
Once
Upon a life
Do we find
A happy ending
More
Are the times
That we try
To race from the line
Slow down Laddy
Wont you go a little bit Slow
So Daddy can
catch up
Hey there Laddy
I could run fast in my day
And…
T
So glad you put this one up on here. Tis still as beautiful as when I first heard it this morning.
The song itself, simple and from the heart. And the performance matches it.
Wonderful creation.
A song about my wife. Recorded 2005.
I'd just taught myself how to play piano (badly).
I'd always wanted to be Freddie Mercury when I was younger... still got a bit of a ways to go.
****
**Now It's Done - A A J Russe**
I said it…
A new original from me. Another one-voice, one-guitar, "live" performance in my broom-cupboard. This time it's the good ole tin guitar.
I wrote this one in 2002 during the "dark years" lol. I've ummed and aahed over the years on whether to…
"I like that notion of optimism right around the corner . . . but not quite here yet."
Yep, I like that as well now, VERY much... but I didn't really believe it when I wrote it! lol - it was more of a yearning for it to be true.
This is Mark's First adventure into Song Writing
Big Legged Woman -- Written by Mark Imsdahl
Mark's alonetone site: http://alonetone.com/imsdahl
Mark Imsdahl -- Harmonica
Greg Connor -- Dobro
Here is Ron Rouch's version of Mark…
Oh yeah, faved immediately.
I bought some blues harmonicas once - this'll be easy I thought... NOPE! lol (I ended up giving them to a harp player I knew)
I might try again one day, and it's performances like this that make me want to do it.
Fine song, fine everything :-)
A tune I wrote and recorded last year as a result of a good friends hungry teenage daughter sitting in the dance tent at the Sunrise festival chanting 'pizza, pizza!'. Working on a new album if yer interested. New tracks soon with any luck.
a mind
escaped
destruction
signalling
for help
taking refuge
with the dead
afore arrival
of the shifter
o you who turn the wheel
and look to windward
o you who turn the wheel
consider phlebas
the search
ensues
determined
are the foes
questioning…
it finally happened the guys from jemima's kite got together for a gig in otley yorkshire, with geir and osckilo joining in the festivities.
this was a wee practice before the event, with me on vocals and greeny on guitar and backing vox live…
it was my intention to use alonetone just for my solo endeavours but i couldn't resist introducing you to jemima's kite
http://songcrafters.org/JemimasKite/index.html
I tied Jemima's kite
To my bicycle
We're gonna send it
Soaring through the…
And of course this version :-)
I don't think I've listened to this one this close before - or mebbe I've better headphones on, I dunno - it's fab, worth two faves.
WOW!!
This must've been for the Beatlesfest over at Songcrafters? How did I miss it???!
I nearly skipped this one in a mood of "oh this old chestnut..." (I do love the original, but you kind of dread a cover of it).
But I reasoned, "you never know with orh..."
So I thought I'd listen to the first "I read the news today" and then decide...
FLIP!! lol
recorded on this day one year ago in geirs hut in porsgrunn norway.
met are: Geir (geir alfsen)Guitar
osckilo (tharek mokbul)guitar
flash harry (mike fife) bass guitar and homemade tambourine
oldrottenhead (jim higgins…
Ya know, online collaborating is the greatest thing going since the trans-Atlantic cable.
The next best thing at least to actually being there.
ORH on the lead vocal and synth strings. Hoop on electric guitars, bass, robo drums, backing…
Woo... it looks like I've missed loads of classics of yours Jim...
It also looks like I need a "Aww F*** it... just Fave em all" button, you're wearing me out having to keep moving me mouse around lol
Music written and performed by corryhully lyrics written and sung by oldrottenhead
Time
i have your picture in my wallet
i keep it so you're always near
when i'm away i look at it
it's somethingthat i like to see
it's getting worn i should…
sort of alice in wonderland or maybe you might read something else from it. that's up to you.
They've switched off all the lights
they're out to lunch
they've all gone to the party
they're having tea and scones
the hatter calls for silence…
Missed this one. Tis mighty fine, mighty fine.
Paints big pictures. My only complaint is that it went away too abruptly for my liking - that 4 minutes went by very quickly
got a new ukelele still trying to tame it.
recorded 3 tracks of uke and one of vox on micro br using onboard mic, still trying to tame the onboard mic.
i shouldn't happen in a month of sundays
but i can see it coming straight towards me
i stand…
Midnight Ride
Music: Steffen Offermann & Andy Gupta
Lyrics: John Scunziano
Vocals: Jay Lamothe
Bass: Andy Gupta
Drums: Marcel Hoeke
Rhythm Guitars: Gary Miller & Andy Gupta
Lead Guitar: Mick Lovering
Keys: Steffen Offermann…
Not sure where I was going with this, but it ended up quite dreary for what I thought were quite motivating lyrics.
Watch this space, it may well appear again with more upbeat music.
Lyrics:
I choose the light to drive away the darkness
Choose…
I see what you mean about the motivating lyrics and how it ended up. But it really works like this. And like others have said, the harmony vocals are fabulous.
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
Absolutely beautiful! Warm and an interesting narrative :). Loving it!
Great story line - has a true troubadour feel about it! Love it - kind of dark. I have had the pleasure of a Chelsea bun here in Canada - yup, extremely yummy. Very creative song. I'm listening to a great concert of all your songs ...loving it.
holy cow......I hadn't heard this one before! Gorgeous!!! That Fender did it's job well. Absolutely love this. I think this one is perfect as an acoustic version.
Wow!!! This song did not age ....it is gorgeous. Truly beautiful and I love the complexity of the melody and how it moves about. I imagined hearing it live at a concert (I'd be in the front row!).
I think I dated this one. I like the guitar lick. The song really moves along well.
I can feel that being a great Rockin' song .....
That's a great song in the making ......
A little bit of magic ...
Very good ..... afraid the 80's are so far away for me ..... old age ;)
Top notch my friend ....
An enjoyable listen, and a little different.
This is beautiful.
Poignant, affecting. Something everyone can relate to. I'm glad you were able to revisit this old song, and I also hope recording it was cathartic.
First time hearing your stuff. After the first song, I love your writing. I'll be listening through what you have posted for the rest of the day! Completely agree with RPM. I do enjoy it, however this year, my focus was more on songwriting and having fun. Production took a back seat.
Funny I don’t get stalker vibes but I can see if one knew the backstory that might be the outcome. Another great piece of writing!!
Sparse and beautiful
This is a good listen.
I had your FAWM playlist going and sort of forgot I was supposed to be active listening, but this one pulled me right back into it... then I saw your liner notes. I know the feeling of not being happy with something but needing to get it out, but this is great. I'm curious to see what you do with it, because I think it works far better than you it seems. You better close the stadium with this one, because all those lighters and voices in unison are going to violate some sort of by-law.
I'm a little perplexed at the narrative, but oh what a great narrative it is. That second verse paints a pretty vivid picture, although I'm a little unsure that being denied pastries is an apt consequence, but then Ive never had a Chelsea Bun.
Congratulations on the FAWM "win", especially with only 23 days to do it. A great start as well. I share the sentiment on production. Part of me wants to do RPM next year because I wonder if I had too, could I move fast on production? It sounds a lot more exhausting than FAWM, that's for sure.
Comments made by Andrew Russe
No problem :-) I hope a lot of people hear it. For me, it's one of those songs/performances that gives the listener a lot of reward for just listening. My missus thinks so too (and she's the one who ALL of my stuff goes through before it gets out - I don't post anything without her reassurance first!). Not all songs do this. And the writer never really knows that they've done it, or whether they're imposing on people with it if they have... The minute I heard it I knew this was one (might not be for everyone, I guess, but it is for me and Mrs R), and I suspected you might need to know it was cool and needs to be "out there"...
T So glad you put this one up on here. Tis still as beautiful as when I first heard it this morning. The song itself, simple and from the heart. And the performance matches it. Wonderful creation.
Wow, I'd forgotten all about this one. She's upstairs having a lie-in. Gonna make her a coffee in a minute... Thanks guys :-)
Oh this is brilliant. BRILLIANT.
Oh yes, I do like this. Love the kind of 60s vibe to it. I'm going to have to listen to more of your stuff.
"I like that notion of optimism right around the corner . . . but not quite here yet." Yep, I like that as well now, VERY much... but I didn't really believe it when I wrote it! lol - it was more of a yearning for it to be true.
Oh yeah, faved immediately. I bought some blues harmonicas once - this'll be easy I thought... NOPE! lol (I ended up giving them to a harp player I knew) I might try again one day, and it's performances like this that make me want to do it. Fine song, fine everything :-)
Oh yeah. I wasn't too sure as it started... but by the end I had a big smile on my face. Gorgeous sound and groove.
Nice... I love the way the vocals work in headphones. And some juicy Ronson-esque guitaring.
I love this still.
I thought I'd pressed send on this one!! It was along the lines of "yes, like this version, nice job" :-)
And of course this version :-) I don't think I've listened to this one this close before - or mebbe I've better headphones on, I dunno - it's fab, worth two faves.
WOW!! This must've been for the Beatlesfest over at Songcrafters? How did I miss it???! I nearly skipped this one in a mood of "oh this old chestnut..." (I do love the original, but you kind of dread a cover of it). But I reasoned, "you never know with orh..." So I thought I'd listen to the first "I read the news today" and then decide... FLIP!! lol
Ah... I have heard this elsewhere... it doesn't get any worse, though - it fact it gets better - superb job chaps
Woo... it looks like I've missed loads of classics of yours Jim... It also looks like I need a "Aww F*** it... just Fave em all" button, you're wearing me out having to keep moving me mouse around lol
Wonderful stuff. The voice and guitars sound like they came into the world together - excellent collaboration
Missed this one. Tis mighty fine, mighty fine. Paints big pictures. My only complaint is that it went away too abruptly for my liking - that 4 minutes went by very quickly
Glad I found the legendary uke tracks :-) Listening to them all now, this one is my favourite so far.
Nice one :) You've got a cool "70s" rock/pop combo going there.
I see what you mean about the motivating lyrics and how it ended up. But it really works like this. And like others have said, the harmony vocals are fabulous.