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OK, let's delve once more into the magical shoebox of unused songs...
I've already recorded several that were written in 1994 (Sleeping with the Ghost, Elizabeth's Room, With Mum Again, If You Knew, A Hundred and…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here we go - Edith FINALLY gets it...
Actually, she's been getting it ever since I wrote it on the 29th May. I thought it would take a week or so, but it proved to be more of a fight than I was expecting.
On…
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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…
I was once asked to write a happy song. It turned out to be about a woman who killed herself and when I found out THAT SHE ACTUALLY KILLED HERSELF I wasn't sure what to think about my premonition.https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/a-happy-song. THEN, later an old friend asked if I had any happy songs so I wrote this:https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/if-it-makes-you-happy-092914-1
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I was asked (told?) to upload something happy. Hmmm, I thought. This will end well...
So, a few days later, I was rehearsing a pleasant little thing I wrote several years ago that has a working title of "She Was…
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Here's the very latest from the broom-cupboard.
I wrote it one dark night over 23 years ago.
****
**All I Have To Do - A A J Russe**
There isn’t much time to get this out
You won’t hear me if I have to…
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Okies, so I'm working on some other thing and it's taking a while... drums to do and wotnot. But in the middle of it I'm digging how my Martin acoustic is working out. You probs won't even be able to hear it amongst…
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I wrote this one last September.
Allison Jane Sixsmith 1965-2016.
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**Forever - A A J Russe**
I can see you on your rocking horse now
The one that turned around and kicked you in the teeth
He thought…
I hear you’re drinking at the chocolate fountain
You pulled the handle off the door
But they won’t mind
They’ll be mending it forever..." Great images...
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
I wasn't even sure the recording machine was still going to work after nearly five years... Certainly, bits of me don't work anymore... But, surprisingly, I got this done in 24 hours, start to finish... Strange old world…
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…
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…
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…
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…
What's really cool about these songs written long ago is that you are still able to remember the melody... I'm always having to remember my own music. I really like this one! Wise words of a twenty something... wiser that his years!
Who Is My Neighbour - A A J Russe
Written sometime in 1992
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
I wrote this 30 years ago when I was 29. There were a bunch of people killing other people. There were refugees.
By the…
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…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 15
Written Wednesday 23rd February 2022
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I wasn't able to stop! I really meant to, but... Oh well.
It's still February, so it can go with the others.
IT IS MY FIRM INTENTION TO…
Congratulations!!!! Ended with another amazing tune - YES! That is a wealth of creativity in you my friend. I look forward to hearing all your other tunes. I hope you took a good rest after all this!!!
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 14
Written Monday 21st February 2022
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This is it ... FAWM's all finished for me... time for a lie down now.
There's still nearly a week to go, but I'm done, 14 songs written in 16…
Amazing how this came towards the end of the challenge...simply gorgeous. I don't hear any fatigue in it. A sad song though and I'm imagining the story behind it. Beautiful.
**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…
This is another great one!!! and catchy too. I also loved hearing your description of how this came about - I totally relate!!! I actually don't like most of my own songs. This song captures the spirit of these challenges :)
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 11
Written Thursday 17th February 2022
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Feels like I'm on the last lap now. Only 3 more needed.
This one came from a suggestion from Mrs R this morning. I didn't quite fancy it, but…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 10
Written Wednesday 16th February 2022
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I've had the little guitar bit in the middle for years and years and years.
Even my wife recognises it, I play it so often.
Yesterday while…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 9
Written Tuesday 15th February 2022
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I decided it was time I wrote a song that wasn't so hard to sing and play!
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**Once Again - A A J Russe**
Every day
You keep asking…
oh yeah!!! Great song and loving that chord progression. Beautiful with all the changes ...loving it. How did you do all this in such a short time period? Wow, wow, wow.
mixed , mastered , vocals backing vocals , guitar , lead guitar , bass guitar , played by myself , strings, brass played on keyboard , hope you like it , thanks for your time .......cheers tony cee
mixed , mastered , vocals backing vocals , guitar , lead guitar , bass guitar , played by myself , strings, brass played on keyboard , hope you like it , thanks for your time .......cheers tony cee
Possibly the last one for this years RPM
The Only thing I feel
The wind blew against the window and brought the morning I
Sunlight hit the curtain and I’m sure it trying to break on through
My senses woke to the smell of tobbaco…
I was having a new gear day I received a new pedal for my Bass only £23 so I was playing with it with my eventide H9 and mojo mojo pedal and the tracks developed into this...corruption
Hope you enjoy
Another RPM
Reg starts to worry that he's forgetting his loved ones that have passed
Your memory fades
I can’t see your face no more in my mind
With my eyes closed your image starts to fade
I forgot your vioce how it…
Another for the RPM
Reg starts to thinking about things...
Why did God give us thought?
Everyones afraid of the darkness
close your eyes you dissapear
Suddenly you are nothing but a voice
Syllables of sound a constant…
Another RPM
Reg is dreaming of summer ....
Tangerine
I’m lost in myself on this cold Febuary morning
Walking the dogs trying to smiling inside
But my heart feels sad its yearning for the sunshine
Where everything…
Another RPM
Things are looking up for Reg I mean its nearly spring
Spring
I think I hear a whisper
I think I hear the whisper
Of spring
its on its way
I can see the snow drops starting to climb back into the world…
Another RPM
Reg is looking back on his childhood.
Mama says i can't play with you no more
I don’t know how I’m gonna tell you
But mama says I can’t play with you no more
Your not like all the other boys
I can’t play with you no…
Lessons not, quickly forgotten.
Stable eye, upbuild downtrodden.
Troubled times, lay down often.
Catch the sky, once in a while.
No longer a sound.
Lack of presence feelin' down.
Nothing to put my arms around.
Emptiness is not profound…
I saw her mother
Just the other day
She didn’t know me
So I froze on what to say
When she was happy
Nothing made her frown
Danced so much
They even gave her a crown
She was , she was royalty
Really wish that she remembered me
She…
What's your angle?
Why, you want everything for free?
Is it your ego,
or how you want the world to be?
Chase your desire,
But your blind to the cost.
Grab at the surface.
Your ideology is lost.
You can't have it all!
This is the price…
Push & pull,
Left & right,
Up & down,
Don't forget your dog's in this fight.
Courage!
Might!
All so hard to see in this light.
Couldn’t put it any other way,
Hands up in the air as if they’re trynna say,
Will I ever be…
One last cup of coffee
Before I hit the road
Where I’m going
You only know
Don’t forget me
Once i’m sold
Breaking down slowly
I suppose so
I’m beaten up
But I’ve grown up
Beaten up
Grow up
You’ll make someone happy
For a year…
I wait, I wait,
For you now.
I wait, I wait,
For you now.
Now that you're ahead I wonder,
Will you turn and wait for me?
I wonder.
If I lost direction,
Would the favor return for free?
I wonder.
Hit the brakes, hit the brakes!
Wait…
I guess it's really gonna be farewell,
For as far as I can tell,
Once upon a time story sounds so swell,
the kind of story that we would tell,
We tell the children that it's all, alright,
Nursery rhymes to get through the night,
Hush little…
I saw you walk right by me without a second glance.
I heard you talking right behind my ‘ugly’ back.
Who knew that we could turn from friends to strangers so so fast,
I thought that this was just the end.
I always argued it was your fault…
from the album “Savior of the World”
with Daniel Jordan on vocals
Keith Howell on drums
Robert Rebeck mixing and mastering
Looks like the clouds
Are being blown away
Looks like the sky
Is slowly turning grey
And i wanna know
Why you…
from the album “Savior of the World”
with Daniel Jordan on vocals
Keith Howell on drums
Robert Rebeck mixing and mastering
Looks like the clouds
Are being blown away
Looks like the sky
Is slowly turning grey
And i wanna know
Why you…
from the album “Savior of the World”
with Daniel Jordan on vocals
Keith Howell on drums
Robert Rebeck mixing and mastering
I could hold you closer
I won’t ever deceive
This forever’s not hollow
If i could only, make you see
Running…
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
"Teddy bead kisses..." So sad.
Sounds like another suicide song to me... We can feel the pain in your voice.
I was once asked to write a happy song. It turned out to be about a woman who killed herself and when I found out THAT SHE ACTUALLY KILLED HERSELF I wasn't sure what to think about my premonition.https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/a-happy-song. THEN, later an old friend asked if I had any happy songs so I wrote this:https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/if-it-makes-you-happy-092914-1
"But still I love the comfort I find in misery…" Great line. Beatle like...and that's always good.
Great guitar sound.
Love this. Beautifully done. Tonight I was trying out a song from that era: Twilight Time...https://www.e-chords.com/chords/the-platters/twilight-time
I hear you’re drinking at the chocolate fountain You pulled the handle off the door But they won’t mind They’ll be mending it forever..." Great images...
Rock on Dude...! Good to listen to some of your tunes. It's been a while. Strange relationship in this song.
Another great song! Maybe it’s time to get the band back together!,!
Like it.
Beautiful piece.
What's really cool about these songs written long ago is that you are still able to remember the melody... I'm always having to remember my own music. I really like this one! Wise words of a twenty something... wiser that his years!
This is a universal message with a hauntingly sad melody. Everyone should be open to these words. Thank you Andrew.
The words really speak to me … as ever!
Congratulations!!!! Ended with another amazing tune - YES! That is a wealth of creativity in you my friend. I look forward to hearing all your other tunes. I hope you took a good rest after all this!!!
Amazing how this came towards the end of the challenge...simply gorgeous. I don't hear any fatigue in it. A sad song though and I'm imagining the story behind it. Beautiful.
This is another great one!!! and catchy too. I also loved hearing your description of how this came about - I totally relate!!! I actually don't like most of my own songs. This song captures the spirit of these challenges :)
I can't help but comment again! This is fabulous!!! Love how it came about - thank you Mrs. R.
What a loving ballad .....just perfect. That "little guitar bit" found its home :) Beautiful vocals here too.
oh yeah!!! Great song and loving that chord progression. Beautiful with all the changes ...loving it. How did you do all this in such a short time period? Wow, wow, wow.
Comments made by Andrew Russe
Especially the rhythm guitars on the choruses - those choruses really pop and bounce, must have been fun to play.
Nice one. Love those guitars. Cool track.
Oh yes.... A fine set of songs
LOVE THIS
Reg has been thinking the same sh!t I have!!! Omigod... I'm not Reg am I? Cool track
This drives along... nice one. My advice to Reg is to learn not to think - it's what most of they "Normals" do...
The sun is shining here. Sadly it means I probably ought to attempt the 1st lawn cut... but there is SO much cat poo...
I'm listening to this 3 weeks later.... and it's MUCH more springlike now... as long as you don't turn the radio or tv on :-/
Woah... I get the reference/influence... but this takes the idea a whole different place for me. Shivers down the back of my neck (and some memories)
Woah... superb ending. A mighty cool set of tracks guys. Well done.
I knew a girl like this... or is it more that I was like you? Guess we'll never really know! LOL (I certainly don't want to find out now!)
"this is kind of a banger.. *cowbell" LOL Mighty cool track!
Woah yeah.
Oh wow - that instrumental is perfect in an already cool track... I was about to type "cool riff" and the instrumental took off and took me with it.
Digging these songs.
Yeah, nice one. Like the imagery.
Good opener!
Another superb set of songs, as ever :)
Another goodie. Love the languid vocal on the verses... just sucks you in.
Love that chorus. The verses are pretty darn cool too... and I love how you used a truncated verse one as a middle eight.