**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
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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
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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
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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.
Well I did try and get an RPM challenge done after last years fail, but I'm still lacking enthusiasm or creativity.
Hence the uninspiring title of 'The Fifth', as this was the 5th track I was working on and the only one that came close to completion…
It's good hearing some Mac music again. Hope your'e doing ok. I went through a long gap, not wanting to record any music... bought a LOAD of guitars though!!
This started life as a vey simple 'disco' bass riff over which I then brought in the chords. Its got a sort of 80s pop/prog thing going on - not surprising as I'd been listening to a lot of Nik Kershaw when I recorded it!
I was messing about and this came out. Thanks for listening
GET DOWN ON MY KNEES
I get down on my knees and I pray for a day
Where we can all go outside to run and play
Take my hand and tell what you see
can you see a future, for likes…
Oh fab fab fab... I love the "foot-stomping" vibe this has... wife not so much, I've got headphones on, she's doing something else, I was stomping! Who's on the electric solo at the end? Classy. And the harp... woo, yeah.
With a little help from Arthur & Elvis i had a bit of fun in the cellar and Regged up an old classic. Thanks for listening
My baby left me
she never said a word
My baby left me
she never said a word
You know she left me
she left…
Awww love it. Back in the dark old days I used to do a version of this with the chaps... (ours owed more to Slade and included That's Alright). When I saw the notification that you'd done it, I rushed for the headphones... and it's even better than I hoped it would be. GO Reg! :)
In Lockdown, I have really been inspired to return to my more classical roots, and have enjoyed playing around with the idea of epic style movie or cinematic themes/trailers. I have imaginatively named them Lockdown Orchestrations No. 1, No…
In Lockdown, I have really been inspired to return to my more classical roots, and have enjoyed playing around with the idea of epic style movie or cinematic themes/trailers. I have imaginatively named them Lockdown Orchestrations No. 1, No…
The titles didn't grab me when I saw them posted yesterday - so I didn't rush to switch to "listening mode"... but now I have... The music, YEAH! Nice one.
I wrote this one morning but gave up tryin to sing it . then I asked my buddy Steve Schostal to do vocals . His Canadian accent was perfect for this . Notice how he leads the beat ‘wow perfect.
I love Colabs
It started off as a shimmery, summery canvas in my head but morphed into something very different from the middle 8 onwards. It was originally done at 100BPM but sounded a bit 'ploddy' and pedestrian so I beefed it up
Listened to this yesterday, but forgot to comment... working at home, eh?! ... anyways, I was listening to a track on another site just now, and it gave me the same open and fresh air feeling I thought remembered from this. Yep, as I remembered, but then this has some complex emotions too... Cool track.
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
Here it is in all of its glory...
THIS is the song that Mrs R and I had decided was a suitable response to a request to "Upload something HAPPY, stat!!!!!!!!!"
I tried to record it back in 2013 when I wrote it…
Don't usually comment on my own songs, but in case there's any confusion... YES Greg - there is no humour in the song at all, none intended, I feel it the same way as you... and I actually love it for that myself... it's what the song evolved into from a joke verse I wrote (In Tom Waits voice, Roger! hehe) ... But when I was first recording it, in my own voice, x years ago it was SO sad (and not in a "Bobby Goldsboro - Honey" good kind of way) that we decided to put it in the filing cabinet for a while!
A song that sort of wrote itself, quite quickly, wouldn't say it's a happy song, but
sometimes you can't help what pops out.
https://youtu.be/dXRczkBRPCk
MN Homebrew Radio show has a monthly writing contest. This month it was to use the word "wait" or "waiting" in your song. So the hook line of the chorus popped into my head at 5:30 in the morning and the rest of the song came pretty quickly…
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
Listened to this the other day, and...
It's good hearing some Mac music again. Hope your'e doing ok. I went through a long gap, not wanting to record any music... bought a LOAD of guitars though!!
Cool track
Wot a groove in those verses... The vocals are mighty cool... And a hot little solo... WOW!
Oh fab fab fab... I love the "foot-stomping" vibe this has... wife not so much, I've got headphones on, she's doing something else, I was stomping! Who's on the electric solo at the end? Classy. And the harp... woo, yeah.
Awww love it. Back in the dark old days I used to do a version of this with the chaps... (ours owed more to Slade and included That's Alright). When I saw the notification that you'd done it, I rushed for the headphones... and it's even better than I hoped it would be. GO Reg! :)
Yep. Followed, looking forward to hearing more.
The titles didn't grab me when I saw them posted yesterday - so I didn't rush to switch to "listening mode"... but now I have... The music, YEAH! Nice one.
Oh yeah. Like it. Enjoy the weather :)
I could favourite them all. But this one woke me up from the work I'm doing... And, it's got a "distinctive" title, of course.
Yep, followed. Looking forward to hearing more.
Oh yes... liking the tunes you make... and yes, this fits its title too.
Catchy title dragged me in... LOVE IT!
Listened to this yesterday, but forgot to comment... working at home, eh?! ... anyways, I was listening to a track on another site just now, and it gave me the same open and fresh air feeling I thought remembered from this. Yep, as I remembered, but then this has some complex emotions too... Cool track.
Don't usually comment on my own songs, but in case there's any confusion... YES Greg - there is no humour in the song at all, none intended, I feel it the same way as you... and I actually love it for that myself... it's what the song evolved into from a joke verse I wrote (In Tom Waits voice, Roger! hehe) ... But when I was first recording it, in my own voice, x years ago it was SO sad (and not in a "Bobby Goldsboro - Honey" good kind of way) that we decided to put it in the filing cabinet for a while!
A: I loved the title the moment I saw it. B: It rocks. C: I have a similar Dark Cellar (but it's on the 1st floor!)
Oh that's happy enough for me!! Love it.
Love the vibe of this one. And that harp. Blissful.
Yes. Very very cool.
I'm falling off the sofa in hysterics here... love it.