**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 5
Written Thursday 10th February 2022
****
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
****
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
****
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
****
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
****
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
****
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
****
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
****
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
****
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
****
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.
Released as a single earlier this year.
This version the song is sung by the lovely Theresa Johnson
An optimistic track for these dark times.
VERSE 1
When dreamers fly
We need them now more than ever before
And if they talk about…
Released as a single earlier this year.
This version the song is sung by the lovely Theresa Johnson
An optimistic track for these dark times.
VERSE 1
When dreamers fly
We need them now more than ever before
And if they talk about…
Released as a single earlier this year.
This version the song is sung by the lovely Theresa Johnson
An optimistic track for these dark times.
VERSE 1
When dreamers fly
We need them now more than ever before
And if they talk about…
As I have mentioned in other years, I am so very blessed to have some songs come to me in my dreams. Grace is one of them. The specific line "Grace, grace, grace! You don't have to be a lonely child" is what I retained in my waking moments so…
Aww yes... I was frantically exchanging messages with a crazy person while it was all playing... so I gotta come back when it's quiet (maybe when I'm working next week)... maybe even read the blurbs that go with the songs... but yeah, loved it... how do you manage this every year??!
Originally I had a Motown idea in mind, and I kept my stomping and clapping, but the song seemed to lend itself to a more spacey-synthey feel, so I ran with it. I also am hinting a tiny (very tiny) bit at Joe Jackson's band's backing vocal styles…
I'll be honest... I was somewhat disappointed with my RPM Challenge 2021 effort, so I took it down.
I've remixed, and heavily re-edited this track, as it used to be a tortuous 13 minutes long.
I'm redoing another track as I was a bit slapdash…
We decided to give the kids an outlet that wasn’t pandemic or lockdown based this February, and made an album as a family for the RPM Challenge 2021. It was just the most precious, funny, brilliant month.
Challenged to write a 'winter' bluebonnet love song, Theo came up with this delightful picture. It is included on the bluebonnet/wildflower love song album, Texas Roadside Blues offered at www.cdbaby.com/artist/theodoreahenningii
Domestic violence is a societal evil needing our vigilence to irradicate. It goes beyond bullying. There are so many mixed feelings within the emotional turmoil of the victim/abused. Perhaps this song will open a window of understanding. To the…
I really wish I could sing.
This one was written for the 2014 50/90. I remember it clearly. I set up with the intention of working on something else but plugged in my guitar and played this without thinking about it. Well, I guess I was…
I really wish I could sing.
This one was written for the 2014 50/90. I remember it clearly. I set up with the intention of working on something else but plugged in my guitar and played this without thinking about it. Well, I guess I was…
I think I need to take a day off. My ears are turning to mush. I really struggled mixing this and I can't even tell if it's worth keeping or not.
This song was written during my first attempt at doing anything in GarageBand. Prior August…
I think I need to take a day off. My ears are turning to mush. I really struggled mixing this and I can't even tell if it's worth keeping or not.
This song was written during my first attempt at doing anything in GarageBand. Prior August…
What do you think of the mix a few days later? I quite like it. You always get all the parts clearly defined - and I think they are here too - but sometimes I find myself wanting them more "moulded together", which is what is going on here (I think). It feels more like a live band blazing away in a room than it does sometimes.
Happy Halloween. Or should I say, Happy Covid-ween. Har Har.
Another song from 2007's failed RPM Challenge that wasn't finished until 2011. This was also on my short list of songs to re-record when I first thought of this whole silly project…
OK... where's this Duane Moment? Ah! There tis, I hears it... Now, I can do quite a lot of Duane tricks... but NOT those, cool! Btw, I assume, as a fully accredited guitarist, you have the 6 CD Complete Fillmore East recordings? LOL (Actually, I've been really getting into the Dickey Betts side of the stage recently)
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
And a cool song and vocal too (nearly forgot to mention that!)
Loving that piano/acoustic/bass/drums ensemble sound.
Oh yes, love how this builds.
Aww yes... I was frantically exchanging messages with a crazy person while it was all playing... so I gotta come back when it's quiet (maybe when I'm working next week)... maybe even read the blurbs that go with the songs... but yeah, loved it... how do you manage this every year??!
I'm a bit late, but here I am for my yearly Gary fix ... mighty cool opener
NIce one. I think I could have coped with the 13 minutes.
Oh MY GOODNESS ... love this album. Well done guys.
You're making some very cool sounds.
Wow! What a track
Yep. Love it to bits.
Woooo :)
Yeah, cool track.
Yes indeed. You got some cool songs.
Oh Yes... what a cool song. Digging the playing and delivery too.
But, yeah, listen to Colleen: "Singing sounds great!!!!"
Although, picking this one at random for another play, this one's got the same live in a room vibe - mebbe I'm talking crap!! LOL
Yeah, this one rocks.
What do you think of the mix a few days later? I quite like it. You always get all the parts clearly defined - and I think they are here too - but sometimes I find myself wanting them more "moulded together", which is what is going on here (I think). It feels more like a live band blazing away in a room than it does sometimes.
OK... where's this Duane Moment? Ah! There tis, I hears it... Now, I can do quite a lot of Duane tricks... but NOT those, cool! Btw, I assume, as a fully accredited guitarist, you have the 6 CD Complete Fillmore East recordings? LOL (Actually, I've been really getting into the Dickey Betts side of the stage recently)
A fine album. Nice one.